The ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq, fellow of the Royal Society in three books : wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described : the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plates : translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work : to which are added, Three considerable discourses, I. of the art of fowling, with a description of several nets in two large copper plates, II. of the ordering of singing birds, III. of falconry / by John Ray ...

THE FIRST SECTION. Of Rapacious Diurnal Birds.

CHAP. I. Of Birds of prey in general, especially Diurnal ones.

THE Characteristic notes of Rapacious Birds in general are these: To have a great head; a short neck; hooked, strong and sharp-pointed Beak and Talons, fitted for ravine and tearing of flesh: Strong and brawny thighs, for striking down their prey: a broad, thick, fleshy tongue, like a mans; twelve feathers in their train: four and twenty flag feathers [remiges pennae] in each wing; [The number of these feathers can hardly be counted exactly, and doth (I believe) vary in these Birds, the greater kinds having more, the lesser fewer.] The two Appendices or blind guts very short, so that they seem to be of no use to them, at least when grown up: A membranous stomach, not a musculous one, or Gizzard, like granivorous Birds: To be very sharp-sighted, for spying out their prey at a distance, to be solitary, not gregarious, by a singular providence of nature: For should they, coming in flocks, joyntly set upon Cattel, the flocks and herds of sheep and beasts would scarce be secure from their violence and injuries. This note is not common to all Rapacious birds in ge∣neral, though Aristotle hath delivered for an universal observation, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. No Birds of prey are gregarious. For Vultures, (as Bellonius hath obser∣ved) fly in company fifty or sixty together: To be deep-feathered. The feathers in∣vesting their bodies if they be not thicker set, are at least taller or longer than in other birds, so that their bodies seem to be much greater than indeed they are. This note is common to all Rapacious birds, but not proper to them alone. To be long-lived, and as is commonly thought, more than other birds, whereof being not yet fully sa∣tisfied, I will not rashly affirm any thing, but leave the matter to be determined by experience and diligent observation. But certain it is, (as we have before demon∣strated) that all Birds in general, account being had of their bigness, are very long∣lived. To endure hunger (or abide without food) a long time, which considering their food and manner of living is almost necessary; seeing their prey is not always ready for them. The Females are of greater size, more beautiful and lovely for shape and

colours, stronger, more fierce and generous than the Males. For this cause some will have the Males called Tarcels, that is, Thirds, because they are lesser by one third part than the Females. The reason of this inequality and excess of magnitude in the Females some do assign, because it lies upon the Females to prey not only for themselves, but for their Young, therefore it is requisite they be more strong and generous. More∣over (that we may note that by the by) among the Females themselves the tokens of goodness are taken from their greatness; for by how much a Hawk is bigger and more weighty, so much better is it accounted. So that (as Tardivus witnesseth) in Syria Birds employed for Fowling are all bought by weight; and so much the dearer by how much they weigh more. Howbeit the Astures [Goshawks] (if we may be∣lieve the Italian Proverb) [Astore piccolo & Terzuolo grande] by how much the less they are, by so much the more are they esteemed. Here again Vultures are to be ex∣cepted, of which the Males are said to equal or exceed the Females in bigness. The Basis of the Beak is covered with a naked skin or membrane, which our Falconers call the Sear. This note is proper to Rapacious Birds that prey by day; for the night-birds have no such Membrane. The outmost toe is connected with the middlemost by an inter∣vening Membrane, as far as the first joynt. This note is common to all Rapacious Diurnal Birds, but not proper to them alone, agreeing to many other birds besides. The breast in most Rapacious birds is party-coloured or spotted: In most I say, not in all; for, the Vultur Boeticus, Milvus Aeruginosus, and some few others are to be excepted. Some others also of the forementioned notes are not proper and peculiar to this kind, as for example, To have twelve feathers in the tail, and to have very short Appendices or blind guts, which are common also to the Crow-kind, and most small birds.

Add to these, that in Birds of prey the Hook of the upper chap is produced by Age to that length sometimes, that it hinders their feeding: That the Claw of the outmost Toe is the least: That the flesh of carnivorous birds doth sooner corrupt and putrefie than of any other: That the interior sides of their Claws are sharp-edged: That their Excrements are for the most part fluid like milk: That the interior Vanes of the prime feathers of their Wings and Tails have white or pale-coloured cross bars: That the colour of the back and upper part is for the most part brown.

CHAP. II. Of the Eagle in general.

THe Eagle in general may be thus defined, Adiurnal Rapacious Bird of the biggest sort, the most generous of all, having its Beak hooked almost from the very root. By its bigness it is distinguished from the Hawk, by its courage and spirit and by the kookedness of its Bill from the Vulture.

There are many things delivered by the Ancients and Moderns concerning the na∣ture and conditions of the Eagle in general; which are partly false or uncertain, partly common to other Birds of prey.

Of the first sort I take the following to be.

1. That its feet are not equal, but the right bigger than the left.

2. That its feathers being mixt with the feathers of other birds, especially Geese and Pigeons, do waste and consume them.

3. That whereas she excels in quick-sightedness, in trying her Young whether they be genuine or spurious, she makes use of an argument taken from the sight. For hang∣ing them up by the Claw, she exposes them to the Sun-beams, and those that she sees look stedfastly on the Sun, she keeps and brings up as right-bred, and her genuine Off∣spring, but such as turn away their eyes, as not being able to behold it, she casts away as degenerous.

4. That the Eagle as long as she lives changes not her Nest or Haunt, but returns yearly to the same.

5. That after Noon she flies abroad and preys, but all the Forenoon before dinner she sits idle.

6. That she touches not Carrion or dead Carcasses; feeding only upon the flesh of such Animals as she kills her self.

7. That whereas for the most part she hatches two young ones, she brings up but one, casting out the other, to ease her self of the toil of nursing and feeding it.

8. That she would not at all hatch her Young, did she not bring the Eagles stone [Aëtites] into her Nest, which is of wonderful vertue in promoting exclusion.

9. That when the Young are sick, and cannot concoct more solid food, by reason of the weakness of their stomachs, the old ones suck the bloud out of their prey, and feed them therewith.

10. That in extreme old age, when their Beaks by reason of their driness are grown so crooked that they cannot feed, they sustain themselves for some time by drinking.

11. That the old ones when they see their young fledged and ready to fly, do car∣ry them up a height, and then let them go, admonishing them as it were by their own peril to make use of their Wings, and by flying through the Air to save themselves from falling. If after they have let them go they fall down to the ground, up they take them again, often repeating this kind of exercise.

12. That she hath an extraordinary care of her Talons, lest by any means they should be blunted. Hereupon in walking she always draws them up, and turns them inwards, refuses to walk in stony places, lest perchance she should wear their points. And if she happens to sit or walk upon Rocks, she spreads under her feet the skins of such Animals as she hath kill'd, lest her Talons should be hurt. Yea so careful is she of them, that where ever she sits, unless she eyes the Sun or her prey, she is always look∣ing at them; fearing lest they should grow too crooked. And if by chance they be blunted, she sharpens them with her Bill, or whets them upon stones, to render them fitter for preying.

13. That when she is enfeebled with old age, she flies as high as ever she can above the Clouds, till the dimness of her eye-sight be consumed by the heat of the Sun; then presently descending with all her force, while she is yet in the extremity of heat, she drenches her self three times in the coldest water she can find, and rising up thence streightway betakes her self to her Nest, where among her young now fit for prey∣ing, falling into a kind of Fever, with a sweat she casts her feathers; and is by them carefully nursed up and fed, till she recover her plumage again.

14. Whereas the greatest part of Birds either of fear or wonder, fly after the Owl, she not thinking such carriage to become a Kingly bird, is nothing moved with that spectacle.

Of the latter kind are these.

1. That she doth so excel in quick-sightedness, that soaring so high in the air, that she can very hardly be discerned by us in all that light, yet she can espy a Hare lying under a bush, or a little Fish swimming in the water. Though I grant that both the Eagle and other Rapacious birds are very sharp-sighted, yet do I not think that, their eyes can reach objects at such distances.

2. That she is indocile and uncapable of Discipline, and not to be tamed by any hu∣mane endeavour: But is only carried on headlong by her natural inclination and impe∣tus. This is not universally true. For we have heard of Eagles that have been reclaimed and trained up for fowling. Though it he rarely done.

3. That her breath smells very ill, so that by reason of the pestiferous stench thereof, the bodies that are blown upon by her do easily putrefic and corrupt.

4. That she is very greedy and almost unsatiable: and therefore if at any time she endures hunger, (of which she is most patient) she recompenses her long fasting by abundant eating and gorging her self. And if her prey be so great and copious that any thing remains when she is satiated, she leaves that to the other birds, which use to follow her in expectation thereof.

5. That almost all Birds of prey live without ever drinking; yet is their belly al∣ways loose, and their Excrements fluid. For the bloud of the Animals they kill affords them liquor enough for the concoction and digestion of their meat.

6. That it is very venereous. For the Female being trodden thirteen times a day, yet if the Male doth but call, runs to him again. Now whereas all salacious crea∣tures are thought to be short-lived, one may justly wonder, that the Eagle should be the most lustful, and yet withal the most vivacious of Birds.

7. When their young ones are grown up, and come to that age and strength, that that they can without the help of their Parents get themselves meat, they drive them far away from their Nests; nay, they will not suffer them to abide so much as in the same Country.

8. Nature hath given the Eagle very thick, hard, and almost solid bones, and in which there is but very little marrow.

All these things we have transcribed out of Aldrovandus his Ornithology, where oc∣cur more such like, which are common to other Rapacious Birds. For besides its emi∣nent Magnitude we do not acknowledge any Characteristic note whereby Eagles may be distinguished from Hawks. How they are differenced from Vultures shall be shewn when we come to treat of Vultures.

As for the names of the Eagles, it is called Grecians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the Verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying to rush on or be carried forwards violently with great force and swiftness, because of the swiftness of its flight: By the Latines it is named Aquila, either ab acumine visus from the sharpness of its sight, or from the colour called [Aqui∣lus] that is, blackish or dusky, so denominated from water [Aqua.]

CHAP. III. Of the several kinds of Eagles.

§. I. * THE GOLDEN EAGLE; CHYSAETOS Aldrovandi Ornithologiae, lib. 2. cap. 2. Aquila fulva sen aurea.

BEing put in the balance [statera] we found it to weigh twelve pounds. From point of Beak to tip of Tail it was full three feet and nine Inches long. The length from the Bill to the Talons was four spans and an half. The breadth from tip to tip of the Wings extended eight spans. The Beak was one Palm [hand∣breadth] and one inch long. For the hooked part alone hung down beyond the lower Chap a full Inch. The breadth of the Bill, especially about the middle was more than two Inches. The hooked part or point was blacker; the rest of the Bill of a horn-colour, inclining to a pale blue, and spotted with dusky. The wideness of the Mouth gaping [rictus] was one Palm and an Inch. The Tongue was like a Mans, broad, round, and blunt at the tip, toward the root on both sides armed with two hooked, horny Appendices, tied down in the middle to the lower mandible by a thin Membrane. The Palate perforate in the middle. The lower Chap of the Bill channelled, the edges whereof standing up on both sides are received in the upper. The Membrane which arising from the Forehead is extended beyond the Nosthrils, and likewise the borders of the bridle or corners of the mouth are yellow. The fea∣thers of the neck are rigid and ferrugineous. A certain thick Tunicle stretched forth from below upwards covered the eye in nictation. This Membrane is called in Latine Periophthalmium. Two Eye-lids, one above, the other beneath, covered the Eye, although the lower alone extended upward was sufficient to cover the whole Eye. The region of the Eye-brows was very eminent, like that prominent part of the roofs of houses called the Eaves; under which the Eyes lay hid, as it were sunk in a deep cavity. The Eyes were of the colour called Charopus, of a fiery splendor, shining forth in a pale blew. The Pupil was of a deep black. It is very admirable to observe what care Nature hath taken, and what provision she hath made for the conservation of the Eyes, than which there is no part in this Animal more excellent. For not being content with one Tegument, as is usual in other Animals, she seemeth to have framed four several lids or covers for them. The Periophthalmium, or Mem∣brane for Nictation, is the same thing, and affords the same use to them that the Eye-lids do to a man. Besides which Nature hath superadded two other Eye-lids, and of these the lower so large, that they alone suffice to cover and preserve the Eyes. The colour of the Wings and Tail is dusky, and so much the darker by how much the fea∣thers are bigger. The colour of the rest of the small feathers of the whole body is a dark ferrugineous or Chesnut, sprinkled with white spots, fewer on the back, more on the belly, the bottoms of all being white. Six of the prime feathers on each side were twenty two Inches long apiece, having very firm and hard quills, but shorter than those of Geese, and very good to make Writing Pens. The Legs were feathered down to the feet, of a ferrugineous colour. Hence it may evidently appear to any man, how much Petrus Bellonius is mistaken in that he writes, that Eagles are di∣stinguishable from Vultures by one only sign, viz. having their Legs naked or destitute of feathers, contrary to what we see in Vultures. The feet were yellowish: The back∣claw of the left foot six Inches in circumference; that of the right foot but four;

so great was the difference between them; which I suppose not to have been natural, but induced by force, for this seemed to be maimed. The Talon of the foremost of the fore-toes of the left foot was five Inches in length, that of the middle three and an half, the least two. The Talons of the fore toes of the right foot were bigger, in proportion to the back-claw, than those of the left. Four Semicircular Tables co∣vered each toe near the Talons, excepting the greatest of the fore toes, which had only three annuli. The rest of the feet was covered with Scales about the bigness of millet grains, or somewhat less.

If any one desires an Anatomy and description of the inward parts, let him consult Aldrovandus in this place: See also here the arguments whereby he proves this bird by him described to be the Chrysaëtos of the Ancients; and the notes whereby he distin∣guishes it from other Eagles.

I suspect this to be the same bird with that hereafter described by us under the title of Pygargus. The chief difference is, that half the Tail in that is white, whereas in this the whole is of one [dusky] colour.

This with great fierceness flew upon any thing that came in its way: and would with its Beak and Talons assault and strike at Dogs, Cata, &c. and even man himself, if they did, before they were aware, approach too near the Cage in which it was shut up. So far Aldrovandus: to whom this Bird was sent by the Great Duke of Tuscany.

The Golden Eagle with a white ring about its tail.

We saw three Birds of this sort in the Royal Theriotrophium near the Tower of Lon∣don, and a fourth in St. James Park near Westminster. For bigness they approached to Turkeys. The Beak near the head was streight, toward the end hooked, of a horn∣colour; the Sear or skin covering the Basis of the beak of an ash-colour or blewish white; the space from the Nosthrils to the eyes bare of feathers: The mouth very wide when gaping: The Tail of a mean length, with a transverse bar or ring of white. The upper Chap of the Beak had on each side a small obtuse Angle or Tooth, as that of the Kestrel and other Hawks. The inside of the mouth was of a flesh-co∣lour. The Feathers covering the head and neck not smooth and even, but rigid, nar∣row, and lying at a distance one from another: The Talons black; the Legs fea∣thered down below the knees. Our Country-men call this bird simply and absolutely the Eagle, without any Epithet of distinction, as if indeed this were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Eagle of Eagles. I take it to be specifically the same with the precedent.

§. II. * The SEA-EAGLE or OSPREY; Haliaeetus seu Aquila marina; Nisus Veterum.

ALdrovandus confesses that himself never saw this Bird: But the description he gives of it, sent by a certain eminent Physician, agrees exactly to the ENGLISH BALD BUZZARD. Moreover Leonard Baltner, a Fisherman of Strasburgh, who himself described and caused to be painted by the life all Water-fowl that frequent the River Rhine thereabouts, sets forth the Bald Buzzard under the title of Fisch-Adler, i. e. the Fish-Eagle. But seeing that our Bald Buzzard is a lesser Bird than that it may merit the name of an Eagle, and is also very like to, and not much bigger than the Common Buzzard, we will treat thereof in a more commodious place, among its fel∣lows, viz. the lesser sort of wild birds of prey. And in this place for the Haliaeetus or Sea-Eagle we will present the Reader with the Ossifrage of Aldrovandus, seeing that for its bigness may justly challenge a place among Eagles and is also a fierce and generous Bird, preying upon Fish, and frequenting not only Pools and Rivers, but also the Sea. I am not ignorant that Aldrovandus will by no means admit this Bird to be the Sea-Eagle: 1. Because it answers not to the description of the Sea-Eagle left us by the Ancients, which makes it to be not much bigger than the Kite, whereas this Bird for bigness falls not much short of the Chrysaëtos it self. 2. Because all the notes of the Ossifrage agree to it, viz. A whitish ash-colour, clouded Eyes, a beard under the chin, and finally Aquiline magnitude. But yet these Arguments are not of so great force with me to evince this Bird to be the Ossifrage, as the manner of living alone to be the Sea-Eagle: unless perchance the Sea-Eagle and Ossifrage be Synonymous words and names of one and the same Bird. Neither do I much matter the descriptions of

the Ancients, who in delivering the notes of Animals are wont to be less curious and exact. But whatever the Ancients called the Sea-Eagle, certain it is that the title of Sea-Eagle may be very fitly attributed to this Bird. For if we admit the Bald Buzzard for the Sea-Eagle, (which, to speak the truth, agrees better to the descriptions of the Ancients) we take away all note of distinction between Eagles and Hawks, which (as we said before) consists only in difference of magnitude.

The Ossifrage then or Sea-Eagle is thus described by Aldrovandus. From the point of the Beak to the end of the train or Talons, (for the ends of both when extended were coincident) it was three feet and four Inches long: From tip to tip of the Wings stretched out nine spans broad. It weighed eleven pound. The Bill was very hooked, so that the hooked part alone was an Inch long; the whole two Inches broad, and an hand-breadth long; of a blackish or dusky horn colour, somewhat ap∣proaching to a dark blue. The Tongue was very like to a mans, with a broad top, and hooked, hard, and horny Appendices on both sides, tied down to the lower mandible by a thin Membrane, where it regards the chin a horny Membrane compasses the end or tip of it. The lower mandible was hollowed like a channel, [I suppose he means the sides of it] the edges or borders of which channel enter the Palate on both sides, and are enclosed within its edges. In the middle of the Palate is a chink by which a pituitous humour distils from the head. The head and all the neck are cloathed with long, narrow, and rigid feathers. From the Chin hang down small feathers like hairs imitating a beard; whence perchance by Pliny and also Bellonius it is denominated the bearded Eagle: And I from that note chiefly suppose it to be called Harpe by Op∣pian, The feathers of the whole body singly are particoloured, and that with three colours, whitish, duskish, and ferrugineous. The flag-feathers of the Wings are al∣most wholly black, something tending to Chesnut. The twelve feathers of the Train have little or nothing of red, but are only spotted with black and white, viz. whitish on the outside, dusky on the inner. The two middlemost, being besprinkled pro∣miscuously with white spots; are for the most part dusky. The ends or tips of all are black. The feathers growing on the rump, which immediately cover these, are almost wholly white, sprinkled with a little black, save that their tips are black. Their Legs are almost wholly covered with dusky feathers, somewhat inclining to fulvous; so that there is only two inches to the feet remaining bare. Besides the feathers the whole body underneath is covered with a white and soft down, as it were a delicate fleece, after the same manner as the skin of a Swan. The lower part of the Legs, which as we said for the space of two Inches is destitute of feathers, and the feet are of a deep yellow. The toes extended are a full span; the length of the middlemost is equal to a Palm. The Talons were very black in so much that they shone again; and so hooked that they did exactly represent a Semicircle. They observed this pro∣portion one to another; the hindmost being the biggest was two Inches long; the first of the fore ones lesser than it, but bigger than the middlemost, and the last the least of all. The substance of the Talons was inwardly white and bony, covered over out∣wardly with a dusky bark. The leg and foot were for the most part covered with round scales of unequal bigness; but the fore-part of the Leg, and upper part of the toes had Semicircular Tables like the Chrysaetos.

Clusius sent to Aldrovandus the Picture of this Bird drawn in colours to the life, by the title of the Sea-Eagle, writing thereof in this manner, This Haliaeetus, which our Countrymen living in the Sea-coast call Zee Aren, that is, Sea-Eagle, was shot the last Winter, &c. That this Eagle feeds only on Fish I my self can witness, for in the sto∣mach thereof dissected we found nothing but Fish, some remaining yet entire, some half consumed, &c.

