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 SECOND BOOK OF THE ORNITHOLOGY OF FRANCIS WILLUGHBY Esq Of Land-Fowl. (Book 2)

THE FIRST PART. Of such as have hooked Beaks and Talons.

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 * 1.1 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 * 1.2 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 * 1.3 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, * 1.4 and likewise the borders of the bridle or corners of the mouth are yellow. The fea∣thers * 1.5 of the neck are rigid and * 1.6 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 * 1.7 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 * 1.8 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, * 1.9 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 * 1.10 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 * 1.11 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; * 1.12

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 * 1.13 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 * 1.14 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 * 1.15 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 * 1.16 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, * 1.17 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 * 1.18 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 * 1.19 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 * 1.20 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 * 1.21 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 * 1.22 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 * 1.23 pituitous humour distils from the head. The head and all the neck are cloathed with * 1.24 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, * 1.25 The feathers of the whole body singly are particoloured, and that with three * 1.26 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 * 1.27 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 * 1.28 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 * 1.29 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 * 1.30 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 * 1.31 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 * 1.32 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 * 1.33 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 * 1.34 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 * 1.35 the Sear or skin covering its Base, which was red. The Eyes [understand the Irides] * 1.36 were of a hazel colour. The Legs were feathered down but a little below the knees; * 1.37 the naked part being red. The Talons very long.

Those Birds which Aldrovandus hath set forth for Melanaëti or Black Eagles; al∣though * 1.38 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. * 1.39

The Male (which we described) was for bigness not much inferiour to a Turkey. * 1.40

It weighed eight pounds and an half, [it is like, the Female in this, as in other Birds of * 1.41

prey, may be bigger and more weighty.] Its length from the tip of the Beak to the * 1.42 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 * 1.43 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 * 1.44 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 * 1.45 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 * 1.46 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, * 1.47 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 * 1.48 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 * 1.49 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 * 1.50 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 * 1.51 than the third, and the first by three inches and an half than the second. The Wings * 1.52 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 * 1.53 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 * 1.54 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 * 1.55 Aldrovandus seems to be a different kind, which he describes in * 1.56 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 * 1.57 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 * 1.58 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 * 1.59 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 * 1.60 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 * 1.61 also with whitish Ash-coloured spots. The Feet were yellow; the Toes above to∣ward * 1.62 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. * 1.63

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 * 1.64 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 * 1.65 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] * 1.66 though it shut not the Eye-lids. It hath an Eagle-like head, but compressed or * 1.67 plain above [flat-crowned] in the top whereof it hath two black feathers about two * 1.68 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 * 1.69 the Tail. It hath a broad Tail like an Eagle. The Head above is covered with dus∣ky * 1.70 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 * 1.71 crooked Talons. Its cry is Geb, Geb, like to that of a Chicken which hath lost its Dam, * 1.72 [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 * 1.73 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 * 1.74 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. * 1.75 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 * 1.76 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 * 1.77 the middle thereof, ending in a sharp peak, and resembling a Triangle. The colour * 1.78 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 * 1.79 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 * 1.80 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 * 1.81 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. * 1.82 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 * 1.83 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 * 1.84 body intensely hot, so that the cold hands of them that touched it were presently * 1.85 warmed thereby. It would sit stark still in the same place for four or five hours; and * 1.86 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 * 1.87 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 * 1.88 of the Wings and Tail were black. The Bill was large, more like a Gulls than an * 1.89 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 * 1.90 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 * 1.91 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 * 1.92 Vultur Leporarius of Gesner. * 1.93

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. * 1.94

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 * 1.95 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 * 1.96 Gesner writes after this manner. It hath not so * 1.97 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 * 1.98 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 * 1.99 Bellonius.

7. That Vulture which we saw in the Royal Aviary in St. James's Park, did in many * 1.100 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 * 1.101 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 * 1.102 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 * 1.103 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 * 1.104 of the wings extended was sixty Inches. The Beak from the point to the * 1.105 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. * 1.106 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 * 1.107 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 * 1.108 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. * 1.109 The Legs are cloathed with white and soft feathers. The prime or flag-feathers * 1.110 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 * 1.111 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 * 1.112 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. * 1.113 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. * 1.114

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 * 1.115 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 * 1.116 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 * 1.117 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 * 1.118 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, * 1.119 [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 * 1.120 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 * 1.121

circular. The Eyes are great, the Irides, or circles encompassing the Pupil, white, * 1.122 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 * 1.123 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 * 1.124 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 * 1.125 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 * 1.126 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 * 1.127 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 * 1.128 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 * 1.129 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 * 1.130 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 * 1.131 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 * 1.132 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 * 1.133 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 * 1.134 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 * 1.135 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 * 1.136 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 * 1.137 bottoms of the Plumage in the head and back white, which is worthy the noting, be∣cause * 1.138 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 * 1.139 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 * 1.140 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; * 1.141 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 * 1.142 are also the feet. The Talons, long, strong, sharp, and black.

* 1.143The Guts shorter than in the former: The * 1.144 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 * 1.145 Eggs. We saw one that made use of an old Kites Nest to breed in, and that fed its Young with the * 1.146 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 * 1.147 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 * 1.148 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 * 1.149 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 * 1.150

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 * 1.151 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 * 1.152 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 * 1.153 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 * 1.154 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 * 1.155 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 * 1.156 Tongue. The Tongue broad, fleshy, and undivided: Both Tongue and Palate * 1.157 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 * 1.158 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 * 1.159 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 * 1.160 underneath it.

The Male or Tarcel of this kind differs very much from the described, not only in * 1.161 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 * 1.162 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 * 1.163 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, * 1.164 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 * 1.165 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. * 1.166 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 * 1.167 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 * 1.168 is a double cranny or hole. The Eyes are great: The Irides of a pale, but lovely * 1.169 yellow.

The Legs and Feet yellow: The outmost foretoe joyned to the middle one by a * 1.170 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 * 1.171 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 * 1.172 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 * 1.173 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 * 1.174 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 * 1.175 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 * 1.176 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 * 1.177 Nosthrils not round but long, of the figure of a Guiny Bean or Kidney. The Mouth * 1.178 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 * 1.179 yellow and * 1.180 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 * 1.181 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 * 1.182 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 * 1.183 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 * 1.184 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 * 1.185 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, * 1.186 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 * 1.187 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. * 1.188 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 * 1.189 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 * 1.190 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 * 1.191 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 * 1.192 of a Bittour, viz. of a pale green, or between a yellow and lead-colour; the Toes * 1.193 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; * 1.194 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 * 1.195 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 * 1.196 be white with a little mixture or dash of red: The Eyes black, encompassed with a * 1.197 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 * 1.198 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 * 1.199 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 * 1.200 Head, Neck, Back, Wings of a dark brown, almost black, sprinkled with black * 1.201 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 * 1.202 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 * 1.203 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 * 1.204 the Legs; the Talons black, and very sharp. * 1.205

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 * 1.206 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 * 1.207 any other Bird of prey. For they are of a colour between red and * 1.208 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 * 1.209 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: * 1.210 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, * 1.211 or Vulturine Falcon: for Gyr in High Dutch signifies a Vulture.

This, however Aldrovandus contradicts it, exceeds all other Falcons, even that * 1.212 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, * 1.213 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 * 1.214 Pupil blue. The Back, Wings, Belly, and Train were white: But the feathers of * 1.215 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 * 1.216 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, * 1.217 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 * 1.218 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 * 1.219 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 * 1.220 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 * 1.221 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 * 1.222 Legs short and thick: The soles of the Feet also thick and large; the Toes long, lean, * 1.223 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 * 1.224 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 * 1.225 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 * 1.226 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 * 1.227

Throat as far as the breast-bone is somewhat whitish, besprinkled with good great * 1.228 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 * 1.229 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 * 1.230 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 * 1.231 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 * 1.232 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 * 1.233 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 * 1.234 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 * 1.235 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 * 1.236 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 * 1.237 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 * 1.238 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. * 1.239

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 * 1.240 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 * 1.241 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 * 1.242 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 * 1.243 blue. The Feet, after the manner of other Hawks, yellow. The Eyes yellow and * 1.244 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 * 1.245 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, * 1.246 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 * 1.247 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 * 1.248 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. * 1.249 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 * 1.250 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 * 1.251 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 * 1.252 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 * 1.253 (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 * 1.254 black and very sharp.

The other (which we believe to be the Male) is less by near a third part; for va∣riety * 1.255 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 * 1.256 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: * 1.257 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 * 1.258 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. * 1.259

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 * 1.260 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 * 1.261 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 * 1.262 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 * 1.263 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 * 1.264 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 * 1.265 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 * 1.266 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, * 1.267 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 * 1.268 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 * 1.269 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 * 1.270 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, * 1.271 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 * 1.272 black, and having a Cavity impressed to receive the Tongue. The Nosthrils round: * 1.273 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, * 1.274 [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. * 1.275 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 * 1.276 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 * 1.277 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 * 1.278 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 * 1.279 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 * 1.280 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 * 1.281 of Larks.

To catch these Hawks, the Fowlers take a Lark, and having blinded her, and fast∣ned * 1.282 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; * 1.283 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 * 1.284 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 * 1.285 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: * 1.286 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 * 1.287 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 * 1.288 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 * 1.289 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 * 1.290 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 * 1.291 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. * 1.292

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 * 1.293 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, * 1.294 but also young Partridge.

They build in hollow Oaks and other trees; and that not after the manner of * 1.295 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, * 1.296 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 * 1.297 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 * 1.298 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 * 1.299 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 * 1.300 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 * 1.301 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 * 1.302 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 * 1.303 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 * 1.304 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 * 1.305 green.

The Wings, when closed, fall much short of the end of the Train, by which note * 1.306 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: * 1.307 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 * 1.308 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 * 1.309 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: * 1.310 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, * 1.311 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, * 1.312 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 * 1.313 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 * 1.314 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, * 1.315 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, * 1.316 as it were a Coronet, of bloud-red speaks.

It feeds only upon Birds (as our Fowlers affirm) never touching Beetles or other * 1.317 Insects.

For its bigness it is a very bold and couragious Bird, and is frequently trained up * 1.318 and made for hawking.

Bellonius acquaints us with a common and familiar way of taking this kind of * 1.319 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 * 1.320 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 * 1.321 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 * 1.322 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 * 1.323 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 * 1.324 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 * 1.325 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, * 1.326 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. * 1.327

The Testicles are round and little, That we dissected had in the stomach Caterpil∣lars, * 1.328 Beetles, and Grashoppers.

In Germany between Heidelberg and Strasburgh, about a Village called Linkenom, * 1.329 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, * 1.330 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 * 1.331 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 * 1.332 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 * 1.333 mouth grew stiff, black hairs or bristles. The middle of the Back, and lesser rows of * 1.334 feathers covering the upper side of the Wing reddish or ferrugineous [rusty] the Head * 1.335 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 * 1.336 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 * 1.337 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 * 1.338 to the middlemost.

The Testicles white and round; the Gall large; the Guts eleven inches long; the * 1.339 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 * 1.340 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 * 1.341 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 * 1.342 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 * 1.343 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 * 1.344 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 * 1.345 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 * 1.346 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 * 1.347 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 * 1.348 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 * 1.349 that of Woodpeckers, very fit to strike Insects. The Breast was somewhat red: * 1.350 The Belly, Back and Wings were white: Yet were their upper sides all over, and * 1.351 their ends ferrugineous. The Back at first seemed to incline somewhat to yellow, * 1.352 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 * 1.353 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 * 1.354 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 * 1.355 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 * 1.356 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 * 1.357 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 * 1.358 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 * 1.359 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 * 1.360 sort, but of a Hazel colour: The Nosthrils round, wide, extant above the surface of * 1.361 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 * 1.362 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 * 1.363 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 * 1.364 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 * 1.365 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 * 1.366 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 * 1.367 [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 * 1.368 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.

LIB. I. PART I. SECT. II. Of Nocturnal Rapacious Birds.

RApacious Nocturnal Birds are of two kinds, viz. Eared or horned, and such as want Ears. To these we shall subjoyn the Goat-sucker, which yet we believe not to be Rapacious, but to have it self so to Owls as the Cuckow to Hawks.

Of Rapacious Nocturnal Birds we have in England four sorts besides the Goat∣sucker. 1. The Horn-Owl, in Latine Otus or Asio, so called from certain small feathers sticking out on the sides of the head, in forms of Horns or Ears. 2. The White-Owl, called also the Church-Owl or Barn-Owl; by Aldrovandus Aluco minor. 3. The Brown Owl, Screech-Owl, or Ivy-Owl: Strix Aldrovandi. 4. The Grey Owl: Strix cinerea.

CHAP. I. Of Rapacious Nocturnal Birds Horned or Eared.

§. I. * The great Horn-Owl or Eagle-Owl. Bubo.

