£0 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
is in vain to feek him ; before the fowler can come 
he has run to the diftande’ of roo yards. He 
makes amends for the flownefs of his flying, 
by the -fwiftnefs with which he runs: for he 
ufes his legs more than his wings. .As he is 
covered by the grafs whilft he lives in the mea- 
dows, he feldom rifes off the ground; but when. 
the time of his paflage is come, (for he is a bird 
of paflage) he feems to be fupplied with unexpected | 
ftrength. He takes his flight in the night, and 
going with the wind, attempts the paflage of 
the Mediterranean Sea from fome of the fouthern 
_ provinces of France. | 
 Thefe Gallinules, at one feafon of the year, are. 
found in Tartary; and the Tartars perceiving — 
how heavily they fly, imagine that they go from 
one country to another by the affiftance of the 
Cranes, and that each Crane takes a Gallinule on 
its back. This is a very Sette and childifh | 
fancy, | 
They eo into countries north of France to 
build their nefts, partly for food, and'partly bes 
caufe they prefer cool fituations; for although 
they eat feeds, particularly béion feed, clover 
feed, &c. and: though they may be fattened in 
confinement upon millet, feed and other grain, 
yet inlets, sai and grubs, are their favourite — 
Ee : | food, 