That this Bird is the same which our Seamen and Fowlers call the Osprey, and affirm to have one flat or webbed foot to swim withal, after the manner of a Goose or other Water-fowl, the other being divided after the manner of other Birds of prey, I do not at all doubt. But what is reported concerning the feet is most certainly false and fabulous: although by some affirming it with great confidence, even the best Na∣turalists have been deceived; among the rest Aldrovandus himself, not daring rashly to contradict, Albertus Magnus English men and Burgundians eye-witnesses. For (saith he) the Natives of each Country are most likely best to know what things are pecu∣liar to their own Country either by Land or Sea, Well, I my self am an English man, yet have I never yet met with any credible person who would affirm himself to be an Eye-witness of this matter, although the Vulgar be so confidently persuaded of it, that scarce any body doubts its truth, What gave the first occasion and rise to this

Error was (I suppose) a presumption of the necessity of such a structure of the feet. For whereas the Mariners and Fishermen did see and observe this Bird much to fre∣quent the Sea and great Lakes of water, and to prey upon Fish; yea, sometimes to fly forth very far from Land, so that it hath been often seen out at Sea, a hundred Leagues distant from shore, flying up and down over the water, and intent upon fishing; they imagined it altogether necessary that it should be furnished with one flat foot for swimming, and another cloven for striking, catching, and carrying away of Fish. It being, one would think, impossible, that a bird should abide upon the Wing so long without rest. But that even small birds, short-winged, and less fit by far for flight than Eagles will venture to fly over wide Seas is evident in those we call birds of passage. And who knows but where those Fowl are usually seen, there may be some Rocks in the Sea not far off, on which they may rest themselves. But for the same rea∣son this conceit was first started, it was readily entertained, and without examination greedily believed.

Not less fabulous is that which is reported of the oyl or fat which this bird hath in her rump, and which hanging in the air, she lets fall drop by drop into the water; by the force whereof the Fishes being stupefied, and as it were Planet-strucken, become destitute of all motion, and so suffer themselves without difficulty to be taken; though some are so vain as to put Oyl of Osprey into their receipts or prescriptions for taking Fishes, by the smell whereof the Fishes being allured, rather than stupefied by its narcotic vertue, yield themselves to be handled and taken out of the water by such as have their hands anointed with it. Doubtless he that can get the Oyl of such an Osprey as they talk of may work wonders with it.

§. III. Of the BLACK EAGLE, called Melanaëtus, or Aquila Valeria.

WE saw a Bird of this kind kept shut up in a Cage in the Stadt-house of Mid∣dleburgh in Zealand. It was double the bigness of a Raven, but lesser than the Pygarg. The Jaws and Eye-lids were bare of feathers, and somewhat reddish: The head, neck, and brest black. In the middle of the back between the shoulders was a large triangular white spot dashed with red. The rump red. The lesser orders or rows of feathers in the Wings were of a Buzzard colour; then followed a black stroak or bar cross the prime feathers, after that a white one, the remaining part of the feathers to the tips being of a dark ash-colour.

The Beak was less than that of the Pygarg, black at the end, then yellow as far as the Sear or skin covering its Base, which was red. The Eyes [understand the Irides] were of a hazel colour. The Legs were feathered down but a little below the knees; the naked part being red. The Talons very long.

Those Birds which Aldrovandus hath set forth for Melanaëti or Black Eagles; al∣though they differ in some marks from this here described, as for example, in the blewish horny colour of the Beak; in the dark ferrugineous colour of the crown of the head and neck, and that their Legs are almost wholly covered with feathers, scarce an inch remaining bare, and that yellow, yet I doubt not but they are of the same species; there being in the Rapacious kind a great difference for the most part between Cock and Hen in point of magnitude and colour; the colours also in the same Sex varying very much by age and other accidents.

Of the place of this Bird, its food and manner of living, building its Nest, Eggs, conditions, &c. we have nothing certain.

It is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from its black colour. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Leporaria, from killing of Hares: And in Latine Aquila Valeria, from its strength and valour.

§. IV. Of the PYGARG or white-tail'd Eagle, called Pygargus, and Albicilla, and by some Hinnularia.

IT is called Pygargus from the whiteness of its rump or train, which word Gaza rendred in Latine Albicilla.

The Male (which we described) was for bigness not much inferiour to a Turkey.

It weighed eight pounds and an half, [it is like, the Female in this, as in other Birds of

prey, may be bigger and more weighty.] Its length from the tip of the Beak to the end of the train was two feet and nine Inches, to the end of the Talons two feet and five inches. The distance from tip to tip of the Wings stretcht out seven feet wanting but one inch, or two yards and eleven Inches: From the tip of the Beak to the Nose∣thrils was near two inches, to the corners of the mouth three, to the Eyes almost so much. The breadth of the Beak an inch and a quarter; the hooked part of the upper Mandible over-hanging the lower three quarters of an Inch. The Nosthrils oblique and half an Inch long. The second or middle bone of the Leg was six inches and an half long, the third or lowermost no more than three and an half. The colour of the Beak was yellow, and also of the Sear or skin covering its Basis as far as the Nosthrils. In the Palate it had a Cavity equal to the Tongue. The Tongue broad, fleshly, black at the tip. The sides or edges of the Beak sharp. The Eyes great, withdrawn or sunk in the head, overhung and defended by Eye-brows, prominent like the Eves of a house: The Irides of a pale Hazel colour [in one Bird which we saw of this sort they were red; in another yellow.] The feet were yellow, in the soles were callous rough knobs, or fleshy protuberances, as in others of this kind: The Talons large, sharp, and crooked, that of the back-toe (as generally in most Birds) being greatest: That of the middle toe an inch long, the toe it self being two Inches.

The Head was pale or whitish, the feathers being sharp-pointed, and their shafts black. The neck covered with narrow feathers; the upper part thereof something red; the Rump blackish; else the whole body round of a dark ferrugineous colour. The number of prime feathers in each Wing was about twenty six or twenty seven, whereof the third and fourth were the longest; the second shorter by half an inch than the third, and the first by three inches and an half than the second. The Wings when closed reached not to the end of the train. Of the Pinion feathers and the rest of the flags they make Quils for Virginals, and very good Writing Pens. All the prime feathers of the Wings were black; the lesser rows of the Wing-feathers had their edges of an ash-colour. The tail was eleven inches and an half long, made up of twelve feathers; the upper or extreme part for above half way being white, the lower black. The extreme or outmost feathers were shortest, the rest gradually longer to the middlemost.

It had a large Gall, long Testicles, small Guts, having many revolutions, and being by measure one hundred thirty two Inches, or eleven foot long, a small stomach, above which the Gullet was dilated into a kind of bag, granulated on the inside with many small protuberancies, which I take to be glandules, and which being squeezed a little, yielded a kind of pap or slime, serving, it is like, as a menstruum to help macerate the meat in the stomach. It had a vast Craw; small short Appendices or blind guts, viz. not more than three quarters of an inch long.

This Bird, shot dead by a certain Fowler, we bought and described at Venice in the year 1664. and from the white ring about the tail denominated it Pygargus. It differs from that we have entituled the Golden Eagle with a white ring about its tail, chiefly in the colour of the Head and Beak: So that I suspect it may be the same: as also with the Golden Eagle of Aldrovandus, notwithstanding the white colour of the train, which perchance may alter with age, [yet it differs also from it in other accidents, as for example, in the yellow colour of the Beak.] If these three birds be not the same, yet are they very like and near of kin to one another: Perchance the only difference may be in Age or Sex.

The Pygargus of Aldrovandus seems to be a different kind, which he describes in these words,

It is of a mean magnitude as big as a large Dunghil-Cock. The Bill all over yellow, hooked, and bending by little and little from the very root to the utmost tip or point of the hook, somewhat longer than in other Eagles in proportion to the big∣ness of the Bird. The Pupil of the eye very black, the Iris yellow. The crown of the head and all the neck of a pale Chesnut, inclining to an Ash-colour, the tips of the feathers being more black. The back and upper part of the Wings are covered with dark ferrugineous and blackish feathers, as also are the Belly and Thighs for the most part. The Tail from the Rump to the end is wholly white; whence the name of Al∣bicilla was not undeservedly by Gaza imposed upon it, Howbeit two of the smaller feathers [I suppose he means the two middlemost] which lie upon and cover the other greater and principal ones have black tips. The Legs are almost wholly bare of feathers, and both Legs and Feet intensely yellow, both being all over covered with square Table-like Scales. The Talons very sharp.

The former Pygargus of Bellonius seems to be nothing else but the male of the Ringtail called in English the Henharrier.

§. V. * Of the Eagle called Morphnos or Clanga and Anataria.

THat Bird which by Gesner, and out of him by Aldrovandus is figured and descri∣bed under this title, being again nothing else but our Bald Buzzard (as Turner himself acknowledges, who sent the description to Gesner under the title of Morph∣nos) I shall omit it here, referring it to its proper place among the wild Hawks; it being (as I said before) of a lesser size than to deserve to be ranked with Eagles.

In stead of the true Morphnos, which Aldrovandus professes himself not to know, I shall here give you the description of that Bird which he calls Morphno Con∣gener.

It is (saith he) of about the height and bigness of a large Dunghil-Cock: From the tip of the Beak to the end of the Train three spans and an half long. The Beak was pretty long, hooked, and tending almost directly downward, joyned to the head by a yellow Membrane [I suppose he means the Sear.] The colour of almost the whole Plumage was ferrugineous, saving that at the ends of the Wings towards the belly it was beautified with many oval spots, scattered up and down, and more∣over, that the utmost tips of the beam-feathers were white, as also the beginning of the Tail, and the extremities of all its feathers, and the lower part of the Rump. The Legs were all over feathered down to the beginning of the toes, and besprinkled also with whitish Ash-coloured spots. The Feet were yellow; the Toes above to∣ward the Leg covered with Scales, toward the Talons with annulary Tables. The bottoms of all the feathers white. The Pupil of the Eye black, encompassed with a cinereous circle: It would very greedily devour flaid Mice.

Bellonius for the Morphnos of the Ancients gives us the Jer-falcon; whose opinion Aldrovandus disallows.

This Bird took the name Morphnos from the spots of the feathers whence also it may in Latine not unfitly be called Naevia. Others will have this name to be derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Preterperfect Tense of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being changed into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 short and the letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 interposed, and so to signifie rapacious. It is called Clanga both by the Greeks and Latines from the sound of its voice.

§. VI. * The crested Eagle of Brasil: Urutaurana Brasiliensium, Marggrav.

THis Bird is of the bigness of an Eagle: It hath a black Bill (the upper Chap whereof is hooked) yellow near its rise or Base: The Eyes of a lovely Gold∣colour, with black Pupils, which it can cover with an ash-coloured skin [Periophthal∣mium] though it shut not the Eye-lids. It hath an Eagle-like head, but compressed or plain above [flat-crowned] in the top whereof it hath two black feathers about two inches long, with two small ones on each side: These it can when it lists setup an end, and again let down flat. The Wings reach but little beyond the bottom or rise of the Tail. It hath a broad Tail like an Eagle. The Head above is covered with dus∣ky feathers having yellowish edges: The uppor part and sides of the neck with brown ones [rather cinereous or terreous] like a Partridges. The whole throat and lower part of the neck is white, yet so that the white is variegated at the sides with black feathers. The whole breast and lower belly, the upper and lower legs down to the very feet are covered with white feathers, wherewith black ones are mingled scalewise. The Wings and Tail are of a dusky colour, shaded, having the utmost borders or edges white. The feet have four Toes, yellow of colour, with dusky crooked Talons. Its cry is Geb, Geb, like to that of a Chicken which hath lost its Dam, [we express that voice by Yelp, yelp] If you cast a bird to it, whether alive or dead. it catches it in its Talons, and with its Bill handsomly plumes it, and then tearing it in pieces swallows down both flesh and bones. I kept one of these alive a long time in the Fort Mauritius by the River of St. Frances.

§. VII. * The Brasilian Urubitinga of Marggrave, very like our Pygarg or White-tail'd Eagle.

THis Bird is like an Eagle, of the bigness of a Goose of six months old. It hath a thick hooked black Beak; a yellowish skin about the Nosthrils: Great sparkling Aquiline Eyes: A great Head: Yellow Legs and Feet: Four Toes in each foot, disposed after the usual manner; crooked, long, black Talons: Large Wings: A broad Tail. It is all over covered with dusky and blackish feathers; yet the Wings are waved with ash-colour. The Tail is nine Inches long, white for six, the end for three Inches being black; howbeit in the very tip there is again a little white. This is a stately Bird of tall stature [Egregiae staturae.] It doth in many things approach to that described by us under the title of Pygargus, save that the upper part of the tail-feathers in that of ours was white, the lower black, whereas in this, on the contrary the upper is black, and the lower white. Mr. Willughby mentions another variety or diffe∣rence of the Pygargus, in which the Tail-feathers from the middle downwards were white, the upper half being black, which seems to be altogether the same with that here described by Marggrave.

§. VIII. * Of the Vulturine Eagle of Aldrovandus, called Percnopteros, Gypaëtos, and also Ovipelargus.

THough Aldrovandus makes this Bird a sort of Eagle, entitling it Perknopteros; yet he confesses it to have nothing Aquiline beside the name, being ignoble, sluggish, and deformed, and therefore deserving to be set behind not only Eagles, but also Vultures. We take it to belong to the family of Vultures, as will appear from its description compared with the general notes of Vultures.

Of this sort of Birds Aldrovandus gives us three figures, and three descriptions, besides that of Bellonius, which, whatever it be, seems to be a Bird of another kind. The first, was of a Vulturine Eagle brought out of Spain, in these words:

It was of eminent Magnitude, yea, not much less than the Chrysaëtos, but of an unusual and ridiculous shape; the Beak, not as in other Eagles, bending from the root to the tip by a continual declivity, but streight almost to the middle, toward the point bowed into a remarkable hook, after the same manner as in Vultures, white toward the Head, the rest of it being black; the lower Chap wholly white. The mouth within-side [Oris rictus] of a Chesnut-colour. The Irides of the Eyes not, as in other Eagles, of a fiery colour, but whitish; the Pupil black. The whole Head whitish, inclining to dusky [fuscum.] The upper part of the Neck, about half way down, almost bald, beset with very few, and those small feathers, of a white colour. At the end of this bald part, almost in the middle of the Neck, grew small feathers like certain rough curled hairs, standing up above the rest of the Plumage, as it were very fine slender, long bristles; the like whereto it had in the beginning of the back and breast, in places just opposite to one another, and also on the Rump below. On the Back was as it were a kind of hood, reaching to the middle thereof, ending in a sharp peak, and resembling a Triangle. The colour of the whole body was a dark Chesnut inclining to black. The Tail long; the Feet and Legs white; the Claws dusky.

The second was of one taken by Country men on the Alpish Mountains of the Town Giulia, as follows. From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail it was by measure three spans long. The Bill was long, but for the most part covered with a skin or membrane, so that about an inch only of the tip remained bare; the hooked end small and slender. The Head was bald or destitute of feathers to the hind-part, so that the feathers standing up behind the crown, resembled a Monks hood, put back, and leaning on his neck, when he goes with his head uncovered. The colour of al∣most all the feathers of the whole body was dusky, inclining to a dark Chesnut: Only interrupted by a continued Series of whitish feathers on the lower part of the neck, making an acute Angle, the point running down the middle of the back, which was as it were the acuminated part of the Monks hood, hanging from the shoulders

down the middle of the back. Also another series not unlike this of whitish fea∣thers, terminating in an acute Angle about the middle of the back, covered all the lower part of the back toward the complications of the Wings, somewhat resembling a Clock. The Tail was broad, and of a mean size. The Feet dusky, and all over covered with Scales. The Beak and Talons were of one and the same dusky horn-co∣lour. The feathers on the thighs reached not lower than the knees. It would with∣out difficulty suffer it self to be touched or handled, whence you may note its slug∣gishness and cowardise. Being angred it cried like a Kite.

The third is Gesners. This Eagle (saith Gesner) whose figure we here present you with, if it be not the Gypaëtos, i. e. The Vulturine Eagle, or Oripelargus, i. e. the Moun∣tain Vulture, yet seems to be bred at least of one Parent of this kind. For in Beak it resembles a Vulture, in colour a Stork, being ignoble and sluggish. It was unknown to our Fowlers, being never, that I know of, taken with us. But in the year of our Lord, 1551. on Septemb. 29. there falling an extraordinary Snow, a Bird of this kind, her Wings being wet and heavy, fell down into a narrow place in the open Air ad∣joyning to one of our Citizens houses. It did for shape and colour wholly resemble a Stork. It was Carnivorous, yet would not touch Fish; impatient of cold: The body intensely hot, so that the cold hands of them that touched it were presently warmed thereby. It would sit stark still in the same place for four or five hours; and sometimes look upon the Sun when it shone out. Hens and other birds scorned, de∣spised, and neglected it as harmless and innoxious. I kept it at my house above a month, and gave it meat with my hand, the smaller gobbets whereof it would swal∣low, the greater pieces it tore asunder with its Claws. Though it drank not, yet from its Beak drops of water distilled.

In the Year 1664. we saw at Venice in the Palace of a certain Nobleman of the City standing upon the Grand Channel, a bird of this kind, which we thus described.

For bigness it equalled or exceeded any Eagle we have seen. The Head and Neck were destitute of feathers, only covered with a white down. From the Bill to the Eyes the skin was bare, and of a blue colour. Almost all the feathers of the body were of a pale ferrugineous colour. On the lower part of the Neck below the Down there was as it were a kind of Collar or Ruff of long white feathers. The prime fea∣thers of the Wings and Tail were black. The Bill was large, more like a Gulls than an Eagles, the tip of it white. The Nosthrils were covered with a black membrane: The Irides of the Eyes of a reddish hazel colour. The Nosthrils turned directly downward, and from them constantly dropped a liquid humour or water. It was feathered down a little below the knee. The Feet were of a Lead colour, the Claws black, lesser, and not so crooked as an Eagles. The middle Toe much longer than the rest: The outmost joyned to the middle by a membrane as far as the first joynt, or further: The inside of the Legs white. The Craw hung down from the body before like a bag. It stood almost always with the Wings stretcht out like the figure of the Vultur Leporarius of Gesner.

These three descriptions I suspect to be of one and the same Bird, differing only in Age or Sex. For the first of Aldrovandus in most notes agrees with ours; excepting the Triangular spot in the back, which either was not in ours, or not observed by us, (which yet I scarcely believe) and that he makes no mention of any humour dropping from the nose of his, perchance because it was seen and described after it was dead. Aldrovandus confesses his second to be in many things not unlike to Gesners: But that Gesners and ours are the same Bird, that one note of the water distilling from the Nosthrils is sufficient to evince, notwithstanding the difference of colour. I judge the first of Aldrovandus and ours described at Venice, to be of the same Sex; likewise the second of Aldrovandus, and that seen and described by Gesner to be of the same Sex, but different from that of the other two. But herein I dare not be very positive and confident.

CHAP. IV. Of VULTURES in general.

THe Characteristic notes of Vultures are, 1. That for bigness they are equal to, or exceed Eagles. 2. That their Beaks are not presently from their first rise from the Forehead crooked and bending, but after about two Inches con∣tinued streightness; which Gesner saith, he himself hath observed in many sorts of Vultures. 3. That they have an excellent sagacity of smelling above all other Birds, so that they can perceive the savour of dead Carcasses from far, [many miles off they say.] 4. The Ancients have delivered, that they are content only with dead Car∣casses, abstaining from the ravine and slaughter of living Animals. But Bellonius, Gesner, and others of the Moderns affirm, that they pursue live Birds, and prey up∣on living Fawns, Hares, Kids, Lambs, &c. 5. That they have the neck for the most part bare of feathers. 6. Bellonius asserts, that among all Rapacious and hook-bill'd birds Vultures only assemble and fly together in flocks; and that himself saw great flights of them, of not fewer than fifty in each, when he travelled from Cairo to Mount Sinai. Hence that observation of Aristotle, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is proved not to hold generally true in all Rapacious Birds. 7. That their Legs are feathered down to the Feet: By which note Bellonius thinks they are to be distin∣guished from other Birds of prey. But neither is this note common to all Vultures, Bellonius himself representing some with naked legs; nor proper to the Vulturine kind; but also common to some Eagles, as appears by their figures and descriptions. 8. That under their throats they have a space of about an hand-breadth, clothed rather with hairs, like to those of a Calf, than with feathers. Which note we found to be true in the Vulture kept in the Royal Aviary in St. James's Park London. 9. That the Craw hangs down like a bag before the stomach or breast, which we observed in the Venetian Vulture or Gypaëtos, described in the precedent Chapter. 10. That the Fe∣male, contrary to the manner of other Birds of prey, doth not exceed the Male in bigness. 11. That all the inside of the Wings is covered with a soft fleece of Down; which is peculiar to the Vulture alone among Rapacious Birds. What is deli∣vered of the generation of Vultures, viz. That there are no Males found among them: That the Females are impregnated by the Wind; that they bring not forth Eggs, but live Young, &c. is altogether false and frivolous, scarce worth the mentioning, much less the refuting. Among the marks hitherto reckoned up, the most proper Chara∣cteristic of a Vulture seems to me to be that of having its neck bare of destitute of fea∣thers, and only covered with a Down. Those two, I am sure, which alone we have hapned to see, had not only their necks, but their heads also bare, covered only with a short white Down.

CHAP. V.

§. 1. * Of several of VULTURES.