OF this Bird Aldrovandus gives us three figures, and three descriptions, which I suspect to be all of one and the same sort: The first is taken out of Gesner, the two last were composed by himself, of his own observation. The first (they are Gesners words) was as big or bigger than a Goose; had great Wings, two Feet, and three inches long, when extended in a right line from their beginning to the end of the longest feather, from the top of the uppermost bone of the Wing, to the lowest end was in a right line thirteen inches. The Head both for shape and big∣ness was like a Cats, for which reason the French do not improperly call it Chat huant [q. felis gemebunda.] Above each Ear stuck out black feathers, three inches high. The Eyes were great: The feathers about the Rump thick and very soft, of more than a fingers length, or an handful high, if my memory fail me not. From the point of the Bill to the end of the Feet or of the Tail (for they were both equally ex∣tended) it was two foot and seven inches long. The Irides of the Eyes were of a deep shining yellow or Saffron-colour. The Bill short, black, and hooked. The feathers being put aside the Ear-holes came into sight, which were great and open. On both sides by the Nosthrils grew hair-like feathers, as it were beards [barbulae.] The colour of the feathers all over the body was various, of whitish, black, and reddish spots. The length of the Leg was thirteen inches: The part above the knee thick and brawny: The Claws black, hooked, and very sharp: The Foot hairy or feathered down to the very Claws, the feathers being of a pale red.

2. The second (saith Aldrovandus) for bigness agreed exactly with this, but dif∣fered in many other particulars. For though its Feet were indeed hairy down to the Claws, as in that, yet shorter and slenderer, neither so brawny above the knees, nor so thick and strong-shanked. The colour of the whole body was fulvous [or of a rusty ash-colour] especially of the Breast, where it was marked with blackish spots drawn long-ways, promiscuously here and there in no order. The Back and Wings are of a darker brown or ferrugineous dusky colour. But the main difference is that that of Gesner hath all the particular feathers of its whole body more variegated with

certain transverse narrow lines like the feathers of some kinds of Ducks, Partridges, and Hawks. Besides, it differs in that the whole body, but especially the Back and Head are marked with certain black strakes, irregularly drawn, and as it were figured; whereas mine (saith he) was not so painted, but in the great feathers of the Wings and Tail distinguished with broad, transverse, blackish lines or bars; which lines are so formed, especially in the Tail, that each of the broader are terminated above and below by other narrower ones, like borders or fringes, disposed in a triple order, and at certain intervals distant from each other, as in Hawks. This had great and ve∣ry sharp Talons, not black, as in that, but of a horn-colour. The Tail in both was ve∣ry short.

3. The third was in all things like the second, save that the Legs were not hairy, and both Legs and Feet weak.

Of this kind of Owl we saw one in France at the Kings Palace of Bois de Vincennes: And two in his Majesties Park of St. James near Westminster. They were as big as Eagles: Their Legs and Feet hairy down to the Claws. They had three fore-toes in each foot; but the outmost of them was so framed that it could be turned back∣ward, and made stand like a hind-toe. So that in that respect there is no difference between this and other sorts of Owls, but this may as well be said to have two back toes as they; whatever Aldrovandus hath delivered to the contrary. Their colour was much like to that of a Bittour, the feathers being marked with long black stroaks in the middle, the out-sides of a light bay. About the Belly some of the feathers were beautified with transverse lines. The Irides of the Eyes were of a reddish yellow or flame colour, [rather of a golden.]

That Owl which Marggravius describes under the name of Jacurutu of the Brasi∣lians, seems to be altogether the same with this. It is (saith he) for bigness equal to a Goose: Hath a round Head like a Cat; a hooked black Bill, the upper Chap being longer: Great, rising, round Eyes, shining like Crystal, compassed toward the out∣side with a Circle of yellow. The Circumference of the Eye something greater than a Misnian * 1.369 gross. Near the Ear-holes it hath feathers two inches long, which stick up, and end in a sharp point like Ears. The Tail is broad; the Wings reach not to the end of it. The Legs are feathered down to the Feet, in which are four Toes, three standing forward, and one backward, and in each a crooked black Talon, above an inch long, and very sharp. The feathers of the whole body are elegantly variega∣ted with yellow, white, and black.

It is said to build on high and inaccessible Rocks: It preys not only on small birds, but also Conies and Hares like the Eagle. Yea, (saith Aldrovandus) there is no Ani∣mal gathers so much prey by night as this Owl, especially when she brings up her Young. For she not only provides sufficient for her self and hers, but is very advan∣tageous to them that find her Nest. For while she flies out a pourveying for more, they privily steal away that she had before laid up, only leaving so much as may suf∣fice for nourishing the Young.

§. II. The Horn-Owl, Otus sive Asio.

THat we described was a Female: It weighed ten ounces: Its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail was fourteen Inches and an half: Its * 1.370 breadth, measuring from tip to tip of the Wings extended, three foot and four inches. The Bill was black, from the point to the Angles of the Mouth one inch and half quarter: The Tongue fleshy, and a little divided. The Irides of the Eyes of a lovely * 1.371 yellow: The covers of the Ears large. The ring of feathers, compassing the face like a womans hood, consists of a double row, the exteriour variegated with small white, black, and red lines; the interiour under the Eyes red; where they are contiguous both black. The forehead or ends of the two wreaths at the Bill more cinereous.

The feathers which cover the lower Belly and Legs are reddish; in the Throat and Breast the middle parts of the feathers are black, the outer parts partly white, and * 1.372 partly yellow: Those under the Wings are red. At the bottoms of the foremost beam-feathers is a great transverse black spot: Higher in the very bending, and under the bastard-wing a broad bed or border of black: The rest of the covert-feathers of the Wings are parti-coloured, of a dark cinereous and yellow. The Back was of the

same colour with the Wings; the middle of each feather being for the most part black. The Horns were above an Inch long, consisting of six feathers, the middle * 1.373 parts of which were black, the exteriour edges being red, the interiour white, sprinked with dusky specks.

The Tail was made up of twelve feathers, six inches long; the exteriour being * 1.374 shortest, and the rest in order longer to the middlemost, so that when spread it was terminated in a circular Circumference; crossed with six or seven black bars, but nar∣rower than in other birds of this kind: The intermediate spaces above were of an ash-colour, below of a yellow.

The flag-feathers of the Wings, were in each twenty four, of the same colour * 1.375 with those of the Tail, but in the outmost, especially the third, fourth, and fifth, there is a broad strake or bed of red toward the bottom, and in the greater feathers the black bars are much broader than in the less.

The Legs and Feet are feathered down to the very Claws, which are black; that * 1.376 of the middle toe on the inside flatted into an edge. The outmost of the fore-toes may be turned backwards, as in other Owls.

It had a large Gall. The Guts were twenty inches long, the Appendices or blind-guts * 1.377 two inches and a quarter, longer and more tumid than in other carnivorous birds. In the stomach we found bones and fur of Mice.

About Bologna, and elsewhere in Italy, it is frequent: Found in England also, but * 1.378 more rarely. Francis Jessop Esq sent it to us out of Yorkshire.

This Bird is in all things exactly like the great Eagle-Owl or Bubo, save in bigness; whence also the French call it by the same name with the only addition of less. Al∣drovandus writes, that it agrees with the Bubo in the structure or rather situation of its Toes, both these having three fore-toes, and one back one, whereas all the rest of this kind have two fore-toes, and two hind ones: But in those we have observed both great and less Horn-Owls [Otis & Bubonibus] the Toes were disposed in like manner as in other Owls. For the outmost fore-toe may be turned to stand backward, and so imitate a hind-toe, and perform the same office.

Aldrovandus describes two sorts of Asio, or the lesser Horn-Owl. The description of the former doth in most particulars agree to the Bird we have described: See and compare both descriptions. Bellonius his Otus is without doubt the same with ours.

These do for the most part frequent and abide in mountainous places, whereas on the contrary, our Church-Owl and brown Owl, &c. delight in lower and plain Coun∣trys.

§. III. * The little Horn-Owl, Scops Aldrovandi.

THe Bird which the Italians, especially about Bononia call Chiuuino is the least save one of all Rapacious Nocturnal Birds, bigger than a Thrush, and some∣what lesser than a Pigeon, full nine inches long. It differs from the Bubo only in mag∣nitude, and something in colour. Its Head is round like a Ball, covered with small soft feathers, all over of a lead-colour. The Bill short, hooked, and black. The Ears or feathers standing up in fashion of Ears, scarce appear in a dead bird, but are more manifest in a living, and consist only of one feather apiece. The chief colour of the whole body, as far as appears to sight, is cinereous, having here and there something of plumbeous mingled with it, curiously speckled with many white spots, more ele∣gantly than any other Nocturnal Rapacious bird. In the greater feathers of the Wings and Tail it is marked with transverse white spots: All the other feathers besides these transverse marks are distinguished long-ways with a black line running through their middles. It is also besprinkled all over with a lovely tincture of red, especially about the Neck and the beginning of the Wings. The feathers on the Belly are whiter than elsewhere, the bottom or lower part of them, as also of all the rest, being black: particularly, these are red about the middle, else white, powdered with very small black specks. The Eyes like most other night-birds of a fiery shining Saffron colour: The Legs feathered, and of a reddish ash-colour: The Feet small, naked, scaly, ap∣proaching to a dark lead-colour, divided into two fore, and two back-toes, armed with dusky Claws. This is common in Italy.

Of this sort Aldrovandus mentions another found in Germany, whiter, and having a longer Tail, and longer Ears or Horns than the Italian Chiuuino, in other respects like.

CHAP. II. Of Nocturnal Rapacious Birds without Ears or Horns.

§. I. The common brown or Ivy-Owl, Strix. Aldrov.

THe Bird we described was a Cock; It was about the bigness of a Pigeon, but rounder-bodied, and seeming bigger than it was. It weighed twelve ounces and an half. Its length from the tip of the beak to the end of the Tail was fourteen inches: Its breadth, or the distance between the extremities of the Wings spread, two feet and nine inches.

The Bill from the point to the angles of the mouth was an inch long or more, of a horn-colour, or rather a light blue. The mouth was wider, but the Bill shorter than in the Barn-Owl. The Tongue not very fleshy, nor broad, a little divided at the tip. * 1.379 In the Palate was a cavity equal to the Tongue. It hath huge Eyes, at least twice so big as those of the Barn or white Owl, and protuberant. It had Membranes for Nictation, drawn from above downwards, having black edges. The borders of the Eye-lids were broader than ordinary, and their edges red. The Ear-holes were * 1.380 three times as great as in the white Owl, and covered with Valves. A circle of fea∣thers encompasses the Eyes and Chin, like a womans hood, as in the Barn-Owl, but * 1.381 not standing up so high as in that. This circle or hood consists of a double row of feathers, the exteriour more rigid, variegated with white, black, and red; the inte∣riour consisting of soft feathers, of a white mingled with a flame-colour. The mid∣dle part of the head without the hood is of a dark brown. The exteriour circle of the hood compasses the ears; the greatest part of the interiour feathers of it, where it passes the ears, grows out of the covers of the Ears. The Eyes in this Bird are nearer to the Ears than in any other Animal I know. Beyond the Nosthrils and below the Eyes grew bristly feathers having black shafts. The back and upper side of the * 1.382 body was particoloured of ferrugineous and dark brown, the black taking up the middle part of each feather, and the ferrugineous the out-sides. If one curiously view and observe each single feather, one shall find them waved with transverse lines, cinereous and brown alternately succeeding each other. The belly and lower side of * 1.383 the body is of the same colour with the back, but more dilute with a mixture of white. The bottoms of all the feathers are black. In this and other Owls the fea∣thers investing the whole body are longer or taller than in most other birds, so that the bird seems to be much bigger than indeed it is. The feet are covered almost down to the Claws with a thick dirty-white Plumage, sprinkled with small dark specks, [rather waved with dark lines] only two or three of the annulary scales bare.

The number of flag-feathers in each Wing was twenty four. The exteriour [pin∣nulae] * 1.384 webs of the outmost whereof were terminated in slender points like bristles, se∣parate from each other, and standing like the teeth of a fine Comb. The Wing and Tail-feathers were marked with six or seven cross bars of a dirty white, tincted in some with ferrugineous, and in some with brown. The Wings complicated fall very much short of the end of the Tail. The covert feathers of the Wings, chiefly those about the middle, and those long ones springing from the shoulders were spotted with white, especially their interiour Vanes.

The Tail was six inches and an half long, made up of twelve feathers, the middle∣most * 1.385 being the longest, the rest in order shorter to the outmost: All ending in sharp points, whereas in those of the Barn-Owl the tops were blunt.

The soal of the foot was callous, of a horny or blackish colour. That of the mid∣dle-toe * 1.386 had not the inner edge serrate, as in the white Owl. All the toes were sepa∣rate to the very divarication. The outmost of the fore-toes is made to turn also back∣ward, and supply the room of a back-toe, as in the rest of this kind.

