An history of the wonderful things of nature set forth in ten severall classes wherein are contained I. The wonders of the heavens, II. Of the elements, III. Of meteors, IV. Of minerals, V. Of plants, VI. Of birds, VII. Of four-footed beasts, VIII. Of insects, and things wanting blood, IX. Of fishes, X. Of man / written by Johannes Jonstonus, and now rendred into English by a person of quality.

OF Miracles of Nature. (Book 6)

The Sixth Classis. In which are contained the Wonders of Birds. (Book 6)

Seneca Natur. quaest. l. 2. c. 32.

ALso those things are not out of our power, which are immoveable, or for their swiftnesse, equall to all the World, are like to things with∣out motion.

CHAP. 1. Of the Eagle.

THe Eagle challengeth the first place; nor that it is the best dish at the Table, for none will eat it; but because it is the King of Birds. It is of the kind of birds of prey. The right foot of it is greater than the left; the brain is so hot, that mingled with Hemlock juice, and drank in powder, it will make one mad. It drinks not, because it seems the blood of what it preys up∣on, sufficeth it. But in old age, when the Beak is crooked with dry∣nesse, it preserves it self by drinking, Aelian. They have been seen a cubit in largenesse, and some young one, whose wings stretched out would reach 7. els. The Claws were bigger than a great mans fingers, and the thighes greater than a Lyons. Gesner saith, that was seen at a place between Dreson ond Mysnia: when it lyeth down it takes a stone called Ae••ites, which because they grow so hot as if they boy∣led, doth temper their heat. When the young ones are hatcht, she holds them in her Talons against the Sun; and having proved them to be legitimate, she takes them on her wings and carries them; the

strongest of them, when she hath them aloft, she lets them fall, and then she flies and meets them, and takes them up again. When they are old enough, she drives them forth of her nest and quarter. The female is so falacious, that being trod 30 times in a day, if the male come to her again, she will run to him. It is so quick-sighted, that flying over the Sea, out of mans view, it will discern the smallest fish: And as for its smell, it will flie to carcases 500 miles distant. It roars like a Bull; but the young ones are mute, because their tongue is hindred by moisture. It is an enemy to the Cranes: there∣fore when they fly over Mount Taurus from Cilicia, they take stones in their mouthes, and stop their clarying, and flye over it in the night. When the sight, bill, and wings fail her, she flyes above the Clowds, and there by the Suns heat she recovers her sight. She when she is become extream hot, plunges into the water, then she flies to her nest, grows feavorish, casts her feathers, is fed by her young ones, and renews her self; but sooner, if she can find Serpents to feed on.

CHAP. II. Of the Hawke.

THe Hawke is of divers magnitudes according to its Sex and Country. The females are the greater, because their heat is lesse, Calent. in Epist. It hath a great heart that enclines toward the breast with a blunt point; the Milt is so small, that it can hardly be seen, Aristot. de part. animal. c. 38. It is full of feathers, which when it is young it casts 4. times. It is not very generative, for the over great heat thickneth the seed; also the moysture of it is sent to the feathers, the Tallens, and legs: yet it is so venereous, that the fe∣male will return 30 times a day, if she be required, Alb. l. 10. c. 8. She flies from Carrion, and if it come to a mans carcase, it will not feed thereon. She drinks, when she can light on no prey for blood. She flyes sometimes so high, that she cannot be seen. In the Ayr she will turn on her back, and stretches out her tail, back, and wings, and lyes upon them, Aelian. It hath wonderful ingenuity; The bird she takes in the Evening she holds under her feet, and when the Sun ri∣seth she lets it flie away, and if she meets it again, she will never pursue it. When her eyes grow dim, she seeks for Hawkwort, and rubs it, and with the juice of it she anoints her eyes, Aelian l. 2. de anim. c. 43. She seems to lament the death of Man, and will cast the earth on his eyes, and if he be not buried, she will throw Earth to bury him. The thigh bone of it put toward gold, doth draw it to it with delight, Aelian. l. 4. c. 43. Pigeons so soon as they hear its noise fly away; hens eggs, if they sit, will be spoyled; small birds are so frighted at the sight of her, that you may take them off the hedges with your hands. The chief disease she hath is the molting

of her feathers. It happens, before Nilus overflowes the fields, that is, in August. When the South wind blowes they stretch forth their wings, and grow hot with the heat of the wind; when this is want∣ing, they fan themselves with their wings in the warm Sun. By this warmth the pores are opened, the old feathers fall, and new grow up. The Aegyptians thought they lived 700 years.

CHAP. III. Of the Assalon and Heron.

ASsalon, is called Smerillus and Merillus. It will so pursue Larks, that it will follow them into a hot Furnace, or pit of water, or to mens cloaths, Cressent. l. 10. c. 13. It fights with the Crowes and Foxes, breaking the eggs of the one, and killing the Cubs of the other. To kill Herons, in England is a capital Crime, wherefore there are many of them in that place. They are so continent, that they are sad 40 dayes when they are upon venereous actions, Glycas l. 1. Animal. If they dung upon a Hawk, they corrupt and burn its feathers. When a showring is coming, they flie above the Clowds. They swallow shell-fish, shells and all; but when they think their heat hath opened them, they cast them up again, and eat the fish. They lie in wait for fish very cunningly; for they stand so against the Suns beams, that their shadow may not be seen to drive them away: But the Countrey men of Colen say they have such force, that if they put but a foot into the water, they will draw the fish to them as with a bait. Gesner writes, that he read in a German Manuscript, that if their feet be distill'd by descent, and a mans hands be anointed with the oyl, they will come to ones hands that they may be taken. Fran∣ciscus Vallesius the first, King of France kept them so tame, that though they be wild by nature, they would come home of themselves; some say, they sweat blood in Treading, but Albertus confutes that.

CHAP. IV. Of the Horn-Owl and Aluco.

A Sin, or Otus, and a Night-Crow, makes such a noise, as a man doth that is chill'd with cold; they cry hu, hu. With his cry; and the bird Cyncramus, he leads the Quails when they depart hence. He imitates those things he sees men do: Also they watch fowlers standing over against them; wherefore they seem to anoint their eyes with a kind of bird-lime, then they depart and leave it in the holes; the Otus or Do••rill comes and glews his eyes together, and so is he ta∣ken. There are two kinds of Aluco's, the greater, and the lesse. The greater Aluco hath this property, that he winks with his eye-lid; he

hath no little ears like horns, but in place of them he hath a kind of Crown-circle made of feathers that covers his whole face; small fea∣thers rising above his eys; like a high ridge of a hair above the eye-lids; and on both sides they go about by the temples, and meet under the chin, like a womans ketcher. The lesser is found in the clifts of Oaks that the Worms have eaten hollow. If he take any living creature he swallowes it whole; for his throat is so wide, that he will swallow bits bigger than egs; nor doth he eat any meat till he have plumed the feathers and hairs, and cast away the bones.

CHAP. V. Of a Goose.

GEese in the Kingdom of Senega, are of divers colours. Whiter than Swans, and with red heads, are bred in Hispaniola, Cadamust. And Odoricus à foro Julii saith, That in the Kingdom of Mancum in India the superiour, they have a bone above their head as big as an Egge, of a blood red colour, and a skin hanging half way under the throat. Aldrovandus thinks, it is of the kinds of Onocrotalus. Strabo l. 6. Geograph. saith, there are none in the South part of Arabia. They live many years, Albertus saith 60, Gratalorus 200 years. But Al∣drovandus writes, he should not take his oath for it. Gardanus thinks it not fabulous, because their flesh is so sound. For it is known, that a Wild-Goose hung up for 3. dayes continually, would not grow tender, and cast to the dogs they would not eat it. But amongst all kind of Geese, that is the most wonderful, which in Scotland they call the Soland Goose. In Descriptione Scotiae, Boetius writes thus of it; Above other Islands, Maya of D. Hadrian is noble, for the reliques of him and his fellowes, who suffered Martyrdom for Christs sake. A Fountain of most sweet water runs forth of a very high rock in the midst of the Sea, a wonderful miracle of Nature. The Fort Bass that is invincible to mans forces stands upon it, and exceeds all the rest in strangenesse. Also there is a Rock situate in an arm of the Sea, that hath a narrow entrance, a Fisherman's Boat can scarce passe into it; that hath no houses made in it by art of man; yet is it hollow, and hath habitations as convenient in it, as if men had built them. But they are by this means the more forcible; whatsoever is in it, is full of wonderful things; For those Birds which in our Mother-Tongue we call Soland Geese, not unlike to those which Pliny calls Water-Eagles, dwell here in abundance, and hardly any where else. These so soon as they come at the beginning of the Spring, they do bring so much wood with them to build their nests, that the Inhabitants that dwell there (nor do they repine at it) carry away as much as serves them for fuel a whole year. They feed their young ones with the most choise fish. For if they have caught one, and they see a better swimming at

the bottom of the Sea, they let that fall and plunge themselves vio∣••••ntly into the waters to catch the other. When they have brought 〈…〉〈…〉 fish to their young ones, they let men take away what they please ••••llingly, and flie again to catch more. Also they let the people 〈…〉〈…〉 their young ones without resistance; whence there accrues to 〈…〉〈…〉 Governour of the Castle a mighty revenue yearly: for pulling off their skins with the fat, they make an oyl of them of great worth. Also they have a small gut that is full of oyl of great vertue, for it cures the hip and joynt Gouts; so that this Bird serving for all mens use, is inferiour to none, but that he is not common to be had: So far Boetius. When I was in Scotland, I smelt of them, and they smelt like Herrings.

CHAP. VI. Of the Kings Fisher, of Ducks, and the Bird Emme.

IT is reported, that the Kings-Fishers build their nests of the hardest fish bones, and the sharpest thorns, and are seldom seen but at Sea, where the waters are salt. They breed about the middle of win∣ter. Wherefore when it is a calm Winter, they call it Halcyon dayes, 7. dayes before the midst of winter, and 7. dayes after the midst of winter. In the first he makes his nest, in these last he breeds, Plin. l. 5. c. 8. The nest is made like a Pine-Apple, or a glasse with a long neck, Albert. It is so artificially made, that it cannot be easily cut with a sword. But Aristotle saith, that if you break and bruise it with your hands, and then break it with an Iron, you may easily de∣stroy it: That the Sea may not enter into it, she makes her hole of a spungy matter that will swell, and the swelling shuts up the entrance; Those that go in, do presse against it, and so presse out the water and find passage. The Shee of them so loves the Hee, that she is alwaies with him, and in old age carrieth him on her back; and they both die in copulation, Plutarch. de solert. animal. House Ducks are known almost to all men; those of Lybia are of a middle stature, between a Goose and a Duck. Their genitall member is so great as a finger is thick, and five times as long, and is red as blood, Bellon. Look on their eyes by the Sun, and you shall see a black spot on the top, which is in the Beaks of them, Scalig. They make no noise, though they have both Lungs and Wind-pipe. When our Country-people would keep abundance of them, let them keep two of our Ducks for each of those Drakes, and so they will lay abundance of Eggs. But the young Ducks so bred, will never procreate again, as other living Creatures that are bred of divers kinds. In Ancyra there are some that blow like a Horn, as those that sound when horsemen march in orders, Auger. They love their liberty so well, that being kept 3. years in a Cage, and fed, if they can find opportunity they will flie

away. There is such plenty of the wild ones, that they cover all the waters; but they live no where but in warm Countries. In the Winter, that they may not be Frozen in, by an instinct of nature, they swim circularly and on one side, they keep the waters open, and cry so lowd that they may be heard. When the cold grows too violent they flye aloft to the Sea, Olaus, l. 19. c. 6.