ALdrovandus out of Bellonius and Gesner sets forth six several sorts of Vul∣tures:

1. The cinereous or ash-coloured Vulture.

2. The black Vulture. Of which he saith, he wonders, why Bellonius (who boasts that he had so great opportunity and facility of seeing and getting divers sorts) should give no perfect description, neither of the one, nor the other, but only set forth a figure: which yet doth not agree to what he writes of Vultures in general, viz. That they all have rough legs, wholly feathered down to the foot, and do by this mark differ from Eagles, it being represented with naked legs.

3. The Chesnut-coloured Vulture [Boeticus] which Bellonius thus describes: It is somewhat less than an Eagle, hath the feathers of its Neck, Back, Belly, and whole body of a Chesnut-colour, wherein it differs from the black Vulture. The greater feathers of the Wings and Train are of the same colour with those of the Black. Both [this and the black] have short tails in respect of their very long Wings. These do not, as in other Rapacious Fowl, follow the nature and constitution of the Wings,

but rather, as in Woodpeckers, are found for the most part with their points broken and shattered: Which is a sign they wear and break them by rubbing against the Rocks, where they harbour and build their Nests. The Chesnut or white Vultures are more rare to be seen than the black; and have this peculiar to them, that the feathers of the Crowns of their heads are very short if compared to Eagles: Which is the reason why some have thought them bald. They have short legs, covered all over with feathers down to the beginning of the toes. Which note is peculiar to them, not agreeing to any other Rapacious hook-bill'd Bird, besides the Nocturnal ones. The feathers of the Neck in these Baetic Vultures are very narrow and long (like those that hang down about the necks of Dunghil-Cocks and Stares) if compared with the rest, which cover the back, wings, and sides, which are small and broad like Scales. But those which cover the back, stomach, belly, and bottom of the rump in the Baetic Vulture are red, in the black one black, but in both pretty broad.

4. The Hare-Vulture, [Leporarium] so called from preying upon Hares; of which Gesner writes after this manner. It hath not so fulvous a breast as our Golden Vul∣ture, and is inferiour to it in magnitude. George Fabricius, the ornament of Germany, sent me its figure, with this description added. The Vulture, which the Germans call Ein Hasengyr, hath a hooked, black Bill; foul Eyes; a firm, great Body; broad Wings; a long, streight Train; a dark red Colour; and yellow Feet. Standing or sitting it rears up a Crest upon its head, as if it were horned, which appears not in flying. The Wings extended exceeded the measure of a fathom [Orgyiae.] In walk∣ing it steps or paces two Palms [hand-breadths.] It pursues all sorts of Birds; of Beasts it catches and preys upon Hares, Conies, Foxes, Fawns; it also lies in wait for Fishes, It will not be made tame. It pursues its prey not only by flying, but al∣so by running. It flies with a great force and noise. It builds in thick and desart Woods upon the highest trees, It feeds upon the flesh and entrails of Animals, not abstaining from dead Carcasses. It can endure hunger, or abide without meat four∣teen days, although it be most voracious.

5. The Golden Vulture, of which Gesner thus: Viewing the skin of the Golden Vulture, sent me once out of the Alpine Country of the Grisons, [Rhaetia,] the beak and legs yet sticking to it, I thus described it. This Vulture hath many things com∣mon with that kind of Alpine Eagle, (whose figure and description we placed first in the History of the Eagle) but is every way, or in all parts greater. From the Bill to the end of the Tail it was somewhat more than four feet and an half long, to the end of the Claws three feet and nine Inches, or somewhat less. The length of the upper Chap of the Bill, as far as the opening of the mouth, was almost seven Inches. The length of the Tail was about two feet and three inches. All the lower part, that is to say, the lower part of the neck, the breast, the belly and the feet were of a red colour, more dilute towards the tail, more intense towards the head. The Toes of a dusky or horn colour. The longest feather of the Wings was almost a yard long: They are all blackish or dusky, of near one and the same colour: Yet the small fea∣thers, that are highest toward the ridge of the wing are blacker, and some of them marked with transverse reddish spots cross the middle, others with whitish ones about the bottom. So much the blacker are they by how much nearer to the back, where they shine again for blackness. The feathers on the middle of the back are black and shining, their shafts in the middle are white, especially of those which are about the middle of the back, and in half the neck; for the remaining part of the neck hath pale red [ruffas ex albido] feathers. The tail feathers are of the same colour with those of the wings, viz. dusky.

6. The white Vulture, which he makes the same with the cinereous Vulture of Bellonius.

7. That Vulture which we saw in the Royal Aviary in St. James's Park, did in many things agree with the third sort or Chesnut [Baetious] Vulture of Bellonius. Its back and wings were fulvous: Its tail short in respect of the wings: The Beak black, hooked at the end. The head and neck as far as the breast, and the middle part of the breast void of feathers, covered over with a short, soft, thick white Down. The Eyes were fierce-looked, with Saffron-coloured, or deep-yellow Irides. In the lower part of the neck was as it were a Ruff of thick-set, narrow feathers much longer than the rest, as in the Peronopteros of Aldrovandus.

§. II. * The Brasil Vulture called Urubu, by the Dutch Een Menscheneter. Marggrav. By the Mexicans Tzopilotl. F. Ximen. By Nieremberg and others Aura.

IT is a rapacious Bird of the bigness of a Kite according to Marggravius; of a mid∣dle-sized Eagle or Raven according to Ximenes: Having whitish feet like a Hens, a long tail, and wings longer than it. The feathers of the whole body are black, with a little tauny colour here and there mingled. It hath a small head, almost of the shape of a Turkeys, covered with a somewhat rugged or wrinkled skin. In the top of the head the skin is as it were divided long-ways, and on the left side of the head beneath the Eye is of a Saffron colour, above the Eye of a blew, also in the top; elsewhere of a reddish brown. In the right side of the head about the Eye above and beneath it is of a Saffron colour, as also in the top: Elsewhere of a delayed yel∣low, or whitish. It hath a pretty long Bill, hooked at the end, sharp, and covered over from the head half way with a skin from Saffron-colour tending to blue. In the middle of the Bill above is one hole of the Nosthrils, large, and situate transversly. The end of the Bill, that is bare and wants the skin, is white. It hath elegant Eyes almost of the colour of a Ruby, with a round black Pupil: The Eye-lids of a Saffron-colour. The Tongue carinated, and indented round with sharp teeth. Its flesh stinks like Carrion. For they feed upon dead Carcasses; and in the Capitania [Chieftainship] of Sirigippo, and River of St. Francis, when any one kills a beast, they come flying pre∣sently in great numbers. It is an ill-looked bird, always lean, and never satisfied, Ximenes makes it to be a kind of Raven, but the Sear or skin covering the Basis of the Bill, argues it to belong to the Rapacious kind, the bare head, and tip of the Bill on∣ly hooked, determine it to the family of Vultures. It feeds (saith Ximenes) upon dead flesh and mans dung. They pearch at night on Trees and Rocks, in the Morn∣ing they resort to the Cities, sit viewing and watching the streets on high places, and when they spy any silth, garbidge, or dead thing, they catch it up, and devour it. Where they build or hatch their Young is hitherto unknown; although they be most frequent in almost every corner of New Spain. Yet Acosta saith, that their young ones are white, and that growing up they change and come to be as black as Ravens. They fly always very high, and cast a horrible stink from them like Ravens. They fly constantly in flocks, and sit upon trees, and feed joyntly in company upon dead Car∣casses without any strife, or quarrelling, and when the rest see any one not able to move or help her self, they help her as much as they can, and bring her to the water: For being washed they recover strength to fly. If any one pursues them they empty themselves presently, that they may be the more light to fly away; with like haste casting up what ever they had swallowed. The ashes of their feathers burnt take away hairs, so that they come not again; which faculty is also attributed to the dung of Pismires, and the bloud of Bats. Their skin half-burnt heals wounds if it be applied, and the flesh withal eaten; which is wont also to help those that are sick of the French Pox. The heart dried in the Sun smells like Musks The Dung dried, and taken in any convenient Vehicle to the weight of a Drachm is profitable to me∣lancholy persons. The Barbarous people say, that where they lay their Eggs, they compass their Nests with certain Pebble-stones, which promote transpiration: But the more probable opinion is, that they exclude their Young under ground, and take them out when they feed them, and again cover them in the earth.

CHAP. VI. Of the lesser sort of Rapacious Birds that prey by day, called Hawks.

IT follows now that we treat of the lesser sort of Rapacious Birds that prey by day, called Hawks. These we have before distinguished into the more generous, which are wont to be reclaimed and trained up for Hawking, And the more sluggish and cowardly, which because they are either indocile, or unfit for Hawking, are neglected by men.

The former called Hawks are wont to be divided by Falconers into Long-winged and Short-winged. Those they call Long-winged whose Wings when closed reach al∣most to the end of the tail: Those they call Short-winged whose Wings when clo∣sed fall much short of the end of the tail; of which sort we have seen two greater, viz. the Goshawk and Sparrowhawk; and three lesser, viz. the three sorts of Butcher-birds.

But because that distinction of Hawks into tame and wild is arbitrarious and de∣pends upon institution; but the other into Long-winged and Short-winged hath its foundation in nature, and may be accommodated to all Hawks in general; we will prefer it before that, first treating of the Long-winged Hawks.

Hawks in respect of their age are divided by Falconers into 1. Nyas or Eiasse-Hawks, which being taken out of the Nest, or brought away in the Nest before they can fly, are brought up by hand. 2. Ramage-Hawks or Branchers, which are taken when they are fledg'd and got out of the Nest, but depart not far from it, fly∣ing only from bough to bough, and following their Dams, not being able yet to prey for themselves: from Ramus signifying a bough. However they be taken, after they have preyed for themselves the first year, while they retain their Chicken-feathers, they are called Sore-hawks, from the French word Soret, signifying a dusky colour. The second year, when they have changed their feathers, they are called Entermewers, from the word muto to change. The third year they are called White Hawks, for what reason I know not. The fourth year, when they are come to their full growth and perfection, they are called Hawks of the first coat; the fifth year, Hawks of the second coat; the sixth year, Hawks of the third coat; and so on as long as they live. Some of them, if they be well tended and favoured while they are young, will hold out twenty years. The feathers of all by age gradually grow whiter, as mens hairs grow grey, so that by how much the older they are, by so much the whiter are they. The outmost feather of the Wing is by our Falconers called the Sarcel, by the number of the dents whereof they pretend to know the age of the Hawk, as by the number of cross bars in the tail, the age of a Pheasaant.

But of the manner of feeding, training up, reclaiming, and curing the diseases of Hawks, those that have written of Falconry are to be consulted.

CHAP. VII. Of Long-winged Hawks.

LOng-winged Hawks may be divided into the more sluggish and indocile, which we call wild Hawks, and the more generous, such as use to be trained up for Fowling. Those we call wild Hawks are the Bald Buzzard, the Common Buz∣zard, the Honey-Buzzard, the Ring-tail, the Kite or Glead, and the Moor-Buzzard. Of which in order.

CHAP. VIII. ¶ Of the several sorts of wild long-winged Hawks, and first,

§. I. Of the Bald Buzzard.

THis Bird is by Aldrovandus twice put among Eagles. 1. Under the title of Haliaeetus, Lib. 2. Cap. 3. 2. Under the title of Morphnos, in the seventh Chapter of the same book.

The Bird we described weighed fifty six ounces and an half. [If herein Mr. Wil∣lughby be not mistaken, I see not but this Bird might well enough pass for an Eagle: But I suspect an error in the weight.] Its breadth, or the distance between the ex∣tremities of the wings extended was sixty Inches. The Beak from the point to the Angles of the mouth an inch and half long, black, hooked, covered from the Base as far as the Nosthrils with a blewish skin or Sear, bunching out between the

Nosthrils and the hooked part. The Nosthrils themselves are oblong and oblique. The Angle of the lower Chap [i. e. which the legs thereof make] round. The Tongue broad, soft, and like a mans. The Irides of the Eyes yellow; the Pupils great. It hath both an upper and lower Eye-lid, but the lower much greater. The Eyes are not so sunk in the head, or withdrawn under prominent brows, as in the Common Buzzard, but more extant.

The Bird itself seems to be much stronger and more valiant than the Buzzard, with which it agrees in the colour of the upper part being black and ferrugineous. The feathers on the crown of the head are white, whence it took the name of Bald Buz∣zard: The throat, breast and belly white, but above the Crop the feathers are ferru∣gineous. The Legs are cloathed with white and soft feathers. The prime or flag-feathers in each Wing are about twenty eight; from the seventeenth they end in sharper points: The greater are the blacker. The four outmost have the lower half of their interiour Vanes twice as broad as the upper: The interiour Vanes of all are variegated with white and black alternately, indented like the teeth of a Saw. The feathers under the shoulders are white, marked with black spots toward the tips. The third and fourth row of those that cover the roots of the flag-feathers underneath are elegantly marked toward the tips with dusky spots, having their edges ferrugineous. The lesser feathers above these are white, the greater beneath them dusky or brown. The Train is made up of twelve feathers of equal length, having their borders party∣coloured of white and ferrugineous, indented as in the Wings.

The Legs are long: The Feet thick and strong, of a pale blue or Verdigrease co∣lour. The middle Toe the biggest; the outermost somewhat bigger than the inner; the back-toe, as in all, the least; all armed with great, semicircular, black, round Talons. The feet scaly and uneven. The sole of the foot rough, that it may more easily hold its prey, when it hath once caught it. The Toes are so disposed, that the outmost of the fore-toes may bend or turn backwards, as in Owls, Parrots, &c.

The Liver, Heart, and Gall are large: The Spleen round, and of a black or sor∣did colour. In the Stomach and Craw opened we found many fish-bones and scales. The Surface of the Echinus or ante-stomach, was full of many carneous Globules. The Guts were long, slender, or small, having many revolutions.

It haunts Rivers, Lakes, and great Pools of water, as also the Sea-shores. At Pen∣sans in Cornwal we saw one that was shot, having a Mullet in its Claw: For it preys upon fish; which seems very strange and wonderful, sith it is neither whole-footed, nor provided with long legs or neck.

It builds upon the ground among Reeds, and lays three or four large white Eggs, of a figure exactly Elliptical: lesser yet than Hens Eggs.

It casts an ill strong sent, and is much infested with Lice.

It differs from the Sea-Eagle of Aristotle, in that the neck is not thick and big, but for the bulk of the body slender and small.

What Aldrovandus hath delivered of Eagles, viz. that the right foot is bigger than the left, doth not agree to this, for its feet are equal.

It is distinguished from the common Buzzard. 1. By its weight and bigness, wherein it exceeds that. 2. That its Wings are longer. 3. By this most sure mark, that the outmost of the fore-toes in this may be turned backward, but not in the common Buzzard. 4. By the angular processes of the upper Chap of the Beak. 5. By the blue colour of the legs and feet.

§. II. Of the common Buzzard or Puttock, called in Latine Buteo.

IT is about the bigness of a Pheasant or young Pullet. Its weight was thirty two ounces. Its length from the tip of the Beak to the end of the tail twenty one inches: Its breadth, the Wings being stretched out, fifty two inches. The Head great: The Crown broad and flat: The Beak short, hooked, and of a dark blue. A yellow skin covers the upper Chap from the root beyond the Nosthrils. The Bridle of the mouth, or the skin of the corners, is also yellow. The Nosthrils are round, [yet in one Bird of this kind we observed them long and bending.] It gaped wide. Its Tongue was thick, fleshy, blunt, as in the rest of this kind. Being angry it opened its mouth, and held its Tongue stretched out as far as the end of its Bill. The roof of the mouth hath in it a hollow equal to the Tongue. The Angle of the lower Chap is

circular. The Eyes are great, the Irides, or circles encompassing the Pupil, white, with a dash sometimes of yellow, sometimes of red; sometimes they are of a whitish colour without mixture of any other. The lower Eye-lid downy. The Membrane for Nictation blue.

The colour of all the upper part a dark fulvous approaching to black, or a ferru∣gineous black. In some birds of this kind we observed many white spots in the co∣vert feathers of the Wings; which in the Wings spread made a kind of white line: The like white spots it had in the long feathers springing from the shoulders, which cover the whole back. The edges of these feathers were of a dirty yellow. The lower side of the body was of a dilute yellow, or yellowish white; the breast stained with oblong ferrugineous spots, not transversely placed, but tending downwards, in each feather drawn according to the length of the shaft. The Chin is of a ferrugi∣neous colour, the shafts of the feathers being black. Between the Eyes and Nosthrils grow long black bristles. On the middle of the back grow no feathers, but only down; for the scapular feathers cover the whole back.

The flag-feathers in each Wing are about twenty four in number: The outmost of which is shortest, the third and fourth (counting from it) longest. The tips of the four outmost are blacker and narrower than those of the rest: For the tips of the rest are white. The interiour webs of all are variegated with broad, transverse, dusky, and whitish strakes or bars, after the manner of those of a Woodpecker or Woodcock. The under-side of the Wings, excepting the tips of all the flags, and the third part of the five outmost feathers, is white varied with transverse parallel lines. The Wings closed reach almost to the end of the Train. The Train is nine or ten inches long, made up of twelve feathers, not forked, but when spread term inating in a circular circumference. The utmost tips of its feathers are of an ash-colour; then follows a transverse black line of an inch breadth, the remaining part being varie gated with black and cinereous transverse spaces or bars, only the bottoms of the feathers white.

The Thighs are long, strong, and fleshy: The Legs short, thick, and strong, fea∣thered down a little below the Knees. The Legs and Feet yellow, and covered with Scales. The outmost toe joyned below to the middlemost by a membrane for some space. The Talons strong, long, and black; that of the outmost fore-toe the least, that of the back-toe the biggest.

The Liver is divided into two lobes, having a large Gall: The Spleen of an Oval figure. It hath but two Testicles. The stomach is large, not musculous but mem∣branous, that is not fleshy, like the Gizzard of a Hen or Turkey, &c. but skinny like those of beasts.

It feeds not only upon Mice and Moles, but also upon Birds: For out of the stomach of one that we opened we took a small Bird entire, and out of the stomach of ano∣ther even a Thrush. It is a great destroyer of Conies: Yet for want of better food it will feed upon Beetles, Earth-worms, and other Insects.

The heads of these Birds are said to grow cinereous with age, and the feathers of their backs white. But whether it come to pass by reason of Sex, or Age, or other accident, certain it is they differ very much one from another in this respect: For whereas some have no white feathers neither in head, back, nor wings; others have very many.

Buzzards Eggs are white, stained with a few great reddish spots, yet sometimes all over white without spots.

That sort of Hawk (as Pliny witnesseth) which the Romans named Buteo was by the Grecians called Triorches, from the number of its stones. Aldrovandus also saith that in a Buzzard dissected he had observed three stones. The third stone appeared not to us, though we diligently sought it. Aldrovandus also himself saith, that he would not very much contend with him that shall obstinately deny that third glan∣dulous body (which besides the two stones he had noted, adjoyning to them) to be a true Testicle.

§. III. The Honey-Buzzard.

FOr bigness it equals or exceeds the common Buzzard, is also like it in figure or shape of body, unless perchance it be somewhat longer. It weighed thirty one ounces. The length from Bill-point to Tail-end was twenty three Inches, to the points of the Talons not more than nineteen. Its breadth or the distance between the ends of the Wings spread fifty two Inches. Its beak from the tip to the Angles of the mouth was an inch and half long, black, and very hooked, bunching out between the nosthrils and the head: The Basis of the upper Chap covered with a thick, rug∣ged, black skin beyond the Nosthrils, which are not exactly round, but long and bending. The mouth, when gaping, very wide and yellow. The Angle of the lower Chap, as in other Hawks, semicircular. The Irides of the Eyes of a lovely bright yellow or Saffron colour.

The head is ash-coloured: The Crown flat, broad, narrow toward the Beak. The bottoms of the Plumage in the head and back white, which is worthy the noting, be∣cause it is common with this to many other Hawks. The back is of a ferrugineous co∣lour [or rather a Mouse-dun.] The tips of the flag-feathers, as also those of the se∣cond and third rows in the wings white. The Wings when closed reach not to the end of the tail. The number of flags in each Wing twenty four. The Tail consists of twelve feathers, near a foot long, variegated with transverse obscure and lucid, or blackish and whitish spaces, rings, or bars. The very tips of the feathers are white, below the white is a cross black line; under that a broad dun or ash-coloured space or bed (the like whereto also crosses the wings, which differ not much from the tail in colour.)

As for the lower side of the body, the feathers under the chin and tail are white; the breast and belly also white, spotted with black spots, drawn downward from the head toward the tail.

The Legs are feathered down somewhat below the knee, short, strong, yellow, as are also the feet. The Talons, long, strong, sharp, and black.

The Guts shorter than in the former: The Appendices thick and short. In the sto∣mach and guts of that we dissected we found a huge number of green Caterpillars of that sort called Geometrae, many also of the common green Caterpillars and others.

It builds its Nest of small twigs, laying upon them wool, and upon the wool its Eggs. We saw one that made use of an old Kites Nest to breed in, and that fed its Young with the Nymphae of Wasps: For in the Nest we found the Combs of Wasps Nests, and in the stomachs of the Young the limbs and fragments of Wasp-Maggots. There were in the Nest only two young ones, covered with a white Down, spotted with black. Their Feet were of a pale yellow, their Bills between the Nosthrils and the head white. Their Craws large, in which were Lizards, Frogs, &c. In the Crop of one of them we found two Lizards entire, with their heads lying towards the birds mouth, as if they sought to creep out.