The Guts were thirty inches long, and had many revolutions. The blind Guts * 1.387 were five inches and an half long, toward their ends tumid and full of excrement: The Liver divided into two Lobes. It had a large Gall; great black Testicles. The stomach seemed to be more fleshy than in other carnivorous birds: and above it a granulated Echinus or ante-stomach. In the stomach we found the fur of Mice.

It differs remarkably from the white Owl in that the extreme feather of the Wing * 1.388 is little, and at least a hand-breadth shorter than the third and fourth; the second above an inch shorter than the third, and the fourth and fifth the longest of all; where∣as in that the second and third feathers are the longest, and the extreme or Sarcel wants not half an inch of them.

Aldrovandus writes, that the Country-people about Bononia told him, that his Strix or Screech-Owl used to suck their Goats: which ours (as far as I have heard) was never complained of for doing.

§. II. The Grey Owl, Strix cinerea.

ANother Bird of this sort we described, which we found first at Vienna in Austria, * 1.389 and afterward in England also. It weighed eleven ounces and an hlaf. The length from the Bill to end of the Tail or Feet (for they were equally extended) was fourteen inches and an half: The breadth between the tips of the Wings spread out two foot and eleven inches. The Bill was an inch and quarter long: The Tongue * 1.390 a little divided, not so fleshy as in Hawks. In the Palate it had a broad open fissure or cleft. The Nosthrils were oblong. The Sear or skin covering the Base of the Beak in diurnal Rapacious birds, was wanting in this, as in all other Owls. It had huge, round Eyes; the Irides being of a dark Hazel colour. Both upper and lower Eye∣lid * 1.391 terminate in a membrane having black edges. The Ear-holes were great and fur∣nished * 1.392 with Valves.

This Bird was for the apparent magnitude very light and full of feathers. A wreath or hood of stiffer feathers parti-coloured of white and black, beginning from the Bill * 1.393 above, and reaching beyond the Ears, encompasses the Face and Eyes; the ends meeting under the Chin like a womans hood. Within this greater hood another circle of feathers of an ash-colour, consisting of thinner and shorter hairs encompasses the Eyes. The bo∣dy is all over variegated with cinereous and brown. The shafts of the feathers in the middle of the back are black. The interiour Vanes of the long scapular feathers are white almost to the shafts. The lower belly is white. On the Breast are long black spots.

The first row of Wing-feathers had cross bars of black and reddish ash-colour. In * 1.394 In the third row of the covert-feathers of the Wings were one or two white spots.

The Tail had twelve feathers, seven inches and a quarter long, the middlemost fea∣thers * 1.395 being longest, and the rest in order to the outmost somewhat shorter.

The Feet were feathered almost down to the Claws, only two or three annulary * 1.396 scales naked. The sole of the foot callous, and of a yellowish colour, as it were granulated with little knobs. The Toes, as in other Night-birds, two standing for∣ward, * 1.397 and two backward. The inner side of the Claw of the outer fore-toe is flatted * 1.398 into an edge.

The length of the Guts was twenty two inches, of the blind Guts three and an * 1.399 half.

The name Strix some think is taken from the Verb stringere, because it strangles * 1.400 people when they are asleep. Ovid will have it so called à stridore, from the screech∣ing noise it makes:

Est illis Strigibus nomen, sed nominis hujus Causa, quòd horrenda stridere nocte solent.

This is like the precedent, and of equal bigness, from which yet it is distinguished * 1.401 by manifest notes, and which argue a specifical difference. The chief of those are: 1. That this is grey, that brown. 2. That this hath long spots on the Breast, which that wants. 3. That the interiour hood in this is particoloured only of dusky and white.

§. III. The common Barn-Owl, or White-Owl, or Church-Owl. Aluco minor, Aldrov.

THe Cock (which we described) was about the bigness of a Pigeon; weighed * 1.402 eleven ounces and an half. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was fourteen inches. The distance between the extremities of the Wings spread out three foot and one inch and half. The Bill white, hooked at the end, * 1.403 more than an inch and half long: The Tongue a little divided at the tip; the Nose∣thrils * 1.404 oblong. A circle or wreath of white, soft, downy feathers encompassed with * 1.405 yellow ones, beginning from the Nosthrils on each side, passed round the Eyes and under the Chin, somewhat resembling a black hood, such as women use to wear: So that the Eyes were sunk in the middle of these feathers, as it were in the bottom of a Pit or Valley. At the interiour angle of each Eye the lower parts of these feathers were of a tawny colour. The Ears were covered with a Valve, which arises near * 1.406 the Eye, and falls backwards. The interiour circle we mentioned of white, downy feathers passed just over this Valve, so that part of them grew out of it.

The Breast, Belly, and covert-feathers of the inside of the Wings were white, * 1.407 marked with a few quadrangular dark spots. The Head, Neck, and Back, as far as the prime feathers of the Wings, variously and of all Night-birds most elegantly colou∣red. The feathers toward the tips were waved with small whitish and blackish lines, resembling a grey colour; but about the shaft of each feather there was as it were a bed or row of black and white spots, situate long-ways, made up in some of two white and two black spots, in some of three of each colour, in some of but one. Else the whole Plumage was of a dilute tawny or orange colour; which same colour was also the field or ground in the Wings and Tail.

The master-feathers in each Wing were in number twenty four; whereof the * 1.408 greater have four transverse blackish bars. [In these bars in the exteriour Vane of the feather there is also white mingled with the black, which makes an appearance of a grey spot.] The intermediate spaces are fulvous, and powdered with small black specks; the tips of these feathers incline more to an ash-colour. The Wings when shut up extend full as far or further than the end of the Tail. In the exteriour Vanes of the first or outmost feather of each Wing the ends of the * 1.409 Pinnulae are not conti∣guous one to another, but stand at distance, like the teeth of a fine Comb.

The Tail is made up of twelve feathers, of the same colour with the Wings, ha∣ving four transverse black bars: four inches and half long. The interiour margins of the feathers both of Wings and Tail are white.

The Legs are covered with a thick Down to the Feet, but the Toes are only hairy, * 1.410 the hairs also thin-set The Claw of the middle Toe is serrate on the inside as in He∣rons, but not so manifestly. It hath but one Toe that stands backward; but the out∣most fore-toe may be turned so as to stand a little backward.

The Guts were eighteen inches long; the blind Guts but two. It had a large Gall: * 1.411 Its Eggs were white.

Aldrovandus his description agrees exactly with ours.

The Eye in this Bird, and I suppose in all the rest of this kind, is of a strange and singular structure. That part which appears outwardly, though great, is only the * 1.412 Iris. For the whole bulb or ball of the Eye when taken out somewhat resembles a hat or Helmet, the Iris being the Crown, the part not appearing and extending it self good way further, the brims. The interiour edges of the Eye-lids round about are yellow. The Eyes are altogether fixt and immovable.

The Bird is described by Marggravius under the title of Tuidara of Brasil; so that it seems it is common with us to the New World.

§. IV. * Aldrovandus his former Aluco.

THis is bigger than the precedent, but (saith my Author) lesser than the Otus or Horn-Owl. This is peculiar to them all, that they cover the Eye only by drawing the upper lid over it downward. It hath a circle, as it were a Crown, made up of feathers, which encompass the whole face, passing above the Eyes like tall

Eye-brows, descending on both sides by the Temples, and meeting under the Chin, somewhat like a womans black hood. The Eyes are great, wholly black, without any diversity of colour, sunk, as it were, in a deep cavity, made by this circle of erected feathers. The prone side, viz. the Breast and Belly spotted with indifferently great black spots. The Bill white, very much hooked, as also the Claws. The Legs co∣vered with white feathers, but the Feet only with hairs. The Back is of a Lead-co∣lour variegated with whitish specks. The whole body covered with a deep and thick-set Plumage; which makes it appear to be of the bulk of a Capon, whereas when pluckt it is scarce so big as a chicken. The Wings are large, and reach beyond the end of the Tail. This out of Aldrovandus.

§. V. * Aldrovandus his grey Owl. Ulula Aldrov. as also Gesners, Ulula Gesn.

THe Bird signified by the name Ulula in Latine, Owl or Howlet in English, Hulot in French, Ul or Eul in Dutch was doubtless so denominated from the howling noise that it makes: Howl in English and Dutch signifying the same that Ululo or ejulo in Latine. Wherefore the Bird which Aldrovandus exhibits under this title, sith it makes a noise like a Chicken, he will not confidently aver to be the Ulula, but if it may be referred to any of the Species of Night-birds mentioned by the Ancients, he knows not whither more commodiously than to this.

From the Bill to the end of the Tail it was eighteen inches long. The Head, Back, * 1.413 Wings, and Tail were of an ash-colour, speckled with whitish and black spots. Un∣der the Belly it was white, variegated with blackish spots. The Head was very * 1.414 great, enormously thick, round, full of feathers: The Eyes being wholly black, and * 1.415 encompassed round with white, soft feathers; within the ring or Ambit whereof at the borders of the Eye-lids was seen as it were a red circle. In winking the Eye was covered only with the upper Eye-lid. The Bill was hooked and greenish: The * 1.416 Nosthrils great and patent: The Wings very large, eighteen inches long, reaching to * 1.417 the very end of the Tail. The Legs were hairy down to the Claws, which were ash-coloured, * 1.418 hooked, and exceeding sharp. It had four Toes, two standing forward, and two backward.

Aldrovandus kept this bird three months at his house.

This seems to be the same with our Grey Owl before described by the title of Strix cinerea.

Gesner describes his Ulula in these words. It was as big as a Hen or bigger; the * 1.419 colour red, sprinkled with black: The Bill white, short, as in other Night-birds, hooked, so that the upper Chap is much longer than the nether: The Eyes great, black, the Pupil being of an obscure red. The edges of the Eye-lids were red. Moreover, the Eyes were covered with a nictating Membrane. Between the Eyes and Back it was thick-feathered, of an ash-colour. The Neck was very agile, so that she could turn her head much backward. The Legs were whitish, sprink∣led with livid specks, rough down to the Feet. The Toes stood two forward, two backward.

It hath not been our hap as yet to see a Bird of this kind, if it be distinct from our * 1.420 Grey Owl. For that bird which by us in England is called Owl, and Howlet, and Madge-howlet is the Aluco of Gesner and Aldrovandus. Although Owl be with us a ge∣neral name attributed to all Night-birds.

§. VI. The little Owl. Noctua.

THe Bird we described of this kind we bought in the Market at Vienna in Austria, where they called it Schaffilt.

It was a Cock, scarce so big as a Blackbird. Its length from the Bill to the end of the * 1.421 tail was almost seven inches: Its breadth, the Wings being extended, more than four∣teen inches. The Bill was white, and like to that of other Owls. The Tongue a * 1.422 little divided, as in the rest of this Tribe: The Palate below black, having a wide or gaping cleft, and below it a round hole: The Nosthrils oblong: The Ears great: The * 1.423 Eyes lesser and handsomer than in other Owls.

The wreath or circle of feathers encompassing the face, beyond the Ears lesser, * 1.424 and less easily discernable. The upper part of the body was of a dark brown, with * 1.425 a mixture of red, having transverse whitish spots.

The Tail was 2 ¾ inches long, compounded of twelve feathers exactly equal, having * 1.426 five or six transverse white bars.

The feathers about the Ears were more variegated with black and white. The * 1.427 Chin and lower part of the belly white; The Breast marked with long dusky spots.

The number of beam-feathers in each Wing was twenty four; their interiour webs * 1.428 were spotted with round white spots.

It was feathered almost down to the Claws, excepting two or three annulary scales. * 1.429 The Feet were of a pale yellow. It had two back-toes, and as many fore∣ones. The soals of the Feet were yellow; the Claws black: The inner side of the middle Claw is thinned into an edge.

It had a great Gall; the length of the Guts was ten Inches; of the blind Guts * 1.430 one inch and a quarter.

It is found in the Woods of Austria, but rarely; resembles much Gesners figure of * 1.431 Noctua, which therefore we have taken for it. Afterwards we saw it exposed to sale at Rome. They use it for catching of small birds: See the manner in Olina. * 1.432

Aldrovandus saith that it was told him, that the Germans do sometimes take in their Country a sort of little Owl, which when come to its full growth is no bigger than a Lark, which they call by a diminutive name Keutzlin: but however Aldrovandus hapned not to see it, the same bird is doubtless also found in Italy; for we observed them at Rome standing on Pearches to be sold; and we can hardly believe, they brought them so far as out of Germany.

§. VII. * Aldrovandus his Noctua.

THat which Aldrovandus hath described and figured for the Noctua is about the bigness of a Dove, nine inches long, hath a great Head, flat above; large, grey Eyes. The feathers of the whole body are partly of a pale Chesnut colour, partly distinguished with white. Through the extreme parts of the Wings, especially the prime feathers, it hath broad transverse lines or bars of a Chesnut colour. On the Belly it hath lines or spots of the same colour drawn longways, but inverted; the rest of the space or ground (the Heralds call it the field) being white. The Wings when withdrawn and closed reach as far as the end of the Tail. The Legs are fea∣thered and rough down to the Feet, of a colour compounded of cinereous and Ches∣nut. The Toes are of a dark cinereous, bare of feathers, two standing each way. The Claws black, sharp, and crooked.