The Hollanders brought the Bird Emme from Java; it is twice as great as a Swan, black and with black wings. But out of two originalls there proceed two more, as it is with the Ostrich. It wants wings and a tongue; on the top of the head, it hath a buckler as hard as a Tortesse-shell, like a Target. It would swallow Apples as big as ones fist, and lumps of Ice; also burning Coles, and all without any hurt. Al∣drovand.

CHAP. VII. Of Barnacles.

THere is a bird in Britanny that the English call, Barnacles, and Brant Geese, the Scotch call them Clakguse; It is lesse than a wild Goose, the breast is somwhat black, the rest As••-colour. It flies as wild Geese do, cries, and haunts Lakes, and spoiles the Corne. The learned question the original of it very much. For some say it breeds from rotten wood, some from Apples, some of fruit that is like to heaps of leaves; which when, at the time appointed, it falls into the water that is under it, it revives and becomes a living Creature. It grows in the Isle Pomonia in Scotland toward the North. And of this opinion is Isidore, Alexander ab Alexandro, Olaus Magnus, Gesner, Boe∣tius, and others; contrarily Albertus, and those that are of his mind, hold that they breed by copulation. The Hollanders from their own experience in Greenland, affirm they found some Barnacles sitting on egs, and had young ones. But these things may agree together, for things bred of corruption may have eggs, and that seems also most clear that Boetius hath written concerning them. That every man may perceive they are not fabulous, I shall set it down. Now it remains that we speak of those Geese which they call Clak-Geese; and which commonly they think amisse, to be bred upon Trees in these Islands, of which we were for a long time very inquisitive, and have found by experience. For I think the Sea between, is the greater cause of their generation than any thing else. For things are bred in the Sea variously; as we have observed. For if you throw wood into the Sea, in time Worms breed in it, that by degrees have a head, feet, wings; and lastly, feathers. Lastly they are as great as Geese, when they are full grown, they flye upward as other birds do, using their wings to carry them through the ayre, which is as clear as day, and was seen in the yeare from the Virgins conception, 1490, Many looking on. For when some of this wood was carried by the Waves to the Castle, Pethschl••ge, in great quantity; they that first espied it, wondred, and ran to the Governour and

tell him this strange news. The Governour came, and bid them Saw the Log in sunder; then they saw an infinite sort of living Creatures that were partly Worms, some not formed, others were, and were partly birds; and some of them were callow, some had feathers. Wondring at the miracle, at the Gover∣nours command, they carried that Log into the Church of St. Andrew at Tira where it yet remaines full of Worm holes as it was. The like to this two yeares after, was brought into Tham by the tide, to Bruthe Castle; many ran to see it, which again, two yeares after at Leith in the Harbour, all Edenburgh came to see. For a great ship, that had the name and the ensigne of Christo∣pher, when it had been 3 whole yeares at Anchor in one of the Hebrides▪ was brought back hither, and drawn on land: that part of it that was alwaies under the Sea, had the beames eaten through, and was full of Worms of this kind, partly unformed, not yet like birds, and partly those that were perfect Birds. But it may be some man will cavill at it, and say, that there is such a vertue in the boughs and stocks of Trees that grow in those Islands; and that the Christopher it self was made of the wood, growing in those Hebrides: wherefore I shall willingly declare what I saw 7, yeares since. Alexander Gallovidianus Pastor of the Church of Kil••y (a man besides his great in∣tegrity; incomparable for his care in study of wonders) when he had pull'd forth some Sea weeds, from the stalks and boughs, and likewise from the root, that grew up to the top where they joynd, he perceiv∣ed some shell fish-breed: he frighted with the novelty of the matter; presently opened them to know farther, and then he wondred far more than before. For, he saw no flesh shut up in the shells, but (which is wonderful) a bird: Wherefore he ran presently to me whom he a long time knew, desirous to know such new things, and shew'd it me, who was not more astonished at the sight of it as I rejoyced at the occasion to see a thing so rare, and unheard of. By this, I think it is evident enough, that these are not the seeds of breeding of Birds in fruits of roots of Trees, but in the Sea it self, which Virgil and Homer rightly term the Father of all things. But because they saw that come to passe vvhen the Apples fell from the Trees that grevv on the shore into the vvaters, that by continuance of time Birds appeared in them, they vvere of that opinion, that they believed the Apples vvere turned in∣to Birds, &c. Thus far Boetius. Reader thou may'st judge of it: for my part I admire at Gods providence, and at the end of this Classis by vvay of Appendix, I shall add some thing out of the discourse of Majerus concerning the Tree-Bird.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Owl and Catarrhacta.

THe Owl builds in the highest Rocks, that sometimes it is hard to find her eggs; for its young, Pliny saith, comes forth by the tail out of the egg, because the eggs being reversed by weight of their heads, brings the hinder part to be fostered by the dam. It is said,

That in Churches she drinks up the oyl; she not onely kills Birds, but Hares also. A Duck hath been found in one cut open. The brain of it with Goose-grease doth wonderfully joyn wounds. The Catar∣rhacta hath a wonderful way of sitting on her eggs, if that be true that Oppianus hath written. She layes Sea-weed upon her eggs on a rock, and so leaves them open to the winds. Hence the male catcheth those eggs he thinks sit to breed the males, and the female doth the like for the females; then they carry them up on high with their Talons, and so let them fall into the Sea; doing this often, they grow hot by motion, and the young ones are hatched.

CHAP. IX. Of the Feldifare and Goat-Sucker.

THe Feldifare makes her nest in the thickets; the walls are mosse, wooll, downy herbs; the ground-work is heath. They have six young ones, and they are so unlike their old ones, that they have scarce any mark like them; Because he flyes, he doth a little imitate the other Birds notes, he catcheth those that fly to him, and is easily taken himself; for when he sees a bird shut up in a cage, he flyes upon it to invade it. The Caprimulgus goes into the folds of shep∣herds, and sucks the Goats teats for milk; the udder loseth its force by this injury, and the Goats that are so suckt grow blind, Pliny l. 10. c. 40. He sees little in the day, but is quick-sighted at night, Arist. histor. l. 9. c. 30. In Candie it makes such an horrible noise, that it will fright the Inhabitants, Bellonius.

CHAP. X. Of the Cuckow.

THe Cuckow is a Bird of a very cold constitution of body, whence she is so fearful, that all the birds offend her, Plin. l. 10. c. 9. she breeds in other birds nests; especially, the Woodculver's, the hedge-Sparrow's, the Lark, the Red-breast and the Nightingall. If their nests be empty, she will not turn in there, but if there be eggs, she breaks some and sucks them, and layes her own in the room; in some nests they say she breaks them all, Arist. l. 6. c. 7. The young ones hatcht and known by the bird, are said to be beaten, and to fly away to their own dam. Note the goodnesse of nature! they say she layes in those Birds nests that feed on common meats; she feeds on Worms, In∣sects, and Corn. The Grashoppers before the dog-dayes when they hear the Cuckow sing, run upon her in troops, and they get under her wings and kill her, Isidor. l. 12. c. 8. They are said to be bred of Cuckow spittle. In winter she casts her feathers, and changeth her

colour, Arist. 9. histor. c. 43. In a Mountain of Greece where many Cuckowes breed, it is said that a Holly Tree growes there, that what living Creature soever sits upon it, is glewed fast as with bird∣lime, except the Cuckow, Plin. l. 30. c. 10. In what place soever you first hear the Cuckow sing, if you make a circle about your right foot, and dig up that compasse of earth, no fleas will breed, where∣soever that is spread.

CHAP. XI. Of the Crow.

IT is certain, that in the New World the Crowes are white; and Alphonsus King of Cicily had one. They say they grow white if the eyes be anointed with the brain or fat of a Cat, and be put under a white 〈…〉〈…〉 in a cold place. They flock together to a fruitful field; but two at once, where the field is not fruitfull. He hath many notes, they say 64, the proper note is ••roking, which he makes, being changed with no passion or variety of weather. He longs for raw flesh, and corrupt, and that dyed of it self; if he refuse this, it is an ill omen, as Thucidides observed in the Plague at Athens. Julius Cae∣sar Moderatus Ariminensis, learned by experience, that he vomits up again the bones and the small feet. Hyginus denyes, that he can drink when he eath eaten figs, because then his throat is pierced tho∣row. He casts off his young ones if they be white; though they write, that seven dayes after they are hatcht, they become black. Cassiodorus thinks out of the Psalmist, that they then live upon dew. A tame Crow at Erfurd took money off of the Table and kept it, and did so exactly call Conrade the Cook when he was hungry, that you would believe it were a mans voice; then he pricked holes in a Mu∣sick-book that he found, as if he understood Musick, Scalig. E••erc. ••37. Barbarus observed, that he carried fire in his mouth when Lightning fell. Some think he catcheth sparks of fire, instead of pieces of flesh▪ when exhalations take fire in Lightning. He is said to live 180 years. Indeed in a City of France, Corvatum, one lived 100 years, Albertus 9. hist. c. 10. A certain Physitian that was famous in Pliny his days, burnt two Crowes to ashes taken out of the nest in the moneth of March, and being made into fine powder, gave them to people for the Epilepsie; one dram weight twice or thrice in a day, with water of the decoction of Castorium.

CHAP. XII. Of the Rook, and Chrysaethos.

IN Britany there is abundance of Rooks, because the Sea washeth it on all sides; and in the grounds that are moyst there breed abun∣dance of Worms for their food, Cardanus. Ludovicus Rhodiginus saw a white one, with a black head, not far from the walls of Rhodigium, l. 17. Antiq. lect. c. 11. He loves Nuts chiefly, which if he cannot break, he lets them fall upon stones, Aelian l. 3. c. 9. They do not in∣considerately couple; for when one dyeth, the other lives single al∣wayes after. When Storks fly beyond Sea, this leads them. It is so industrious, that Merthes King of Egypt had one that would carry let∣ters whither he sent him, Porphyr. de abstin. ab animal. When she is slain and remains dead till she stincks, she drawes mice, if you lay her in a place where you may kill them, Gesner. The Chrysaethus hath a tongue like a mans, armed on both sides toward the roots with two horny hooked appendices. The length is sometimes from the beak to the clawes four hands breadth and a half, the breadth is eight when the wings are stretched out. It layes but one egg; if it lay two, one is rotten.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Pigeon.

