also visit Russia and Siberia. The nest of the crane is made among long herbage, reeds, and the luxuriant vegetation of swampy tracts, and sometimes on insulated ruins. Two eggs are laid, of a pale dull-greenish color, blotched with brown. The food of this bird consists not only of grain and vegetables, but worms, frogs, and snails. Cranes are said to make great havoc in the corn when it is green. Of their migration Mil

ton says

Part loosely wing the region; part, more wise,
In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way,
Intelligent of seasons; and set forth

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, fanned with unnumbered plumes.

Flocks of these birds are seen, at stated times, in France and Germany, passing north and south, as the season may be, in marshalled order, high in the air, their sonorous voices distinctly heard even from their elevated course. Occasionally they descend, attracted by newly-sown fields, or the prospect of finding food in marshes, on the borders of rivers, or even the shores of the sea; but generally they continue their flight unchecked towards their destined resting-places.

Willoughby says, "The flesh is very savory and well tasted, not to say delicate;" and indeed it seems to have been highly prized in former days. Pegge says, "William the Conqueror was remarkable for an immense stomach, and withal was so exact, so nice and curious in his repasts, that when his prime favorite, William Fitz Osborne, who, as steward of his household, had the charge of the curey, served him with the flesh of a crane scarcely half roasted, the king was so highly exasperated that he lifted up his fist, and would have struck him, had not Eudo, who was appointed steward immediately after, warded off the blow." At the enthronization of George Newell, an English archbishop, 204 cranes were served; and in the "Northumberland Household Book," the price of the crane is marked sixteen pence. At an ancient marriage-feast, one of the items is, " 9 cranes, every crane three shillings and fourpence."

Habits of the Crane Family.

Cranes are large birds frequenting marshes and open plains, migrating to warm climates in winter and returning to the north to breed. They fly usually at night in large flocks, following a leader in two diverging lines not unlike ploughshares, at a great elevation and sometimes uttering loud cries. Their food consists of reptiles, fish, mice and other small ani

mals, insects, seeds, roots and grain. They are very shy and difficult to approach from the acuteness of their sight and hearing. In captivity they become gentle, feeding on vegetable substances.

The crowned or crested crane is slender and graceful, and is often kept in captivity for its beauty and docility; its voice is remarkably shrill. When the cranes are on the ground they are said to set guards during the night.

The demoiselle crane is remarkable for the idea that it appears to have respecting its own beauty. Its deportment is very singular and at times even ludicrous. It moves about with a consequential air, hanging its head first on one side and then on the other. It then will run some

twenty or thirty yards treading only on the tips of its toes, as if it were trying to pick its way over a very dirty road. Then it will have a little danse all to itself and suddenly stand still again quite composed, as if it had been doing nothing at all.

From these habits naturalists have named this bird demoiselle, or peacock crane. Its daily habits are very regular. At sunrise it leaves its resting place in search of prey along the banks of a stream. About two hours later it takes a bath and then amuses itself in the above described Sometimes a short excursion is made in the afternoon, but generally one meal suffices for the whole day. They select their resting place in dense forests on high trees, never on the ground.

CHAPTER XVI.

CURIOUS SPECIMENS OF THE FEATHERED TRIBES.

The Odd Looking Flamingo-" Bean Pole" of the Bird World-Fiery Plumage-Elegant Appearance-Singular Nest-Remarkable Construction of Jaws-The "Kiwi-Kiwi "—Wingless Creatures-Descendants of the Ancient Dinornis-New Zealand Chiefs Dressed in the Skin of the Apteryx-An Egg that Weighs One-fourth as much as the Bird-Habits of the Apteryx-The Ostrich-Bird of the Desert-Extraordinary Nest and Eggs-Birdlings Hatched by the SunArabian Stories of the Ostrich-Royal Carriage Drawn by a Team of OstrichesRiding the Two legged Steed--Cunning Methods of Capture-American Ostrich Described-Noisy Guinea-Fowl-Flesh of Fine Flavor-Conspicuous Crest-Eggs Colored like the Plumage-The Sacred Ibis-Varied Colors-Bird of Mexico-Egyptian Veneration for the Ibis-Regular Migration-Embalmed Remains in Egyptian Burial Places-The Giant Heron-Lonely Creature-Inhabitant of Marshes and Water Courses-Singular Habits-Seeking PreyStanding for Hours on one Leg-Little Herons-The Heron and Falcon in Combat-The Shoe-Bill-Strangest of all Birds-The Spoon-Bill-A Voiceless Bird-The Owl-Immense Eyes-A Night Prowler-White Owl-Tenant of Barns-Voracity for Mice-The Owl Attacking a Man-Little Birds' RevengeThe Darter-Long Neck-The Famous Stork-Remarkable Intelligence-A Good Wife and Mother-Storks Sentenced to Death for Infidelity-The Adjutant-Blue-Headed Parakeets.