* The Stone-Owl, another sort of Noctua, or perchance the same with the precedent.

This (saith he) which the Germans call Steinkutz, that is, Stone-Owl, is also about the bigness of a Dove; hath the Legs and Toes rough, with white feathers, but the lower sides of the Toes are bare, the Claws black and hooked. The colour all over the prone or nether side of the body was a dark brown, with a sleight mixture of red, dapled with whitish spots. The Head in respect of the body very great: The Eyes large: The Bill short, and like an Eagles. In the dead bird the upper Chap of the Bill was red, which seemed not to be so before, while it was living. Between the Eyes and the Bill grew certain stiff, slender feathers, like bristles or beards. It had more white on the Belly than the other parts. I suppose it lives and frequents chiefly in Mountainous and Rocky places, and therefore to defend the cold hath its Feet and Toes feathered like the Lagopus and Grygallus. For the other Noctuae have not their Feet rough, neither are they of a reddish colour. They seem to be less brisk and lively than our Italian Noctuae, and almost blind in the day time.

§. VIII. * The Brasilian Noctua called Cabure by Marggrav.

IT's about the bigness of a Throstle: hath a round Head, a short, hooked, yellowish Bill; two Nosthrils; fair, great, round, yellow Eyes, with a black Pupil. Un∣der the Eyes, and on each side the Bill it hath many long, dusky hairs. The Legs are short, wholly cloathed with feathers, yellow, as are also the Feet, which are cloven into four Toes, standing after the usual manner, armed with semicircular, crooked, sharp Talons: The Tail broad, nigh the rise whereof the Wings end. In the Head, Back, Wings, and Tail it is of a dilute Umber colour, and variegated in the Head and Neck with very small, in the Wings with greater white spots. The Tail is wa∣ved with white. The Breast and lower Belly are white, and variegated with spots of a dilute Umber colour. It is easily made tame. It can so turn about its Neck, that the tip of the Beak shall exactly point at the middle of the Back. It plays with men like an Ape, making many mowes and antic mimical faces, and snapping with its Bill. Besides, it can set up feathers on the sides of its head, that represent Horns or Ears. It lives upon raw flesh.

CHAP. III.

§. I. The Fern-Owl, or Churn-Owl, or Goat-sucker, Caprimulgus.

ITs length from the Bill to the end of the Tail was between ten and eleven inches: * 1.433 Its Head great, but much lesser than in the Owl-kind: Its Bill in proportion to its body the least of all birds, and a little crooked. It hath a huge wide mouth and swallow. In palato appendices nullae, sed primùm longa fissura, fundo tenui ossiculo seu septo per medium diviso: insra eam fissuram alia latior & brevior, & ad hujus fundum linea appendicum transversa. These words I do not well understand, and therefore have not put them into English. On the sides of the upper Chap of the Bill, as also under the Chin it had stiff black hairs like bristles.

The under side of the body was painted with black and pale-red lines, transverse, * 1.434 but not continued: The hinder part of the Head of an ash-colour, the middle of each feather being black; which colours also reach lower down the Back.

The Wings are particoloured of black and red: The covert-feathers of the Wings * 1.435 are some of them powdred with cinereous. The Tail near five inches long, made up of ten feathers, the outmost whereof are something shorter than the rest; the middle∣most * 1.436 ash-coloured, with very narrow, transverse, black bars; in the rest the cross bars are broader, and the intermediate spaces of an ash-colour, powdered with black, and a little tinctured with red.

The Legs were very small in proportion, feathered on the fore-side half way, but * 1.437 the feathers hung down almost to the Toes. The Toes were blackish, and the Claws black and little; the middlemost Toe the longest, the inner and outer shorter, but equal to one another, and joyned to the middlemost by a Membrane from the diva∣rication to the first joynt. The interiour edge of the middle Claw is serrate, as in He∣rons. The back-Toe (if it may be so called, standing like one of the fore-toes) is scarce a quarter of an inch long.

In the stomach it had some Seeds and Beetles. The Eggs were long, and white, but a little clouded and spotted with black. * 1.438

It is a very beautiful bird for colour, more like to a Cuckow than an Owl; and it is easily distinguished from all other birds by the structure of its Bill and Feet.

In another bird of this kind, perchance differing only in Age or Sex, the three first or outmost great Wing-feathers had a large white spot in their interiour Vanes, which in the third feather reached also to the exteriour: The tips also of the two outmost feathers of the Tail were spotted with white. There was some shew of these spots of a pale yellowish colour in the first described.

It is found in the Mountainous Woods, especially in many places of England, as in York-shire, Derby-shire, Shrop-shire, &c.

§. II. * The American Goat-sucker, called Ibijau by the Brasilians, Noitibo by the Portugues. Marggrav.

THis is a small bird, of the bigness of a Swallow: Hath a broad flat Head: Great, lovely, black Eyes, with a black, shining Pupil, of an elliptical figure: Out∣wardly a circle or ring of yellowish white compasses the Eyes. It hath a very little Bill, not exceeding the thickness of the tooth of a * 1.439 Shrew-mouse, and not so long: yet hath it patent Nosthrils in the Bill: An exceeding wide Mouth, which when shut cannot be seen; but when she opens her Bill, appears slit up to the Eyes, so that it is almost an inch wide. It hath a very little Tongue: White Legs, and small for the bigness of the body, scarce half an inch long: Four Toes in the Feet, three standing forward, and one backward, armed with black, crooked Claws. Along the Claw of the middle Toe of each foot on the inside it hath as it were a fin, much jagged or toothed, so that the Claw seems feathered in a manner on the inside: But there are no feathers on it but a certain skinny rough matter. It hath a handsom Tail, two inches long, which it can spread wide; to the end whereof the Wings reach. In all the lower part of the body the feathers are mixt white and black, as in a Spar∣row-Hawk: In the Head, Back, Wings, and Tail they are black, white being inter∣spersed with a grateful variety; and something also of yellow mingled with the white: In a word, it is black, and speckled here and there with white.

There is also found another Species of this, of the same colour and make with this, but as big as an Owl. The mouth opened will easily admit a mans fist.

§. III. * Marggravius his Brasilian Guira querea, approaching to the Goat-sucker, or Swift.

IT is of the bigness of a Lark, but because it hath long Wings and a Tail much lon∣ger, it seems greater. It hath a broad, flat, and pretty great Head; great black Eyes: A small, triangular, compressed Bill, the upper Chap being hooked: A wide Mouth, much wider than the Bill, and which being opened represents a Triangle. At each end of the upper Mandible on both sides, for the length of an inch in either, it hath about ten or twelve thick bristles like Swines, stretched forth both forward and sideways. Its body is not long, but almost round. Each foot hath four Toes stand∣ing after the usual manner, the middle whereof is longer than the rest; and furnished with a Claw finely serrate, or toothed like a Comb. All the Claws are black. It hath long Wings, viz. half a foot: The Tail eight inches long, having in the out∣sides two feathers longer than the rest. The whole Bird is of a dusky ash-colour, with dark yellow or whitish spots intermingled after the manner of a Sparrow-Hawk. Round the Neck, behind the Head, it hath a ring of a dark golden colour. The Legs are cinereous or dusky. The Toes connected by a little skin, not so broad as in Ducks; for it is no water-fowl.

This latter Bird doth more resemble a Swallow than a Goat-sucker: The former also is not unlike the Hirundo apus or Swift. Indeed the Goat-sucker and Swift agree in many particulars, as the smalness of the Bill, the wideness of the Mouth, the short∣ness of the Legs, and situation of the Toes.

BOOK I. PART I. SECT. III. Of Frugivorous Hook-bill'd Birds or Parrots.

CHAP. I. Of Parrots in general.

THe Parrot hath a great Head, a hard Beak and Skull. But why Nature gave it a hooked Bill, whereas it is rather a Frugivorous than a Carnivorous or Rapacious Bird, Aldrovandus gives this reason: Because for the weakness of the Feet, descending or climbing up boughs or grates, it could not commodiously sustain the weight of its body, were not the Bill of that crooked semicircular figure, that it can as it were with a hook or grapple catch hold of whatever is near. For the Parrot in climbing Walls or Trees first catches hold with her Bill, as it were with a Hook, then draws up her body, then fastens her Feet; then reaching up higher claps on her Beak again, and so puts forward her body and feet alternately.

The Parrot alone with the Crocodile moves the upper Jaw, as all other Animals do the lower. The Tongue is broad, which is common to it with other Rapacious birds, of the figure of a Gourd-seed, as Scaliger notes. Hence it is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, both because its Tongue resembles a mans, and also because it imi∣tates humane speech. The Feet are of a singular fashion, for they have not three Toes standing forward and one backward, but two each way, like Woodpeckers. Jo. Faber, in his Expositions of Nardi Antonio Recchi his Animals found in New Spain, hath noted and observed concerning the Toes of Parrots something not mentioned by any Author, viz. That when they walk, climb up, or descend down the sides of their Cages, they stretch two of their Toes forward, and two backward; but when they take their meat, and bring it to their mouths, they make use of three Toes to hold it till they have eaten it up. Yea, (which may seem wonderful) they do so dexterously and nimbly turn the greater hind-toe forward and backward, that on sight of it you would confess your self not to know, whether it were given them by Na∣ture to be used as a fore-toe in feeding, or a back-toe in walking. So that it seems in this respect they resemble Owls. It hath crooked Claws, wherewith it holds its meat like Rapacious birds, and brings it to its mouth, after the manner of men. For taking it in its Toes it lifts it up to its mouth, not turning the foot inward, but outward, after a fashion not only usual and ridiculous, but one would think also incommodious. It doth not only first of all with its Bill as it were with Teeth break or divide entire Almonds, but rolling them up and down within the Cavity of its Bill, doth as it were champ and chew them, softning them before it swallows them. Parrots while they are yet wild and at liberty do eat all sorts of grain and pulse. And this is peculiarly observed of them above other creatures, that as Swallows feed upon Hellebore, and Starlings upon Hemlock, so do they upon the seed of * 1.440 Bastard Saffron (which to man is a purgative) not only without receiving harm thereby, but growing fat with it. Moreover, they eat all sorts of fruits, as well such as are covered with a soft rind, as those with a hard shell, viz. Nuts, &c. and are greatly delighted in them.

They do not only imitate mans voice, but in wit excell all other birds, as Aldrovan∣dus proves by many Histories and examples. I shall not think much to set down one very pleasant story, which Gesner saith was told him by a certain friend, of a Parrot, which fell out of King Henry VIII. his Palace at Westminster into the River of Thames that runs by, and then very seasonably remembring the words it had often heard some whether in danger or in jest use, cried out amain, A Boat, a Boat, for twenty pound. A certain experienced Boatman made thither presently, took up the Bird, and restored it to the King, to whom he knew it belonged, hoping for as great a re∣ward as the Bird had promised. The King agreed with the Boatman that he should have as the Bird being asked anew should say: And the Bird answers, Give the Knave a Groat.

They are very frequent in both Indies, as well East as West. They breed not in cold Countries; for they are impatient of cold, so that they can hardly bear our

Winters, unless they be kept in Stoves or hot places: And whereas in their own Country, to wit, the Indies, they are much upon the Wing, with us by reason of the inclemency and sharpness of the Air they grow torpid and unactive, and less fit for flight. They are said to be very long-lived.

They breed in hollow trees (witness Marggravius, Lerius, and Piso) where they make a round hole outwardly, and lay two or three Eggs, like to Pigeons, without any made Nest, as Marggravius saith: Lerius affirms, that they do build Nests suffi∣ciently firm and hard, of a round orbicular figure. Whence it is manifest that they do not hang their Nests upon the slender twigs of Trees, as Cadamustus and others have delivered. For that bird which hangs its Nest on this fashion, called by the Bra∣silians Guira tangeima, as Marggravius writes, is much different from the Parrot. Though you touch her Eggs yet will not the Parrot forsake them, but hatch them notwithstanding. Parrots are made of several colours by the * 1.441 Tapuyae, by plucking them when they are young, and then staining their skins with divers colours. These the Portugues call counterfeit Parrots. Which thing if it be true (for to me indeed it seems not probable) it is to no purpose to distinguish Parrots by the diversity of colour, sith therein they may vary infinitely.

In all Parrots that I have hitherto observed the Nosthrils were round, situate in the upper part of the upper Chap, close by the feathers, and very near one to another.

Parrots in respect of bigness may be divided into three kinds, viz. the greatest, mean∣sized, and least.

The greatest are equal in bigness to our common Raven: or (as Aldrovandus saith) to a well-fed Capon; and have long Tails: In English they are called Macaos and Cocka∣toons. The middle or meansized and most common Parrots are as big or bigger than a Pigeon, have short Tails, and are called in English, Parrots and Poppinjayes. The least are of the bulk of a Blackbird or a Lark, have very long Tails, and are called in English Parakeetos.