THe Pigeon when she layes two eggs, the one egg will bring a male, the other a female; but because the heat is greater in the male, he is said to be first hatcht, Paul. à Castro. When the young ones are brought forth, she thrusts the salt Earth into their mouthes, which she hath first fitted in her own, to prepare them to receive some meat, and to implant fruitfulnesse into them, and to raise their appetite, Athen. 9. hist. c. 24. Many things prove them to be apt to learn. One of them pecked corn out of Mahomet's ear. When Leyden was besieged, some of them carried Letters, Lipsius. The same was done at the siege of the Buss. Divers men use divers remedies to keep them in the Dove-houses, and to allure others thi∣ther. Some stir Man's blood up and down in an earthen vessell for a quarter of an hour, with Pease, and then anoint Pigeons with it, and cast the pease to them to eat, Gesner. Some hang the skull of an old man in the Dove-house, Albertus. Some hang a piece of the halter that a man was hang'd with, on rheir windows, Pallad. l. 3. c. 44. Pliny (l. 11. c. 37,) writes, That there is poyson in mans teeth that will kill young unfeather'd Pigeons. We have it from the se∣crets of the Egyptians, that such as feed on Pigeons flesh will never be infected with the Plague. Hence in times of pestilence onely

Princes feed on them. Cardanus prescribes them with their broth. Their dung is so hot, that being fired by the Sun, it hath fired houses, saith Galen. The same Author useth it for a hearing remedy; and being bruised dry with the seed of Cresses, some apply instead of Mu∣stard for a rubisicative. Anno 1550. there was one taken in Ger∣many with 4. feet, and 2. bellies; It was brought to the Emperour, and Electors; who all wonder'd at it.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Swan.

THere are abundance of Swans in many places. In Moravia a Pro∣vince of Scotland there is a Lake called Spina, it is noted for mul∣titudes of Swans. For therein there growes a certain herb whose seed they feed greedily on; and therefore it is called Swans meat. The nature of that herb is, that cast into water it will never putrifie. Hence it is, that though the Lake be extended about five miles, and was wont, as men remember, to abound with Fish and Salmons; since that began to spring up, it hath increased by degrees, and hath made that Lake fordable, and that men cannot swim in it; nor is there any more any great Fish therein, Boetius in descript. Scotiae. The internal constitution of Swans is wonderfull, Aldrovandus dissected them. The Intestines were 14. spans and a hand breadth long; and many of them were covered with fat inwardly, as thick as ones thumb, which served instead of a caul; which being not intricate with many windings and turnings, but onely by a single revolution are turned back into themselves inwardly, with a middle rundle, perchance some of the nutriment might passe by nor distributed; but nature, to help this inconvenience, hath fastened two blind guts; a hands breadth between the anus and their beginning: the right intestine passing be∣tween, which should make amends for the windings of the guts that are deficient. The gullet is of a wonderfull structure. For the sharp artery that accompanies the wesand under it, descending to the throat, when it comes there, doth not tend directly to the Lungs as in other Creatures, but is elevated above the chanel bones, and is in∣serted into a rib of the breast-bone, or Sternon. And this rib is not made of one single bone, but of two side ones, and a third from above, made for a covering to lye upon these; and it is like a scab∣berd or sheath, and serves for the same use. When the Artery comes to the end of it, it is bent backwards beneath like a Serpent in fashion of the letter S; and by and by it goes forth again beneath the foresaid part of this covering that was placed above it, and ascending to the middle of the channel bones, it leans upon their coupling as on a prop; and being so upheld, it is again bent backwards like a Trum∣pet, and going under the hollow of the Thorax, before it comes to the lungs, it makes as it were another Larynx, cut athwart, and with a

little bone as long as this is broad, and which is covered with a thin membrane; it represents a hollow pipe, or an Organ pipe, in figure and composition, which are open in the neather part of them with the like fissure. Under this Larynx the artery is parted into two channels, each of which in the middle are stretched out wider, and stick forth, and are distributed, going directly to the very small Lungs, that are wholly fastned to the sides behind. This is a won∣derfull composition, and it serves for the breathing and voyce. For when in the bottom of Lakes she seeks for her food, she needed a long neck, lest by long continuance she should be in danger to be suffoca∣ted by such an Artery. And indeed whilest for half an hour almost she thrusts down her head into the water, she takes breath by that part of the Artery which is open in the sheath we spake of in the breast. As for its singing, some say she sings before her death, and some deny it. Oppianus saith, she sings early before Sun rising; but as she is very near her death, she sings on the Sea-shores, but not so loud in her old age. The West wind, he adds, is observed by them when they sing, when they are feeble and their strength is spent. The fashion of their sharp artery seems to make good this opinion.

CHAP. XV. Of the Stork.

THe Storks of old time about Fidena, neither made any nests, nor fed their young ones. Also at the Lake Larius in Italy beyond Poe, a pleasant place with small Trees, they are hardly seen, Pliny, The Author of the book of Nature writes, that they neither come into, nor will inhabit a City in Germany where no tythes are paid. They are travelling birds; but it is a question whether all or not. Many as if they were dead, were drawn forth in Fishers nets, and these were joyned together, and had their bills thrust into their anus, toge∣ther, and being hot in Minerall waters they lived again. In Lorenge it is certain, that it so happened, Anno 1467, as Campofulgosus reports, l. 1. memorab. when they depart, they meet all at a set place of ren∣devouz, and will leave none of their company behind. It is observed, that they are seldom seen after the Ides in August; when they are costive they thrust their bills into their Anus, and give themselves a Clyster, that brings forth the faeces, and thence Chirurgions learn'd that art. They are very chaste and gratefull. One of them in upper Vesalia bade his Host farewel when he departed, and when he return'd, he saluted him again. And not content with a vocall gratitude, he brought him a root of green Ginger. Another pickt out the Eyes of one that lay with his Hostesse when his Host was abroad. Another finding out the adultery of his mate in his absence, brought more company and tore her to pieces. The Stork carries his aged Parents upon his shoulders, and feeds them out of his mouth▪ Whence the

word of gratitude is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gesner. By the ••xample of 〈…〉〈…〉 it is apparent, that she foreshews things future; for he, as Aeneas Sylvius writes, unlesse he had seen Storks from the high Towers in Aquileia, would have departed thence; and supposing that to be a token of taking the City, he held on his purpose, and shortly wal•• it, when he had besieged it 3. years. There are none in England as Cl: Bandarcius saith.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Faulcon.

A Faulcon is so strong, that when he strikes a bird, he will ••ut him in two, from head to tail. A Sea-Swallow call'd Drepanis, a little Bird about Lakes, when she hears the Castrel, will rather let men stone her, than she will rise. She is wont to be sick of a disease the Faulconers call the Filandre. That is, a kind of worms not far from their reins, near to which they are wrapt up in a thin and pro∣per membrane: they are as small as hairs, and half an ell long, it may be from their first originall; unlesse you prevent them, they will eat up the principall parts and the heart. The Gyrsaulcons are of di∣vers kinds; They are some white found in Moscovy, Norway, Ireland. They are bold: If one of them be let fly at five Cranes, he will fol∣low them all till he have killed them. The food of it reserved in its Cave, it will take in order. She never wets her self with water, but onely with sand. She loves the cold so well, that she will alwayes delight to stand upon ice, or upon a cold stone: sometimes untaught she is sold for 50 Nobles. There is a Faulcon called Ru••eus, because the spots, that are white in the rest, are red and black in this kind; yet they seem not to be so, but when she stretcheth forth her wings. The cause of this rednesse is a feeble colour infused into the superfi∣cies of the body, and inflaming the smoaky moysture, which is put forth to breed the feathers.

CHAP. XVII. Of a Hen and Cock.

HEns in the Kingdom of Senega are thrice greater than ours; there are many near to Thessalonica; some lay two eggs, that is with two yolks, which are parted by a partition, that they may not be confounded. Aristot. in mirabil. reports, that some have laid •••• double ones, and to have hatcht them; one chicken was greater than another, and at last it became a Monster. In Macedonia there was one Hen which once laid 18 eggs, and hatcht two young chickens at once, saith Pierius l. 24. Hieroglyph. But their eggs▪ as also d••uer▪

birds eggs, are first conceived above, where the partition is, where first it is seen to be faint and white, as Aristot. writes; than red and bloody; and as it increaseth, it becomes all yellow; but as it more increaseth, it is distinguished, so that the yellow part is inward, and the white goes outwardly about it; when it is perfect, it is finished and comes forth of the shell, soft at first hatching, but presently it growes hard. The place of its perfection is the Matrix it self into which they fall, Aldrovand. l. 14. Ornithol. Some report also, that a Cock layes an egge when he is 9. or 14. years old; and they suppose it proceeds from seed putrified, or ill humours concurring together. It is thought to be round, and to be laid about the rising of the Dog-star. For the expulsive faculty being then weak, is helped in an aged Cock by the outward heat. With Ferrans Imperatus an Apo∣thecary, one was seen that was long fashioned, Aldrovand. The Cocks are wonderful falacious, for they will tread the Hens 50 times a day, and they have been seen to ejaculate their seed when they but saw the Hen, or heard her note, Aelian. There was an old Law, as Plutarch saith, in Libro, Num bruta ratione careant, That if one Cock trod another, he should be burnt alive. When he finds he is too full of blood, he will scratch his comb till he fetch blood. All men know he Crowes in the morning. Some say the cause is, the Love he hath to the Sun; some, to his venery; others to his desire of meat. The Mahumetans say, they answer a Cock that crowes in heaven, Keckerm: in Physicis. The first reason seems something; for he will crow when he is full also, and after copulation; also he crowes when the Hen is present; but when he is gelt he crowes no more, Plin. Yet l. 29. c. 4. he saith, That, a circle of Vine-twigs tied about his neck, he will not sing; Albertus saith, if his head and forehead be anointed with oyl. He is at great Amity with the Kings-Fisher, that if they be both in the same house, and the Kings-Fisher dye, the Cock will dye with hunger. They that have fed on Fox flesh boyl'd, are free for two moneths from their Treachery, Boetius.

As for a Dung-hill Cock, Gesner saith, he found it in a German Manuscript; that a Noble-man having tryed all remedies for pains of the Collick, and finding none; at length he drank a small cup of Capons-grease unsalted, boyl'd in water. But (saith he) you must drink the fat that swims on the top, as hot as you can.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Crane and the Woodwall.

THe Cranes travell all over the World. Yet Aldrovandus saith, he scarce believes that they will live willingly in all Countries, l. 20. The Aspera arteria of them is set into the flesh on both sides, at the Breast-bone: whence you may hear a Crane afar off. They travel, but no time is set; yet how swiftly they fly, is manifest by the

example of Cyrus, who was said so to have disposed of his Posts at certain stages, that when one was weary, another should proceed night and day, that they out-went the Cranes that flew. When they fly, they keep a triangular sharp angled figure, that they may the easier pierce through the Ayr that is against them. That Crane that gathers the rest together, will correct them, as Isidorus saith. When one is hoarse, another succeeds. When they light upon the Earth to feed, the Captain of them holds up his head to keep watch for the rest, and they feed securely. Before they take rest, they appoint an∣other Sentinel, who may stand and ward with his neck stretched forth, whilest the rest are asleep, with their heads under their wings, and standing upon one leg. The Captain goes about the Camp, and if there be any danger, he ••laries. Lest they should sleep too sound∣ly, they stand upon one foot, and hold a stone in the other above ground, that if at any time being weary they should be oppressed with sleep, the stone falling might awaken them. They love their young ones so much, that they will fight whether shall give them their breeding. Albertus saw a male••Crane cast down a female and kill her, giving her eleven wounds with his bill, because she had drawn away his young ones from following of him. This fell out at Colen, where tame Cranes use to breed. Those are fables that men relate of the Battels between the Pigmies and the Cranes. The Wood∣wall hangs up her nest on the boughs like a Cup, that no four-footed beast can come at it. The nest is like to the fashion of a Rams-stones, Albert. Magn. Some say there is Silk ••ound in it, and that rhe nest is built not far from the water, made of moss, and the cords it hangs by are horse hairs. She leaves Italy, when Arcturus ariseth. As she hangs down, she sleeps upon her feet, hoping for more safety thereby, Plin. l. 10. c. 32. When she comes into Germany, there is great hopes that Winter for Snow and Frost is gone.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Chough.

