22 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
“black. 
' elegant tuft of loofe feathers, like hairs, curled at 
_ very graceful manner over the tail. They were 





It was once the barbarous cuftom to breed y 
Cranes to be hunted in this manner, and young 
ones were taken from the neft and trained for 
this cruel diverfion. 4 
Cranes may be tamed and taught to march of 
walk very gravely, to put themfelves into manyl 
itrange poftures, and to dance to mufic. 
Though they live very much upon grain, yet 
they prefer worms and infeéts; for this reafon. 
they frequent marfhy fituations. 
The feathers of the Crane are in general of an 
afh colour, the quill feathers of the wings are 
wi! 
tak 
kil 
From the pinion of each wing there grows an 
the end. The Crane can raife them when it 
pleafes, but in general thefe feathers fall in a 
formerly fet in gold, and worn as ornaments in 
caps. 
The alibi is covered with black down or — 
hairs. ‘The hind part of the head is red and bare, 
or has only a few feattered hairs. 
The Crane roofts upon one leg. 
Plutarch fays, that they were blinded and kept 
in coops to be fattened for the great men in 
Rome. 
. Young 