CHAP. II. Of the greatest sort of Parrots called Maccaws and Cockatoons.

§. I. * Aldrovandus his greatest blue and yellow Maccaw.

THe body of this equals a well-fed Capons. From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail it was two Cubits long. The Bill hooked, and in that mea∣sure that it made an exact semicircle, being outwardly conformed into the per∣fect roundness of half a ring, a full Palm long; and where it begins as thick within half an inch, if you measure both Mandibles. The upper Mandible is almost two inches longer than the nether, which on the lower side downward is convex and round. The whole Bill is black. The Eyes white and black. Three black lines drawn from the Bill to the beginning of the Neck, representing the figure of the letter S lying, compass the eyes underneath. The Crown of the Head is flat, and of a green colour. The Throat adorned with a kind of black ring. The Breast, Belly, Thighs, Rump, and Tail underneath all of a Saffron colour. The Neck above, Back, Wings, and upper side of the Tail of a very pleasant blue or azure. The Tail eighteen inches long more or less. The Legs very short, thick, and of a dusky or dark colour, as are also the Feet, the Toes long, armed with great, crooked black Talons.

§. II. * The other Maccaw or Macao, of Aldrovandus.

THis is nothing less than the foregoing, of the same length, but seemed not to be so thick-bodied. Its Bill is shorter than the precedents, being not drawn out into so long a hook, yet almost three inches long; and as many broad, where it is joyned to the head; the upper Chap being white, the nether black. The region of the Eyes and the Temples are white. The crown of the Head more than a Palm long and flat. The Back, beginning of the Wings, Throat, Breast, Belly, Thighs, and finally the whole Tail above, are beautified with a most lovely * 1.442 Scarlet or red colour, as is also the inner side of the flag-feathers of the Wings. The second row of the co∣vert Wing-feathers are yellow with scarlet edges, each adorned with a kind of eye of blue near the tip. The outer surface of the flag-feathers and the Rump [I suppose he means the Tail] underneath tinctured with a deep blue. The Legs are short, the Feet divided into long Toes, armed with crooked Claws: Both of a duskish or dark ash-colour.

§. III. A Maccaw described at London, the same I suppose with the precedent, called by Marggrav. Araracanga.

AT London we observed and described a certain Macao, either the same with the precedent (I mean in kind) or very like it. It was of the same big∣ness, had a huge Bill, the upper Mandible being almost wholly white, the lower black. The skin about the Eyes was bare of feathers, and rough or rugged. The whole head, Breast, and Belly red [like minium:] The Wings and Tail parti-co∣loured of red, yellow, and blue. The Tail of a great length, especially the two middlemost feathers, which do much exceed the rest, and are of a blue colour.

I take that which Marggravius describes Book 5. Chap. 9. to be the same with this. Let the Reader compare the descriptions: His runs thus. It is bigger than our com∣mon * 1.443 Raven: Hath a great Head, broad and flat above; fair * grey Eyes [* Coesius] with a black Pupil. A white Membrane encompasses the Eyes, as also the Jaws and lower Bill: [I suppose he means, that the skin thereabouts is white and bare of fea∣thers:] This under the Eyes is produced in a semilunar form: The Bill is great, hooked, white above, black underneath. It hath a Tongue like a Parrot, and eats after the same manner. It learns also to pronounce some words. The upper Chap of the Bill is about three inches long, broad or deep. It hath black Legs and Feet like a Parrot. The whole Head, Neck, Breast, Belly, Thighs, and Tail underneath, as also the beginning of the Wings above are cloathed with most lovely and elegant red feathers: The middle part of the Wings is adorned with green, and the lower half of them from the middle to the end with blue. The Rump or lower part of the Back, and the Tail are blue, some brown feathers being also intermingled. The Tail is about ten inches long, running out much beyond the ends of the Wings.

§. IV. * The Macao called Ararauna by the Brasilians, Marggrav. the same with Aldrov. his first.

IT is in shape like the precedent, but of a different colour. Its Bill black; Eyes grey, Pupil black. The skin about the Eyes white, variegated with black, as if it were wrought with a Needle. The Legs and Feet dusky [fusca.] The forepart of the Head above the Bill hath a copple or tuft of green feathers. Under the lower Bill black feathers compass the Throat. The sides of the Neck, the whole Breast and lower Belly are covered with yellow feathers: The hinder or extreme part of the Head, the backside of the Neck, the whole Back and outsides of the Wings with blue. The ends of the Wings have yellow feathers mingled with the blue. The Tail consists of long blue feathers, wherewith some yellow ones are mingled. The inner or underside of all the blue feathers in general is black: These feathers do also cast a shew of blackness from their sides.

Upon comparing the descriptions I find, that this is the very same bird with Aldro∣vandus his first Macao.

§. V. * The former Brasilian Maracana of Marggrav.

IT is a Bird altogether like a Parrot (of which also it is a Species) but bigger. All its feathers of a bluish grey. It cries like a Parrot. It loves fruit, especially Murucuja.

§. VI. * The other Maracana of Marggrav.

THis is also a sort of Arara [he means by this word a Maccaw, for so it seems the Brasilians call Maccaws] but lesser, about the bigness of a Parrot, It is of the shape of a Maccaw, [Arara] hath such a long Tail, a like Bill and skin about the Eyes. The Bill is black; the skin about the Eyes white and speckled with black feathers: The Eyes yellowish, the Pupil black. The whole Head, Neck, and Wings are of a deep green as in Amurucurica: The top of the Head is more dilute, and in a manner inclining to blue. The Tail consists of feathers above green, underneath of a deep red, having their ends blue. The Wings likewise are read on the inside, green on the outside, having their ends blue. At the rise of each Wing it hath a red spot. At the rise of the Bill above it hath a dusky spot. The Legs and Feet are dusky. It cries Oe, Oe, Oe.

CHAP. III. Of middle-sized Parrots, properly called Parrots and Poppinjayes.

§. I. * The white cresled Parrot of Aldrovandus.

IT was about thirteen inches long, as big as an ordinary young Pullet, or the grea∣test sort of tame Pigeon. N. B. I here measure the length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Wings, for measuring to the end of the Tail it is about eighteen inches. Its Tail contrary to the manner of other Parrots, is not stretched out di∣rectly backwards in length, but erected after the fashion of the common Dunghill-Cock and Hens. It hath an ash-coloured Bill, inclining to black, having wide open Nosthrils near the Head, and rising up, with a round ridge or bunch between them. The Tongue is broad and red: The Irides of the Eyes yellow, the Pupil black. The whole body cloathed with white feathers. The crown of the Head is adorned with fair feathers, a handful and half high, bending somewhat backward, ending in sharp points again reflected forwards, ten in number, as it were a crest. The Tail in like manner is erected on high, consisting of a great many white feathers, nine inches long, such as are seen in the Tails of Dunghil-Cocks. The Legs and Feet are yellowish: The Claws small, scarce hooked and black.

§. II. The most common green Parrot having the ridge of the Wing red. Aldrov.

THis is nothing less, if not bigger, than the white crested Parrot, almost fifteen inches long, of the bulk of the greatest tame Pigion or a Pullet of the first year. [With us they are not ordinarily so big.] The upper Chap of the Bill is black at the point, then bluish, the remainder being red; the lower Chap white: The Iris of the Eye of a Saffron colour, or rather red, the Pupil black: The crown of the Head yellow: All the rest of the body is green, the under side more dilute and yellowish; the Back and Wings darker, and the greatest and outmost Pinion feather inclining somewhat to blue. Only the uppermost ridge of the Wings is red;

as also the Tail, which is but short: In the lower part on each side it is marked with a long, red spot, but above it is yellow. The Legs and Feet are ash-coloured: The Claws black, and not much hooked.

This kind is the most common of all with us. In those I described at London there was a white circle about the Eyes: and the upper Chap of the Bill had on each side a tooth-like process or Appendix, to which answered a dent or nick in the lower.

§. III. * Aldrovandus his Parrot with a particoloured Bill.

FRom the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail it was eighteen inches long. The upper Chap in the upper part was of a bluish green, of a yellow Oker colour in the sides; the tip-crossed with a white spot: The lower Chap of the Bill of a lead-colour round about, and yellow in the middle, the crown of the Head adorned with yellow or golden feathers. The rest of the body was for the most part green, the Back darker, the Belly and Breast lighter, with a gloss of yellow, the roots or bot∣toms of the feathers being every where cinereous. The flag-feathers on their outer webs toward the belly were first green, then by little and little growing blue, termi∣nate in a purplish colour, being elsewhere black. The second row of Wing-feathers were wholly yellow. Those which grew about the middle of the Wings, at their beginning, on the outer web, which respects the belly, were first green, then of a dark red, then green again, and lastly at their tips partly of a violet colour, partly black, with so great variety. The Tail is composed of twelve feathers, of which four on each side at their rise or beginning are first green on the exteriour web, yellow on the interiour, then of a red or Scarlet colour, thirdly green again, and lastly yel∣low. The four remaining middle feathers are wholly or all over green, only at their very ends shew something of yellow. The Feet are of a lead-colour, having four toes, two standing forward, and two backwards, as in Woodpeckers; the interiour being much shorter than the exteriour. The Claws crooked as in Rapacious birds. The Legs not above an inch long, but pretty thick.

§. IV. * The black-billed green Parrot of Aldrovandus.

THis is thirteen inches long, hath a great, thick Bill, like the rest, but wholly black. At the beginning of the Bill, on the Crown, and under the Throat it is of a blue colour, tending to green. The Iris of the Eye is of a dark Saffron, the Pupil black: The rest of the Head and the Breast yellow: The Belly of a middle co∣lour between yellow and green; as also the upper side of the Tail. The Neck and all the Back with the Wings are of a deep green: So that it would be almost wholly green, but that the very extreme ridge of the Wing, where it is joyned to the body, is of a Scarlet red; and then follows a black feather in the outside or extremity of the Wings which respect the belly, and lastly the tips of the flag-feathers are red. Besides these also the lower part of the Rump is tinctured with a Scarlet red. The Feet are dusky: The Talons black, and somewhat crooked. The Tail is about a Palm long more or less.

§. V. * The white-headed Parrot of Aldrovandus.

IT is ten inches long: The Bill white, and two inches thick: That part of the Head next to the Bill is also white: The Pupil of the Eye black, the Iris ferrugineous. The forehead and crown of the head are white, variegated with black spots. The hinder part of the Head, Neck, Back, Wings, and Rump above are tinctured with a dark green: The Throat and uppermost ridge of the Wings with a Vermilion red. The Breast and Thighs again are green. The part of the Belly lying between the Thighs and the Breast is of a dusky colour obscurely red, or of that the Painters call Umber [terrae Umbriae.] Some of the covert-feathers of the Wings, viz. the out∣most, are blue, but with some mixture of white. The lower part of the belly next

the Rump yellow. The Tail is red in the middle; the sides being variegated with red, yellow, and blue. Almost all the feathers have their utmost tips black, but else are green: The Legs and Feet cinereous. This Bird from the great variety of its colours might well be called the particoloured or many-coloured [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Parrot; it being of no less than seven several colours, of which yet the chief is green.

Mr. Willughby doth thus briefly describe either this same Parrot, or one very like it. It is of a green colour, lesser than a Pigeon: The Irides of the Eyes of a Hazel co∣lour. The Bill is white: From the Bill to the middle of the crown it is also white. Under the Eyes and the under Chap it is of a Vermilion colour. The middle of the Breast and Belly between the Legs is reddish. The outer webs of the Tail-feathers to the shaft are of a flame-colour. Towards the crown of the Head the edges of all the feathers are dark or blackish. The outmost flag-feathers are bluish. The exteriour border of the Tail-end is bluish. A dark spot covers the Ears. The lower part of the Belly is of a yellowish green.

§. VI. * The red and blue Parrot of Aldrovandus.

THis bird is nine inches long, sufficiently corpulent. The Bill not so great as in the precedent, blackish: The Head, Neck, and Breast are blue: The top of the crown remarkable for a yellow spot. The region of the Eyes white; the Pupil black; the Iris dusky. The sides of the Belly under the tips of the Wings yellow: The Bel∣ly green. The Thighs white, with a shadow of green. The Rump yellow. The top of the back of a pale blue. The covert feathers of the Wings particoloured of green, yellow, and rosie. The end of the back or region of the loins yellowish. The Legs and Feet are ash-coloured, the rest of the body is of a rose-colour or bluish.

§. VII. Aldrovandus his ash-coloured or bluish Parrot.

THis according to Aldrovandus is ten inches long: Of the bigness of a tame Pigeon, or the common green Parrot. The Bill is black: The Nosthrils near to one another, in the upper part of the Bill next to the Head; which part is covered with a naked white skin [we afterwards observed the same figure and situation of the Nosthrils in all other Parrots.] The whole body is of an uniform colour, viz. a dark cinereous: Yet the lower part of the Back and Belly and the Rump are paler than the rest of the body, and almost white. The Tail is red of a Vermilion colour, very short, and scarce reaching further than the ends of the Wings. The region of the Eyes [sides of the head round the Eyes] is white and bare of feathers. The feathers of the Head and Neck are shorter than the others. They say that all of this kind are brought from Mina, an Indian City of St. Georges. We have seen many of them at London.

