Pygmies live, and where ’tis very likely the Cranes may lay their Eggs and breed, before they return.  But these rude Pygmies making too bold with them, what could the Cranes do less for preserving their Off-spring than fight them; or at least by their mighty Noise, make a shew as if they would.  This is but what we may observe in all other Birds.  And thus far I think our Geranomachia or Pygmaeomachia looks like a true Story; and there is nothing in Homer about it, but what is credible.  He only expresses himself, as a Poet should do; and if Readers will mistake his meaning, ’tis not his fault.

[Footnote B:  Aristotle.  Hist.  Animal. lib. 8. cap. 15.  Edit.  Scalig.]

‘Tis not therefore the Poet that is to be blamed, tho’ they would father it all on him; but the fabulous Historians in after Ages, who have so odly drest up this Story by their fantastical Inventions, that there is no knowing the truth, till one hath pull’d off those Masks and Visages, wherewith they have disguised it.  For tho’ I can believe Homer, that there is a fight between the Cranes and Pygmies, yet I think I am no ways obliged to imagine, that when the Pygmies go to these Campaigns to fight the Cranes, that they ride upon Partridges, as Athenaeas from Basilis an Indian Historian tells us; for, saith he,[A] [Greek:  Basilis de en toi deuteroi ton Indikon, oi mikroi, phaesin, andres oi tais Geranois diapolemountes Perdixin ochaemati chrontai;].  For presently afterwards he tells us from Menecles, that the Pygmies not only fight the Cranes, but the Partridges too, [Greek:  Meneklaes de en protae taes synagogaes oi pygmaioi, phaesi, tois perdixi, kai tais Geranois polemousi].  This I could more readily agree to, because Onesicritus, as I have quoted him already confirms it; and gives us the same reason for this as for fighting the Cranes, because they rob their Nests.  But whether these Partridges are as big as Geese, I leave as a Quaere.

[Footnote A:  Athenaei Deipnesoph. lib. p. 9. m. 390.]

Megasthenes methinks in Pliny mounts the Pygmies for this expedition much better, for he sets them not on a Pegasus or Partridges, but on Rams and Goats:  Fama est (saith Pliny[A]) insedentes Arietum Caprarumque dorsis, armatis sagittis, veris tempore universo agmine ad mare descendere.  And Onesicritus in Strabo tells us, That a Crane has been often observed to fly from those parts with a brass Sword fixt in him, [Greek:  pleistakis d’ ekpiptein geranon chalkaen echousan akida apo ton ekeithen plaegmaton.][B] But whether the Pygmies do wear Swords, may be doubted.  ’Tis true, Ctesias tells us,[C] That the King of India every fifth year sends fifty Thousand Swords, besides abundance