HERE are few birds so odd in their appearance as the flamingo. Its body is not so large as that of the stork, but its legs are like long stilts. Indeed, they may be said to be quite out of proportion to its size; when it stands up it is six feet high. The head is small, but is furnished with a very long bill, which, as you see, curves down from the middle. The end of the bill, as far as the bend, is black, and then a reddish yellow. The tongue is large and fleshy, and fills up the whole of the bill, and the tip is gristly. Its long legs rather link it with the waders, but the three front toes are united by a web, as in the case of the water-birds.

The plumage of the head, when in its full perfection, is deep scarlet, with black quills. As it strides about upon its stilt-like legs, with its enormous length of neck, we should regard it as a most uncouth creature but for its splendid scarlet robe, that excites our admiration. It lives with its companions in a flock, and the flock stand in a line, like sentinels, clad in their red uniform. One of the band acts as a watchman, and if any danger approaches, utters a scream like the sound of a trumpet. Then

the whole flock rise in the air with loud clamor, and look very much like a fiery cloud.

The creeks and ravines of tropical countries in Asia and Africa abound with flamingoes. They are seen standing, as in the engraving, and preWill

209

ASIATIC FLAMINGO.

sent a most grotesque appearance. Their way of feeding is very peculiar They twist their neck in such a way that the upper part of the bill touches the ground, while they disturb the mud with their webbed feet, and raisc up the insects and spawn of which they are in search.

In the summer the flock of flamingoes will take a journey northward as

far as the Rhine. When they are on the wing they have a very splendid appearance. They look like a great fiery triangle. All at once they slacker their speed, hover for a moment, and then alight on the banks of the river. They range themselves in the usual line, place their guards, and begin at once to fish.

Considering the enormous length of its legs, you would wonder how the bird contrives to hatch its eggs, or what kind of a nest it builds. It is a mason bird, and forms its nest of mud, in the shape of a hillock, with a hole at the top. Here the mother bird lays two eggs about the size of those of the goose. The nest is high enough to allow her to throw her legs across it and sit upon the eggs, in an attitude as if she were riding. The flamingo sitting on its nest in this manner has been compared to a man on a high stool, with his legs hanging down. The nest itself is very curious, and is solid nearly to the top, and then hollow like a basin.

Flamingoes in the Snare."

The bottom of the nest is in the water, and the bird usually has its feet in the water. In some parts of the tropics, the birds are tamed for the sake of their skin, which is used in swans' down. They are caught in snares, or else decoyed by tame flamingoes that are used on purpose. The tame flamingoes are driven into places frequented by the wild ones, and meat is laid upon the ground. As soon as the wild flamingoes see the others eating the meat, they come forward to obtain a share. A battle ensues between the birds, and the bird-catcher, who is hidden close by, watches his opportunity to dart forward and seize the prey.

There are two kinds of flamingoes-that of America is of a deep red, while the one in Asia and Africa is rose-colored, with black wings. In old times the flesh of the flamingo was considered a dainty, and even now the young bird is thought by some people to taste like partridge. But the people in these days, who have tasted it, say it is very disagreeable. There was a tame flamingo that lived a little time in our latitude. It used to dip its bread in water, and to eat more in the night than in the day. It was very impatient of cold, and would go so near to the fire as to burn. its toes. One of its legs was hurt by an accident, and it could not use it. But it contrived to walk all the same, for it put its head to the ground and used its long neck as a crutch.

As the flamingo frequents the sea-coast and the adjacent marshes, it has the power of swimming, and its toes are partially webbed; and thus it may fearlessly venture even beyond its depth, nor apprehend being carried away by the retiring tide. Its food consists of small fish, shells, and water insects, for the capture of which its beak is most singularly