Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

Of the Vulture. chap. 35.

THE Uolture hath the name of slowe flight, as Isidore sayth. For of the plenteousnesse of much flesh, hée lack∣eth swiftnesse of flight. And some men tell, that her treding is not medled, but y^t she conceiueth, and is conceiued, and gen∣dereth, and is gendered without ioyning of treading: and they tell, that they live an hundred yéeres, as Isidore sayth. This Birde is cruell about his owne Birdes, as the Kite is. And if shée séeth her birdes too fatte, shée beateth them with her féete and bill to make them leane by sore beating and biting, as Pli∣nius saith.

Also he sayth, that in this Birde the wit of smelling is best. And therefore by smelling he sauoureth carrions that bée farre from him that is beyonde the sea: and againeward Therefore the Uul∣ture followeth the hoast that hée maye féed himselfe with carrions of men, and of horse. And therefore (as a Diuinour sayth) when many Uulturs come and flie together, it betokeneth battaile. And they know that such a battaile shall bée, by some priuie wit of kinde. And Aristo∣tle speaketh of the Uulture and saith, that he fighteth with the gentle Falwcon, and slyeth about him, and when hée hath

ouercome him, he dieth. He eateth rawe flesh: and therefore he fighteth against other Foules because of meate, and hée hunteth from middaye to night: and re∣steth still from the Sunne rising to that time. And when hée ageth, his ouer bill waxeth long and cr••oked ouer the nether, and dyeth at the last for hunger, as Ari∣stotle sayth there. And some men saye, by errour of olde time, that the Uulture was sometime a man, and was cruell to some Pilgrimes; and therefore hée hath such paine of his bill, and dieth for hun∣ger, but that is not lawfull to beléeue.

And so he saith, when he of his meat leaueth reliefe, hée leaueth not that o∣ther foules, as the Eagle doth, but layeth it in his neast to féede with his birds: for he getteth not ligthly meate: and theyr neasts be on high mountaines, & in thick woodes. And if he séeth any fowle flye a∣bout his birdes, he beateth them away: and féedeth his birds till they may flye: & then he driueth them out of the neast, and suffreth them not to come nigh that place.

Also in lib. de Almacar, he sayth, that ther is a manner water foule that drea∣deth the Uulture, and therefore flyeth to the water: and the Uulture flyeth about farre from thence, and is sharpe of sight, and waiseth when the foule cōmeth out of the water: & then he taketh that foule if he may.

Also the Uulture is a much stinking foule and vncleane, and his flesh is most hard and of euill sauour, and of heauye smell. And therefore it is not profitable for mans meate: For carrion he ligh∣teth lyghtly to the ground. But when he is alighted, vnueth he riseth againe frō the ground, as Gregory sayth. Hée fly∣eth high, and séeth carrions that bée full lowe: and for loue of carrion he com∣meth downe from the high country of the aire, to the grounde, as he sayth. And when any beast setteth vpon him he bea∣teth his wings against the winde: and so he, riseth from the ground: and flyeth into the aire more by helpe of the winde then by his owne strength.

And héereto lib. 29. ca. 3. Plinius saith, that among foules the Uulture is con∣trary to serpents. For if his fethers be burnt, the smell thereof driueth awaye Serpents. And the heart thereof maketh a man siker, and safe that brareth it a∣mong Serpents and wilde beastes.

His heart bound in a Lions skinne, or in a Wolfes skin driueth away féends. His fethers bounde to the lefte foote of a woman, that trauaileth with childe, deli∣uereth her swiftly. But then it must be taken away lightlye, least the entrayles followe and come out after, Ointment made of Uultures grease, and oile that is called Oleum myrti, & Waxe, helpeth si∣newes, & beasts also. His right foot bound to the left foote, healeth that aketh; the left foote also healeth the right foote. His tongue plucked out with yron, & hanged about a mans necke in new cloth, ma∣keth a man gracious, to get of a mā what he desireth. So it is sayde, his boanes burnt to ashes, and medled with Celido∣nia, and giuen to beastes, healeth theyr euills. Huc vsque Plinius, cap. 36. He saith that bloud of Uultures, with the hearbe y^t is called Cabeon, or els Came∣leonte, and Celdra, healeth the Leper.

* 1.1The Uulture is called a Geir, lyke vnto an Eagle, a bird of a fierce stomack, there are diuerse kindes, there is one kinde lyke the Fawlcon, bigger billed, & talented. Read Gesner.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Additiō