（水禽类二十三种）
（宋《嘉 》）
【释名】仙禽（《纲目》）、胎禽。
时珍曰∶鹤字，篆文象翘首短尾之形。一云白色 ，故名。
八公《相鹤经》云∶鹤乃羽族之宗，仙人之骥，千六百年乃胎产。则胎、仙之称以此。
世谓鹤不卵生者，误矣。
【集解】禹锡曰∶鹤有玄有黄，有白有苍。入药用白者，他色次之。
时珍曰∶鹤大于鹄，长三尺，高三尺余，喙长四寸。丹顶赤目，赤颊青脚、修颈凋尾，
粗膝纤指。白羽黑翎，亦有灰色、苍色者。尝以夜半鸣，声唳云霄。雄鸣上风，雌鸣下风，
声交而孕。亦啖蛇虺，闻降真香烟则降，其粪能化石，皆物类相感也。按∶《相鹤经》云∶
鹤，阳鸟也，而游于阴。
年羽翮具又七年飞薄云汉，又七年舞应节，又七年鸣中律，又七年大毛落， 毛生，或白
如雪，或
琰云∶龟鹤能运任脉，故多寿。无死气于中也。鹤骨为笛，甚清越。
白鹤血
【气味】咸，平，无毒。
【主治】益气力，补虚乏，去风益肺（《嘉 》）。
【发明】
禹锡曰∶按《穆天子传》云∶天子至巨 氏，巨 之人献白鹤之
也。
脑
【主治】和天雄、葱实服之。令人目明，夜能书字（《抱朴》）
卵
【气味】甘、咸，平，无毒。
【主治】预解痘毒，多者令少，少者令不出。每用一枚煮，与小儿食之（时珍。出《活
幼全书》）。
骨
【主治】酥炙，入滋补药（时珍）。
肫中砂石子
【主治】磨水服，解蛊毒邪（《嘉 》）。
(Twenty-three species of waterfowl)
(Cited from the Song Dynasty *Jiayou Bencao*)
[Nomenclature] Immortal Bird (from *Bencao Gangmu*), Fetal Bird.
Li Shizhen stated: The seal script character for "He" (Crane) depicts the form of a crane with its head raised and tail short. Another theory is that it is named so because of its white feathers.
The *Xiang He Jing* (Classic on Observing Cranes) by Ba Gong states: "The crane is the patriarch of feathered creatures and the steed of immortals; it takes one thousand six hundred years to gestate." Thus, the titles "Fetal" and "Immortal" originate from this.
The common belief that cranes do not lay eggs is mistaken.
[Collected Explanations] Su Song stated: Cranes come in black, yellow, white, and grayish-blue colors. For medicinal use, white ones are preferred, while others are secondary.
Li Shizhen stated: The crane is larger than the swan (*Hu*), measuring three chi in length and over three chi in height, with a beak four cun long. It has a red crown, red eyes, red cheeks, blue-green legs, a slender neck, and sparse tail feathers. Its knees are thick, and its toes are slender. Its body feathers are white, and its flight feathers are black, though some may be gray or grayish-blue. It often cries at midnight, its voice piercing the clouds. When the male calls facing the wind, and the female calls against the wind, their voices intersect and conception occurs. It also eats snakes and venomous insects; upon smelling the incense of *Jiangzhen Xiang* (Aquilaria sinensis), it descends. Its feces can turn into stone. These are all examples of mutual感应 (interaction/influence) among species. According to the *Xiang He Jing*: "The crane is a bird of Yang, yet it dwells in Yin."
[Textual lacuna/corruption in source regarding growth cycles] After seven years of having full plumage and wings, it flies near the Milky Way; after another seven years, its dance corresponds to rhythm; after another seven years, its cry matches musical pitch; after another seven years, old feathers fall out, and new ones grow, some white as snow, some... [Text missing here] ...Yan stated: Turtles and cranes can circulate the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), which is why they have long lifespans. There is no stagnant Qi within them. Crane bone made into flutes produces very clear and resonant sounds.
White Crane Blood
[Properties and Flavor] Salty, neutral, non-toxic.
[Therapeutic Actions] Tonifies Qi and strength, supplements deficiency and exhaustion, dispels Wind and benefits the Lung (from *Jiayou Bencao*).
[Elucidation]
Su Song stated: According to the *Mu Tianzi Zhuan* (Record of the Traveling King Mu): "When the Son of Heaven arrived at the Ju Shi tribe, the people of Ju Shi presented him with the brain of a white crane."
[Therapeutic Actions] Taken together with Tianxiong (Aconitum carmichaelii lateral root) and scallion bulbs. It clarifies vision, allowing one to read by night (from *Baopuzi*).
Egg
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, salty, neutral, non-toxic.
[Therapeutic Actions] Prevents and resolves smallpox toxin; reduces severe cases and prevents mild cases from erupting. Boil one egg and feed it to children (Li Shizhen, citing *Huoyou Quanshu*).
Bone
[Therapeutic Actions] Roasted in butter, then added to tonic prescriptions (Li Shizhen).
Gizzard Stones (within the crop)
[Therapeutic Actions] Ground into water and ingested to resolve Gu poison and evil pathogens (from *Jiayou Bencao*).