This Bird runs very swiftly like a Hen. The Female as in the rest of the Rapaci∣ous kind is in all dimensions greater than the Male.

It differs from the common Buzzard, 1. In having a longer tail. 2. An ash-coloured head. 3. The Irides of the Eyes yellow. 4. Thicker and shorter feet. 5. In the broad transverse dun beds or stroaks in the wings and tail; which are about three inches broad.

The Eggs of this Fowl are cinereous marked with darker spots.

It hath not as yet (that we know of) been described by any Writer, though it be frequent enough with us.

§. IV. Of the Ring-tail, the Male whereof is called the Henharrier.

THe Female, though lean, weighed sixteen ounces. From the point of the Beak to the end of the tail, it was by measure twenty inches long: From tip to tip of the wings extended was forty five inches. The Bill from the tip to the corners of

the Mouth an inch and half long. Above the Nosthrils and at the corners of the Jaw grow black bristles reflected forward.

From the hind part of the Head round the Ears to the Chin a ring or wreath of feathers standing up, having their middle dusky, and their edges of a reddish white, encompasses the head as it were a Crown. From this wreath hangs down a naked skin covering the ears. The back is of a dark ferrugineous colour, the edges of the neck feathers reddish: In the crown of the head less red. The bottoms of the feathers in the hind-part of the head white. Under the Eyes is a white spot. The belly and brest of a dilute reddish colour [or white with a Tincture of red] marked with long dusky spots, tending downward along the shaft of the feather. The middle of the throat of a dusky or dark ferrugineous colour, the edges of the feathers being red. The Rump hath some white feathers, marked in the middle along their shafts with oblong ferrugineous spots.

The number of flag-feathers in each wing was twenty four, the exteriour webs whereof were of the same colour with the back, the interiour being variegated with transverse black and white stroaks alternately situate. In the exteriour and greater feathers the white stroaks are bigger and broader; in the interiour and lesser the black: In the inmost the whole web is dusky, the white by degrees growing darker and darker, till at last it comes to be wholly brown or dusky. The tips of the exte∣riour feathers in the second row are white, of the interiour red; the rest of them be∣ing of the same colour with the back.

The Tail is ten Inches long, made up of twelve feathers: The tips whereof are of a reddish ash-clour; to which succeed alternately red and black bars, the black being much the broader. In the two middle feathers the red doth altogether disappear, the feathers being wholly black.

A yellow skin covers the upper Chap, reaching from the root of the Bill beyond the Nosthrils: Else the Bill is black, hooked, and prominent. The lower Mandible streight. The Mouth wide when gaping. In the Palate is a Cavity equal to the Tongue. The Tongue broad, fleshy, and undivided: Both Tongue and Palate black. The Angle of the lower Chap, as in others of this kind, round. The bor∣der of the Eye-lids round the Eyes yellow.

The Feet yellow, the Talons black. The outmost Toe for some space from the divarication is joyned to the middlemost by an intervening membrane. The middle Toe longest, the inmost shortest, but the Claw of the outmost least. The Legs long.

It hath a great Craw: Small, round, tumid, blind Guts: A large Gorge, in that we opened full of feathers and bones of birds: A Gall joyned to the Liver. Its Eggs were as it were besmeared over with red, the white here and there appearing from underneath it.

The Male or Tarcel of this kind differs very much from the described, not only in magnitude, but also in colour. It is called in English the Henharrow or Henharrier. The head, neck, and back are of an Ash-colour, like that of a Ring-dove. The long feathers growing on the shoulders are somewhat dusky. The Rump not so white as in the Female. The Breast white, with some transverse dusky spots. The two mid∣dle feathers of the Tail cinereous, from the middle to the outmost the colour is more languid and dilute, inclining to white; all but the middle ones marked with transverse blackish bars. The exteriour flag-feathers of the Wings are black, the tips being ash-coloured, and the bottoms white. The outside of the rest is cinereous, only their inner limbs or borders white. The covert feathers of the upper side of the Wings cinereous, of the nether side white; the shafts of the interiour being black. The first row of the covert feathers of the inside of the Wing have transverse dusky spots. The Legs are long and very slender, beyond the proportion of other Hawks. In other points it agrees for the most part with the Female. We suppose this Bird may be the Pygargus of Bellonius. I suspect that Aldrovandus makes of this Hawk differing in Age or Sex two or three Species. The description of that carnivorous Bird he calls Palumbo similis agrees exactly to this: The description also of Lanarius in the Fifth Book, eleventh Chapter of his Ornithology answers in most particulars: And therefore we have taken the figure thereof for it.

§. V. The Kite or Glead: Milvus caudâ forcipatâ.

IT weighed forty four ounces. Its length from the point of the Beak to the end of the Tail was twenty eight inches. The Wings extended were equal in breadth to sixty four Inches. The Beak from the tip to the corners of the mouth was two inches long. The upper Chap hung down half an Inch.

The Head and Chin are of a pale ash-colour, varied with black lines along the shafts of the feathers. The Neck red, the middle part of the feathers being black. The Back dusky or brown like a Buzzards. The feathers next the Tail of the same colour with it, having their middle parts or shafts black. The lesser rows of Wing∣feathers are party-coloured of red, black and white; the middle part of each feather along the shaft being black. The long Scapular feathers covering the Back have black lines like the flags. The feathers covering the inside of the Wing are red, with black spots in their middles. The Plumage of the lower side hath the edges ash-colou∣red, then follows red, the middle part being black: The black part is by degrees less and less from the Chin to the Tail; so that under the Tail only the shafts of the fea∣thers are black: The red colour is also more dilute toward the Tail.

The flag-feathers of the Wings are in number twenty four, of which the five out∣most are black, the next six are of a dark cinereous colour; all the rest to the last are again black; the last are particoloured of red, white, and brown. All but the five or six exteriour feathers have in their outward webs black transverse lines, the spaces between the lines being whitish, especially from the sixth to the eleventh. The fore∣most of the second row of Wing-feathers are black; as also the bastard Wing. The Wings closed are longer than the middle feathers of the Tail shorter than the out∣most.

The Tail is forked, the middle feathers being eleven Inches long, the outmost four∣teen. The colour red [ruffus.] The extreme feathers blackish: All but the two middlemost have black, cross lines, the middle spaces or distances being whitish. The tips of all are white.

The Bill is black, having scarce any tooth-like Appendices: The Tongue broad and thick, as in other carnivorous Birds. In the Palate there is a Cavity equal to the Tongue. The Sear or skin about the Nosthrils is yellow. In the roof of the mouth is a double cranny or hole. The Eyes are great: The Irides of a pale, but lovely yellow.

The Legs and Feet yellow: The outmost foretoe joyned to the middle one by a Membrane, reaching almost half way. The Talons black; that of the back-toe be∣ing the greatest. The Talon of the middle toe hath a sharp edge on the inside.

It hath a great Gall; a large Craw. The streight gut below the Appendices is much dilated, as in other of this kind.

Spreading its Wings it so ballances it self in the Air, that it can rest as it were im∣movable a long time in the same place; yea, without at all, or but rarely moving its Wings, it glides through the Air from place to place; whence perchance it took its English name Glead.

By the figure of its Tail alone it is sufficiently distinguished from all other Birds of prey we have hitherto seen.

This sort of Birds (saith Pliny) seems to have taught men the Art of steering a Ship by the turning of their Tails; Nature shewing in the Air what was needful to be done in the Deep. For hence (as Aldrovandus goes on) it is probable that men learned to ap∣ply a Rudder; viz. When they saw the Kite, by turning her Tail sometimes this way, sometimes that way, to direct or vary her course, and turn about her body at plea∣sure; they also attempting somewhat like, added the Helm to the Ship, by winding and turning whereof to and fro they could direct and impel it whither they pleased, which otherwise would be driven uncertainly and at random by the Winds and Tides.

Kites they say are Birds of passage, shifting places according to the seasons of the year. When I was once (saith Bellonius) on the shore of the Euxine Sea, on Thrace∣side, about the latter end of April, on a certain very high Hill, near to that Pillar which is at the mouth of the Bosphorus, where a Fowler had spread Nets for catch∣ing of Sparrow-Hawks, which came flying from the right side of the Sea; we ob∣served

Kites coming thither in flocks, and that in so great numbers, that it was a miracle to us. For being as it were astonished at the strangeness of the spectacle, we could not conceive where such a multitude of Kites could get themselves food. For should they for but fifteen days space fly continually that way in such numerous squadrons, I dare confidently affirm, they would exceed the number of men living upon the Earth. Howbeit, with us in England they are seen all the year, neither do they fear or fly our Winters.

Pliny writes, that Kites feed upon no other meat but flesh: But Bellonius affirms, That in Cayro a City of Egypt he hath seen them light upon Palm-trees, and eat the Dates, But no question they do so only being compelled by hunger, and for want of their natural and familiar food. They are very noisom to tame birds, especially Chickens, Ducklings, and Goslings; among which espying one far from shelter, or that is care∣lesly separated a good distance from the rest, or by any other means lies fit and expo∣sed to rapine, they single it out, and fly round, round for a while, marking it; then of a sudden dart down as swift as Lightning, and catch it up before it is aware, the Dam in vain crying out, and men with hooting and stones scaring them away. Yea, so bold are they, that they affect to prey in Cities and places frequented by men; so that the very Gardens, and Courts, or Yards of houses are not secure from their ra∣vine. For which cause our good Housewives are very angry with them, and of all birds hate and curse them most.

The Grecians call it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but more commonly 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

§. VI. The More-Buzzard: Milvus Aeruginosus Aldrov. an Circus Bellonii?

IT is lesser than the Buzzard, of about the bigness of a Crow. The Head is not so great, nor the Crown so flat and broad as in a Buzzard. Its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail is more than twenty Inches. The distance between the tips of the Wings spread fifty Inches. The Beak about an Inch and half long, hooked, covered at bottom with a yellowish green skin or Sear; else black. The Nosthrils not round but long, of the figure of a Guiny Bean or Kidney. The Mouth withinside partly black, partly blewish. The Tongue broad, fleshy, soft, as in other birds of prey. The hole or cleft in the Palate wide and open. The Eyes of a mean size, having yellow Irides [in the bird that I described at Rome: But Mr. Willughby writes, that they are between an Ash and Hazel colour.]

The Crown of the head is of a kind of clay colour, [of a pale fulvous, or between yellow and ruffus] variegated with black lines, viz. the shaft of each feather being black. The colour of the whole body, as well lower as upper side is a dark ferru∣gineous, only at the middle joynt of both Wings there is a spot of the same reddish clay-colour [ex sulvo albicans] with the head, and the feathers at the root or rise of the tail are fulvous.

The Wings closed reach almost to the end of the Tail. The number of flag-fea∣thers in each Wing is twenty four. These are blacker than the rest of the feathers: The outmost is above a hand-breadth shorter than that next to it. The covert-feathers of the underside of the Wing are particoloured, brown and fulvous. The Tail is about nine Inches long, made up of twelve feathers of equal length when it is spread, terminated in a circular Circumference, being particoloured of a dark and light ful∣vous or bay. The Legs are about an hand-breadth long, feathered down a little be∣low the knee, longer and slenderer for the bigness of the bird than in others of this kind. The Legs and Feet yellow; the Talons black. The outer Toe in joyned to the middle by an intermediate Membrane, reaching from the divarication up almost half way. The Talon of the middle Toe is thinned on the inner side into an edge. The Gall is large: The blind Guts short and small: The Stomach membranous; in that we dissected full of the limbs of Birds and other flesh.

The Bird here described we suppose to be that called in England the More-buzzard, common to be seen in Heaths and Wasts; sitting upon small trees and shrubs: With long slender yellow Legs: The whole Body of a dark colour, the interiour Remiges being paler or whitish; and which is said to build in Fenny places.

I take this Bird to be the same with that Bellonius describes under the title of Circus, as will appear to any one that shall compare the descriptions; although Aldrovandus makes them to be distinct Species, treating of them in several Chapters.

This Bird is sufficiently characterized by its uniform brown-bay or ferrugineous co∣lour all the body over.

§. VII. * The Brasilian Kite called Caracara, and by the Portuguese Gaviaon. Marggrav.

IT is a kind of Nisus of the bigness of a Kite; hath a Tail nine Inches long. The length of the Wings is fourteen Inches; which yet do not reach to the end of the Tail. The colour of the whole Plumage is tawny with white and yellow specks. The Tail is particoloured of white and brown. It hath a Hawks Head, a hooked Bill of a moderate bigness, and black colour. It hath yellow Legs; Hawks Feet; semicircular, long, sharp, black Talons. It is very noisom to Hens.

I had (saith he) another of the same magnitude and colour with the precedent, save that the breast and belly were white. The Eyes of a gold colour, and the skin about them yellow. The Legs yellow.

For the bigness, colour, and preying upon Poultry, we have subjoyned this to the Kites notwithstanding Marggravius maketh it a kind of Nisus or Sparrowhawk.

CHAP. IX. Of long-winged Hawks, used to be reclaimed for fowling.

§. I. Of the Peregrine Falcon.

MR. Willughby having left no description of a Falcon, and it having not been our hap since his decease to see any Hawk of that kind, lest the Ornithology we set out should be defective and imperfect in this particular, we have bor∣rowed of Aldrovandus the descriptions of the several sorts of Falcons without omit∣ting any. We are not a little troubled that we cannot give any light to this Genus: For we vehemently suspect, that Species are here multiplied without necessity.

Aldrovandus assigns the first place to the Peregrine Falcon for its courage and gene∣rosity. It took its name either from passing out of one Country into another, or be∣cause it is not known where it builds, its Nest having not been any where found. Of this kind Belisarius makes two Species, Carcanui four, the difference being taken from the colour.

A Peregrine Falcon every way compleat must have these marks, Broad and thick shoulders; long Wings reaching to the end of the Train; the Train long, narrower by little and little, and sharper toward the end, like a Sparrow-hawks, made up of large, thick, round feathers, the tip not altogether white; the shafts running along the middle of the feathers of a lovely red; the Feet of the same colour with those of a Bittour, viz. of a pale green, or between a yellow and lead-colour; the Toes slender; the Talons large, black, and very sharp; the colour of the Feet and Beak the same; the Thighs long, but the Legs short; the Beak thick; the Mouth wide; the Nares large and open; the Eye-brows high and great; the Eyes great, and deep sunk; the Head arched, the Crown being gently elevated and round. As soon as it can fly it should shew certain little bristly feathers, standing out as it were a beard. Let the Neck be long, the Breast broad, and about the Shoulder-blades where it joyns to the Neck somewhat round. Sitting upon the Fist it must bend its body a little backward, being brisk, mordacious and greedy. Let its Eye-brows and Cheeks be white with a little mixture or dash of red: The Eyes black, encompassed with a Circle or Iris that is sometimes blue; the Head ash-coloured, like that of a Sacre: The Back of somewhat a livid colour, almost like that of a Goose; covered with round and broad feathers. The marks of the Wings agree to the second Peregrine Falcon of Belisarius, which he makes to be of a Copper [Aeneo] colour. For the first kind, which he saith is blacker, hath neither an ash-coloured Crown, nor a yel∣low; and hath its throat spotted with long, direct, black lines; and its Thighs marked with transverse ones: Its Legs also are of a Saffron colour, but more dilute.

Aldrovandus describes a Bird of this kind, taken in the Mountains of the Terri∣tory of Bononia, in these words. From the top of the Head to the end of the Tail it was seventeen Inches long. The Crown of the head flat and compressed: The Beak an Inch thick, of a lovely sky-colour, bending downward with a sharp hook, short, strong, joyned to the head with a yellow Membrane of a deep colour, which compasses the Nosthrils; the Eye blue, the edges of the Eye-lids round yellow. The Head, Neck, Back, Wings of a dark brown, almost black, sprinkled with black spots in almost every feather, the great feathers being crossed with transverse ones.

The Throat was of a yellowish white, the lower part thereof being stained with black spots, as it were drops drawn out in length from the corners of the Mouth on each side a black line was drawn downwards almost to the middle of the Throat or Gullet. The Breast, Belly, and Thighs white, crossed with broad, transverse, black lines. The tips of the Wings, when closed, reached almost to the end of the Train. The Train less dusky, marked also with black cross bars. The Legs and Feet yellow; the Thighs long, the Shanks short; the Toes slender, long, covered with scales, as are also the Legs; the Talons black, and very sharp.

Aldrovandus thinketh this black Peregrine Falcon not to differ at all from the black Falcon simply so called, or the Falconarius of the Germans, but to be the very same with it.

What Aldrovandus hath concerning the place, flight, conditions, manner of catch∣ing this Hawk, &c. See in his *Ornithology. It flies and preys upon Geese, Ducks, and other Water-fowl.

§. II. * The Sacre, Falco Sacer.

ALdrovandus brings several descriptions of the Sacre out of Albertus Magnus, Be∣lisarius, the Emperour Frederick, Carcanus and Bellonius. The Emperour Frede∣ricks description (which to me seems better than that of Albertus) is as follows.

Sacres for bigness of body approach to Jer-Falcons; being greater than other Fal∣cons, but lesser than Jer-Falcons. They have a great round head: A shorter Beak, a slenderer and longer body in proportion, longer Wings, and also a longer Train, a Breast less fleshy and full in respect of their body than Jer-Falcons: And also shorter Toes.

Bellonius thus briefly describes it. The Sacre hath fouler feathers to look upon than any other Bird of prey. For they are of a colour between red and fuliginous, very like to Kites. It hath short Legs and blue Toes.

Carcanus the Vicentine gives a fuller description of it in these words. The Falcons called Sacres are bigger than even the larger Peregrines. Their head is very grey; their Crown flat, and like to that of a fork-tail'd Kite. Their Eyes black and great: Their Beak blue; their Nares for the most part small: The figure of the body ob∣long: The spots of the Breast brown, as is also the back and upper side of the Wings: The inside of the Thighs white; the Train long and varied with semicircular spots, resembling the figure of Guiny Beans or Kidneys: The Wings also large and long. The Legs and Feet are almost wholly blue: Compared with the rest of the body not very great. Those of one year commonly called Sores differ a little from those that have mewed their feathers. For these have the spots of their Breasts a little blacker and rounder than the Sores. Their Feet also are somewhat white, and in some spotted with a little yellow. Almost all of them have their Backs reddish, inclining to cine∣reous, as in Turtles. Yet in some, as well of the Sores as of those that have mewed their feathers, the Back and upper side of the Wings is black.

Which of these descriptions agrees best to the Sacre let them judge who have op∣portunity of seeing this Bird, and will, and leisure to compare them with it.

So great is the strength, force, and courage of this Hawk, that (as Albertus reports) there is no Bird so great which she doth not presently strike down: And not only one at a time, but as many as come in her way. She catches also Fawns, Kids, &c. She is supposed to be called Sacre, either from her bigness, or because all other birds fear her, and fly from her.

§. III. * The Jer-Falcon, whose Male or Tarcel is called the Jerkin.

IT seem to take its name from the High Dutch word Gyrfalc, i. e. a ravenous Falcon, or Vulturine Falcon: for Gyr in High Dutch signifies a Vulture.

This, however Aldrovandus contradicts it, exceeds all other Falcons, even that called the Sacre in magnitude. Of that which Aldrovandus described this was the shape: The Crown was plainand depressed, of an ash-colour. The Beak thick, strong, short, blue; bowed downward with a mean-sized hook, but very sharp, strong, and blewish. The Pupil of the Eyes very black, the Iris or Circle encompassing the Pupil blue. The Back, Wings, Belly, and Train were white: But the feathers of the Back and Wings were almost every one marked with a black spot, imitating in some measure the figure of a heart, like the Eyes in a Peacocks tail. The flag-feathers of the Wings near their tips beautified with a bigger and longer black mark, which is yet enclosed with a white margin or border. The Wings very long, so that they wanted but little of reaching to the end of the Tail. The Throat, Breast, and Bel∣ly purely white, without any spots at all. The Tail not very long, yea, in respect of its body and those of other Falcons rather short, marked with transverse black bars. The Legs and Feet of a delayed blue. The Legs thick and strong. The Toes long, strong, broad-spread, covered all over with a continued Series of board-like Scales.

Of Gyrfalcons, according to Carcanus, there be divers kinds, distinguished by the colours of their feathers.

