turnal passages the leader frequently calls to rally his forces, and point out the track; and the cry is repeated by the flock, each answering, to give notice that it follows and keeps its rank. Part loosely wing the region part more wise, In common, rang'd in figure, wedge their way, Their airy caravan, high over seas Flying, and over lands with mutual wing Easing their flight. So steers the prudent Crane Her annual voyage, borne on winds; The air floats as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes. The flight of the Crane is always supported uniformly, though it is marked by different inflections; and these variations have been observed to indicate the change of weather: a sagacity that may well be allowed to a bird, which, by the vast height to which it soars, is enabled to perceive the distant alterations and motions in the atmosphere. The cries of the Cranes, during the day, forbode rain; and their noisy tumultuous screams announce a storm. If, in a morning or evening, they rise upwards, and fly peacefully in a body, it is a sign of fine weather; but, if they keep low, or alight on the ground, it menaces a tempest. Like all other large birds, except the rapacious tribe, the Crane has much difficulty in commencing its flight. It runs a few steps, opens its wings, mounts a little way, and then, having a clear space, it displays its vigorous and rapid pinions. When the Cranes are assembled on the ground, they are said to set guards during the night, and the circumspection of these birds has been consecrated in the ancient hieroglyphics, as the symbol of vigilance. According to Kolben, they are often observed in large flocks on the marshes about the Cape of Good Hope. He says, he never saw a flock of them on the ground that had not some placed, apparently, as centinels, to keep a look out, while the others. were feeding; and that did not, on the approach of danger, immediately give notice to the rest. These centinels stand on one leg, and, at intervals, stretch out their necks, as if to observe that all are safe. On notice being given of danger, the whole flock are in an instant on the wing. Kolben goes further; he tells us that in the night each of the watching Cranes, which rest on their left legs, "hold up in the right claw a stone of considerable weight, in order that, if overcome by sleep, the falling of the stone may awake them !** Cranes are seen in France in the spring and autumn, but are, for the most part, mere passengers. We are told that they formerly visited the marshes of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire in vast flocks; but the case is altered; as of late none have been met with. The flesh is black, tough, and bad. THE WHITE STORK.† The length of the White Stork is about three feet. The bill is near eight inches long, and of a *Kolben, ii. 141. SYNONYMS.-Ardea Ciconia. Linn.-Cigogne Blanche. Buf. fine red colour. The plumage is wholly white, except the orbits of the eyes, which are bare and blackish some of the feathers on the side of the back and on the wings are black. The skin, the legs, and the bare part of the thighs are red. This species is semi-domestic, haunting towns and cities, and in many places stalking unconcerned about the streets, in search of offals and other food. They remove the noxious filth, and clear the fields of Serpents and Reptiles. On that account they are protected in Holland; and held in high veneration by the Mahomedans; and so greatly respected were they in times of old, by the Thessalians, that to kill one of these birds was a crime expiable only by death. Bellonius tells us that "the Storks visit Egypt in such abundance, that the fields and meadows are white with them. Yet the Egyptians are not displeased with this sight; as Frogs are generated in such numbers there, that, did not the Storks devour them, they would over-run every thing. Besides they also catch and eat Serpents. Between Belba and Gaza the fields of Palestine are often desert on account of the abundance of Mice and Rats; and, were they not destroyed, the inhabitants could have no harvest." The disposition of the Stork is mild, neither shy nor savage; it is an animal easily tamed; and may be trained to reside in gardens, which it will clear of Insects and Reptiles. It has a grave air, and a mournful visage; yet, when roused by example, it shews a certain degree of gaiety, for it joins the frolics of children, hopping and playing with them: "I saw in a garden (says Dr. Hermann) where the children were playing at hide and seek, a tame Stork join the party, run its turn when touched, and distinguish the child whose turn it was to pursue the rest, so well, as, along with the others, to be on its guard." To this Bird the ancients ascribed many of the moral virtues; as, temperance, conjugal fidelity, and filial and paternal piety. The manners of the Stork are such as were likely to attract peculiar attention from them. It bestows much time and care on the education of its young, and does not leave them till they have strength sufficient for their defence and support. When they begin to flutter out of the nest the mother bears them on her wings; she protects them from danger, and will sometimes perish with them rather than forsake them. A celebrated story is extant in Holland, that when the city of Delft was on fire, a female Stork in vain attempted several times to carry off her young ones, and finding that she was unable to effect their escape, suffered herself to be burned with them, The following anecdote affords a singular instance of sagacity in this Bird:-A wild Stork was brought by a farmer, in the neighbourhood of Hamburg, into his poultry-yard, to be the companion of a tame one he had long kept there; but the tame Stork disliking the idea of a rival, fell upon the poor stranger, and beat him so unmercifully, that he was compelled to take wing, and with some difficulty got away. About four months afterwards, however, he returned to the poultry-yard, recovered of his wounds, and attended by three other Storks, who no sooner alighted than they all together fell upon the tame Stork and killed him.* Storks are Birds of passage, and observe great exactness in the time of their autumnal departure from Europe to more favourite climates. They pass a second summer in Egypt and the marshes of Barbary; in the former country they pair, and lay again, and educate a second brood. Before each of their migrations they rendezvous in amazing numbers. They are for a while much in motion among themselves; and after making several short flights, as if to try their wings, all of a sudden take flight with great siJence, and with such speed, as in a moment to attain so great a height that they are instantly out of sight. Where the Rhine loses its majestic force In Belgian plains, won from the raging deep The Stork-assembly meets; for many a day Th' aerial billows, mixes with the clouds. These Birds are seldom seen farther north than Sweden, and though they have scarcely ever been * Letters on Italy by Mariana Starkę, ii. 253. |