IT is thought that the Choughs feed on Locusts besides Corn, be∣cause the Inhabitants of the Island Lemnos were reported to wor∣ship these birds, because they flew to destroy the Locusts, Plin. l. 10. c. 29. The males will rather lose their lives than part with their females. They fly at the eyes of him that holds them. The reason is rendred by Nicolaus Leonicus, because the eyes are shining and very moveable: and these birds are bred to allure and draw things to them. For Birds are wont to pick and scratch at ones finger that is often mo∣ved about their bills, or because the eyes are such perfect Looking-glasses, that the pupill that is so small will represent their image standing over against it: now when the Birds see their own shape in

our eyes, they, it is likely peck at them, as desirous to come to what they delight.

CHAP. XX. Of the Swallow.

SWallowes are found almost in all Countries. Yet Pliny saith, they will not fly right to Thebes, because they are often taken there▪ Nor are they found in Bizia in Thracia, by reason of the wickednesse of Tereus. They can endure no cold. Hence Claudian writes,

As when cold Snow and Frost, like feathers, fall On Trees, the Winter-Swallowes die withall.

Where they live in Winter, is diversly described. It is certain, that in hollow Trees lying many close together, they preserve themselves by mutual heat. But Olaus Mag. Episcop. Upsalensis, saith, That in the Northern parts where men dye of cold in winter, the Swallowes live in the water. Though, saith he, many Writers of Natural Hi∣stories affirm, that Swallowes change their stations, that is, do go to hot∣ter Countries in Winter; yet in the Northern parts, Swallowes are of∣ten drawn forth by Fishermen by accident, like a congealed Mass, and they have united themselves together, bill to bill, foot to foot, wing to wing; after the beginning of Autumn, to go amongst the reeds, &c. When that masse is drawn forth and put into a hot-house, the Swallowes are thawed by heat coming to them, and so begin to fly; but they last but a very short time, because they are not made free, but captives, by being taken too soon. In Egypt their wonderfull Indu∣stry is seen: For in the mouth of Heraclia in Egypt they make such an impregnable Mount with their nests continued together against the overflowing of wandring Nilus, for a furlong in length, that it is thought no man could do as much, Pliny. In the same Egypt near the Town Coptus, they say there is an Island consecrated to Isis; which that the same River may not demolish, they fence by labour, in Spring-time, making firm the mouth of it with straw and stubble, for 3. nights together, labouring so hard, that many dye of it. Their young ones are bred blind, if we believe the Philosopher, and Pliny: when they receive their sight but slowly, they hasten it by putting Celandine upon it. Their copulation is wonderful: For when the rest of Birds are trod by the old ones, Swallowes▪ couple a contrary way, Gesner. Jacobus Olivarius saith, he heard from Hieronymus Montuus an excellent Physitian, that Swallowes hearts being taken with Cinnamon, and Species of Pills Elephanginae, they will help memory. Hence Johannes Ursinus writes,

—with amomum eat their heart; And wit and memory will gain their part.

CHAP. XXI. Of the Osprey, the Ibis, and the Loxias.

OF Ospreys, or Sea-Eagles, some are said to have one foot like an Eagle, and hooked; the other, plain like a Goose, to swim withall; that it hath also costly Fat in the tail, and that he flies in the Ayr, and hangs there as it were, and lets drop some of this fat into the water, whereby the fish are astonished; that they turn upon their backs, and so he catcheth them, as some say. Ibis is a Bird so loving to Egypt, that it will live no where else; so soon as it is hatcht, if it be weighed, it weighs two drams. Plutarch. de avib. l. 4. c. 9. The heart is greater than is proportionable to the body. The Gut is 96 cubits long; and that in the wain of the Moon is pressed together, till the light of it increaseth again, saith Gaudentius Me∣rula.

The Lakes in Arabia send forth such multitudes of winged Ser∣pents that are of so sudden a venomous nature, that when they bite, they kill before the wound can be perceived; these birds by a kind of foresight, are stirred up, and fly forth in Troops and meet these pesti∣lent multitudes in the Ayr, before they wast their Coasts, Marcel. Loxias, in respect of its bill, it differs from all other Birds. Whence Aristotle thinks it is not known. It is wont to have a red breast, neck and belly, but in winter it changeth its colour. It delights in Hemp∣seed, dead carcases and kernels of the Fir-Tree, and it builds in such Trees in January and February. In Winter when all things are fro∣zen, it sings, but forbears in Summer.

CHAP. XXII. Of the Kite.

KItes live almost every where, but they change their quarters, especially if they be neere. For otherwhiles they are found in hollow Okes, cherishing themselves with the rotten dust. About Pontus neere the Sea Euxinum, they are seen in such abundance in Winter, that if for 15, days so many should fly thither, as Bellonius saw in one day, they would be more then all Mankind. They bring the Cuckow with them on their backs, because he cannot flye so far▪ Isidore. The scripture ascribes to them the knowledge of the change of times. Jerem. c. 8. About the Dog-dayes, she flyes up to the mid∣dle

region of the Ayre, because it is cold, and sits there till the eve∣ning. Herodot. l. 2. Yet in Lybia and the Island of St. Dominick, they are alwaies; also at London, because it is not lawfull to kill them. Hence amongst multitudes of people they will catch up their prey, (any filth that the Inhabitants cast forth into the City, or into the Thames) Clus, l. 2. c. 36. in observat. Bellon. They will take meat out of the Shambles, bread out of Childrens hands, and hats off of mens heads, especially when they make their nests. Aelian, l. 2. c. 47. In the first yeare they persue great birds; when they grow older, little birds; and in the third yeare, gnats and flies. Ap••leius speaks much of their sight. Aristophanes calls them all-eys. They flye so high that somtimes they are out of sight, so farr that they pass through the Ayre every where, and they flye so swift that they will catch any garbage thrown forth before it touch the ground. Bellonius, l. 2. de Avib, c. 26. Somtimes they will ballance themselves in the Ayre, not stirring their wings in an hour; for, lifting up their wings a little in part, where the Ayre goes under them, they receive the Ayrs motion with their whole body, and so they are held up. It never sits on a Pomegranat Tree, nor can it endure the sight of it; and it delights to behold an Owle. Burnt alive in a pot it is said to cure the falling sicknesse.

CHAP. XXIII. Of Manucodiata and the Cormorant.

ALdrovandus observed five kinds of the Manucodiatae; none of their bodies was much bigger than a Swallow, and their heads were like to them. They are said to live alwaies in the Ayre, and to rest firme without any, but a tonick motion; for they want feet, and never come to the ground, but when they are dead. This is a fa∣ble; for they could hardly sleep there, when their senses are bound up; For all their exercise is a tonick motion. It is like to that, That there is a hole in their back in the muscles, where the Female that hath a hollow belly lays her eggs. Aldrovandus, who saw these Manu∣codiatae, never found any such thing. And that is like this, that they feed on dew; because they flye so high, that they cannot alwaies meet with Dew. But that must alwaies be restored, that alwaies wasts. Bellonius saith that the Janissari, people of India, deck themselves with their feathers. They think that under their protection they shall be out of danger in the head of the battel. The Mahumetans Marmin per∣swaded their Kings that they came from Paradise, as tokens of the de∣lights of that place. The Cormorants are taken in the East to catch fish with. In a certaine City, saith Odoricus à Foro Julii, scituate by the great River in the East, we went to see our host fish. I saw in his little ships, Cor∣morants tied upon a perch, and he had tied their throat with a string, that they should not swallow the fish they took. In every bark, they set three great panniers, one in the middle, and at each end one; then they let loose their Cor∣morants,

who presently caught abundance of fish, which they put into the Pan∣niers, so that in a short time they fill'd them all. Then mine ••ost took off the straps from their necks, and let them fish for themselves: when they were ful••▪ they came back to their pearches and were tied up againe, Scaliger writes that the same was done at Venice. They put their heads deep into the water, and perceive the change of the Ayre under the waves; and when they perceive any tempest, they flye to the land, making a 〈…〉〈…〉, Isidore, l. 12. c. 7▪ Mizaldus saith, that Vapours rise up from the wa∣ters that cause rainie Clowds, and they cunningly observe it. The liver of them boyld, and eaten with Oyle and a little Salt, is so pre∣sent a remedy against the biting of a mad dog; that the sick will pre∣sently desire water, Aetius. The same continued with Salt, and drank with Hydromel two spoonfulls, will drive forth the Second 〈…〉〈…〉▪ Dioscorides.

CHAP. XXIV. Of the Owl and Musket.

OWls were formerly plentifull in Athens; in Gandie, they neither breed, nor will live, brought thither. Also in Mountain Coun∣tries of Helvetia there are none. They sit close 60 dayes in Winter. They are not hurt by fasting 9, dayes. Plin. l. 10. c. 17. Eustatius says they see in the dark, when the Moon is hid▪ but hardly for want of a Medium. Crescent, l. 10. c. 16. yet they cannot see in the day by reason of too dry and thin substance of the humour which ••s dissipated by the fiery substance of the light. He makes a double noise, the one is Tou, Tou, the other noise they call Howling. She is at great enmity vvith Crovvs. Pausanias reports, that the Crovvs snatcht avvay the picture of an Ovvl that vvas to be sold, and earings of Gold out of ones hand, that vvere made like Dates. It is commonly observed that if the Ovvl forsake the Woods, it signifies a barren yeare. Ovvls egs gi∣ven for three days in Wine to drunkards, vvill make them loath it. Plin. The Musket, in Winter sits in Woods that use to be lopt, and comes not to her place till Sun set. When she looks upon any thing, the black of the pupill of her eye grovvs greater then ordinary. We read of this bird in the Salick lavvs, that he vvho should steal ou••, if he be taken, must pay 120 denarii.

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CHAP. XXV. Of Onocrotalus, and Rhinoceros.

ONocrotalus is from the tip of his bill, to the bottom of his feet, ten spans and more in magnitude, Aldrovandus. His vvings stretched forth make ten spans; under his lower mandibule, there is a receptacle like a bladder, as long as it, that hangs down at length. And that is so great that a very great man thrust in his leg as far as his knee, with a boot on, into his Jaws, and pull'd it out again, without harme. Perottus Sanctius reports that a little Blackmore was found in one. At Mechlin there was one of 80, yeares old, and for some yeares he went before the camp of the Emperour Maximilian, as if he would determine the place for them. Afterwards he was fed by an old woman at the Kings cost, who was allowed for him 4, Stivers the day, she fed him 56, yeares, when he was young he would som∣times fly so high into the Ayre, that he seemed no greater than a Swallow, Gesner. Also the cubit bones of his wings were covered with a membrane, out of which there arose 24, Tendons, that were so firmely set into them, that there was no way to part them. Gesner writes that he heard, he was wont to come once a yeare about Lau∣sanna by the Lake Lemannus. Rhinoceros is a bird whereof one was kild in the Ayre flying, at what time the Christians conquered the Turk in a Sea fight. The head was about two spans, adorned with black tufts of feathers, very long, and that hung downwards. The Beack is al∣most a span long, bent backward like a bow. A horn grows out of its forehead, and sticks to the upper part of his Bill, of a great magni∣tude. For about the forehead it was a hands breadth. Aldrovandus thinks it is, Pliny his Tragopanada.