Frederick the Emperour doth thus describe the shape of a good Jer-Falcon. The upper part of the Head must not be raised upward into a bunch, but every where equal: The forepart of the Head large and broad; that part also above the Eyes large: The Eye-brows high or standing out [eminentia.] The Eyes hollow: The Nosthrils great and open: The Beak thick, crooked, and hard: The Neck toward the Head slender, toward the shoulders thick. The Body must grow uniformly nar∣rower and sharp all along to the very Tail, observing that form which Geometricians call Pyramidal. It must have Wings elevated toward the back, not hanging down, but when gathered up, near the Tail so lying one upon the other, that they intersect one another in form of a Cross. The beam-feathers of the Wings, as well those that cover, as those that are covered, that is, as well the upper as the under ones must be broad and hard. The covering feathers by how much the more they cover the others, by so much the more commendable are they. The Tail-feathers when it doth not fly are gathered up in a lump under the two uppermost [that is, the middlemost] which are called the coverers. The Gullet [Gula, I suppose he means the Craw] must be large and deep, and after much meat taken in, swell a little, and be round when full of meat: The Breast prominent outward, fleshy, and thick. The Thighs great: The Legs short and thick: The soles of the Feet also thick and large; the Toes long, lean, rough, scaly, and well spread: The Talons slender, crooked, and sharp.

It is a couragious, fierce, and very bold Bird, catching all sorts of Fowl how great soever, and is terrible to other Falcons and Goshawks. It chief Game are Cranes and Herons.

§. IV. * The Mountain Falcon.

THe greatest part of these Falcons are of a mean stature: Few found very big: Many of a small body, and that in some round, in some long. Albertus attri∣butes to a Mountain Falcon almost the same bigness as to a Goshawk [Asturi] only makes it shorter bodied: Gives it a round Breast, and when it stands on its feet a Pyramidal figure, resembling a Pyramid somewhat compressed on that side the back makes. Almost all of them have a round Head, a taper [fastigiatum] Crown, and black, encompassed with a kind of ash-coloured Coronet: In the Forehead, not far from the Beak, stand up certain very fine and slender feathers, as it were hairs, among the black or brown ones, which yet are but few, and in some Birds none at all. They have a thick, short, black Bill; narrow Nosthrils; small Eyes and Eye-lids. The

Throat as far as the breast-bone is somewhat whitish, besprinkled with good great spots. The rest of the Breast is beautified with certain marks, which are sometimes ferrugineous, sometimes red, sometimes blackish, and besides these with other smal∣ler specks. In some the Throat and Breast are cloathed with black feathers; the in∣side of the Thighs black: The Back and Loins covered for the most part with small brown feathers: Some of which below the middle of the back have certain whitish or reddish lines tending downwards. Others have their Backs purely ash-coloured, or of the colour of that sort of Wild Goose, which the Vicentines call Baletta: The Wings not long like a Peregrines: The Tail also shorter than theirs, and for the grea∣ter part variegated like that of a Kestrel. There are some whose Tail is like that of a Sacre, but they are very rare. They have for the most part their Legs and Feet of a Saffron colour; but some of a straw colour; and covered with very thick-set Scales. Their Feet are lesser than the Peregrines: Their Toes great and fleshy: Their Talons black. It is easier to know them after they are mewed. Their Head is black like a Crows, their Nosthrils covered with a Saffron-coloured skin; the Eyes also encom∣passed with a Circle of like colour: Their Neck and Shoulders black; the lower part of the Back toward the Rump blue. The Throat as far as the Breast-bone white; but in some it shews an obscure red; in others it is blackish, in all marked with round spots. The Train short and black: The feathers investing the Thighs brown. The Legs strong. It is to be observed, that by how much the oftner they have mewed their feathers, by so much is their Throat [Gula] whiter, and its spots smaller, and the feathers covering their Back and Loins of a deeper blue.

Tardivus writes, that it preys only upon great birds, neglecting the smaller; that it is very ravenous, mordacious, and of an indocile nature. Aldrovandus describes a bird of this sort that was brought to him, in these words. It was eighteen Inches long: The Head great, the Crown gently towring up round: The Beak thick, short, black, strong; of an Inch thickness, the point of the hooked part not very sharp, but it strong; so that I doubt whether any other Falcon hath a stronger, thicker, and more strongly made and compacted Beak than this. The Nares are compassed with a yellow membrane, The Iris of the Eye of a deep black. The edges of the Eye∣lids encircling the Eyes yellow. The whole body in general is of one colour, viz. a cinereous tending to blue, lighter or darker, according to the different exposing of the parts to the light. The Neck, Breast, Belly, and Back, and consequently the whole body is very gross, thick, round, and plump. The Breast very round and great: The beginning of the Wings above broad, and less sharp than in other Falcons; their tips reaching to about the middle of their Trains, or a little further. The Train of a middle size, between long and short. Their Legs and Feet in respect of their bo∣dies not very large or thick, covered with Saffron-coloured board-like Scales. Their Talons deep-black.

§. V. * The Falcon Gentle.

WHereas I find that some doubt, whether the Gentile Falcon be a distinct kind from the Peregrine or no: And whereas the Emperour Frederick di∣stinguishes Gentile Falcons into those absolutely and simply so called, and Peregrines; omitting that prolix description of a Gentile Falcon, which Aldrovandus brings out of Frederick; I shall only propound the marks whereby this is said to differ from the Peregrine.

Gentile Falcons are less than Peregrines, have a rounder and lesser Head; a shorter Beak; and Feet also for the proportion of the body smaller. Besides, the colour is less bright, lively, and fair in these than in those. When they have mewed their first feathers, they become very like the Peregrines, but more spotted in their Trains and Backs.

Belisarius makes the only difference between the Gentile and Peregrine Falcon to be in their manner or gesture in flying: For the frequent agitation of the Wings in flying shews the Hawk to be a Gentile Falcon: The motion of the Peregrines Wings being like that of the Oars of Gallies. Moreover, they differ from Peregrines in this, that they are not so swift.

Aldrovandus thinks, that the Falcon which Carcanus calls the Dutch or German Fal∣con is the same with this: The which he thus describes. The Dutch Falcons are almost

all great-bodied. The greater part of them of an oblong figure, and some mode∣rately round: Very like to the Peregrine for Shape, Head, Beak, and Feet. The Thighs on the inside covered with white feathers. The Wings great: The Train long. Almost all the feathers are of a brown colour. For the greatest part of their bodies they are like a brown Peregrine, excepting the Head and Shoulder-blades, which in the Dutch are a little blacker. A white Coronet encompasses their Head near the Neck. The spots of the breast in most are brown and great, in some ferrugineous and oblong. But in such as are mewed, that is, have cast their first feathers, the Head, Neck and Shoulders are brown; the Back of an Azure-colour, distinguished with transverse brown marks: The Throat white, spotted with great lines. The Breast darker than in the Peregrine: But the Feet like that of the Peregrine. The Males or Tarcels of these Dutch Falcons can by no means be distinguished from the Males of the Peregrines, they are in all things so like the one to the other. Besides, they do so resemble the Peregrines, not only in the external shape of their bodies, but also in their nature and conditions; that none but a very quick-sighted, cuming, and well practised Falconer is able to distinguish them.

§. VI. * The Haggard Falcon; Falco gibbosus.

IT is so called because by reason of the shortness of the Neck, the Head scarce ap∣pears above the points of the shoulders, or Wings withdrawn and clapped to the sides of the Back; so that it seems to have a bunch on its back. The Germans call it Ein Hagerfalck, or rather Hogerfalck, whence the Latine name Gibbosus: For the Germans call a bunch Hoger. Our English Writers of Falconry, as far as I understand them, call the Peregrine Falcon the Haggard Falcon, using those names promiscuously: Wherefore we shall not enlarge further concerning this Hawk; especially seeing what Aldrovandus hath of it, is all taken out of Albertus Magnus; on whose credit we do not much rely.

§. VII. * The white Falcon. Falco Albus.

OMitting again what Aldrovandus hath borrowed out of Albertus concerning the White Falcon: we will only transcribe out of him, the description of the Fal∣con sent him by his Nephew Julianus Griffonius, which he received from Angelus Gal∣lus of Urbin, a Knight of Malta.

Its whole body was milk-white, only spotted with yellow spots, the which them∣selves also appeared white, unless one heedfully and intently beheld it. The Wings were like those of other the most beautiful Hawks, but purely white, and without spots. The Tail had twelve feathers alike white, and spotted with yellow; the sight whereof the uppermost feather (which was wholly white, and covered the rest, hiding them as it were in a sheath) took away. The Beak also was rather white than blue. The Feet, after the manner of other Hawks, yellow. The Eyes yellow and black: And that yellow nothing deeper than in a Hawk not yet mew'd, which we commonly call a Sore; although I cannot believe that this was a Sore. For it might so come to pass, that it might retain that yellowness from a certain temper of body peculiar to this kind: Otherwise it would, after it was mewed, necessarily incline to whiteness. It was of a tall stature, a great and stately bird: It eat not but with its Eyes usually shut, and that with great greediness. It killed Pullets.

§. VIII. * The Stone-Falcon, and Tree-Falcon. Falco Lapidarius & Arborarius.

OF the figure of the Stone-Falcon these few things occur in Albertus Magnus. It was of a middle quantity and strength between the Peregrine and Gibbose or Haggard Falcon.

A full description of the Tree-Falcon we have in Gesner, which (as Mr. Willughby thinks) agrees well to the Hobby. The Tree-Falcon (saith he) is a gallant and gene∣rous

bird, not unlike to a Sparrow-Hawk. From the Bill to the end of the Tail it was four Palms, or sixteen Inches long. The Feet were of a pale colour, mixt as it were of yellowish and green. The Back black: But the tips of the feathers of the Head and Back (especially the lower part of it) were compassed with reddish Semicircles. The feathers of the Wings were blacker: And the inside of the Wings [that which is toward the body] spotted with great pale-red spots. The Breast varied with whitish and brown spots. Certain yellowish white feathers made up spots behind the Ears, and in the Neck. The Eyes were black; the colour of the Bill blue. The Tail-fea∣thers, all but the two middlemost, marked with spots.

§. IX. * The Tunis or Barbary Falcon.

THis Bellonius describes thus: This Barbary Falcon is large, approaching to the shape and likeness of a Lanner. For it hath like feathers, and not unlike Feet; but it is lesser-bodied. Besides it flies more, and keeps longer on the Wing. It hath a thick and round Head. It is good for Brook-hawking, and stoutly soars on high in the Air: But for the Field it is not so fit as the Lanner.

The Falcon which our Falconers call the Barbary is lesser than the rest of this kind, viz. The Peregrine, Mountain and Gentile: If those do specifically differ, which we do not think.

§. X. * The Red Falcon.

IT is called red, not because it is all over red, but because those spots (which in the rest are white) in this kind are red and black, but not so disposed as in others, neither in the Back, nor in the outward part of the Wing. But it doth not appear to be red, but only when it stretches out its Wings: For then the dark red shews it self in them. It is said to be lesser than a Peregrine Falcon. But this, and whatever else Al∣bertus and others have delivered concerning the red Falcon, are of that nature, that they leave us altogether uncertain, whether there be any such Falcon or no, specifical∣ly distinct from the rest of this kind.

§. XI. * The red Indian Falcons of Aldrovandus.

THe first of these (which we suppose to be the Female) hath a greater head than the latter, a broad and almost flat Crown, without any rising in the hinder part of the head, as is seen in some. The head is of an ash-colour tending to brown, as is also the Neck, the whole Back, and the outside of the Wings. The Beak very thick; next the Head both above and below all yellow; having a moderate ash-co∣loured hook; of which colour is also all that fore-part which is bare, beyond the Sear or investing Membrane. The Pupil of the Eye is of a deep black; the Iris brown, or of a dark Chesnut-colour. The edges of the Eye-lids round about yel∣low. From the exteriour and lesser corner of the Eyes on both sides is drawn a long stroak of the same colour with the Breast. The whole Breast, and also the upper part of the inside of the Wings, the Belly moreover and the Rump, the Hips and Thighs are all fulvous or red, of a pale Vermilion colour. But the Chin in this red colour is marked with a long cinereous spot, produced downwards. The Breast also be∣fore is besprinkled with small scattering specks of the same colour. The sides, that are covered with the middle part of the Wings closed, are tinctured with the same dark cinereous colour. The Wings are very long, their tips reaching much further than the middle of the Tail; crossing one another about the lower end of the Back. The Train is long, each feather whereof is varied with alternate spaces of black (which are the narrower, of a Semicircular figure) and of ash-colour, which are the broader. The Legs and Feet are yellow, pretty thick and strong: The Talons black and very sharp.

The other (which we believe to be the Male) is less by near a third part; for va∣riety of colours almost the same with the former; and those in the same parts, save that (as we hinted also before) the red colour in this is deeper and more evident: Likewise the same coloured Membrane as in the former [I suppose he means that about the Eyes.] Those parts also which in the former are coloured with a dark cinere∣ous, in this are altogether black; viz. the upper side of the Wings, the Head, Back, and Tail. Yet may we take notice of some marks peculiar to this, wherein it differs from the other. For the Bill in this is wholly blue, excepting a small yellow mem∣brane covering the Nosthrils, having uneven borders, as it were serrate. The Chin or beginning of the Throat in this is of a little paler red, something inclining to cine∣reous, but not marked with any spot as in the former. The interiour flag-feathers of the Wings are white, only crossed at due intervals with many transverse brown marks: The rest of the upper side of the Wings is of a very deep fulvous colour, like red Oker. The upper side of the Tail is also adorned with a double variety of transverse spots, to wit, white and ash-coloured inclining to blue, alternately disposed. The Feet and Legs are of a more dilute, yellow, or Wax colour.

Both came out of the East-Indies.

What is delivered by Albertus and others concerning the blue-footed Falcon and ba∣stard Falcon I omit, as being only general and uncertain; referring the curious, and those that desire to know such things, to the Authors themselves, or to Aldrovandus, for satisfaction.

We have a sort of bastard Hawk common enough among us, called the Boccarel, and its Tarcel the Boccaret.

§. XII. The Crested Indian Falcon.

THis Bird brought out of the East-Indies we saw in the Royal Aviary in St. James Park near Westminster, and thus described it. For bigness it was not much inferiour to a Goshawk: The Head flat, black, copped, the Crest hanging down back∣ward from the hind part of the head, like a Lapwings, but forked. The Neck red. The Breast and Belly were parti-coloured of black and white, the alternate cross lines being very bright and fair. The Irides of the Eyes yellow. The Beak of a deep or dark blue, almost black, especially towards the point; for the Base was co∣vered with a yellow Membrane. The Legs feathered down to the Feet: The Feet yellow; the Talons of a dark black. The lesser rows of Wing-feathers had whitish edges. The Train was varied with transverse spaces or beds of black and cinereous alternately. The rest of the feathers were black.

§. XIII. * The Lanner, whose Tarcel is called the Lanneret.

Bellonius his description of it.

THe Lanner is less than the Gentile Falcon, adorned with fair feathers, and in that respect more beautiful than the Sacre. The most sure and undoubted notes whereby one may distinguish a Lanner from other Hawks are these; That it have blue Beak, Legs, and Feet: The anteriour or Breast-feathers parti-coloured of black and white, the black marks [or lines] not crossing the feathers, but drawn long-ways down the middle of them, contrary to what they are in Falcons. The feathers of the back are not much variegated, as neither those of the Wings or Tail, in the upper or external part. And if perchance there be any spots seen in these, they are small, round, and whitish. But to one that shall view the lower or under side of the Wings extended there will appear marks of a different figure from those of other Rapacious Birds: For they are round, and like little pieces of money, dispersed through the Superficies: Although, as we said, the feathers of the Breast, and forepart of the bo∣dy are varied with spots drawn downwards in length, and situate on their edges. It hath a thick and short Neck, and a like Bill. The Male or Lanneret is of a lesser bo∣dy, but almost the same colour of the feathers. Both Male and Female have shorter Legs than the rest of the Falcons.

Carcanus his description differs in some things from this of Bellonius, which we shall therefore subjoyn. The Head of all Lanners is wholly yellow, with a flat Crown. The Eyes black and great: The Nosthrils for the most part small: The Beak short and thick, lesser than that of a Peregrine Falcon, and also than that of a Mountain; of a blue colour; The Breast yellow, spotted with a few thin-set ferru∣gineous spots: The Back like a Peregrine Falcons: The ends of the Wings spotted as it were with round white Eyes. The Wings and Train long: The Legs short. The Feet much lesser than a Peregrines, and blue of colour. In those that are mewed the whole head is tinctured with yellow as far as the shoulders, but inclining to red, and varied with certain slender lines. The Back is blue, crossed with black lines and some golden: The Breast of a deep yellow and without any spots. But the feathers of the Thighs are varied with a few cross lines. The feet in these, which were blue, are changed into yellow. The Sores of this kind are very hardly distinguished from those that are mewed.

It seems to be called Lanarius à laniando, i. e. from tearing. It is of a gentle nature, of a docile and tractable disposition (as Bellonius writes) very fit for all sorts of Game, as well Waterfowl, as Land: For it catches not only Pies, Quails, Partridge, Crows, Pheasants, &c. but also Ducks, yea, and Cranes too, being trained up thereto by humane industry. All this is to be understood of the French Lanner, for the Italian described by Carcanus is of no worth or use. Carcanus writes, that he could never so train them up, as to make them good for ought.

The Lanner abides all the year in France, being seen there as well in Winter as in Summer, contrary to the manner of other Rapacious Birds.

§. XIV. The Hobby, Subbuteo, Aldrov.

THe Bird we described was a Female, and weighed nine ounces. The length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was thirteen Inches. The breadth or distance between the tips of the Wings extended two feet and eight Inches. From the tip of the Beak to the Nosthrils was something more than half an Inch. The Beak like that of a Kestrel: The upper Mandible prominent, hooked, semicircular; the Base covered with a yellow skin or Sear, the part next the skin white; the rest of a dark blue. It hath also a tooth or Angle on each side at the begin∣ning of the hooked part, which is received in a hollow dent or nick in the lower Chap. The Tongue broad and a little cleft or divided. The Palate withinside black, and having a Cavity impressed to receive the Tongue. The Nosthrils round: The Irides of the Eyes of a Hazel colour: The Eye-lids yellow.

As for the colour of the Plumage; above each Eye passed a line of a clay-colour, [ex ruffo albicans.] The feathers on the top of the head had their shafts or middle part black, their borders of a deep Chesnut: Those on the middle of the Neck again were of a clay-colour, the back and Wings of a dark brown, or cinereous black; those on the Rump and the lesser Pinion feathers being lighter, the greater Pinion feathers, and those on the middle of the back darker. The Chin and upper part of the Throat were white, with a dash of yellow. To this white were drawn from the head on each side two lines; one from the aperture of the mouth, the other from the hinder part or noddle.

The lower part of the Belly was reddish, the rest of the Belly and Breast clothed with feathers, spotted with black in the middle, and having their edges white. The Thighs red, spotted with black, but the spots less than those on the Breast. The num∣ber of prime feathers in each Wing twenty four, whereof the second the longest. The extreme or outmost had their tips black; all of them their interiour webs varied with transverse clay-coloured spots. The covert-feathers of the underside of the Wings were black, curiously painted with round spots of white diluted with red.

The Tail, as in all of this kind, consisted of twelve feathers, the middlemost whereof were the longest, and the rest in order shorter to the two outermost, which were the shortest. The length of the middlemost was about five Inches and an half, these were on both sides their shafts of one and the same colour; the rest had their interiour Vanes marked with transverse reddish spots; the utmost tips being whitish.

The Legs and Feet were yellow: The middle and outmost Toes connected as in others of this kind to the first joynt: The Talons as black as Jet.

It had a great Gall: The length of the Guts was two foot lacking an inch: The Appendices or blind Guts short; besides which it had another single Appendix or process, which was (we suppose) the remainder of the Ductus intestinalis shrunk up.

The Hobby is a bird of passage, yet breeds with us in England. Its Game is chiefly Larks, for the catching of which Birds our Fowlers make use of it thus. The Spa∣niels range the field, to find the birds: The Hobby they let off, and accustom to soar aloft in the Air over them. The Larks espying their capital enemy, dare by no means make use of their Wings, but lie as close and flat upon the ground as they can; and so are easily taken in the Nets they draw over them. This kind of sport is called, Da∣ring of Larks.

To catch these Hawks, the Fowlers take a Lark, and having blinded her, and fast∣ned Lime-twigs to her Legs, let her fly where they see the Hobby is, which striking at the Lark is entangled with the Lime-twigs.

The Bird is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, the lesser 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Buteo; which Pliny renders in Latine, Subbuteo. It is called in English, Hobby, after the French name.

§. XV. The Kestrel, Stannel, or Stonegall, in Latine Tinnunculus or Cenchris.

THe Female is about the bigness of a Pigeon. That we described weighed nine ounces. Its length from the point of the Beak to the end of the Train was fourteen inches and a quarter: Its breadth, or the distance between the tips of the Wings extended two foot and an half. The Beak short, prominent, hooked, and sharp-pointed: The Base of the upper Chap covered with a skin or membrane, in which are the Nosthrils. The middle part of the Beak next the Sear is white, the rest of a dark blue: Where it begins to bend it hath a Tooth or Angle, which is received in a dent or cavity in the lower Chap. The Nosthrils round: The Tongue cleft: The Eye-lids yellow; the Eyes defended by prominent brows. It hath a wide mouth, and the Palate blue.