§. VIII. * The red and white Parrot of Aldrovandus.

IT is equal to an indifferent great Capon, seventeen inches long. The Head and Neck thick. The whole body white, but moderately shaded with dusky, so that it seems to be ash-coloured. Its Bill is black, the hooked part being longer than in others. The hinder part of the Back, the Rump, the whole Tail, and prime fea∣thers of the Wings are of a Scarlet colour [Miniaceo colore.] The Feet, as in others, blackish. In bigness of body it gives not place to that greatest sort which are less vo∣cal, called Maccaws: In this only it is inferiour to them, that it hath a shorter Tail: For which cause, notwithstanding its magnitude, we have placed it in this Classis or rank.

§. IX. * Marggravius his middle-sized Parrots.

THe first Species called AJURUCURAU is a very elegant bird. Above the Bill on the head it hath a tuft or cop of a lovely blue. The throat, sides, and up∣per part of the Head are cloathed with feathers of a delicate yellow: The whole body of pleasant green. In brief, it is elegantly variegated. The Tail is green, but when it spreads it appears edged or fringed with black, red, and blue. The Legs and Feet of an ash-coloour: The Bill more dusky: The Eyes black, with a golden circle about the Pupil. The Tongue of all is broad and thick.

The second Species is like to the former, a little differing in the variegation of the colours, viz. On the top of the Head it hath a yellow cop, wherewith white is ming∣led. Above the Eyes, and under the Throat it is of a clear or bright yellow. About the upper Bill is a Sea-green spot.

The third Species called AJURUCURUCA hath a tuft on its Head of a colour mingled of blue and a little black; and in the middle of the tuft a yellow spot. Be∣low the Eyes is a yellow, and on the Throat a blue spot. The Breast is green, as are also the Wings and Back, but somewhat deeper or darker, the ends of the Wings and the Tail again being more dilute: the tips of the Wing-feathers are yellow and red, mingled with blue. The Tail underneath is particoloured of green and yellow, above of a pale green. The Legs of a bluish ash-colour. The Bill above cinereous, in the extremities black. The Claws black.

PARAGUA is a black Parrot of the bigness of Ajurucariu: The Breast, Back, and anteriour half of the belly remarkably red: The Eyes black, encompassed with a red circle or Iris: The Bill dusky, or of a dark ash-colour.

The TARABE of the Brasilians is a green Parrot bigger than a Paragua, with a red Head and Breast, of which colour is also the beginning of the Wings. The Beak and Feet are of a dark ash-colour.

AJURUCATINGA of the Brasilians is a Parrot of the bigness of a handsom Pul∣let: All green, with red Eyes, and the skin about the Eyes white: The Bill and Legs white. It hath a long green Tail. This in colour and length of the tail agrees with the Parakeet, but differs from it in bigness.

AJURUPARA agrees in all respects with the precedent, only it is less.

CHAP. IV. Of the lesser sort of Parrots, called Parrakeets.

§. I. * The Ring-Parrakeet or Psittacus of the Ancients, Aldrov.

THis was the first of all the Parrots brought out of India into Europe; and the only one known to the Ancients for a long time, to wit, from the time of Alexander the Great to the Age of Nero, by whose searchers (as Pliny wit∣nesseth) Parrots were discovered elsewhere, viz. in Gagaude an Island of Aethiopia. It is fourteen inches long; hath a thick Bill, all over red: A yellow Iris or circle en∣compasses the Pupil of the Eye, which is, as in most birds, black. The head and all the body besides is green; but the neck, breast, and whole underside more dilute or pale: the upper side deeper-coloured. From the lower Chap of the Bill under the Chin a black line is drawn downward as far as the beginning of the Breast, which then divides, and goes away to each side of the neck, till it meet with that red circle or ring, which compasseth the backside of the Neck. This ring is behind of the breadth of ones little finger, but grows narrower by degrees towards the sides. The belly is of so faint a green, that it seems almost to be yellow. The outmost feathers of the Wings next the belly are of a dark dusky green about the middle, in the upper part distinguished with a red mark. The Tail, which is about two Palms long, is also of a yellowish green: The Legs and Feet ash-coloured. Whence Solinus doth not

rightly affirm, that it hath no difference of colour but only the ring of red about the Neck: Nor Apuleius, that the out-sides of the feet are red, [extimas palmulas ru∣bere] they being cinereous: Unless we can think they described another bird of this sort.

§. II. * The wholly green Parrakeet of Aldrovandus.

THis is of equal length with the former, but less-bodied; being not bigger than a Throstle or Mavis. The Bill is red, especially the upper part; for the * 1.444 edges [acies] and lower part are blackish: the Pupil of the Eyes black, the Irides of a red and Saffron colour. The rest of the body is of a pleasant grass-green, yet the belly more pale, the master-feathers of the Wings of a deeper colour. The Tail narrow, ending almost in a point, near nine inches long. The Feet and Legs of a different colour from all other Parrots, viz. a red or * 1.445 carneous. This is peculiarly by a distinct name called Scincialo in Hispaniola an Island of America, where it is found. The Ita∣lians for its small stature and bulk call it Parochino, and the Frenchmen (as Bellonius saith) Perroquet.

The red and yellow or pale green Parrakeet of Aldrovandus described by the Picture thereof sent with many others out of Japan to Pope

I suspect to be fictitious, at least in many particulars, as are doubtless the rest of those Pictures, therefore I have omitted it, referring the Reader, who desires further know∣ledge of it, to Aldrovandus.

§. III. * The crested red and green Parrot of Aldrovandus.

THe Wings, Tail, and Crest of this bird were red, the rest of the body green. Its Crest resembled that of the crested Parrot above described. It had very fair Eyes, with a black Pupil and red Iris. The Crest consisted of six feathers, three greater, and as many less.

§. IV. * Marggravius his Parrakeets, called by the Brasilians Tui.

THe first Species is of the bigness of a Swallow: all over green: Having a very long long Tail, and a black hooked bill. This may be the second sort.

The second Species, called TUIAPUTEJUBA, is also all over green; the Wings darker, the rest of the body paler, save the belly, which is yellowish: The Tail is very long. The Bird is of the same bigness with the former: Hath great, blackish Eyes: A circle of yellow feathers about the Eyes, and above the Bill, which is black and hooked. On the head it hath a great spot of orange-coloured feathers.

The third, called TUITIRICA, is somewhat bigger than those of Guiny, of a green colour all over, which for the most part is deeper in the Back and Wings, paler in the other parts: The Bill crooked, of a Carnation colour: The Eyes black, the Feet bluish. The Tail reaches a little beyond the ends of the Wings. These become very tame, so that they will take meat out of ones mouth, and permit one to stroke and handle them. They learn also to talk like Parrots.

The fourth is of the bigness of a Stare, of the same colour with the second Species, but having a shorter Tail.

The fifth, called JENDAYA, is of the bigness of a Blackbird or Throstle, hath a black Bill and Legs; black Eyes, with a golden Iris or circle encompassing the Pupil, outwardly white. The Back, Wings, and Tail, as also the lower belly are covered with green feathers, with which a Sea-colour is mingled. The * 1.446 extremity of the Wings is in a manner black. The whole Head, Neck and Breast are of a yellow co∣lour, partly deeper, and partly paler.

The sixth, called TUIETE, is of the bigness of a Lark: The whole body of a light green: But the beginning of the Wings of a bright blue. The borders also of all the feathers of the Wings are blue, so that when they are closed, these borders al∣together

make an appearance of a long green stroke near the outsides of the Wings. In the back also at the rise of the Tail there is a blue spot. The Tail is short: the Bill hooked, of a Carnation colour. The Legs and Feet cinereous.

The seventh, called TUIPARA by the Tupinambi, is also of the bigness of a Lark, and all over of a pale green. The Tail shorter, so that it ends with the Wings [being equally extended.] The Bill of a Carnation colour, the Legs grey or grisled. Near the rise of the Bill, in the forehead it hath a Scarlet spot of a semilunar figure, as it were a Crown. [The following words corrupted, I suppose, by the errour of the Transcribers or Printers, not understanding, I have omitted.] They build in Ant-heaps left by the Ants, which are found in trees.

ANACA of the Brasilians, is again of the bigness of a Lark. Its Bill dusky and hooked. The feathers on the top of the head are of a Liver-colour: On the sides of the Head about the Eyes of a brown. The Throat is ash-coloured: the Neck above and the sides green. The Belly hath reddish brown feathers. The back is green, and hath a spot of a light brown. The Tail is also of a dilute brown. In the beginning of the Wings is a crimson spot or border: The rest of the Wings green; the ends on∣ly of a Sea-water colour. The Legs above covered with green feathers, below bare, and of an ash-colour, having black Claws. In fine it is a very elegant bird.

QUIJUBATUI is all yellow, of the bigness of Tuiapara: with a hooked grey Bill, and black Eyes. The end of the Wings is of a dark green: The Tail long and yel∣low. It easily becomes very tame.

§. V. The Scarlet Parakeeto with green and black Wings.

IT is bigger than a Blackbird: The whole body of a Scarlet colour: The covert feathers of the Wings green; the prime feathers black; having their exteriour webs green above, and of a Crimson colour underneath. The ridges of the Wings yellow. The Tail a Palm long, consisting of twelve feathers, whose lower halves are red, the upper being green or yellow. The Bill yellow, very much hooked, hang∣ing down half an inch. The Irides of the Eyes yellow: The skin of the sides of the Head round the Eyes is bare, and of an ash-colour. The Legs very short and black. A ring of green feathers compasses the legs above the knees. We saw this at London in the shop of a certain trades-man, who told us that it was brought out of the East-Indies.

CHAP. V. * Clusius his Discourse and Account of Parrots.

THe Noble Philip Marnixius of St. Aldegond had a Parrot, whom I have oft heard laugh like a man, when he was by the by-standers bidden so to do in the French Tongue, in these words: Riez, Perroquet, riez; that is, Laugh, Parrot, laugh. Yea, which was more wonderful, it would presently add in the French Tongue, as if it had been endued with reason, but doubtless so taught, O le grand sot, qui me faict rire; that is, O great fool, who makes me laugh: And was wont to repeat those words twice or thrice. But among others I saw one of those great ones in the house of the illustrious Lady, Mary of Bremeu, Dutchess of Croy and Areschot, of happy memory, before she went out of Holland, the like whereto for variety and elegancy of colours, I do not remember to have ever seen. For though almost all the feathers covering the body were red, yet the feathers of the Tail (which were very long) were partly red, and partly blue; but those on the Back and Wings parti∣coloured of yellow, red, and green, with a mixture also of blue. Its Head about the Eyes was white and varied with waved black lines, like the Head of the Canida. I do not remember the like Parrot described in any Author. Moreover, this Bird was so in love with Anna the Dutchesses Neece, now Countess of Meghen, and * 1.447 Ba∣roness of Grosbeke, that where ever she walked about the Room it would follow her, and if it saw any one touch her cloaths, would strike at him with its Bill; so that it seemed to be possessed with a spirit of jealousie. That Parrot of the greater kind,