CHAP. XXVI. Of the Parrot.

THe Antients knew but one kind of Parrots; but those that have seen the Indies, have found above a hundred kinds, different in colour and magnitude. Vesputius writes that in a Country above the pro∣montory of good hope, that hath its name from Parrots, they are so high that they are a cubit and halfe long. Scalig. exerc. 236, saith, he saw one so great, that he almost fill'd up the space of the lattice of a Window: Some are no bigger than a Thrush, or Pigeon, or Spar∣row. No man could hitherto paint sufficiently all its colours, they are so many. In burning Aethiopia, and the farthest Indies, they are all white; in Brasil, red, in Calecut, they are all Leek green, Watchet, or Purple coloured. Scalig. Exerc. 59. s. 2. The Antients esteemed the Green best. The head and beck of it are extreme hard: where¦fore, when they teach him to speak, it feels not, unlesse you strike i••

with a wand of Iron, woodden rods will do no good, and it is dan∣gerous to do it with Iron ones. The Parrot alone with the Crocodile, moves his upper mandible; also his Beck, which is common to no other, where it is joyned to his neck, is open beneath under his chops. His tongue is broad like to a mans, and represents the forme of a gourd seed, the feet are like Woodpickers feet. In the desert•• of Presbyter John, they are found with two Claws. He puts his meat in his mouth like as men do. He not only cuts in sunder the Almonds, but by rowling them in the hollow of his Beck, and pressing and mov∣ing it with his tongue, he breaks them, and chews them as it were, and then swallows them. Nature gave this bird a crooked bill like halfe a circle, it is very strong; Because she is of a clambering dispo∣sition, and hath not feathers in her taile that she can fasten into a Tree, she had need of a strong beck, that she might first cast it in like a hook, and by that she might raise her body, and then take hold with her feet. They live in hot Countries. In the Country of Parrots they are so cheap, that one may be bought for two pence: They alwaies flye by couples, and lest they should hurt their weak feet when they light upon the ground, they trust to their strong beck, and break the fall with lighting upon that. They imitate a man, they learn his words and will pronounce all almost with an articulate voyce. One was taught that would say the Creed to a Cardinal. Scalig. exerc. 238. He will answer questions. Henry the eight, King of England had one that fell into the Sea, and cried for help, promising 20, pounds, but when he was pull'd forth, he bad, Give a Groat. If you stroke her gent∣ly, she will kisse you, Scalig. exerc. 236. Amongst mourners she will lament also. Tiraquel saith, that the females do never or very sel∣dome speak like to Men. They are so simple that when a Parrot cries in a Tree, and the fowler sits close in the boughs of the same Tree, great multitudes of them will flye thither, and suffer themselves to be easily taken. Pet. Martyr in Decad. Oceani. They are fed and grow fat on wild saffron seed, that is a purgative to men. They will hang by the heels with their heads down toward the water, and their tails upwards. They build in a high Tree. They bind a branch that hangs down, with small twigs to the top, and they hang their nest upon it as round as a ball, with a little hole in it. They lay eggs fit for their bignesse. They dye by much rayn. They are sacred amongst the Indians, but not so in Columbus days.

CHAP. XXVII. Of the Phoenix and Woodpecker.

CLaudian describes the Phoenix, thus.

A fiery mouth with sparkling eys, A glittring crest like Sun it'h Skies;

The legs are of a Tyrian dye, Lightning the Ayre as she doth fly.

She is reported to inhabit Arabia, and chiefly Heliopolis a City of Aegypt, where she was seen. Her nest is made of spices, namely Ci∣namon, and Cassia neere to Nilus; she sits in it, and by waving her wings she kindles a fire, from her ashes a Worme breeds, from that a young Phoenix. Oppian doth not so much as speak of the Worm. Men write diversly of her age. The common opinion is 500 years; some say, she lives 1461 years. But all this is false. The Woodpickers have a sharp bill, that is hard round and strong, to pick holes in Trees with. They have a long tongue that is extended to the hinder part of their head, and is wrapped up over all the crown of the head like a clue of yarn, it is exceeding sharp, and the end of it is gristly. They feed on Wormes, and when they seek for them, they will so exceed∣ingly make Trees hollow, that they will throw them down. Arist. l. 9. hist. c. 9. Their nest is made so artificially, that the sticks put to∣gether they make it of, are better to pull a sunder with ones hands than to cut in peices with a sword. Pliny reports that the young ones come forth of their eggs with the tayle first, because the weight of their heads turns the eggs upside down, and so the dam sits on their tails. They never sit on stones for fear of hurting their sharp claws. They climb unto the top like Cats, and that backwards. In what Tree soever they breed, no naile nor wedge can stick in it, but when it is fastned, it will fall out with a cracking of the Tree, Plin. l. 10. c. 18. Men suppose that she hath the greater Moon-light, an herb, that in∣creaseth and diminisheth.

CHAP XXVIII. Of the Pie.

THe Pie almost every hour changeth her note; she learnes and loves to speak as men do. One at Rome hearing the Trumpet sound, at first was astonished, but came to her self, and did perfectly imi∣tate the same, Plutarch. If she be catcht in a Snare, she will move nothing but her beck; lest, moving her body, she should be more en∣snared: when rapes are sowed, then is the time for her to moult her feathers. Her feathers being pul'd off, and her guts taken out, if she be boyl'd in White Wine till the Wine be consumed, and the flesh part from the bones, and then she be bray'd with the broth, and so set for three days in the Sun, and then applyed to the eys with a fine rag, it will cure the roughnesse, darknesse, and rednesse of the eyes, The Pye that feeds on mosse, hath blew ouerthwart marks on the sides of her wings, you shall seldome see the like in any other bird, she hath a throat so wide, that she will swallow Chestnuts. The Pye in Brasil hath a bill two hands breadth long, and one almost in breadth, mea∣sured

from the bottom of the lower part, to the top of the upper part. The substance of it is very thin like a parchment; yet bony, shining, hollow, and most capacious as the Ear; also it is dented and made up as it were with certain skales; she feeds on pepper, but she presently casts it up again raw, and indigested.

CHAP. XXIX. Of the Peacock.

OF old Peacocks were rare in Europe; when Alexander saw one in India, he forbad to kill it on pain of death; but afterwards in Athenaeus his time they grew so common, that they were as ordina∣ry as Quails. In the Land Temistana, they lay sometimes 20 or 30 eggs, Martyr. They are so cleanly, that when they are young, they will die if they be wet; Albert. When they want cooling, they spread their wings, and bending them forward, they cover their bo∣dies with them, and so drive off the force of heat: but if the wind blow on their back-parts, they will open their wings a little, and so are they cooled by the wind blowing between. They are said to know when any venomous medicament is prepared, and they will fly thither and cry. Aelian reports, that a Peacock will seek out the root of flax as a natural Amulet against Witchcraft, and will carry it thrust close under one of its wings. The Peacock suffers such lan∣guishing pains as children are wont to suffer when their teeth first come forth, and they are in great danger when their crest first grows out, Palladius l. 1. de re rustica c. 20. When in the night they double their clanging note, it foreshews rains at hand. The cause is said to be, that by doubling of that troublesome noise, is shewed, that with heat that sharp vocal spirit breaks forth, Mizaldus. Their flesh will not corrupt easily. After a whole year it will not stink, onely it ap∣pears drier. Antonius Gigas gave a piece of the boyl'd flesh to Aldro∣vandus in 1598; it was boyl'd Anno 1592; and it was full of round holes quite through, like a sieve, out of which, if it were a little sha∣ked, dust did fall, as rotten powder doth out of some Trees; it was salt in taste, and somewhat bitter, Aldrovand.

CHAP. XXX. Of the Pheasant and Sparrow.

IN the Country of Curium, Pheasants were so common, that the Christians coming thither, bought them for two little pins apiece, Martyr. l. 8. Decad. Frederick Duke of Saxony let fly 200 in Saxony, and forbad any man to catch them. In the places of Scandinavia, they lye under the Snow without meat, Olaus. When they grow fat they

lose their feathers. The Sparrow doth so fear the Hawk, that one that was pursued flew into Xenocrates's arms. It is the lust fullest al∣most of all Birds; for it hath been seen to tread 20 times in half an hour, Scalig. It will devour venomous seeds without any hurt. Some ascribe that to the smallnesse of its veins. An herb, the name where∣of is not known, being put under ground in 4. corners of a Corn∣field, will drive them from the Corn, Pliny. Others bid carry a red Toad through the field by night, before it be sowed, and to be bu∣ried under ground in the middle of the field, shut up in an earthen vessel. Yet, lest the corn should grow bitter, it must be dug up again before harvest. Those of Taprobana, when they are in the deep Sea, let fly Sparrowes they brought with them for that end; and by their conduct, because they know not the use of the Loadstone, they find the way home, Acosta.

CHAP. XXXI. Of the Partridge.

IN that part of the World that is called the Continent, Partridges have a double flesh, so apparent, that it may be discerned; so great, that the greatest glutton cannot eat one at a meal, Gonsal Ovie∣dus. Their testicles in venery increase wonderfully, but there ap∣pear none in Winter, Aristotle, l. 3. hist. c. 21. They are so salacious, that when the females are wanting, they will couple amongst them∣selves, and with their young ones: when they are present, they are filled by the males with wind they send forth, also by their cry and flying upward, Plin. l. 10. c. 33. Aristot. l. 5. c. 5. Their fruitful spi∣rit is thought to perform that, which Ephesius interprets to be a va∣pour; which carries the heat arising from the generative seed of the male, and which being received through the pores of the Partridge, penetrates as far as the menstruum of her. Their young ones are im∣patient of delay, and break forth of themselves before the eggs be opened; and making a passage in the Eggs, so soon as they can put forth their heads and feet, they run away with the shell on their backs, and seek for food. Odoricus de foro Julii, shews us their docile∣nesse, and saith, That in the Countries about Trapezunda, which was for∣merly call'd Pontus, he saw a man that drove 4000 Partridges and more: he travelled by Land, and they flew in the Ayr, he brought them to a certain Castle call'd Thanega, that is 3. dayes Journey from Trapezunda. These Partridges when the man rested, would all rest about him, as Chickens about a Hen; and then he took of them as many as he pleased, and the rest he brought home again.

CHAP. XXXII. Of the Ostrich.