The Head is great; the Crown broad and flat, inclining to an ash-colour, and marked with narrow black lines along the shaft of each feather. The back, shoulders, and covert-feathers of the upper side of the Wings ferrugineous, marked with black spots, viz. each feather being reddish hath a black spot toward the tip. The Rump is cinereous, having the like transverse black spots. The lower or nether side of the body, that is the Breast and Belly, was of a paler red or ferrugineous, varied with black lines drawn downwards along the shafts of the feathers. The Chin and lower belly without spots.

The flag-feathers of the Wing are in number twenty four: The exteriour of which are of a brown or dusky colour, but their interiour Vanes are partly of a reddish white, indented with the brown like the teeth of a Saw. The six or seven next to the body are red, having their interiour Vanes marked with transverse brown stroaks. The inner or under side of the Wing is white, with black spots.

The Train made up of twelve feathers was above seven inches long. The outmost feathers shortest, the rest in order gradually longer to the middlemost. The utmost tips of the feathers were of a rusty white. Then succeeds a black bar or ring of an inch broad; the rest of the feather being of a rusty ash-colour, marked with trans∣verse black spots.

The Legs and Feet are of a lovely yellow, and the Talons black.

It had a Gall. In the stomach we found Beetles and fur of Mice. The length of the Guts was twenty eight Inches. The single blind gut [Appendix intestinalis] was twice as long as the lower Appendices or blind Guts. The Male or Tarcel differs from the Female chiefly in being less, and having the head and back of an ash-colour.

Kestrels are wont commonly with us in England to be reclaimed and trained up for fowling, after the manner of other Rapacious birds. They catch not only small birds, but also young Partridge.

They build in hollow Oaks and other trees; and that not after the manner of Crows, upon the boughs, but after the manner of Jackdaws, always in holes, as Tur∣ner saith he himself observed. Aristotle makes the Kestrel the most fruitful or best breeder among Birds of prey; yet neither doth she (saith he) lay more Eggs than four at once. Her Eggs are whitish, all over stained very thick with red spots, whence Aristotle and Pliny write, that they are red like Vermilion: Indeed, they deserve ra∣ther to be called red than white.

It is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying Millet, as if one should say the Millet∣bird, for the same reason as Gesner thinks, that a kind of Tetter [the Swine-pox] is called Herpes miliaris, because it is marked or motled with specks like Millet seed.

This Bird is by some called the Wind-hover, of which name we have elsewhere gi∣ven an account.

§. XVI. The Merlin, called in Latine Aesalon.

BEllonius hath recorded that the Merlin is the least of all those birds our Falconers use for hawking; and truly, if we except only the Matagesse or great Butcher∣bird (which is sometimes reclaimed for small birds) so it is. It is not much bigger than a Black bird. The length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail in that we described was fourteen Inches, to the end of the Toes twelve and an half. The Beak was blue, and had an angular Appendix or tooth on each side: The Irides of the Eyes of a hazel colour: The back and upper part were particoloured of a dark blue and a ferrugineous: The shaft and middle part of the feathers of the Head and Wings were black, the edges blue: The flag-feathers of the Wings black with ferrugineous spots. The Train sive inches long, of a dark brown or blackish, with transverse white bars: Of these black and white spaces were fourteen in all in the Female; in the Male or Tarcel but ten. The Breast and Belly were of a rusty white, with brown spots, not transverse, but tending downwards from the Head toward the Tail. The Legs were long, slender, and yellow: The Talons black. Below the Head it had a ring of yellowish white, encircling the Head like a Coronet. In the older Birds the back grows bluer as in other Falcons.

In the Males the feathers on the Rump next the Tail are bluer. By which note and their bigness Falconers discern the Sex. For the Female in this, as in other birds of prey, is greater than the Male, being for colour less red, with a certain mixture of blue. In the Train of the Male we described were only five cross pale-red bars (as we said before) the intermediate black spaces being broader. The Train was five Inches long, the whole bird thirteen.

The Merlin, though the least of Hawks, yet for spirit and mettle (as Albertus truly writes) gives place to none. It strikes Partridge on the Neck, with a fatal stroke, killing them in an instant. No Hawk kills her prey so soon. They fly also Heath-pouts with it.

CHAP. X. Of short-winged Hawks.

§. I. The Goshawk, Accipiter Palumbarius.

IT is bigger than the common Buzzard: Of a dark brown or Buzzard colour on the head, neck, back, and upperside of the Wings. The whole Breast and Bel∣ly white with transverse black lines standing very thick. The Thighs are covered over with reddish feathers, having a black line in the middle down the shaft. The Legs and Feet are yellow; the Talons black. The Beak blue, and the Sear of a yel∣lowish green.

The Wings, when closed, fall much short of the end of the Train, by which note alone and its bigness it is sufficiently distinguished from all other Hawks. The Train is

long, of a cinereous or dun colour, with four or five cross blackish bars, standing at a great distance each from other. In each feather of the Breast there is a black circular line near the top, running parallel to the edges of the feather, and in some also the shaft and middle part of the feather is black.

It takes not only Partridge and Pheasant, but also greater Fowl, as Geese and Cranes: Sometimes also it catches Conies. Our English Authors who have written of Falcon∣ry make this the same with the French Autour or Astur, although Aldrovandus would have the Astur, which he takes to be the Asterias of Aristotle, to be a different bird. But I suppose the Goshawk was not well known to Aldrovandus.

§. II. The Sparrow-hawk, Accipiter Fringillarius seu Nisus Recentiorum.

IT is almost as big as a Pigeon. Its length from Bill-point to Tail end about fourteen inches: The distance between the tips of the Wings extended twenty six Inches.

Its Beak is short, hooked, blue, black toward the tip: The Basis of the upper Chap covered with a yellowish green skin, (which they call the Sear or rather Cere from the Latine word Cera, signifying wax, because it is for the most part of a Wax∣colour,) having an angular Appendix or tooth on each side under the Nosthril. The Nosthrils are oblong; the Palate blue; the Tongue thick, black, and a little cleft: The Eyes of mean size, with yellow Irides, over-hung by brows, prominent like the Eaves of a house. The Crown of the head is of a dark brown: Above the Eyes, and in the hinder part of the head sometimes are white feathers. [The bottoms of the feathers in Head or Neck are white.] The rest of the upper side, Back, Shoulders, Wings, Neck, are of the same dark brown, excepting some feathers of the Wings which are spotted with white. [In another bird the Head and Wings were of a dark ash-colour or blue,] The colour of the underside, viz. the Neck, Breast, Belly, Sides, and Wings various, of white and blackish, or russet: Russet waved lines thick-set crossing the whole Breast and Belly, and indeed, each single feather; the white inter∣mediate spaces are broader than the russet lines. The feathers under the Chin and by the Legs of the lower Mandible are white, only their middle parts about the shaft, especially toward the tip, brown or russet.

The Wings when closed scarce reach to the middle of the Tail. The flag-feathers are twenty four, in whose under sides appear, on the interiour webs of each, dark transverse marks or spots.

The Tail is almost two Palms long, consisting of twelve feathers, having five or six cross black bars. The tips of the feathers are white. The Thighs are strong and fleshy, as in all birds of prey; the Legs long, slender, yellow; the Toes also long; the out∣most, as in other Hawks, being joyned to the middlemost by a Membrane below. The Talons black. It lays about five white Eggs, spotted near the blunt end with a Circle, as it were a Coronet, of bloud-red speaks.

It feeds only upon Birds (as our Fowlers affirm) never touching Beetles or other Insects.

For its bigness it is a very bold and couragious Bird, and is frequently trained up and made for hawking.

Bellonius acquaints us with a common and familiar way of taking this kind of Hawks about the Streight of Propontis, in these words. Not far distant (saith he) from the outlet of the Euxine Sea, at the entrance of the Streight leading to the Propontis, having climbed up a very high Hill that is there, by chance we found a Fowler on the top intent upon the catching of Sparrow-hawks. Whereas it was now past mid-April, at which time all sorts of birds are wont to be very busie in breeding or building their Nests, it seemed to us wonderful strange and unusual, to see such a multitude of Kites and Hawks coming flying from the right side of the Sea. This Fowler did with such industry and dexterity lay wait for them, that not so much as one escaped him. He took at least twelve Hawks every hour, The manner thus: He himself lay hid behind a little bushet, before which he had levelled a square plat or floor, about two paces long and broad, being two or three paces distant from the bushet. In the borders of this floor he had pitcht down [or thrust into the ground] six stakes, at due distances, of about the thickness of ones thumb [the word is Pollicis, and may possibly signifie an inch-thick] of a mans height, two on each side: On the top of each, on that side

which respected the floor was a nick cut in, upon which was hung a Net made of fine green thread. In the middle of the floor stood a Stake a Cubit high, to the top of which a Cord was bound, which reached as fas as the Fowler, who lay behind the bushet. To this same Line, lying loose, were many little Birds fastned, which picked up grains of Corn on the floor. Now, when the Fowler saw a Hawk coming afar off from the Sea-coast, shaking the Line, he made these birds to flicker up and down. Which the Sparrow-hawks (as they are notably sharp-sighted) espying at least half a League off, came flying full speed, and rush'd upon the Nets with that force, to strike at the birds, that being entangled therein they were taken. The Hawks being al∣lured into the Nets, and caught by this Artifice, the Fowler thrust their whole wings up to the shoulders into certain linnen clothes, sown up for that purpose, which our Falconers call, mayling or trussing of Hawks. Thus mayld or trust up he left them up∣on the ground, so unable to help themselves, that they could not stir, nor struggle, much less disengage or deliver themselves. No man could easily imagine, whence such a multitude of Sparrow-hawks should come. For in two hours time that we were spectators of that sport, we saw more than thirty taken by this deceit, whence one may conjecture, that one Fowler in the space of one day might take more than an hundred. These Hawks do not usually stay so long in one place as Falcons, but are often changing place, whence it is more difficult to take them with a Net. For they will not readily give a Fowler time to spread a Net over them; unless they be de∣ceived in that manner Bellonius hath set down.

CHAP. XI. Of Butcher-Birds or Shrikes called in Latine Lanii or Colluriones.

THe new name of Lanius or Butcher was by Gesner imposed on this bird, be∣cause he thought it agreed to no description of the Ancients; and because it is wont to prey on other Birds. Bellonius would have it to be the Collurio of Aristotle. Of the Europaean Rapacious birds it is the least; having a streight Bill, only a little hooked at the point; a Tail like that of a Mag-pie, viz. with the outmost feathers shortest, the rest in order longer to the middlemost; whence the French do, not without reason, call it the Grey Pie. Turner suspects it to be the Tyrannus of Ari∣stotle. In English it is called a Shrike.

§. I. The greater Butcher-bird or Mattagess. Lanius cinereus major.

THis Bird in the North of England is called Wierangle, a name, it seems, common to us with the Germans, who (as Gesner witnesseth) about Strasburgh, Franck∣fort, and elsewhere call it Werkengel, or Warkangel, perchance (saith he) as it were Wurchangel, which literally rendred signifies a suffocating Angel. In other parts of Germany it is called Neghen-doer, that is, Nine-killer, [Enneactonos] because it kills nine birds before it ceases, or every day nine. Our Falconers call it the Mattagess, a name borrowed from the Savoyards, which is by Aldrovandus interpreted a murthering Pie.

It is for bigness equal to the common Black-bird, or the Song-Thrush. It weighs three ounces. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is more than ten inches: Its Breadth fourteen inches. Its Bill from the tip to the Angles of the mouth is above an inch long, black, hooked at the end, and furnished with an Angle or Tooth on each side, like that of the Kestrel, Sparrow-hawk, and lesser birds of this kind. [Aldrovandus affirmeth, that his greater Italian Lanius, which they common∣ly call Regestola, wants these angular Appendices of the Bill, wherein it differs from ours.] The Tongue is slit or forked at the end, and rough, [In that described by Aldrovandus, the tip of the Tongue is multifidous or jagged, ending in many sharp Fibres, as it were hairs, which perchance (saith he) is so framed by Nature for the striking of Insects.] In the Palate is a sissure or cleft, and about the cleft a hollow Cavity equal to the Tongue. The Nosthrils are round, above which grow stiff black hairs or bristles. From the corner of the Mouth on each side through the Eyes to

the hind part of the head is drawn a black stroak. The Head, Back, and Rump are ash-coloured: The Chin and Belly white: The Breast and lower part of the Throat varied with dark transverse lines.

It hath in each Wing eighteen prime feathers; the tips of all which, excepting the four outmost, are white: The second and third have also their exteriour edges white. Moreover, the first or outmost feather begins to be white at the bottom: In the rest in order as far as to the tenth the white part increaseth, so that more than the lower half of the tenth feather is white. From the tenth in the following feathers the white diminishes again, yet in their interiour edges it runs up to the top: in the last, that is, those next to the body, it fails quite: Else both the Beam-feathers and the first row of covert-feathers are black.

The Tail is made up of twelve feathers, of which the middlemost are the longest, by measure four inches and a quarter; the rest in order shorter to the outmost, which are but three inches and an half. The outmost feathers are all over white, the two middlemost have only their tips white, the rest of the feather being black; in the intermediate feathers the black part gradually diminisheth to the outmost: Whence (saith Aldrovandus) when it flies the white part of the Tail shews like a Crescent. [In the greater Lanius of Aldrovandus the four middle-feathers of the Tail are wholly black, and not two only.]

The Legs and Feet are black: The outmost Toe at the bottom joyned to the mid∣dlemost.

The Testicles are round and little, That we dissected had in the stomach Caterpil∣lars, Beetles, and Grashoppers.

In Germany between Heidelberg and Strasburgh, about a Village called Linkenom, we killed this bird: It is also common elsewhere in Germany. Moreover, we are told, that it is found in the mountainous parts of the North of England, as for in∣stance in the Peak of Derbyshire, where, (as we said) it is called Wierangel.

Gesner reports, that the Lanii of Switzerland do for the most part haunt and abide among thorny shrubs, sitting upon the highest twigs of dwarf-trees and bushes, setting up their tails as they sit. In them also they build, making their Nests of Moss, Wool, and certain downy herbs: But the bottoms thereof of Heath, upon which they lay withinside the soft and tender stalks of hay, Doggs-tooth, and other like herbs. In this Nest in summer time are to be found six Young, so unlike to the old ones, that they scarce resemble them in one mark, their Bills, Legs, and Feet only excepted; yea, rather on the contrary the bottoms of all their downy feathers, (which are as yet nothing else but certain rudiments of their future Plumage) incline somewhat to green.

Although it doth most commonly feed upon Insects, yet doth it often set upon and kill not only small birds, as Finches, Wrens, &c. but (which Turner affirms himself to have seen) even Thrushes themselves: Whence it is wont by our Falconers to be re∣claimed and made for to fly small birds, as we have before noted.

Gesner, besides this we have described, sets forth another sort of great Butcher-bird, like to this, but twice as big, so that it is double the magnitude of a Black-bird. It is of the same nature, shape of body, and colour, except that the Wings are red.

§. II. The lesser Butcher-Bird, called in York-shire, Flusher, Lanius tertius Aldrov.

IT is of the bigness of a Lark, and hath a great head. The Cock weighed two ounces and an half: From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail it was seven Inches and an half long, to the end of the Claws but six inches and an half: from tip to tip of the Wings spread twelve inches and an half broad.

The Bill was an inch long, black, and strong. The tip of the upper Chap hooked; near the hooked part furnished with two angular Appendices, over-hanging the lower Chap when the mouth is shut, it having no dents or cavities to receive these Appen∣dices: Wherein the Bill of this bird differs from that of a Hobby or Kestrel. The Mouth within yellow: The cleft of the Palate rough. The Tongue divided into many Filaments: The Nosthrils round: About the Nosthrils and corners of the mouth grew stiff, black hairs or bristles. The middle of the Back, and lesser rows of feathers covering the upper side of the Wing reddish or ferrugineous [rusty] the Head and Rump cinereous. From the corners of the Mouth through the Eyes a black

stroke is produced beyond the Ears: This black line is terminated and divided from the ash-colour by another whitish one. The lower belly is white: The Throat and Breast white, dashed with red.

There are in each Wing eighteen beam-feathers; the first or outmost very short and little, the third longest of all. The Wings shut much shorter than the Tail. The greater Wing-feathers dusky, the exteriour Vanes of those next the body being red, the edges of the middlemost white. The Tail is three inches long, composed of twelve feathers, of which the outmost are the shortest, the rest on each side in order longer to the middlemost, which are the longest; and almost wholly black; of the next to these the bottoms or lower parts are white, especially the interiour Web; of the four next on each side the lower half is white, as also the tips; of the outmost the exteriour webs are wholly white.

The Feet are black, or of a dark blue colour. The outmost Toe joyned at bottom to the middlemost.

The Testicles white and round; the Gall large; the Guts eleven inches long; the blind Guts short and little: in the stomach dissected we found Flies and Beetles.

The Bird here described had built her Nest in a Holly-bush, of grass, bents, and feathers; in which were six oblong, pretty great Eggs, toward the sharper end al∣most wholly white, toward the blunter encompassed with a circle of brown or dark red, as it were a Coronet.

At Florence I described a Lanius, which the Fowlers there called Vellia, very like to this; only the bottoms or lower part of the eight outmost beam-feathers of the Wings were white, and that so far that some part of the white appeared above the covert feathers. Of which note I wonder that neither Aldrovandus nor Mr. Willughby have made any mention in their descriptions of this bird.

§. III. A Hen Butcher-bird like to the second Lanius of Aldrovandus.

IT is somewhat less than the precedent in all dimensions. It differs from the second of Aldrovandus in that its Bill is not red but black; nor the feet cinereous, but like those of the Cock; and also that it wants the white spot on the Wing. The Head is of an ash-colour inclining to red, as in Thrushes. The Back reddish, varied with semi∣circular black lines near the tip of each feather. The feathers next incumbent on the Tail are long, of a deeper red, and adorned with semicircular lines. The Throat and Breast elegantly variegated with the like black semicircles, almost after the man∣ner of the Wryneck. The Belly is white. The prime feathers of the Wings dusky; but those next the body, and the lesser rows of covert-feathers of the Wings have red edges. The Tail black, with a tincture of red. The outmost feathers have all their exteriour webs white; the four next on each side have their tips white; the two middlemost are of a dark red. The lower Chap of the Bill from the middle al∣most half way is white.

§. IV. Another sort of Butcher-Bird, perhaps the Lanius minor primus, Aldrov.

THis had a white spot on each shoulder: The bottoms of the nine outmost beam∣feathers were white: Above the Bill was a cross black line: The Head of a pale red or russet: The Back first red, then ash-coloured: Under the Throat were transverse dusky lines, else the whole underside was of a dirty white. I also [J. R.] at Florence in Italy saw and described a Lanius like to this, differing only in that the Head and Neck were of a deeper red. Mr. Willughby also described another killed near the River Rhene in Germany, whose Head was of a lovely red: A line or white space of the figure of a Parabola encompassed the Tail, the interiour space or Area therein contained being black. The eleven exteriour Quils were white from the bot∣tom almost to the middle. The Feet and Claws black.

In all the birds of this kind that I have seen and described the bottom of the nine outmost beam-feathers of the Wings were white.

The birds of this kind differ very much in colour, so that I am in some doubt, whe∣ther the above described differ in Species, or in Age and Sex only. I suspect they differ specifically.

The lesser Butcher-birds therefore may be divided into those that have a black line in both cheeks passing through the Eye, and those that want it. Those which have this line may be subdivided into those which have a white mark upon the shoulders and those that have it not. The first sort may be called, the Lesser Butcher-bird variegated with black and white semicircular lines: The second, The lesser red Butcher-bird: The third, the lesser ash-coloured Butcher-bird.

CHAP. XII. Of the Bird of Paradise, or Manucodiata, in general.