called by the Brasilians Arat, as Lerius writes, must needs also be a very handsom one. For he saith, that the prime feathers of the Wings and Tail (which are a foot and half long) are half Scarlet-coloured, half of an elegant blue; the shaft or Nerve which cuts the feather through the middle long-ways distinguishing those colours [that is, each feather being on one side the shaft blue, on the other side red] but that the rest of the feathers of the whole body are altogether blue. He adds, that both those sorts of greater Parrots, viz. Arat and Canide, were in great esteem among the Brasilians, because they pluckt their feathers three or four times a year, to make Clothes, Caps, Bucklers, and Curtains: And though they are not kept tame, yet are they wont more to frequent and abide in great trees in the middle of the Villages than in Woods. Besides, those two huge ones, the same Lerius reports, that there are found three or four sorts of Parrots among the Brasilians. The first, of those great and thick-bodied ones, which the Tououpinamboutii, a people of Brasil, call Aicurous, ha∣ving its head adorned with feathers particoloured of yellow, red, and violet, the ends of the Wings of a lovely red, and the feathers of the Tail long and yellow; the rest of the body being wholly green: That this kind is seldom transported into forein Countries; and yet there is none that may more easily and perfectly be taught to speak. He adds further, that a certain Brasilian woman, living in a Village two miles distant from the Island, in which he with other Frenchmen dwelt, had a Parrot of this kind, which she made much of; which seemed to be endued with that under∣standing and reason, that it could discern and comprehend whatever she said who brought it up. For, saith he, walking forth sometimes to refresh our selves as far as that Village, when we passed by that womans house, she was wont to call upon us in these words, Will you give me a Comb, or a Looking-glass, and I will presently make my Parrot sing and dance before you? If we agreed to her request, as soon as she had pro∣nounced some words to the Bird, it began not only to leap upon the Perch on which it stood, but also to talk and whistle, and imitate the shoutings and exclamations of the Brasilians, when they prepare themselves for the battel. In brief when it came into its Dames mind to bid it sing, it sang, to bid it leap, it leapt: But if taking it ill, that she had not obtained what she asked, she said to the bird Auge, that is, be still or silent: It stood still, and held its peace; neither could we by any means provoke it to move either foot or tongue. The second kind is called by the Brasilians Mar∣ganas, and is like those Parrots that are wont to be brought into Europe; of no great account among them, by reason of their multitude or abundance, they being not less frequent there, than Pigeons with us. The third sort of Parrots, called by them Tovis, are not greater than a Starling, and have their whole body covered with fea∣thers of a deep green: But the feathers of the Tail (which are very long) have a mixture of yellow. He added further, that he had observed, that the Parrots of that Country did not build Nests hanging down on the boughs or twigs of trees, as some by their Topographical Tables would persuade us; but in the hollows of trees, of an orbicular figure, sufficiently hard and firm. Then Clusius tells us that he saw Parrots brought from Fernambuco of the Brasilians, not exceeding the bigness of a Stare, covered with feathers wholly of a green colour, but all having a short Tail, and white Bill: and they who brought them over reported, that this kind was very noxious to fruit: That they fed them by the way with grains of Maiz, that is, Indian Wheat. In the second Voyage the Hollanders made into the East Indies, in Java and certain neigh∣bouring Islands, they observed Parrots far more elegant than those they were wont to bring out of Brasil, and they understood that they were called Noyras by the Portugues that frequented Java and the Moluccas: That they were not very big-bodied, but of so elegant a colour, that they thought more beautiful could not be painted by the hand of Man. For the Breast and Belly were covered with feathers of a florid, shining red colour; the Back with golden-coloured Plumes; the Wings adorned with feathers particoloured of green and blue: Underneath the Wings the feathers were of a lovely shining red. But that the price of those birds there was very great; so that they were not rated at less than eight or ten German Dollars. Linscotius writes, that the Portugues had often made trial to bring over of them to Lisbon, but could never effect it, because they were too tender and delicate. But the Hollanders with a great deal of care and industry brought one alive as far as Amsterdam, which though it were not of the choicest, yet might have been sold for one hundred and seventy Florens or Gilders of that Province, that is somewhat more than seventy Dollars, as I find re∣corded in the Diary of that Voyage. That bird by the way had learned to pronounce many Holland words, which it had heard of the Mariners, and its Master had made it

so tame, that it would put its Bill into his Mouth and Ears without doing him any harm, and would put in order the hairs of his beard if discomposed: And if any one else offered to touch him, it would presently snap or peck at him, as if it had been some Dog. Furthermore (saith he) in the year of Christ 1605. Jacob Plateau sent me the figure of a certain Parrot, drawn to the life in colours, the like whereto seeing I have not as yet seen, nor remember to have met with any where described, I thought fit to subjoyn the figure of it Printed, in this Auctarium to my History of Exotics. He wrote that he had kept it above two years, that it was of the bigness of a Pigeon: That it had a Head almost like a Hawks, to wit, covered with such co∣loured feathers: Sparkling Eyes. The Neck and Breast were beset with particoloured feathers; which when it was angry, or any one molested it, by bringing any Animal near to the Cage in which it was shut up, it would set an end, so that it seemed to be in a manner crested. Those feathers were of a reddish colour, and in the out∣ward part, [I suppose he means round the borders or edges] of a most elegant blue. The feathers of the Belly were almost of like colour, yet moreover clouded with dusky. The feathers of the Back were green, and the master-feathers of the Wings bluish. The Tail was composed of many green feathers, but not long. I could not neglect to propose to the Readers view a small sort of Parrot, brought these last years from Aethiopia and the places bordering on Manicongo, by the Holland Skippers, with the figure of the Male, (but the Female is much more elegant, for there was one brought of both Sexes.) The bulk of the body was equal in bigness to a Chaffinch: That is, was two inches and an half long from the bottom of the Neck to the Rump. All the feathers covering the body were of a green colour; among which yet there appeared a manifest difference: For those on the Back were deeper coloured; those on the Belly paler. The flag-feathers of the Wings were three inches long; and though on the upper side; on that side the shaft which hath the shorter Villi, as far as they cover one another, they were tinctured with a deep green; yet on the other side which hath longer Villi, and on all the under-side they were dusky or brown. The feathers of the Tail were most elegant, well nigh two inches long, little less than half an inch broad, on that part next the Rump of a green colour mingled with yel∣low, next of an elegant red, then of a black, and last of all of a green. And these three last colours were distinct from one another, as is to be seen in the Tail-feathers of some green Parrots, of the great kind [called Maccaws,] But these feathers are scarcely seen unless when she spreads her Tail, because they are covered with others of the same length, which are wholly green. The Neck is short and thick: The fea∣thers covering the Head very short and green; except those on the crown above the Bill, and on the whole throat, for they are of a lovely florid red colour. I speak of the Male, for the feathers of the Female were of a paler red, and did not take up so large a space as in the Male. The Eyes were very black, the Bill thick and strong; the upper Chap hooked and sharp-pointed, as in other sorts of Parrots: Its colour reddish. The Legs short, scarce attaining the length of half an inch, covered with ash-coloured scales, as the feet of other common Parrots, and those divided into four Toes; of which two stood forward, and were of unequal length, two backward, and they also unequal: The shorter, which were the inner, having two joynts, the longer; which were the outer, three. The Claws were white, and of a good length. I observed it to have a very small voice, and only to peep like a Chicken. It delights in company. When it eats, it doth not hold its meat in one foot, like other Parrots, but picks up its meat with its Bill by jobbing: But its meat for the most part is Canary seed; for I observed it to feed more willingly upon that than any other kind of Seed. I saw some that were so taught that they would pick up crums of bread dipt or moist∣ned with water. Its drink is water. I observed further in this bird, that the Fe∣males, when they grew old, would scarce eat any meat, but what had been pickt up by the Male, and kept a while in his Crop, and there mollified or macerated; the which they received with their Bills, as young Pigeons are wont to be fed and nou∣rished by the old ones.

§. VII. * Bontius his small Parrakeet.

IT is of the bigness of a Lark, hath a hooked Bill, grey of colour, as is also the throat; black Eyes, encompassed with a silver circle [I suppose he means the Iris.] The Tongue is like a Parrots with solid ligaments. It can set up specious feathers on the crown of its Head like a Crest. Its Legs and Feet are of an ash-colour. It hath a very long Tail, reaching about ten inches beyond the ends of the Wings. Both the Belly underneath, and also the Head, Neck, and Tail above are of a beautiful red colour: But the Breast and lower feathers of the Tail are of a pale rose-colour, which [Tail-feathers] end in a lovely blue, or colour mingled of white and green. The Wings are chiefly green, but interwoven with red feathers, the one half whereof is so variegated on each side with yellow and rose colour, that exposed to the Sun it re∣presents a thousand varieties of shining colours, and can hardly be expressed by a Painter: So that this bird deserves to be highly prized by great persons.

These Parrots are found chiefly in the midland Countries: They roost and build on the highest trees. They fly in companies, and with a great noise, as doth the whole tribe of Parrots. They are also garrulous, and learn to pronounce some words if they be kept tame.

§. VIII. * Marggravius his Brasilian Ani of kin to the Parrots.

THis Bird is of the bigness of a Throstle or Mavis, wholly black, Wings, Bill, Eyes, and Feet. It hath a long, erect Tail, of six inches length. Its Bill is high, broad, an inch long or something more; the lower part almost streight, the up∣per high, broad, of a semilunar figure and compressed, so that above it is almost edged. The Legs and Feet slender. It hath four Toes, two standing forwards, two backwards, after the manner or Parrots. It cries with a loud voice, in one tone yiiiiy, in the middle more elevated. They are frequent in all Woods, but not good to eat.

THE SECOND PART OF THE FIRST BOOK. Of Birds with streighter or less hooked Bills.

THE FIRST SECTION. OF GREATER BIRDS.

CHAP. I. Birds with thick, streight, and large Bills.

THese either feed indifferently upon Insects and Fruit, some of them also are carnivorous and rapacious, being very greedy of dead Carkasses and Car∣rion; or upon Insects only. The first may be divided into such whose bo∣dy is for the most part of one colour, and that black, which we call the Crow-kind: Or such whose body is particoloured, and who chatter much, viz. the Pie-kind. Of those which feed upon Insects only there is but one family, to wit, Wood-peckers. Yet the Reader is to take notice, that when we affirm Woodpeckers to feed only upon Insects, we understand Woodpeckers properly and strictly so called: For there are some birds which we have referred to this Genus of Woodpeckers largely taken, which feed also upon fruit, as for example, the Nuthatch, Wall-creeper, &c.

CHAP. II. Birds of the Crow-kind.

§. I. The Raven, called in Latine Corvus, in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

THe Bird we described weighed two pounds and two ounces: Its length from * 1.448 the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was two feet and one inch. The distance between the extremities of the Wings extended was four feet and half an inch. The Bill long, thick, sharp, and very black: The upper Chap some∣thing * 1.449 hooked, but not so as in Hawks, the lower streight: The Tongue broad, cleft at the tip, rough, and black underneath. The Iris of the Eye or ring encircling the * 1.450 Pupil consists as it were of a double circle, the exteriour being of a light cinereous or ash-colour, the interiour of a dark cinereous. Black hairs or bristles bending from the Head downwards cover the Nosthrils. The Plumage is black all over the body, * 1.451 having a blue splendour or gloss; which is seen especially in the Tail and Wings. The Belly is something paler, inclining to brown. On the middle of the Back grow only downy feathers: For the Back is covered with those long feathers that spring from the shoulders, as in many other birds. The number of prime feathers in each Wing * 1.452 is twenty, of which the first is shorter than the second, the second than the third, and that than the fourth, which is the longest of all. In all from the sixth to the eighteenth the shaft extends further than the Vanes, and ends in a sharp point.

The Tail is about nine inches long, made up of twelve feathers, the exteriour be∣ing * 1.453 gradually somewhat shorter than the interiour.

It hath large crooked Claws, especially those of the back-toes. The outmost fore∣toe * 1.454 is joyned to the middlemost from the divarication to the first joynt.

The Liver is divided into two Lobes. It hath a large Gall sticking to the Guts. * 1.455 The length of the Guts is forty three inches; of the blind-guts one inch.

The Gullet below the Bill is dilated into a kind of bag, wherein she brings meat to feed her Young. The stomach within is wrinkled. The Raven feeds not only upon * 1.456 Fruits and Insects, but also upon the Carkasses of beasts, birds, and fishes; moreover, it sets upon, kills, and devours living birds, after the manner of Hawks.

We have seen one or two milk-white Ravens: Aldrovandus mentions divers; and * 1.457 saith that they are often found in England: But without doubt he was mistaken or misinformed; for they are seldom seen among us; insomuch that they are carri∣ed up and down to be shewn for money. I rather think, that they are found in those Mountainous or Northern Countries, which are for the greatest part of the year co∣vered with snow: Where also many other Animals change their native colours, and become white, as Bears, Foxes, Hares, Blackbirds, &c. whether it proceeds from the force of the imagination heightned by the constant intuition of Snow, or from the cold of the Climate, occasioning such a languishing of colour; as we see in old Age, when the natural heat decays, the hair grows grey, and at last white.

They say that a Raven may be reclaimed and trained up for fowling, after the man∣ner * 1.458 of a Hawk.

Ravens are found not only in one part or Region of the World, but abound in all Countries: Do easily bear all changes of weather, fearing neither heat nor cold, en∣during well to abide and live where-ever there is plenty of meat for them. And though they are said to love solitude; yet do they very often live and build in the midst of the most populous Cities, as Aldrovandus delivers, and experience con∣firms. They build in high Trees, or old Towers, in the beginning of March with us in England, and sometimes sooner. They lay four or five, and sometimes six Eggs before they begin to sit. Their Eggs are of a pale greenish blue, full of black spots and lines.

What is reported by Hesiod and others of the Ancients, of the long lives of Ra∣vens * 1.459 is without doubt fabulous. But that all Birds in general compared with Qua∣drupeds are long-lived we have already proved by divers examples in several kinds: And that Ravens are in the number of the longest lived we will not deny.

§. II. The common or carrion Crow, Cornix.

THe Cock, which we described, weighed twenty two ounces [another but * 1.460 twenty.] Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Feet was eigh∣teen inches and an half, to the end of the Tail about an inch more: Its breadth be∣tween the extremities of the Wings spread two feet and two inches. The Bill strong, * 1.461 thick, streight, from the tip to the Angles of the Mouth two inches and almost an half long; the lower Mandible being somewhat the shorter: The Tongue cleft, and * 1.462 as it were jagged or torn. The Eyes great, having Irides of a Hazel colour. The * 1.463 Nosthrils round, covered with black bristles reflected toward the end of the Bill. * 1.464 The Plumage of the whole body is black, only the ground or bottom of the fea∣thers * 1.465 of a Lead or dark ash-colour.