THe Ostrich, hath a small head like a Goose, not covered with feathers, with cloven feet, Aristot. 4. hist. He is too big to fly, yet sometimes he runs swiftly, the wind entring under his wings, and extending them like sails. It is certain he will out-run a man on horse∣back. He is a fruit-eater. He will swallow small pieces of bones and stones greedily, but he casts them out again; also pieces of Iron. How should he digest them, for a Lion that is hotter cannot? He makes a nest of sand, that is low and hollow, and fenceth it against the rain. She layes above 80 eggs: yet the young ones are not all hatcht at the same time; The eggs are very great, as big as a young Childs head, weighing about 15 pounds, they are extream hard, and the shell is like stone. The young are bred of them by heat of the Sun; some, because they saw this Bird looking on them, thought the young ones to be hatcht by her eye: She is wonderfull simple; when she hides her neck in a bush, she thinks she is all hid.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of the Scythian Bird, and the Castrel.

OF the Scythian Bird, Aristotle writes thus: There is (saith he) a Bird that inhabites the Scythian Land, as great as a Bustard, which produceth two young ones; and the eggs she layes, she doth not sit upon them, but leaves them wrapt up in a Hare's or Fo••e'•• skin, and so layes them up on a high Tree. When she hunts no••, she stayes and keeps and defends them.

A Castrell is most loving to Pigeons; wherefore Countrey men put the young Castrels in Earthen pots, and fence them with putting on the Cover, and fastning them with Gip, they place them in some corners of their Dove-coats; this makes Pigeons love the place: He so frights Hawks, that they fly from the sight and cry of him, Columel.

CHAP. XXXIV. Of the Thrush, and Torquilla.

THrushes were amongst the Romans formerly great dainties; for at Rome they were sold for 3 denarii; that is, 12 pieces of money apiece. Varro, a very copious Authour, saith, That out of one Cage 5000

Thrushes were sold at the said price; saith he, In a Farm of my Aunts, in Sabini 24 miles from Rome, there is a house for to keep Birds, out of which alone I have known 5000 Thrushes sold for 3. denarii apiece, that that part of the Farm yielded one year 6000 Sestertia, twice as much, saith he, (speaking to Axius) as thy ground of 200 Acres yields really. The Thrush of Agrippina shews they will learn; for this would imitate all mens speeches. It is a wonder, if it be true, that Thrushes should be so deaf. Scaliger hath a delicate Copy of Verses of the singing Thrush. We will here set them down:

Sweet little Thrush, little Throat, Abating cares with thy small note, With thy melody be so kind, To pacifie my troubled mind. And let thy warmbling breast With thousand tunes at least Free me from gulphs of cares, O Prince of happy Ayres. Little Bird, King of voyce, That makes thy Lord for to rejoyce When he awakes, with thy clear note, Sweet little Thrush, little Throat.

CHAP. XXXV. Of Urogallus.

URogallus is found in the highest Mountain tops; in Germany, and the Northern parts, he most delights. Encelius l. 3. de lapid. c. 54. writes of his wonderfull copulation. For the Cock of this kind doth spit and vomit out his seed in the Spring when they couple, and with a loud noise calls the hens, who gather up the seed was cast forth of his mouth; and they swallow it down, and so they conceive. Then the Cock treads them, and ratifies as it were the seed eaten. Those hens that he treads not, do bring eggs that are windy. Olaus Magnus writes, that in the Winter, in the North, the lesser Urogalli will lye hard under the Snow two or three moneths. But in Pontus they say in Winter some Birds are found, that neither boult their feathers, nor do they feel when their feathers are pluckt out, nor when they are thrust through with a spit, but onely then when they wax hot at the fire. It is hardly true. The greater Grygallus is so deaf, that he cannot hear the noise of a great Gun.

CHAP. XXXVI. Of the Batt.

PLato calls the Bat, a bird and no bird. Valla, half a Mouse. He loves Caves and holes in the earth. In the hollow place•• of Apenni••u••, there were some thousands that lodged. It brings forth the young ones ready formed; when they are bred, they are first like young Mice, smooth and naked as young children: She suckles her young ones with her milk, and she casts them especially between the hollow places in Tiles or roofs of houses. They stick so fast to her Teats, that they cannot be pull'd off when she is dead. She, the second day after she hath disburden'd her self of them, flies to find food; but in the mean time she devours the secondines. Sometimes she is bred of putrid matter. Frisius saith, she proceeds from a sick∣ly excretion of the Ayr; she flyes with leather wings; or, as Isidore saith, born up with the membranes of her arms, flying winding up and down, and not far from the earth. When she is weary she hangs by her claws, the rudiments whereof they have in the middle of their wings: she will fly also with two young ones in her bosome. They eat Gnats, Flies, Bacon. They will so eat a flitch that hangs by a beam, that they will lye in the hollow place. In hot Countries they will fly at mens faces. In Dariene a Province of the New World, they troubled the Spaniards in the night: One of them fell upon a Cock and Hen, and bit the Cock dead, Martyr. Pompilius Azalius saith, That in the East-Indies some are so great, that they will strike men, passing by, down with their wings. The Argument of this, is their carcases that lie all over the Vale. The Storks eggs grow bar∣ren, if a Bat touch them, unlesse she take ••eed by laying Plane-tree leaves in her nest: It is killed by the smell and smoke of Ivy, Aelian de animal. Locusts will not flye over the place, where Bats are hang'd on the Trees that lie open. The biting of it is cured with Sea-water, or other hot water, or with hot ashes, as hot as one can suffer it. Stra∣bo saith, That in Borsippa a City of Babylon, where they are greater than in other places, they are pickled up for food. So in St. John's Island they are skinned with hot water, and they are made like chickens with their feathers pull'd off with us; for their flesh is very white. The Inhabitants of the Isle of Catigan in the Sea del Zur, do eat them. They are as great as Eagles, and as good meat as Hens, Scalig. Exerc. 236. s. 3.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of the Vulter.

THe Vulter hath filthy and terrible eyes, and a space under his throat as broad as ones hand, set about with hairs like Calfs hairs, Bellonius l. 2. observ. c. 1. He hunts after Cattell in Chyla a Province of the West-Indies, and that not from Sun-rising till Noon, but from Noon till Night, Monard. de Arom. Some say, that the males are not bred, but the females conceive by the wind; which is false: for they have been seen between Worms and Augusta of Trevirs ••o couple, and to lay eggs; Alb. Mag. They are so libidinous, that when they are kindled, if the male be absent, they will tread one the other, and conceive by a mutuall Imagination of lust; or else drawing dust by force of desire, they will lay eggs. When he wants his prey, he will draw blood from his thighs to feed on. Simocatta writes, that they are great with eggs 3. years. He hath an excellent sight, for he will see when the Sun riseth from East to West; and when the Sun sets from West to East. He will smell Carrion 500 miles, Aldrovand. Avicenna saith, That he sees the carcases from aloft; but Aldrovandu•• writes, That the wind carries the sent of them to him. He hath an exquisite sense to perceive. He lives a hundred years. If you pick your teeth with his quill, it will make your breath sowr. A kernel of a Pomegranate will kill him, Plin. l. 30. c. 4. Aelian. l. 6. c. 46.

The End of the Sixth Classis.

AN APPENDIX TO The Sixth Classis: Wherein some things are taken out of a Trea∣tise of Michael Maierus, a most famous Physitian, concerning the Bird that growes on Trees.

WHen one shall read; that there is a place in the World, where Geese grow on Trees like Apples; perchance he will be doubtfull concerning the truth of it, and question the Authour. And if any man shall say, that living Creatures are bred, not onely of one, but of divers kinds, from Trees and vegetables, that part will fly; and part will not fly; h•• will have enough to do to make good what he sayes, if he would not be accounted a Lyar. Yet I think, it may be easily proved by what we have said already, where we have as∣serted, from experience, that Gnats are bred in Okes, and mosse of Okes; and Worms are bred in other Trees and Vegetables; which, though they be small creatures, yet are they reckoned in the number of living creatures, because they feel and move: Yet I should not affirm the first as the words sound. For Birds make their nests some∣times in Trees, hedges, bryars and other vegetables; but that they grow there like pears, is incredible. There is one of the Canary Islands called Ferro, where is a Fountain of sweet water concealed (and there is none besides in the whole Island) in some Trees by a wonderfull Indulgence of Nature; the leaves do draw abundantly water out of the Earth or Ayr: which they drop down for the Inha∣bitants to drink. For should they want this boon, no men nor Cattell could live there; for there are no Fountains; but the Ocean or salt∣water runs round about it. The great bounty of God hath afforded water to those, to whom it is denyed in other considerations. As in Egypt where there never falls any rain, Nilus overflowes to supply that defect; and other Countries have other gifts given them. So also is this bird afforded to the Isles of the Orcades, and other neigh∣bouring places, which is found no where else. Yet should any man look to find him growing on the Trees, he might wander all the

Woods over and find none, nor yet do Pyrats amongst the Ferrenses find water, but are forced to leave the Country for want of it, nor can they find it in the Trees Concerning this bird that is no Fable, that ve∣ry learned Authors have written, making mention of it also in their other works, as Hieron. Card. de varietat. rer. c. 36. Du Bartas, in his Weeks, the 6th day, and 1 day of his 2 week. But they all do not agree of the places and manner of its generation. Munster saith, the Orcades are full of these birds, Gyraldus speaks of Ireland, Dubartus of Scotland which he calls Luturnen, as also Mela writes. Hector Boetius, relates the same things of the Hebrides. A French man understands it▪ concern∣ing any part of the Hesperian Sea. He saith, a certaine bird i•• bred with∣out Cock or Hen, but only from some vegetable, namely in Scotland from the Trees of that Country. Also ships made of the same Trees, when they are in the middle of the Sea, produce the same fowls. The French call them Marquerol∣le; it is good to eat. Plutarch makes mention of the same bird, in a Treatise that begins, Whether an Egge were first or a Hen? The Scotch call them Klek∣gues. Others write of them thus. In the Orcades Island, and Scotland, there is a Tree by the Sea side, and on the banks of Rivers, that beares fruit not unlike to Ducks, and when it is ripe it falls down into the water, and swims away alive, and becomes a bird; if it fall on the the ground it corrupts. Others call them Barnacles. As also in the ••it∣tle Theatre of the World, they are ascribed to Ireland, and are thus deciphered. There are also here Birds called Barnacles growing by nature contrary to Natures order, not unlike to Ducks, but only they are lesse. For from wood of Masts for Ships, first comes forth some kind of Gum, then with weed (or Sea grass calld'd Wier) some shell-fish sticks to those kinds of wood together with the pitch, which in time get wings and become Birds, and fly or fall into the waters, and swim. I have often seen (saith Silvester) abundance of these Tree-Ducks hanging on the Wood, inclosed in shells till they could fly. They lay no eggs as other Birds do, nor are they bred of eggs. In some places they eate these Birds for Fish, and not for Flesh. Hector Boetius tells the same History of a Bird, he calls Cla••is. For, saith he, if you cast Wood into the Sea, about the Hebrides, in time Worms will breed in it, that eate that Woodhollow, and afterwards become Birds, and are like to Geese, flying. Hee ascribes the generation of them to the Sea, called by Homer and Virgil, the Father of all things. But these different descriptions of Authors do neither agree amongst themselves, nor in all things with the truth it selfe. For the place, some say it is the Orchades; others Ireland; others the Hebrides, others Scotland, and all this may be true, since in the Ocean between Scotland and the Orcades, and Ireland, and the Hebrides, they are said to breed in both places. For it is no small extent of place where they are, but all that compasse of the Sea in the outmost bounds of Scotland and Ire∣land. For the name, there is no difference; for divers Nations use di∣vers names. But whether that faculty be to be ascribed to the Woods or Trees of those Countries, or to Worms that breed from those Trees, and are changed into Shell-Fish, is worth Enquiry▪ since the