THat Birds of Paradise want feet is not only a popular persuasion, but a thing not long since believed by learned men and great Naturalists, and among the rest by Aldrovandus himself, deceived by the birds dried or their cases, brought over into Europe out of the East Indies, dismembred, and bereaved of their Feet. Yea, Aldrovandus and others do not stick to charge Antonius Pigafeta, (who gave the first notice of this Bird to the Europaeans) with falshood and lying, because he de∣livered the contrary. This errour once admitted, the other fictions of idle brains, which seemed thence to follow, did without difficulty obtain belief; viz. that they lived upon the coelestial dew; that they flew perpetually without any intermission, and took no rest but on high in the Air, their Wings being spread; that they were never taken alive, but only when they fell down dead upon the ground: That there is in the back of the Male a certain cavity, in which the Female, whose belly is also hollow, lays her Eggs, and so by the help of both cavities they are sitten upon and hatched. All which things are now sufficiently refuted, and proved to be false and fabulous, both by eye-witnesses, and by the birds themselves brought over entire. I my self (saith Joannes de Laet) have two Birds of Paradise of different kinds, and have seen many others, all which had feet, and those truly for the bulk of their bodies sufficiently great, and very strong Legs. The same is confirmed by * Marggravius, Clusius in his Exotics, Wormius in his Museum, page 295. and especially Bontius in the fifth Book and twelfth Chapter of his natural and medic History of the East-Indies, where we have to this purpose; It is so far from being true that these birds of Paradise are nourished by the Air, or want Feet, that with their crooked and very sharp Claws they catch small birds, as Green Linnets, Chaffinches, and the like, and presently tear and devour them like other birds of prey: No less untrue is it, that they are not found but only dead, whereas they sit upon trees, and are shot with Arrows by the Tarnacenses; whence also, and from their swift reciprocal flying, they are by the Indians called Tarnacensian Swal∣lows. We truly, before we had read these things in Bontius, had subjoyned these birds to the Rapacious kind, because they did seem to us in their Bill and crooked Claws very nearly to resemble them, and consequently in all likelihood to prey upon littlebirds. Hence also it appears how rashly some have believed, that they took their rest hanging by those two cirri, which run out, as it were two long strings, beyond the rest of the feathers, twined about the boughs of trees: For those Cirri are no∣thing else but the naked shafts of feathers, having neither the structure nor use of Muscles. It were to be wished, that those who travel to those parts of the East Indies, where these Birds are found, would diligently enquire of the Inhabitants, where and how they build: And what those long feathers serve for, which springing in great numbers from both sides of the breast do both run out in length beyond the Tail, and also are spread out far in breadth; and especially what may be the use of these two long naked shafts of feathers before mentioned, which (to say the truth) is to us as yet unknown.

These most beautiful birds (as Aldrovandus reports) are called by the inhabitants of the Molucca Islands Manucodiatae, that is, Gods birds, and had in great esteem and veneration. They are called Birds of Paradise, both for the excellent shape and beau∣ty of their bodies, and also because where they are bred, whence they come, and whither they betake themselves is altogether unknown, sith they are found only dead upon the earth, so that the Vulgar imagine them to drop out of Heaven or Paradise. But this mistake we have before out of Bontius rectified.

CHAP. XIII. Of the several sorts of Birds of Paradise.

§. I. * Aldrovandus his first Bird of Paradise.

FOr bigness and shape of body, beheld singly, it comes near to a Swallow. The feathers investing it are of several colours, very beautiful and lovely to be∣hold. The Head like that of a Swallow, and great for the smalness of the bo∣dy; the feathers covering its upper part from the first Vertebre of the Neck to the beginning of the Bill were short, thick, hard, close-set, of a bright, glistering, yel∣low colour, shining like burnished Gold, or the Sun-beams: The rest which covered the Chin were of an admirable bluish green, such as we see in the heads of Mallards, when exposed to the Sunshine. The Bill was longer than that of a Swallow: The Wing-feathers for shape like those of Herons, only slenderer and longer, of a shining dusky colour between black and red: which together with the Tail being spread round represent the likeness of a Wheel: For they are absolutely immovable, stick∣ing in the skin like so many darts. Besides which there are also other small feathers, and those verily not a few, which spring up just by the originals of the greater fea∣thers that make up the Wings, and cover the lower parts of them. These are half red or Scarlet-coloured, half of a shining, Saffron, or Gold colour; and by reason of that remarkable and singular disparity of colours contribute much to the beauty and elegancy of this bird. All the rest of the body was covered with fulvous feathers inclining to red [ruffum,] yet so, that still one might observe some difference between them. For those on the Breast and Belly, which stood thicker, and were likewise broader (being of two or three inches breadth) were of a fulvous or rather liver colour, and that very bright and resplendent. Those on the Back stood thinner, and were fewer, gaping moreover with large divisions, after the manner exactly of those growing on the backs of Herons. [I suppose he means the several threads or filaments which compose the web of the feather stood thinner or at greater distances, as in those of a Peacocks Tail.] Neither do they attain that eminent breadth, or match them in that excellent liver-colour; but are rather of a purple, resembling flesh or some∣what more obscure. Those two filaments which spring out of the back are in a man∣ner black.

§. II. * Aldrovandus his second Bird of Paradise.

THis differed from the rest, especially in that it had in its Rump two very long feathers, exceeding the rest about two palms length: The Head was almost white, besprinkled with yellow and golden spots: The eyes likewise yellow, the hairs of the Eye-lids red: The Bill of a middle colour between yellow and green, two inches long; the upper part a little crooked: The Tongue red, long, sharp, not un∣like that of Woodpeckers, very fit to strike Insects. The Breast was somewhat red: The Belly, Back and Wings were white: Yet were their upper sides all over, and their ends ferrugineous. The Back at first seemed to incline somewhat to yellow, but about the Rump it changed to a red or ferrugineous. In the length of the Wings, which equalled five Palms, it exceeded the first species. The Tail feathers at their insertion into the back were white, else ferrugineous, longer than in the first Species.

This Bird wanted those two threads, which (as I said before) grow out of the backs of all this kind. Wherefore it is to be thought that either by reason of the length of the journey, or continuance of time, they fell away and were lost; not that it is therefore to be called a Female, as the Vulgar have been hitherto falsly perswaded. The use of the two forementioned long feathers may perchance be for swifter flight.

§. III. * Aldrovandus his third Bird of Paradise.

THis for the length of its body we thought good to call Hippomanncodiata: As being from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail and Wings twenty seven inches long, and two Palms broad when the Wings are closed. The Bill was well hooked, especially the upper part; three inches long; the lower part a little shorter. The whole bird was white, except the Neck and Belly, which were of a Chesnut-colour. The upper part of the Head was ferrugineous; to which suc∣ceeded a yellow, and to the yellow a green colour. Near the Back the feathers were very prominent, viz. the length of two or three inches, This Bird had only one string, and that rough and very flexible: Wherefore we think that the other was by some accident lost.

§. IV. * Aldrovandus his fourth or crested Bird of Paradise.

FRom the beginning of the Bill to the end of the Wings it was by measure full eighteen inches. The Bill for the smalness of the body was very long, black, and somewhat hooked. The feathers of the Head, Neck, and Wings were black, yet at the joyning of the Bill yellow. It had a crest or cop near the Neck almost three Inches high, rigid, of a yellow colour, and which seemed to consist rather of bristles than feathers: And in that chiefly did it differ from the following bird.

§. V. * Aldrovandus his fifth or common Bird of Paradise.

THis Gesner also hath figured, but not described, only he saith, it is very like that which was formerly graven, and published by it self, at Nurenbergh in Germany: To the Icon whereof he saith these words were added. The Bird of Para∣dise or Indian Apos is of the bigness of a Song-Thrush, wonderful light, and very long-winged, the feathers being rare, tender, and pervious to the light; having be∣sides two long, slender, black, horny feathers, if they may be called feathers and not rather bristles, for they are bare of filaments. It hath no feet; flies perpetually, nor doth it ever rest but hanging in some tree, by those long strings or bristles twined about a bough. No Ship sails so swiftly, nor so far from the Continent, which it doth not fly round about. This Cut is very like to our last described: But they differ much in the bigness of the Bill and Head. Gesners figure shews the Bill to be little, and the lower Chap crooked; whereas on the contrary (as I said) in ours the Bill was very long, and the upper Chap crooked. Besides, this hath no Crest, which is a ma∣nifest argument of diversity.

§. VI. * The King of Birds of Paradise, Marggrav.

IT shews to be as big as a Pigeon, but was indeed not greater than a Swallow. It had a small Head, little Eyes, a streight, indifferently thick and sharp Bill, an Inch and half long. The Neck was an inch long: The length of the Body from the Head to the rise of the Tail scarce three inches and an half. The Wings were above seven inches long: The Tail broad, and six inches long. It had two Legs, the lower part of each two inches long: Four Toes in the Feet, three standing forwards, and one backward, after the usnal manner; the middle Foretoe was a little longer than the rest: The back-toe was also of a good length; all armed with strong, crooked, Hawk∣like Claws. Both Legs and Feet are thick and strong, made for rapine and preying. The Wings and Tail have broad and strong feathers, an inch wide. The whole back, tbe lower Belly, the Wings and Tail are of an elegant brown colour [Brunni.] Above next the Bill it hath feathers resembling Velvet, mingled of green and dusky:

Beneath next the Bill it hath like feathers of a black colour. The Neck above is of a yellow or gold colour; beneath of a green, with a gold-colour as it were shining through it. The Breast is of a deep brown. Under the Wings, in the sides between the Wings and the Legs grow many feathers, a foot long more or less, of a curious structure, which run forth a great way upon the Tail: Towards their rise they are of a deep yellow or gold colour, else of a whitish yellow, shadowed or dashed with brown. Among these feathers are extended two as it were threads or strings, each more than two feet long, near their rise of a yellow or gold colour, crooked towards their ends, and of a dark brown. Their Legs are dusky, their Talons being whiter. The Bill is of a colour mixt of green and blue, yet whitish toward the point.

§ VII. * Marggravius his other Bird of Paradise.

IN bigness it exceeded a Swallow. It hath a small Head, a little compressed or flat above, two thirds of an inch long, in thickness or compass two inches: very lit-Eyes, about the bigness of a grain of Millet or Mustard Seed. The Bill strong, above an inch long, streight, (yet upwards towards its Base somewhat rising) sharp, of a colour mingled of blue and green, with an oblong white spot in the upper Chap to∣ward the point: wide, open Nosthrils. The Neck a little more than two thirds of an inch long, streight, and of equal thickness with the head. The body from the end of the Neck to the beginning of the Tail was scarce four inches long, the thick∣ness almost three; but it was covered with many feathers, which I do not here con∣sider. The length of the Wings was five inches. Above on the head, at the rise of the Bill, it was adorned with very black, small, downy feathers, exactly resembling Velvet; and in like manner near the rise of the lower Bill, the black here being broader than above. In the whole throat or lower side of the Neck, and as far as the Cheeks and also to the Eyes, it was covered with silken feathers, a little harder to the touch than those black ones, of a most elegant golden green, such as is wont to be seen in the necks of Peacocks and Mallards. The whole upper part of the Head as far as that silken clothing, was also covered with silken feathers, but hard to the touch, of a dark yellow colour. The whole Neck encompassed with short feathers resembling Plush, of a shining yellow colour like Gold. The back was all covered with feathers of the like shining golden yellow, to the touch resembling hairs, lying many one upon another, which below were of a pale brown colour. The Wing∣feathers are all one longer than another. The Tail consists of a few the like brown feathers, extended a little beyond the ends of the Wings, and is above three inches and an half long. At the very rise of the Wings, and without the Wings in each side grow many very elegant feathers, supported by small white ones: Some of these are six inches long, some a foot; but the middlemost and longest are a foot and half long, and white. All these feathers are most elegant, of a fine, thin, rare, or subtile texture. The number of feathers springing out of both sides amounts to about fifty in each; among which there are forty, a foot and half long apiece. Clusius and others, who take these long feathers to belong to the Wings, are mistaken; for they are not the Wing-feathers, but, as Marggravius truly hath delivered, spring out of each side under the Wings.

These two descriptions seem to be either of one and the same sort of bird, or of two very like; and agree in most things with the first Species of Aldrovandus.

§. VIII. * Of Birds of Paradise out of Clusius.

I See that he [Aldrovandus he means] and all the rest who have treated of this bird, agree in this, that they judge it to want feet, because they had seen none but such as were bereaved of their feet. Hereupon they did not stick to charge Antonius Pigafeta (who accompanying Magellane in the Ship Victoria, first sailed round the World) with falshood and lying, because after his return from that long Voyage, giving the first notice of this Bird to the Europaeans in the Diary of his travel, he at∣tributes to it slender Legs a Palm long. For my part, though hitherto, I confess, I have been in the same erroneous opinion with them, in thinking these birds to be

footless (contrary to the sentence and judgment of Aristotle, who affirms that no bird wants feet) because those which I hapned to see, both in my Spanish Voyage, stopping two months at Lisbon, and also in the Low Countries, in the Cabinets of sundry persons delighted in such exotic things, were all without feet, and exentera∣ted; yet at that time, to say the truth, I was not at all curious in observing, whether there were any difference between them. But the last Voyages of the Hollanders in∣to India have made me without difficulty to change my opinion; it being certain that there have been some brought over entire, and retaining still their legs and feet: And by those who saw them I understood, that their Legs were very like those of a Mag∣pie, but weaker, and not so thick, differing also in colour, as not being black, but tending to a Chesnut. Notwithstanding I had a great desire my self to see them, and if I could have got but one, presently to have taken a draught thereof, that I might expose it to the view of the Reader, and confirm the truth and faithfulness of Piga∣feta. But they having been for their rarity presently bought up, and carried away to Francfurt on the Main, and one of them thence to the Emperour Rudolphus the se∣cond of that name (his Majesty being, as I hear, greatly delighted in these kind of strange forein things, and in the knowledge of all the wonders of nature) I was frustrated of my hope. But if it happens that there be any entire ones brought over, and that I get seasonable notice of it, I will do my endeavour to procure one, at least to borrow it, that I may set forth its figure, to confute and extirpate the common∣ly received opinion or conceit, that these birds want feet. Howbeit the Mariners that brought these Birds, though they went not to those Islands where the birds them∣selves breed and live, yet were informed (as I was assured) by those of whom they bought them, that they were all furnished with Feet, and did both walk and fly like other Birds: But that the Inhabitants so soon as they take them, do exenterate them, and cut off and cast away their Legs, and then expose them to the Sun, that they may dry the more readily, and so dried, either keep them to sell, or fasten them to their Helmets instead of Plumes of feathers. They added moreover, that those birds lived in Woods, and were wont to fly thirty or forty together in flocks, accompanied with their King or Captain, who always flies high above the rest; and (which seems to be fabulous) if they be thirsty, use to send out one of their company first to the water, to make trial of it, which if it receives no harm from drinking it, then the whole flock fly thither and drink: But if it returns sick or indisposed, the rest avoid that water, and fly away to seek out some other. They further added, that the Islanders were wont to taint and infect this water, for to catch these Birds, after this manner. When they espy a flock of Birds, they mark diligently whither they be∣take themselves, and as soon as they see the bird that was sent out, after it hath drank flown back again, they presently cast poyson into that water, which the whole flock coming to drink of, is infected, and becomes their prey. Besides, that these Birds were wont sometimes to be shot with Arrows: And if their King happens to be kil∣led and fall down, the rest that are in that flock fall together with him, and yield them∣selves to be taken, as refusing to live after they have lost their King.

Furthermore, they made two kinds of those Birds: The one of the Greater, which were more beautiful, and the other of the Lesser, which wereless beautiful: Affirm∣ing that both kinds have their peculiar King, and different in colour. That the birds of the greater kind (whose King is of an elegant and beautiful colour) were found only in the Isle Aru or Arou (for so that Vowel u is to be pronounced:) But that the Isles called Papuas, nigh to the Island Gilolo, did produce the birds of the lesser kind; and that their King was less handsom, covered with black feathers, for bigness equal to a Starling, and having some feathers like horse-hairs. Perchance this black King may be the fourth Species set forth by Aldrovandus. Those that sold these Birds, being asked by the Mariners how they were called by the Inhabitants, answered Boëres, that is, Birds: For so they called all Birds, neither did they know how to distinguish them by peculiar names.

Now having seen a very elegant Bird of the greater sort, and bigger also than the rest of this kind, in the house of the famous Peter Paroias, Doctor of Physick, and primary Professor in the University of Leyden, I took care to get the figure thereof cut, that I might set it forth, subjoyning a short History, as faithfully taken as I could; which should by right have taken up the first place in the fifth Book of Exotics: But seeing the six first Books are already printed off, I thought fit to insert it, with some other things I afterward got, into this Auctarium.

§. IX. * A Bird of Paradise of the greater sort. Clus.

THe bulk of the body of this bird came near for bigness to that of a Swallow. From the top of the Head to the Rump it scarce exceeded five inches length. The Crown from the Bill to the Eyes and Neck was covered with very thick-set, short, little feathers, resembling filaments or thrums of Silk; their upper parts or ends being of a yellow colour, the lower, where they are inserted into the skin, dus∣ky. The under-part of the Head, next to the lower Chap of the Bill, was very thick-set with thrums rather than feathers, being very short, and like to Velvet, of a deep black, from the Eyes as far as the Throat. The Throat as low down as the Breast was adorned with the like feathers or rather silken thrums, and those of a deep green, so beautiful and shining, that there cannot more elegant ones be seen in the Neck of the wild Drake or Mallard. The feathers covering the Breast were also ex∣ceeding fine and small, but longer, and very soft, of a black colour inclining to red, so that they seemed to be nothing but ends of Silk. The Bill was but small and sharp-pointed, an inch and half long, black in the part next the Head, the top being some∣what whitish. In the Head also near the Bill appeared very small footsteps of Eyes. The Back, Belly, and Tail-feathers were of a ferrugineous or dusky red colour. The Tail it self consisted of ten pretty broad feathers, and was six inches and an half long; above which were two long and round feathers, somewhat like to Bow-string, or Shoo-makers threads, but stiff, and dusky, of two feet and three or four inches length, proceeding from the same original [or root or ground, viz. the Rump] with the feathers of the Tail, viz. being joyntly inserted into the Rump. These were pretty thick at their rise, about their Quills or hollow part, from which they were set with frequent [thick-standing] hairy or downy thrums [stamina] such as other feathers are compounded of; for the space of four inches or a little more on the one side, and on the other for their third parts: Thence they grew slenderer by de∣grees to their very ends; and though they were destitute of those hairs, yet were they rough, as if they had been cut off. The feathers in the Wings were of various length: For some (to wit, the lowest which stood very thick) exceeded not the length of six inches, yea, some were shorter than so: Others were eight or nine inches long; others twelve; but the longest a foot and half: There is also in them great va∣riety of colours; for some are of a shining golden colour, some, especially the nar∣rower in the sides of the Wings, were of a dusky red, as it were a black sanguine, but shining: But those that covered the rest were of a pale ash-colour, and their sides thinner-set with villose or downy threads: In short, they were all very beauti∣ful, which if I might I would willingly have got cut and set forth in a Table, but be∣cause they grew so thick, it could not conveniently be done without marring the shape of the whole Bird.

Another of the same kind I afterwards saw in the hands of that noble and learned Person Joseph Scaliger, somewhat lesser in bulk of body, as being but four inches and an half long from Head to Rump, but yet the feathers of the Tail were of the same length with those of that next above described; yet those round and long feathers like to Nerves, joyntly springing out of the Rump, did not exceed the length of one foot and nine Inches, else about their Quils set with the like hairs and downy thrums, on the one side to the length of three inches from the Quill, on the other to almost five; and thence they grew smaller to the very ends, and were something rough, especially about the ends, but not so as those of the precedent. The feathers in the Wings were likewise of a different length, as in the former: Neither was the bird very unlike to that, nor the variety of colours diverse from it; so that it seemed to differ only in age. The Bill was an inch and half long, in part dusky, the rest being white.

Besides I saw at his house another, somewhat lesser in bulk of body, and not so flat, having a very little Head, the Bill being of almost equal bigness with the pre∣cedents, but narrower, and of a bluish dusky colour, having two holes for respira∣tion in the upper part next the Head, like the precedent. The Crown of the head was cloathed with very short feathers, or rather hairs, like thrums of silk, but not of so elegant a colour as in the precedent, but of a kind of sooty yellow. Besides, the border of feathers compassing the Bill on the upper side was not of that breadth as

in those, yet in like manner of a black colour: The Plumage also wherewith the Throat was covered was of a green shining colour as in the precedent, but not ex∣ceeding the breadth of ones little finger. The Back from the Neck to the Rump was indeed clothed with the like fine slender feathers; but of a different colour, viz. a yellowish ash-colour: But the Breast-feathers were of like colour with those of the precedent: The Plumage also of that part next the Rump agreed with theirs. Of what colour the Tail-feathers were I cannot tell, for that it wanted a Rump: For which cause I know not whether it had or wanted those long, round Nerves, with which as many Birds of this sort as I have yet seen were furnished. The Wing-fea∣thers were of different length as in the former: Nor were they much unlike to them in colour; but those that were the longest had their sides thinner-set with downy fila∣ments, and were of a much whiter colour than the feathers of the above described, being a foot and half long. Now whether that colour of the feathers covering the Back differing from the foregoing, makes or signifies diversity of Sex, as some think, I cannot say; but John de Weely told me, that this was of the second kind, viz. of those that are bred in the Islands Papuae, and that such do indeed want those Nerves, but not the Tail, and for that cause they cannot make the difference of Sex, as the Vulgar think.

A certain Citizen of Leyden had a bird altogether like to this last of Scaliger, wanting the Rump and Tail, and also those two long Nerves; which note whether it did di∣stinguish all Birds of that kind from others, was to me unknown (because I had only observed these two, that had this note, as far as I remember: Or if I did before hap∣pen to see the like, they slipt out of my memory, because at that time I was not so dili∣gent and curious in taking exact notice of the forms of these and the like birds) but (as I said a little before) John de Weely satisfied me and removed all doubt as to that point.

