ARCTUS, in astronomy, the Greek name for the Ursa Major and Minor.
AUDI:Agin natural history, a genus of birds of the order of Grallie. The cha racters of this genus arc, a long, strong, sharp-pointed bill ; nostrils linear ; tongue pointed ; toes connected by a membrane as far as the first joint ; the middle claw of some of the species, of which there are 79, pectinated. This genus is sepa rated into five divisions, viz. Afcrested ; bill hardly longer than the head ; B.
cranes, bald ; C. storks, orbits naked ; D. herons, middle claw serrate inwardly ; E. bill gaping in the middle.
Some ornithologists have separated the herons from the storks and cranes; others, preferring the Linnman system, class the whole under one genus, which, according to Gmelin, consists of nearly 100 species, though Latham enumerated but 79. They are widely distributed over various parts of the globe, differing in size, figure, and plumage, and with talons adapted to their various places of residence, or their pecu liar pursuits. But, notwithstanding the variety in their bills and plumage, the manners of all are nearly the same, so also is their character, which is stigmatiz ed with cowardice and rapacity, indo lence, and yet insatiable hunger ; and it has been observed, that, from the meagre looking fbrm of their bodies, one would suppose the greatest abundance almost insufficient for their support.
Ardea pavonia. This is as large as the common heron ; the length two feet nine inches ; the bill is two inches and a half long, straight, and of a brownish colour ; irides grey; the crown of the head covered with soft black feathers like velvet ; on the hind part is a tuft composed of hair, or rather bristles, arising near each other at the base, and spreading out on all sides in a globular form; this is four inches in length, and of a reddish brown colour ;the sides of the head are bare of feathers, being cover ed only by a fleshy membrane of a reddish colour at the lower part, and in shape not unlike a kidney; on each side of the throat hangs a kind of wattle ; the general colour of the bird bluish-ash ; the feathers on the fore part of the neck are very long, and hang over the breast ; wing coverts white; the greater ones incline to rufous,and those farthest from the body to black;the greater quills and tail are black, and the seconda ries chesnuts ; the legs and the bare part above the knee are dusky. The female is black where the male is blue-ash ; and the wattles on the throat are wanting ; the long feathers on the breast are also less conspicuous. This beautiful species is an
inhabitant of Africa, particularly the coast of Guinea, as far as Cape Verd ; at this last place they are said to be wonderfully tame, and will often come into the court yards to feed with the poultry. Why the name of Balearic crane has been given to this bird is not well ascertained, as it is certainly not met with in the Balearic Islands at this day. These birds are often kept in our menageries, and with shelter at night often live a good while. Their chief food is supposed to be worms, and such other things as the herontribe usually feed on ; also vegetables of all kinds. It often sleeps on one leg, runs very fast, and is said not only to fly well, but to sustain it for a long time together. The flesh of this bird is said to be very tough.
Ardea virgo, or the Numiclian crane. Size of the crane ; length three feet three incites : the bill straight, two inches and a half long, greenish at the base, then yel lowish, with the tip red ; irides crimson. The crown of the head is ash-colour ; the rest of the head, the upper part of the neck behind, and all the under parts to the breast, black ; on the last, the feathers are long. and hang downwards ; the back, rump, and tail, and all the under part from the breast, are of a bluish ash-colour ; behind each eye spring-s a tuft of long white feathers, which decline downwards, and hang in an elegant manner ; the quills and tail are black at the ends ; the legs are black. This species is found in many parts of Aflica and Asia. In the first it has been met with on the coast of Guinea ; but is most plentiful about Bildulgerid, (the ancient Numidia), and Tripoli ; from thence along the coasts of the 'Mediter ranean Sea, and pretty common in Egypt. They are also at Aleppo, and in the southern plain about the Black and Cas pian Seas ; and are seen frequently be yond Lake Baikal, about the rivers Se lenga and Argun, but never venture to the northward. In all places they prefer marshes and the neighbourhood of rivers, as their food is fish, like most of the heron genus. It is frequently kept in menage ries, being endowed with great gentle ness of manners, added to its being an elegant bird. At various times it puts it selt into strange and uncouth attitudes, and especially those which imitate (lanc ing : and Keysler mentions one in the Great Duke's Gallery at Florence, which had boen taught to dance to a certain tune when played or sung to it. Tile name this bird is known by in the east is Kurki, or Querky. See Plate II. Aves, fig. 7.