forementioned Authours were of so various opinions. But we shall consent with none of them. For were this vertue in the Wood, why should not the same kind of Wood, used for Masts, have the same fa∣culty in all places; yet that is not so, nor do Ships made of that Woo•• produce such fowle in the middle of the Sea. For who ever heard any such thing done in France, Germany, or England, yet are all their Ha∣vens frequented by Scotch Merchants, and Ships from the Orcades▪ No•• can this be referred to the Trees, for they beare not birds but fruit of their own kind. If they be cut down and turn'd to other uses, and cast into the Sea, to corrupt and grow rotten, that is, that they may dye as it were, as to their first being, and be turned into the common matter of Wood; then begins this new generation of living Creatures by the influence of the Heavens, and the Suns heat co••operating. For how should a vegetable, produce a flying Creature like a Goose? Is not every Tree known by its specifical fruit, whether it be good or bad▪ Againe doth not every kind of fruit, testify what Tree it was bred on •• Trees do not beare fish; nor the Sea, Trees. Hares use to be found in Woods, and merry conceits in words, and not the contrary. A ve∣getable doth not couple with an animal, nor an animal with a vege∣table, each keeps its own rank, and doth not exceed it, unlesse Na∣ture using the help of putrefaction, do produce some small living Creatures in vegetables▪ as I said before. They that think that Worms may become fowls, do not in my Judgment, speak what is probable. For how should a shell-fish come of a Worm, yet under∣stand me so, that what I deny of each by themselves, I would grant of all together. But because I know this not by heare-say, but I have seen above 50, (almost hundreds) of these shell-fish, and when they were opened, I have seen little young Birds coming forth as out of a•••• egge, with all their parts necessary for flight, and I have had them in my hands, I must not omit here to set down an exact description of them, and this it is. If perhaps some pieces of Masts of Ships smeer'd with pitch fall into those Seas in the outmost parts of Scotland, nor far from the Orcades or Hebrides, and lye there a long time; they not only grow rotten and full of Worms, but are covered all over with Sea weeds, for of such grass there is abundance there, which cleaves to any Wood easily, especially if it send forth a pitchy fatnesse as Masts that are fi••re or pitch Trees, and are full of pitchy Rosin; and then for Ships occasions are again besmeerd with the same, name∣ly that the sayls may suddenly be noised up and pulled down, and stay no where. Now the Sea breeds those weeds at the bottom neere the shore, that are longer or shorter, and these at certain times swim on the top of the water, being moved or pull'd up, as it were, by the waves. This, bred in the water, doth not easily corrupt, having much of a salt nature in it: wherefore in North Holland, and many other places they make of those weeds a strong fence against the vio∣lence of the Sea, so that they fetch a remedy from the disease, where∣fore these weeds hanging round about the said pieces of Masts insinu∣ate themselves into the rotten places; and in time on the other side

of each grass will grow small shell-fish, which are whitish or of the colour of a Mans nayls, and in forme, hollownesse, and long fashion, like to the nayle of a mans little finger; whereof if two be joyned to∣gether that they may stick well, the upper parts being the sharpest, they take hold of the ends of the weeds, and are fast shut in the broa∣der parts, which afterwards open, that the fruit may come out to flye. Thus a thousand at least of these shell fish are fastned to the weeds at the ends, which as I said are fastned to the pitcht Wood, with the other end, in such plenty, that the Wood can hardly be seen: yet those weeds do hardly exceed 12 fingers breadth in length, and are so strong as thongs of leather: somtimes they are longer, and are some-feet-long. This is the whole external description; For you can see nothing but a piece of a Mast full of rotten holes, and Sea Weeds thrust into them, having at the other end shell-fish, like to the nayle of a Mans little finger. But if these shells be opened, those small Birds appeare, like chickens in eggs, with a beck, eys, feet, wings, down of their feathers beginning, and all the other parts of callow Birds. As the young Birds grow, so do the shells or covers of them, as they do in all other Oysters, Muscles, shell-fish, snails, and the like carriers of their houses. It may be asked how they get their food? I answer as other Z••ophyta do; partly from the sweeter part of the water, or else as shell fish that breed pearls, and Oysters do, from the dew, and rayn; partly, from the pitchy fat of the rotten Wood, or the resinous substance of Pitch or Rosin. For these by the intermediant grass, as by umbilical Veins, do yeeld nutriment to these Crea∣tures, so long as that Wood is carried by the ebbing and flowing of the Sea, hither and thither. For were it on the dry land, it would never bring forth the said shell fish. An example of this, we have in places neere the Sea, where those shell fish are taken alwaies with black shells, sticking to Wood put into the water, as also to the woodden foundations of bridges, and to Ships that have been sunk. And they stick either to the wood, by some threds like to hayrs, or Mosse, or else by Sea Weeds; whence it is evident that some clam∣my moysture is afforded to shell-fish sticking to any Wood whatso∣ever, though it be Oke, but much more to firre Wood, full of Rosin, whereof Masts of Ships are made: For this Wood is hotter than Oke, and hath much aeriall clamminesse, and therefore takes fire suddenly and when it is wounded, while it is green, it sends forth an oily Ro∣sin, but when it is dry, it will easily corrupt under water; but the Oke will not, because it is of a cold and dry nature. It longer resists corruption, and under water grows almost as hard as a stone.

If any man will consider the abundance and diversity of fish and living Creaturs which are bred in the Seas every where, he cannot but confesse that the Element of water is wonderful fer••ill, which breeds, not only the greatest living Creatures, (as Whales, whereof some, as Pliny writes, l. 32. entred into a River of Arabia, that were 600 foot long, and 300 foot broad) and that in such abundance and variety that the same Authour reckons up 176. kinds of fish in the Sea only,

besides th••se bred in Rivers. But one would chiefly admire the great diversity and beauty of Sea shell-fish; for I remember that I saw a•• ••e••terdam, Anno 1611, with Peter Carpenter a very famous man, above a thousand severall kinds of them, in such plenty that he had a whole Chamber full of them, which he kept as the pretious treasures and miracles of nature. No doubt but these are the Ensign•• of Natures bounty; for they rather serve for the ornament of the world, than for mans use, wherein you may see a kind of an affected curiosity in the variety of the forms of them. Hence we may con∣clude the great fruitfulnesse of the Sea, which doth exceed the Land in breeding of living Creatures, and vegetable animals▪ which the Antients observing, they ascribed to Neptune, who was god of the Sea, great multitudes of Children begotten from divers Concubines▪ call'd Sea-Nymphs; amongst these, were Tryton and Protheus▪ where∣of he, sounding a shell-fish, is his Father Neptunes Trumpeter; but this, is changed into various forms, as into fire, a Serpent, and such like; clearly teaching, that the Sea breeds divers forms.

These causes seemed to move them who ascrib'd the generation of these Birds in the Orcades to the Sea alone, as being the Authour of fruitfulnesse, and of diversity of Creatures. But how rightly they did that, shall be seen. We deny not, but that many pretty shell-fishes are bred of the Sea, onely from the influence of omnipotent nature; so that the Ocean affords the place and matter of them, but not the form and the cause efficient. All the fish, except a few, are bred of the seed of other fish, naturally; and here can be no question of these. Yet we may doubt whether so many kinds of shell-fish do breed from the seed of other shell-fish. It is manifest of the foresaid Bird, that it breeds neither from an egge▪ as other birds do, nor yet from seed. Whence then? From the Ocean? or must the cause be imputed to the Ocean? Not at all. For though the place be said to generate the thing placed, yet that is understood of the matrices that are the cause of generation, sine quâ non: but not the efficient cause, much lesse the formal material and final, and not concerning every generall thing containing. But to search out more exactly the nature of this wonderfull Bird, we will run over those four kinds of causes, not doubting, but having searched out these as we ought▪ what, why, and from whence it is, will easily be resolved. The Efficient cause therefore of this generation, is external heat, such as the Sun sends forth into sublunary bodies; as also in the internal hea••▪ in the matter corrupting. For without heat nature produceth no ge∣neration, but useth heat as her chief Instrument, whereby homoge∣neous things are congregated, and heterogeneous are parted; the parts and bowels are formed in living Creatures, and are disposed in their orders and figures. In Artificiall things that men make, they use divers Instruments, as their Hands, which may be call'd the In∣strument of Instruments, Hammers, Anvils, Files, Sawes, Wimbles, and the like. In natural things, there is onely Heat as the efficien•• cause▪ and Nature moves it as the Artificer doth them▪ The out∣ward

heat brings the internal into Action: Without which, this would be uneffectual, and shut up in the matter as dead; as it ap∣pears in some living creatures, which when Winter comes, and the outward heat fails, they are as it were asleep, and lye as dead, as Swallows, Frogs, Flies, and such like: But so soon as the Sun beams heat the water and the earth, presently these little Creatures revive; as owing their lives to the Suns heat. And as the heat is greater, so is the efficacy thereof, and their flying about and crying; as we see in Flies and Frogs. As for heat, the Sun, the great light of the World, is the Father of it; which it sends upon all earthly creatures, en∣lightning and enlivening them. Hence men say, that the Sun and Man beget a man; namely, by the intermediate seed. Otherwise it proceeds of another fashion, when without those mediums, in things are bred of putrefaction, as we said before. For when the solar or elemental heat incloseth any mixt body, wherein natural heat is included; this is raised up by that, is moved and stirred to perform its operations; as appears in the hatching of eggs by artifi∣ciall heat of Furnaces, or natural heat of the hens. For in the yolks there is a hidden naturall heat, that is stirred by the external heat; so that, by circulation of the Elements, Water is turn'd to Ayr; Ayr into Fire; Fire into Earth; Earth into Water, and the Chickens limbs and entrals are formed and made by natural heat, which is the principal internal Agent. The Material cause in the generation of this Tree-Goose, is that clammy matter of the wood of Firre, or the Rosin and Pitchy substance of it, upon which the outward Suns heat doth work; and the internal heat increased in the corrupt matter. This matter though it be small, yet may well afford the first rudi∣ments to this Embryo, which is afterwards nourished by the clammy substance of the Ocean, as Oysters and other shell-fish grow and in∣crease; for neither the hard substance of the wood, nor yet the weeds affords any matter for it; for the one is observed to be the container, and the other the conveyer of the true matter. For as in the genera∣tion of Man, neither the Matrix, nor the umbilical vein do afford any matter, but are required as necessary instruments; so must we judge here, of the wood, and the Sea-weeds. Some will have it, that from the worm bred in the rotten wood, there should be made some transmutation, and that the worm doth afford the first matter for this generation; yet that opinion is false, for that Worm cannot come ••orth to the end of the weeds, nor can it make shell-fish, but that must breed at the end of the weeds; nor doth it come thither from any other place, that it can go from place to place by an animall mo∣tion, before it receive its essential form. Pliny writes, that the Fish Pinnothe•• is so cunning, that he will hide himself in the Oyster; and as he growes, he will go into such as are greater; but to imagine any such thing of that Worm that eats into the wood, is against the nature of it. But it is no doubt, but that the rosinous and pitchy matter may communicate something to the end of the weeds, which yet nature must do by a way we cannot perceive; as nature useth

in all other generations such wayes and means that we can better think and judge of by reason, than see with our eyes. For who can see how the heart in the generation of living Creatures is first for∣med? What fibres and veins nature useth there for her Instruments; how and by what means this is done; and when it is done, how she disposeth of the other bowels, and makes them of a seminall and menstruall matter: There was never man yet found so quick-sighted, that he could see these things whilest they were doing; but when they are done, reason can discern them. So no man could yet say, how this matter, that was first radical moysture in the wood, could passe to the ends of those Sea weeds, and should be formed there; yet it is plain afterwards, that so it was made. Nor will that be so hard, for the matter to passe through the grasse to the end of them, as to passe without any medium.