Further when I had proceeded thus far in treating of this Bird, the same John de Weely a Citizen and Merchant of Amsterdam, a very curteous and obliging person, who had sold the like Bird entire, with its Feet still remaining to it, to the Emperour, informed me this June, Anno 1605. (for I had enquired of him the May foregoing) that that Bird of Paradise was of the greater kind, which have those two Nerves growing out of their Rump, and that they have a flatter body, and not so round as those that are brought out of the Papuae Islands: That its Feet were like a Hawks or a Pullets, very foul and unhandsom, clapped close to the body of the bird, so that the Toes only appeared: And that he was of opinion, that all Birds of Paradise had the like feet; but that the Inhabitants for their ugliness and deformity did together with their Legs cut them off and cast them away. The same thing about the end of June he confirmed to me being present by word of mouth.

§. X. * The supposed King of the greater Birds of Paradise.

THat little Bird which I understood to be called the King of the greater sort of Birds of Paradise, was a very rare one. For though (as I said before) I had often seen Birds of Paradise both at Lisbon and other places, and the Holland Pilots and Ship-masters, who are now wont to sail yearly into the East Indies, coming back from their Voyages, do almost always bring home some of these Birds, yet was it ne∣ver my hap to see a King, till the year 1603. viz. at Amsterdam, in the hands of a cer∣tain Merchant, who was wont to buy up such like exotic things among the Mariners returned home, that he might make a great profit by selling them again to others. But in the beginning of the following year Emmanuel Swerts, a very honest man, and Ci∣tizen of the same City, gave me notice that he had the like: Whereupon I prevailed with him to lend me the Bird for a few days, that I might describe it, and get its figure cut in a table. And seeing I have mentioned it a little before, and no man hitherto (as far as I know) hath set forth the like, I thought my self obliged in this place to propose its description, annexing its figure.

This Bird was less than other Birds of Paradise, and of different feathers: For from the Head to the Tail it scarce exceeded two inches length. Its head was very small, which together with its Bill was but an Inch and half long, of which length also the Tail was. But the Wings were much larger than the whole body of the bird, as being four Inches and an half long, and reaching two inches beyond the end of the

Tail. The colour of the Bill was white, the upper parts being an inch long, was covered half way with elegant, short feathers or hairs, of a red colour, like silken thrums, as also the whole forepart of the head: The lower part of the Bill was like∣wise an inch long, yet a thought shorter than the upper. The middle part of the Head about the Eyes on each side had little black spots impressed. The Neck and Breast were covered with fine slender feathers of a deep red or sanguine colour, so that they seemed to be no more than certain silken thrums or filaments. All the co∣vert-feathers of the Back, Wings, and Tail were almost of one and the same colour. Each Wing consisted of thirteen prime feathers, which were on the upper side of a dusky red, on the under side of a dusky yellow. The Tail contained seven or eight dusky or brown feathers. The lower or under side of the body under the Breast was adorned with a kind of ring of the breadth almost of ones little finger, consist∣ing of black feathers as it were silken thrums. The feathers on the Belly were white, but those next the Wings black; and of those there were four or five in each side a little longer than the rest; viz. equal to two inches, and which ended in a broad top of a curious shining green, not unlike that of a Mallards Neck. Out of the Rump among the feathers of the Tail proceeded two strings as it were horse-hairs, slender, but stiff, seven or eight inches long, altogether black, only their ends for an inches length were reflected round, and on one side set with very fine hairs or downy threads, which were on the upper side of a deep shining green, beautiful to behold, almost like the feathers on a wild Drake or Mallards Neck, adding a great grace to the whole body of the Bird; but the underside of these feathers was of a dusky colour I under∣stood also that there were some Birds, which had those bristly strings, crossing one an∣other towards their ends.

CHAP. XIV. The Cuckow. Cuculus.

OUr Bolognese Fowlers (saith Aldrovandus) do unanimously affirm, that there are found a greater and a lesser sort of Cuckows; and besides, that the greater are of two kinds, which are distinguished one from the other by the only difference of colour: But that the lesser differ from the greater in nothing else but magnitude. We shall give figures of both the greater; the lesser we have not yet seen. So far Aldrovandus.

That wich is common with us in England differs from the first of Aldrovandus, in that its Bill is liker a Thrushes or Blackbirds than a Ringdoves. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is twelve inches. The upper Chap of the Bill some∣what hooked, and longer than the lower, for the most part of a dark or blackish co∣lour; the nether of a pale or whitish yellow. The inside of the Mouth and the Tongue are of a deep yellow or Saffron colour: The Tongue not divided, the tip of it hard and pellucid. The Irides of the Eyes not yellow, as in Aldrovandus his second sort, but of a Hazel colour: The Nosthrils round, wide, extant above the surface of the Bill; wherein it differs from all other birds I have yet seen. The lower eye-lid is the greater; the edges of the Eye-lids yellow.

The Throat, Breast, and Belly are white, with transverse dark lines, which are entire and not interrupted; wherein it agrees with Aldrovandus his second Cuckow. The black lines are thicker upon the throat, and have less white between them. The feathers of the Head are of a dark brown with white edges, [Aldrovandus saith, of a cinereous tending to a Chesnut colour) that we described had on the Head one or two white spots. The feathers on the middle of the Neck and Back, and also the long scapular feathers are brown with a tincture of red, having their edges whitish. The Rump ash-coloured.

The beam-feathers of the Wings are nineteen in number, the greater whereof are the blacker. All from the second have their exteriour Vanes spotted with red: The interiour Vanes of the outmost have long, transverse, white spots; the tips of all are white. The covert-feathers of the Wings are of the same colour with those on the Back, only the outmost darker.

The Tail in that described by Aldrovandus in the second place (for Mr. Willughby omitted that in his Description) was made up of ten feathers, distinguished on both

sides the shaft with white marks, somewhat resembling the figure of a heart, about an inch distant from each other, in a decent and lovely order, pleasant to behold. But the edges of the inner sides of all but the two middlemost, and the tops of all were adorned with white spots.

The Feet and Claws are yellow. It hath two back-toes; of which the interiour is the least of all the Toes, and next to that the interiour of the fore-toes. The Claws are something hollowed on the inside, especially the greatest: The two fore-toes are connected from the divarication to the first joynt.

In the stomach dissected we found Caterpillars and other Insects. The Hedge-Spar∣row [Curruca] is the Cuckows Nurse, but not the Hedge-Sparrow only, (if Curruca be so rightly rendred) but also Ring-Doves, Larks, Finches. I my self with many others have seen a Wagtail feeding a young Cuckow. The Cockow her self builds no Nest; but having found the Nest of some little bird, she either devours or destroys the Eggs she there finds, and in the room thereof lays one of her own, and so forsakes it. The silly bird returning, sits on this Egg. hatches it, and with a great deal of care and toil broods, feeds, and cherishes the young Cuckow for her own, until it be grown up and able to fly and shift for it self. Which thing seems so strange, monstrous, and absurd, that for my part I cannot sufficiently wonder there should be such an example in nature; nor could I have ever been induced to believe that such a thing had been done by Natures instinct, had I not with my own eyes seen it. For Nature in other things is wont constantly to observe one and the same Law and Order agreeable to the highest reason and prudence: Which in this case is, that the Dams make Nests for themselves, if need be, sit upon their own Eggs, and bring up their Young after they are hatcht.

What becomes of the Cuckow in the Winter-time, whether hiding her self in hol∣low Trees, or other holes and Caverns, she lies torpid, and at the return of the Spring revives again; or rather at the approach of Winter, being impatient of cold, shifts place and departs into hot Countrys, is not as yet to me certainly known. Aldrovan∣dus writes, that it is by long observation found, that she doth in the Winter enter into the hollows of trees, or the Caverns of Rocks and the earth, and there lie hid all that season. Some (saith he) tell a story of a certain Country-man of Zurich in Switzerland, who having laid a Log on the fire in Winter, heard a Cuckow cry in it. For being of a very tender nature, and impatient of cold (as Aristotle witnesseth) no wonder, if to avoid the Winter-cold, it hide it self in holes, especially seeing at that time it moults its feathers. We also have heard of the like stories in England, and have known some who have affirmed themselves in the middle of Winter, in a more than usually mild and warm season, to have heard the voice of the Cuckow. But seeing it is most certain, that many sorts of Birds do at certain Seasons of the year shift places, and depart into other Countrys, as for example Quails, Woodcocks, Fieldfares, Storks, &c. Why may not Cuckows also do the same? For my part I never yet met with any credible person that dared affirm, that himself had found or seen a Cuckow in Winter-time taken out of a hollow tree, or any other lurking-place.

Since the writing of this, reading Jo. Faber his Expositions of the Pictures of some Mexican Animals of Nardi Antonio Recchi, I find alleged the testimony of a credible person and an eye-witness, one Theophilus Molitor, a Friend of Fabers, for this lurking of Cuckows in hollow trees. Molitor affirmed this to have hapned at his Fathers house. His Grandfathers Servants having stocked up in a certain Meadow some old, dry, rotten Willows, and brought them home, and cast the heads of two of them into the Furnace to heat the Stove, heard as they were in the Stove a Cuckow singing three times. Wondring at this cry of the Cuckow in the Winter-time, out they go, and drawing the heads of the Willows out of the Furnace, in the one of them they obser∣ved something move; wherefore taking an Axe they opened the hole, and thrusting in their hands, first they pluckt out nothing but meer feathers: Afterward they got hold of a living Animal, that was the very Cuckow, and drew it out. It was indeed brisk and lively, but wholly naked and bare of feathers, and without any Winter-provision of food, which Cuckow the Boys kept two whole years in the Stove.

* Aldrovandus his first sort of Cuckow.

This differs in many respects from the precedent, as first, in that the transverse lines on the Breast are not continued, but interrupted. Secondly, In that the covert-fea∣thers of the Neck, Back, and Wings are almost all parti-coloured of black and

ferrugineous. Thirdly, The Remiges elsewhere black, in the middle and round the edges white. Fourthly, The Tail variegated with three colours, black, white, and ferrugineous. The black in each feather consists of two lines, concurring in the middle of the feather in an acute angle, and standing at equal distances in a certain Series or order to the end of the Tail: The ferrugineous takes up the outsides of the intermediate spaces, and the white the middle.

Notes

• Its Weight. Its Length. Breadth. The Beak.
• The Mouth. The Tongue.
• The Palate.
• The Sear.
• The neck∣feathers.
• Of a rasty colour.
• The Eye-lids.
• The Eye-brows.
• The Eyes.
• The Wings. The Train. The colour of the whole body. The Flag-Feathers. The Legs.
• Lib. 2. cap 4. •••• Avibus.
• The Feet. The Talons.
• Rings or annular Scales
• The fierce∣ness of the Golden Eagle.
• The Bigness. The Beak.
• The Tail.
• The feathers.
• The bald Buzzard de∣scribed for the Sea-Eagle.
• That the Ossi∣frage of Al∣drovandus is the Sea-Eagle.
• The descripti∣on of the Ossifrage.
• Its length. Breadth. Weight. Beak.
• Tongue.
• The Palate.
• The head and neck.
• The Beard.
• The colour of the Feathers. The Flags. The Train.
• The Legs.
• The body co∣vered with Down.
• The Toes. The Talon.
• Golden Ea∣gle. Clusius takes this for the Sea-Eagle.
• This is the English Osprey.
• That it hath not one foot webbed, the other cloven.
• The Oyl of Osprey.
• The Town Hall. Its Bigness, Colour.
• The Beak,
• Eyes,
• Legs.
• The Black Eagles of Al∣drov. the same with ours.
• Its Name,
• Bigness,
• Weight,
• Length,
• Breadth.
• The Beak.
• The Nares.
• Colour of the Beak.
• The Palate, Tongue. Eyes.
• The Feet,
• Talons.
• Colour of the Head, Neck, Rump, Body.
• The prime wing-feathers,
• The Wings.
• The Train.
• The Entrails, and Guts.
• Lib. 2. Cap. 4. Ornithol. Its bigness, Beak,
• The Pygarg of Aldrovand.
• Pupil. Colour of the Head and Neck, Back, Belly. The Train.
• The Legs and Talons.
• Its Bigness and length. Its Beak.
• Colour.
• The Legs.
• Feet, Toes.
• Its Food.
• The Etymo∣logy of the names.
• Its Bill,
• Eyes,
• The head.
• Crest.
• The Wings,
• Tail. Colour.
• The Feet.
• Its Voice,
• Food.
• Its bigness. Beak,
• Mouth, Eyes, Head.
• The Neck bare of fea∣thers. Staring hair∣like feathers.
• The back,
• Colour of the body, Tail, Feet.
• Its length. The Bill.
• The Head.
• The Colour.
• It is hard to understand clearly the Authors meaning in these words. The Tail, Feet, Talons.
• Its Beak. Colour.
• Its Food.
• Temperature.
• Nature and qualities.
• Its bigness, Head and Neck bare, of feathers.
• Colour.
• Beak.
• Eyes, Its nose drop∣ped.
• Its Feet and Claws.
• The Craw.
• Manner of standing.
• The cinereous Vulture. The blac Vulture.
• The Boetic or Chesnut co∣loured Vul∣ture descri∣bed.
• The Hare-Vulture.
• A deep Gol∣den or Lion-colour.
• The Golden Vulture de∣scribed.
• The white Vulture.
• Our fulvous Vulture, like Bellonius his Chesnut one.
• Ravi.
• I suppose he means one common hole for both Nosthrils: or a hole through the Bill from side to side.
• Its Weight,
• Breadth,
• Beak,
• Nares,
• Eyes.
• Colour of the upper side,
• Lower side.
• The Flag-Feathers.
• The covert feathers.
• The Train.
• The Feet, Toes, and Talons.
• Site of the outmost fore∣toe. The entrails and bowels.
• Its Food.
• Its Nest.
• How it differs from the com∣mon Buzzard.
• Its Bigness, weight and measures. Its Head, Beak,
• Sear, Nares,
• Tongue,
• Palate,
• Eyes.
• The Colour of the upper side.
• Colour of the lower side.
• The Flag-Feathers of the Wings.
• The Tail.
• The Legs, Feet,
• Toes, and Claws.
• The entrails.
• Its Food.
• Ash-colou∣red. The diffe∣rence in co∣lour.
• Their Eggs.
• Reason of the name Trior∣ches.
• The Bigness, Weight, Dimensions.
• The Beak.
• The Mouth. The Eyes.
• The Head.
• Colou.
• The Remiges.
• The Tail.
• The colour of the lower part.
• The Feet and Talons.
• The Guts and Stomach.
• Blind Guts.
• The Nest.
• Wasp-Mag∣gots or Grubs. Its food. The Young.
• Food.
• How it differs from the Buzzard.
• Its Weight,
• Length, Beak.
• A Coronet.
• Colour of the feathers.
• The Remges, or prime Wing-fea∣thers.
• The Train.
• The Sea. The Beak.
• Palate,
• Tongue.
• The Feet, Toes and Talons.
• The entrails.
• Eggs.
• The descripti∣on of the Tar∣cel called the Henharrier.
• Its Weight and measures.
• The colour of the upper part.
• The colour of the nether side.
• The first row of Wing-fea∣thers.
• The Tail.
• The Beak, Tongue.
• Sear.
• Eyes.
• The Feet, Toes and Ta∣lons.
• The Entrails.
• Manner of flying.
• Her Tail serves her for a Rudder, to direct her flight.
• Kites said to be Birds of passage.
• Their food. and preying.
• Its Bignest, and measures.
• Beak.
• Nares. Mouth. Tongue. Eyes.
• Its colour.
• A S••ndy red.
• The Wings and their prime fea∣thers.
• The Train.
• The Legs,
• Toes and Talons.
• The entrails.
• The More-Buzzard de∣scribed.
• Sparrow∣hawk.
• Family or kind.
• Family or kind.
• Its Name.
• Its Shoulders, Wings, Train.
• The Feet,
• Toes, Talons,
• Thighs, Beak, Nares, Eyes, Head.
• Its Neck, Breast,
• Brows,
• Eyes. Head,
• Back.
• The black Pe∣regrin Falcon of Aldrovand. Its Length, Head, Beak,
• Eyes,
• Colour,
• The Throat,
• Wings. Tail,
• Legs, and Feet,
• Talons.
• Fredericks de∣scription of the Sacre.
• Bellonius his description.
• Sooty.
• Carcanus his description. Their bigness,
• Head, Eyes, Beak, Nares, Figure, Colour, Train, Wings, Legs. How the Sores differ from those that are mewed.
• The name.
• Its Bigness,
• Crown, Beak.
• Eyes,
• Colour of the feathers.
• The Wings. Colour of the Breast. The Train.
• Legs and Feet.
• The shape of a good Jer∣falcon. Its Head, Forehead, Eyes, Nares, Beak, Neck, Body, Wings.
• Wing-fea∣thers.
• Train fea∣thers.
• Craw.
• Breast.
• Legs, Feet, Talons.
• Its Nature and Game.
• Its figure,
• Head,
• Beak, Nares, Eyes,
• The Throat, Breast,
• Its Colour,
• Wings. Tail.
• Legs, and Feet,
• Its colours when mewed.
• Its conditions, and Game, Aldrovands grey Falcon. Its Head, Beak,
• Nares, Eyes.
• Colour,
• Figure of the body.
• Or Falcon Gentle.
• How the Fal∣con Gentle differs from the Peregrine.
• The descripti∣on of the German Fal∣con,
• The German Falcon differs little or no∣thing from the Peregrine.
• Its Colour, Wings,
• Train,
• Beak,
• Feet, Eyes.
• Its Length The Feet. The Colour.
• The Eyes and Bill.
• Its Head,
• Beak,
• Eyes.
• Breast.
• Chin.
• Wings:
• Train.
• The Feet, and Talons,
• The other red Falcon de∣scribed. Its Colour.
• Its proper marks. Beak. Chin.
• Wings.
• Train.
• Feet.
• Its bigness, Head. Crest. Neck.
• Breast. Beak.
• Legs and Feet. Wings. Train.
• The descri∣ption of the French Lan∣ner. The colour of the Beak, and Feet, Breast,
• Back, Wings, Train.
• The Male.
• The Head, Crown, Eyes, Nosthrils, Beak, Breast, Back, Wings, Legs and Feet. The descripti∣on of those that are mewed.
• Why called Lanarius. Its Nature and Game.
• Its place.
• Its Weight, Length,
• Breadth,
• Beak,
• The Tongue.
• Nosthrils. Eyes.
• The colour of the feathers.
• This white on the sides of the head is a Characteri∣stic note of this bird.
• The prime Wing-fea∣thers.
• The Train.
• The Feet and Talons.
• The Entrails.
• Its principal Game.
• Daring of Larks.
• To catch Hobbies.
• An account of the names.
• Its bigness, Weight, Length, Breadth,
• Beak,
• Nosthrils. Tongue. Eyes. Mouth.
• Head.
• Colour of the back.
• Colour of the nether side.
• Prime Wing-feathers.
• Its Train.
• The Legs, and Talons. The Inwards.
• How the Male differs from the Female.
• Their Game.
• Nest and Ge∣neration.
• The Names.
• Its Bigness.
• Length and Breadth.
• Beak. Eyes. The colour of the upper part, and Wings. The Train.
• Pale-red or clay coloured. Colour of the lower side. The Legs and Talons,
• How the Male or Tarcel differs from the Female.
• The Merlin a mettled bird.
• Its Bigness,
• Colour.
• The Feet, Talons, and Beak.
• The Wings, Train.
• Its Game.
• Its bigness, length, and breadth.
• Beak,
• Nares, Tongue, Eyes, Crown.
• Colour of the upper side,
• Underside.
• The Wings,
• Train,
• Legs and Toes,
• Number of Eggs.
• Its Food.
• Its Mettle.
• The manner of catching Sparrow∣hawks near Constantinople.
• The names,
• Its weight and measures,
• Bill.
• Tongue.
• The colour.
• The flag-fea∣thers of the Wings.
• The Tail.
• The Legs and Feet.
• Its Food.
• Its Place.
• The greatest Butcher-bird of Gesner.
• Its measures,
• Bill,
• Mouth, Tongue,
• Bristles,
• Colour.
• Quils of the Wing.
• The Tail.
• The Feet.
• The Entrails. and Food.
• The Nest and Eggs.
• The Species of lesser Butcher-birds.
• In his notes upon Marggr. lib. 5. cap. ult.
• To and fro, or backward and forward.
• Shafts of feathers.
• Its bigness, Colour, Head.
• Its Bill, Wings:
• Of the co∣lour of gold. Colour of the rest of the body.
• Colour of the Head,
• Bill,
• Tongue,
• Breast, Wings,
• Back.
• The Tail;
• The great Bird of Para∣dise.
• Footless.
• An hand∣breadth.
• Close toge∣ther.
• I suppose he means those two long Nerves or na∣ked shafts of feathers.
• Its length, Bill,
• Tongue, Eyes,
• Nosthrils.
• Colour of the underside,
• Of the upper side,
• Of the Wing∣feathers.
• The Tail,
• The Feet, Toes, and Claws.
• Its Food. Its manner of breeding.
• What be∣comes of the Cuckow in Winter.