But the greater difficulty is, and most worthy to know, the Formal or seminall cause of this wonderfull birth; which since it is nor con∣tain'd in seeds; for here are none to be found; it must needs enter in∣to the matter, otherwise than in other kinds of generations. For the seeds of both Sexes in living Creatures which are mixt together in copulation, are as it were the sheaths and cases of the forming sper∣maticall faculty; which forms the prae-existent matter of the seed or blood into an essentiall form fit for that kind, that the seeds be∣long unto, howsoever they are mingled or drawn forth into act. That force of nature is a blessing given to her in the creation, in the word increase; which word was never idle, nor shall be whilest the world endures: God spake, and all that God said were made very good, containing in themselves principles to multiply their own kinds by; because individualls must perish. The Heaven with its Stars shall last from the beginning to the end, and the entire Elements, Ayr, Water, and Earth. But things compounded of them, as they ••y, so they are restored again by multiplication of seed, not the same in number, but in kind; not by external form, but by that form which is internall and essential. But since that God gave this Commission for propagation to the sublunary World, and this alwaies proceeds by mediums; though in the production of these Barnacles there are no visible seeds, whereby the matter may receive its form; where∣fore it is consonant to Reason and to Nature, that the form must come from some other place into the matter, lest any thing should seem since the Creation to be made of nothing, contrary to Gods will. For nothing is the cause of it selfe, or forms it self, but only the eternal and infinite God. All other things indeed were made by him of no∣thing, but not by themselves, nor are they propagated of nothing, nor from themselves, but from means appointed by Nature. Plato sets universal Ideas of every species of things subject to generation, fixed in a certain place from whence a formative force descends, to beget and make all individualls to be made. This opinion is pleasant but not true. For there can be no universal substances (save in the conceptions of Mens minds) but only individuals, that cannot give

what they have not, and what they do give, they cannot alwaies hold themselves. Nature is in all things as in individuals, dispersed all over, which yet operates in each individual according to the condi∣tion that every one of them requires, which is true in all things that have seeds, for those are the very subjects and vessells that nature works upon. But the question now is, how that faculty is imprinted on the seeds, and from whence? whether from nature? If this be true, then of every matter she makes what she will, when as she can im∣print what forme she please on any matter. And then, how can na∣ture in this Barnacle, that hath no seed visible presupposed, proceed to generation; and in other such like things bred of meer putrefaction. As in man there is an imagination and cogitative force, which is per∣formed by a subtile Artifice of Images conceived in the brai••▪ arising first from the outward senses, and so proceeding to the inward parts of the brain, by a locall motion; yet without any changing of the place, only by calling to remembrance things at the greatest distance, which were seen long before, or were done, or thought of▪ So in the Sun, the Heavens, the fixed Starrs, there is a kind of ima∣ginative vertue; not passive as in animals, but purely active, which by locall motion comes thence into sublutary bodies, and is communi∣cated to certaine subjects, as to seeds of individualls. And this is the form that first begins and increaseth all generation, communicating the essence to every thing, that it shall be such a thing, and not ano∣ther. This force is the first moveable, frameing its subject, as an Architect, and one that frames her self a house, where to dwell, that she governs to that end that Nature the artificer assigns it. That is the spermatick faculty, that resides in the body of the seed, with∣out which this is barren and vain, nor doth promote any generation. If this by time vanish, or by breaking the Container of it; there fol∣lows no fructification, as appeares in Corn, which if it grow old, or be ground to meale, it can propagate no more. Or why doth this power reside in that body rather than in another, and perisheth pre∣sently afterwards? I answer, there is no other reason to be given, than that Nature rejoyceth in such means, and hath included that vertue that it cannot flye away, if it be obedient unto nature, vvhich if she would, she could have put into other subjects. It is admirable, that the animal spirits in men are contained in the nerves 〈…〉〈…〉 do they flye out of them into the Ayre; and when those nerves are pressed their passage is stopped, whence astonishment or a palsey for a time s••aseth on the foot or arme, which is by and by removed by the Spi∣rits succeeding into the nerves. After the same manner, that imagi∣native vertue of the heavenly bodies, especially of the Sun, if it passe into the individual subjects or seeds of things▪ it naturally re∣maines in them at the will and pleasure of nature. But where there are no seeds, there the same vertue of the Heavens is communicated to some certaine matter immediately: as, in this generation, to this fat and clammy subject, of which we spake before, as to the material cause. For there are two things in all seeds, the Elementary mat∣ter,

and the celestiall forme, the latter whereof may perish, the matter and externall forme remaining entire, but nothing of that was generated out of the matter, when the celestial forme is lost. Mat∣ter in this generation is in time before the forme, and receives it by influence, though it be not deprived of any forme it had. I speak of the first matter, but the subsequent forme, if it do not take away the first forme, yet it perfects it. But it is a question, Wherefore this formal force (as for example▪ in making a bird) is not sent into every matter, or into any whatsomever, when as it is received with∣out certaine vessells, or bodies of seeds? I answer; that matter, so prepared in such wood and not in another, and in such a place and not in another, supplies the place of a seminal body; whose qualities not being in another, therefore noe other subject is capable of that formal and determinate vertue. There are examples every where of this Imagination, or celestiall Influence, namely in some places of the County of Mansfield, where Mines of Brasse in a stone that may be cut, do shew forth all kinds of Fishes; and the forms of such as are in the next Lake, as we may see Teeth; Horns; and Lyons to perfection, formed by nature under ground in hollow Caves and other places. In Amber also, which by the Sea Waves is cast on the shores of the Island, now call'd Sudovia in Borussa; divers forms of flyes gnats, spiders, butterflies, frogs, lizards, and other Creatures ap∣pear; not really, but only from the imaginative faculty of the Hea∣vens imprinted in it. For if you should cut the Amber or break it to find them, the places would be empty, which nature hath so sport∣ed her selfe upon; yet are all their parts and particles so shadowed to the life, that a man would sweare, that such Creatures are really included in that matter, perchance wrapt in when the gum was moyst. But it is no such matter: for there is no earthly matter, and which is not transparent, that is contain'd in those concave figures, which yet ought to be otherwise, since a corporal substance cannot vanish away, and only the forme of it remaine. Moreover if any such living Crea∣tures had fallen into the gummy substance of it▪ as into Rosin or Turpentine, their wings or feet that are besmeer'd would be seen so, and not extended entire, and direct, which is not so here; but all seem entire as through a Crystall glasse. Farther, if that should fall from Trees into the water, those Trees would be known. Pliny l. 37. c. 2. & 3, writes of Amber thus, Pitheus (saith he) discovered to the Gut∣tones, borderers on Germany, an arme of the Sea called Mentonomon, for the space of 6000 furlongs; from this the Island Abulus is a days sailing; from thence Amber is carried by the Waves of the Sea, and it is the purging of the Sea congealed. The inhabitants use it for wood to burn, and sell it to the Ger∣manes their neighbours. Timoeus beleived this, but he called the Island Baltia. Mithridates saith, there is an Island in the shores of Germany, and it is called Osericta that is full of a kind of Cedar Trees, from thence it runs to the Rocks. But certaine it is, that it breeds in some Islands of the North Sea, and the Germans call it Glessum; and therefore our Country men call one of

those Islands, Glessaria; When Germanicus Caesar was there with his Navy, the Barbarians called it Austravia. It is brought by the Germans, especially into the Country of Pannonia: Thence the Venetians first, whom the Geeeks call Heneti, spread the fame of it, they receiving that from Panno∣nia about the Adriatick Sea. That shore of Germany is about 600 miles from Carnuntum of Panonia, from whence it is brought, being but lately discovered. A Roman Knight, sent by Julian to trafique for this, who took care of the fencing sports of Nero Caesar, passed over all those shores, where these Merchandises were, and saw such abundance brought in, that the nets that were set to keep off wild beasts from the Galleries, were full of knots of Am∣ber, but the weapons, and biers, and the whole provision for one day was made of Amber. He brought a great weight or clot of it, that weighed 13, pounds. Pliny. In Amber, as it is transparent, that incorporeal figure doth easily appeare; but not so in other dark bodies. Nor yet in the matter of the wood we speak of; In which not only the figure of a bird, but also a spermatick natural force to forme it, nourish, and augment it, and to preserve it in its vital functions, is implanted, as in other birds. But since it is not propagated, ex traduce, from an egg or seed, it neither leaves egg nor seed, nor gives more to another than nature gave to it. For if it lay'd eggs, that chickens might pro∣ceed from, the Barnacle had been so bred her self; but neither of these is so. For as a Mule is not bred of a Mule, but from the ming∣ling of an Asse and Mare together, so it doth not generate a Mule, but continues alwaies Barren, as this bird doth. Bees are bred of Worms, the Worms in the honey combs from honey, by a wonder∣full operation of nature, though without any sensible body of seed, yet not without virtuall seed imprinted on the Honey-Combs by the Bees, which they first had from Heaven.

Nor is it possible, that these effectual and spiritual qualities should proceed from the pure Elements, or onely by propagation; since the matter of the seed, which is made of nutriment and blood, could be extended in infinitum without diminution of it self. For we ob∣serve, that the Elements are but like dead and materiall receptacles of the formal vertues, and that the matter of the seed is dayly sup∣plyed, and heaped up by the Elements. And therefore it is necessary that the formative force, should daily flow into the formed seeds; or, where they are wanting, into a matter prepared by Nature from cor∣ruption, or other operations. From whence the form of this wonderfull Creature is easily drawn, namely, that it is an imaginative vertue of the Hea∣vens, or of the Sun, actively infused into a viscous matter of that wood in those places, so disposed by corruption, that it may enliven it, and promote it to be a new kind of living plant, or bird included in a shell; which so soon as it falls into the waters may swim, and when the wings are grown, fly about. The final cause is the common ornament of the World, the variety and wonderfull works of Nature, the profit of those that dwell near, and especially the providence, omnipotence, and clemency of our good and great God, all whose attributes do appear to mankind as

well from this creature, as from the rest, whilest he crowns the year with his free gifts, and the whole earth with variety of Creatures. So that he is far more mighty in creating and making different kinds of living Creatures, than we are able to expresse them, to nominate or to know them. Let it suffice us, that we have seen some part of the wonderfull works of God, and taken a view of them▪ for it is not possible for a mortall Man to be capable to apprehend them all; yet to consider of none of them, were brutish; and we should, so, be more like unto Beasts than Men.