The beam-feathers are in number twenty in each Wing; whereof the first is shorter * 1.466 than the second, the second than the third, that than the fourth, which is the longest of all, being by measure ten inches three quarters: The inner of these feathers end in sharp points.

The Tail was seven inches and an half long, composed of twelve feathers of equal * 1.467 length.

The Legs and Feet black: The Claws black and strong: The outmost fore-toe is * 1.468 joyned to the middle one from the bottom as far as the first joynt.

The Liver divided into two Lobes; of which the right is the greater. It hath a * 1.469 large Gall, which empties it self by a double channel into the Guts. The Muscles of the stomach are but small. The Guts have many revolutions: The blind's no more than half an inch long. Scarce any foot-step to be found of the * Ductus intestinalis. [channel conveying the Yolk to the Guts.]

This Bird delights to feed upon Carrion, that is the Carkasses of dead Animals * 1.470 when they begin to putrefie. Neither doth it feed only upon Carrion, but also set upon, kill, and devour living birds, in like manner as the Raven: Moreover, it eats Grain and all sorts of Insects in England at least. For beyond Seas they say it meddles with no kind of Grain.

This kind of Bird abounds with us in Britain, as Cardan and Turner truly observe, * 1.471 because here is plenty of food for them. They build upon high trees, and lay four or * 1.472 five Eggs at a time, like Ravens, but less. They are very noisom to Lambs new∣yeaned if they be weak and feeble, first picking out their eyes. They are said to have a very sagacious sent, so that it is difficult to shoot them, they smelling the Gun∣powder at a great distance.

Ravens, Crows, &c. roost (as they say) upon trees with their Bills directed toward the Sun-rising.

That the Crow it self (saith Aldrovandus) is capable of humane speech, and hath * 1.473 been taught to pronounce several words, both we our selves do certainly know, and Pliny, a Witness beyond exception, testifieth, writing thus: There was also in the City of Rome, whilest I was recording these things, a Crow belonging to a Roman Gentleman, brought out of Baetica, first admirable for its colour, which was exceeding black, then pro∣nouncing many words in connexion, and still learning more and more. As for its pace, it is reckoned among those birds which neither run, nor leap, but walk. Aldro∣vandus.

The Females only sit, and that diligently, the Males in the mean time bring them * 1.474 food, as Aristotle saith. In most other birds which pair together, the Male and Fe∣male sit by turns. They do not (saith Aldrovandus) as I hear, feed their Young till they begin to be feathered; the same also is reported of Ravens, and many other birds that are much on the Wing. You will say, wherewithal are they nourished in the mean time, and how do they grow? I answer, with the Yolk of the Egg remaining in the Belly after exclusion. For we have elsewhere shewn, that a good part of the Yolk is received into the cavity of the belly in birds newly hatched, which being by de∣grees conveyed into the Guts by a certain passage called by us ductus intestinalis, serves to nourish the Young newly excluded.

§. III. Cornix frugivora seu frugilega: The Rook.

IT weighed nineteen ounces: Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the * 1.475 Tail was twenty inches, to the end of the Claws eighteen. The breadth or di∣stance between the tips of the Wings extended thirty eight inches. It hath no Craw, but instead thereof the Gullet below the Bill is dilated into a kind of bag, wherein it brings meat to feed its Young.

In the old ones of this sort the feathers about the root of the Bill as far as the Eyes * 1.476 are worn off, by often thrusting the Bill into the ground, to fetch out Earth∣worms, &c. So that the flesh thereabouts is bare, and appears of a whitish colour: By which note this bird may be distinguished from the common Crow. Howbeit the Bill it self is not white, as Bellonius writes, and others believe. It differs also from the * 1.477 Crow, 2. In that it is somewhat bigger: 3. In the purple splendour or gloss of its fea∣thers: 4. In that it is gregarious, both flying and breeding in company.

The number of beam-feathers in each Wing is twenty, of which the fourth is the * 1.478 longest, being by measure ten inches and a quarter. The shafts of the middle Wing-feathers end in bristles or spines. The Tail is seven inches and an half long, made up of twelve feathers; the exteriour whereof are a little shorter than the middle ones.

The Bill from the tip to the Angles of the mouth is two inches and an half long. * 1.479 The Nostrils round: The Tongue black, horny, and cloven at the end. The hind-toe hath a large strong Claw. The outmost fore-toe is joyned to the middlemost, as in the Crow.

It hath a large Gall; short blind-guts like the Crow, of about half an inch. The sto∣mach * 1.480 is great and musculous as in granivorous birds: The Guts wide and variously reflected. They are most greedy of Corn, yet feed also upon Earth-worms and other Insects, refraining from garbage and carrion.

They build many together upon high trees about Gentlemens houses, who are * 1.481 much delighted with the noise they make in breeding time. Both Cock and Hen sit by turns. Their Eggs are like Crows, but lesser, spotted with greater spots, especi∣ally * 1.482 about the blunt end.

I have been told by a worthy Gentleman of Sussex, who himself observed it, that when Rooks build, one of the Pair always sits by to watch the Nest, till it be finished, whilst the other goes about to fetch materials. Else if both go, and leave the Nest unfinished, (as sometimes they venture to do) their fellow-Rooks ere they return again, will have rob'd and carried away to their several Nests all their sticks, and whatever else they had got together. Hence perhaps the word Rooking with us is used for cheating or abusing.

These Birds are noisome to Corn and Grain: So that the Husbandmen are forced * 1.483 to employ Children with hooting, and Crackers, and Rattles of Metal, and finally, with throwing of stones to scare them away. Such as have no Servants or Children to spare for such a purpose, make use of other devices; either of Mills made with Sails, to be turned by the Wind, making a continual snapping as they turn, where∣with they fright the birds, or of Bugbears, or (as we call them) Scare-Crows placed up and down the fields, and dressed up in a Country habit, which the birds taking for Country men dare not come near the grounds where they stand.

I was also told by the fore-mentioned Gentleman, that if Rooks infest your Corn, they will be more terrified by taking a Rook and plucking it limb from limb in their sight, and then casting the several limbs about your field, than if you hang up half a dozen dead Rooks in it.

§. IV. The Royston Crow. Cornix cinerea frugilega.

THat we described weighed about twenty two ounces. Its measures were from * 1.484 the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail twenty two inches; to the Angles of the mouth two inches and an half: Between the Wings extended, three feet and three inches.

The Bill long, strong, smooth, black, but having the tip whitish; the upper Chap * 1.485 somewhat longer than the lower, and a little bowed or crooked. The Nosthrils round, covered with bristly hairs. The Tongue broad, black, a little cloven, and rough on * 1.486 the sides. The Irides of the Eyes of a cinereous Hazel colour. * 1.487

The Head, Wings, and Throat, as far as the Breast-bone black, with a certain * 1.488 bluo gloss: The Breast, Belly, Back, and Neck cinereous or grey, the shafts of the feathers being blackish. The feathers on the Throat where the black and cinereous meet have their exteriour sides cinereous, and their interiour black. The Back is of somewhat a darker ash-colour than the Belly.

It hath in each Wing twenty master-feathers, of which the first is the shortest, the * 1.489 third, fourth, and fifth equal. From the sixth the shafts being produced above the feathers, end in sharp points. The Tail consists of twelve feathers, the exteriour whereof were gradually something shorter than the interiour to the middlemost, which were seven inches and an half long.

The back-toe and Claw are large: The exteriour and interiour fore-toes equal, * 1.490 and their Claws reach as far as the root of the Claw of the middle Toe. The outmost and middle Toe are joyned at the bottom asin the Crow.

The Liver is divided into two Lobes: The Stomach or Gizzard large, and in that * 1.491 we dissected was full of Wheat, Barley, and other Grain. It is infested with Lice and Ticks.

In Summer time (saith Aldrovandus) it lives in high Mountains, where it also builds: In the Winter (compelled as is likely by the cold) it descends into the Plains. * 1.492 On the Heaths about Newmarket, Royston, and elsewhere in Cambridge-shire, it is fre∣quently seen in Winter time.

§. V. The Jack-daw, Monedula.

IT weighed nine ounces and an half; being in length from the tip of the Bill to the * 1.493 end of the Tail thirteen inches and an half, in breadth between the tips of the Wings spread two feet four inches and an half. The Bill is strong, from the point to the Angles of the mouth an inch and a quarter long. The Nosthrils round. Little * 1.494 hairy feathers cover the Nosthrils, and half the Bill: The Tongue cloven; the Irides of the Eyes whitish; the Ears large.

The hinder part of the Head as far as the middle of the Neck inclines to an ash∣colour, * 1.495 as also the Breast and Belly, but less; else the whole Plumage is black with a kind of blue gloss: the fore-part of the Head is of a deeper black.

The number of prime feathers in each Wing is twenty: Of which the first is shor∣ter. * 1.496 by half than the second, the third and fourth the longest of all. From the ele∣venth, the six following have the tops of their Vanes so running forth on each side above their shafts, that these feathers seem to be * 1.497 crenate in their tops; and from the Angle of that notch the shaft of the feather is continued in form of a bristle. The number of Tail-feathers is twelve, whereof the exteriour are somewhat shorter. The * 1.498 length of the Tail five inches and an half.

The back-toe and Claw greater than in other birds is usual. The outmost fore-toe * 1.499 joyned to the middlemost at the bottom, as in the rest of this kind.

It hath no Craw: The stomach is musculous: The length of the Guts was twenty * 1.500 four inches. It feeds upon Nuts, Fruits, Seeds, and Insects. The Appendices or blind Guts small, and scarce an inch long.

The Head of this Bird, in respect of its body, is great; which argues him to be in∣genious * 1.501 and crafty; which is found true by experience.

Jackdaws usually frequent and build in ancient Castles, Towers, Houses, and Stone∣walls, * 1.502 especially if they be desolate and ruinous, in great numbers. They build also sometimes in Trees, as we can testifie upon our own experience, though Aldrovandus be unwilling to believe it. They lay five or six Eggs, lesser, paler, and having fewer * 1.503 spots than those of Crows.

Aldrovandus makes the Latine Graculus, which answers to the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a * 1.504 common or general name, containing under it four Species, viz. the Coracias or Chough, the Lupus or Jackdaw, the Scurra or and the Graculus palmipes or Shag. But the words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Graculus are sometimes appropriated to the Jackdaw, as he acknowledges.

Besides the common Jackdaw we have now described, Aldrovandus sets forth a fi∣gure * 1.505 of another, difiering from this, only in that it hath a white ring about its neck. Gesncr also writes from the report of others, that about Zug in Switzerland there is found a Jackdaw distinguished from the common by a ring of white encompassing his neck. As for that Species of Daw [Graculus] in Rhaetia known by the name of Tulla, which Gesner also mentions, having a blue head; he giving us no other notes of it, I cannot tell what to determine concerning it. The Vulgar and ignorant Fowlers love to tell wonders, and amplifie things, and therefore their relations are not much to be confided in. What Gesner delivers of his own sight or knowledge, I readily believe and accept for true, he being an Author of great judgment, and no less fidelity and integrity: But what he hath from the relation of others I do often suspect. Besides it is to be observed, that short, rude, imperfect, and general de∣scriptions, made by such as were not practised and skilful in describing and obser∣ving the certain and characteristic notes of each Species, have occasioned great confusion, and multiplication of more kinds of birds and other Creatures than Na∣ture hath produced.

§. VI. The Cornish Chough, Coracias seu Pyrrhocorax.

THe Female weighed twelve ounces and an half, the Male thirteen. The length * 1.506 from the point of the Bill to the end of the Feet sixteen inches and an half, to the end of the Tail seventeen. The Wings spread were thirty three inches and an half wide.

It is like a Jackdaw, but bigger, and almost equal to a Crow. It differs chiefly from * 1.507 the Jackdaw in the Bill, which is longer, red, sharp, a little bowed or crooked: The upper Mandible being something longer than the lower. The Nosthrils round: The Tongue broad, thin, and a little cloven, shorter than the Bill. The sides of the fis∣sures of the Palate and Windpipe and of the root of the Tongue are rough, and as it were hairy. Feathers reflected downwards cover the Nosthrils. The Feet and * 1.508 Legs are like those of a Jackdaw, but red of colour. The Plumage of the whole body all over is black.

The number of prime feathers in each Wing is twenty: Of which the first is shor∣ter * 1.509 than the second, that than the third, the third than the fourth, which is the lon∣gest of all, being by measure ten inches and an half. The Wings complicated extend as far as the end of the Tail. The Tail-feathers are in number twelve, all equal, or * 1.510 if any difference be, the middle a little the longer, as in the rest of this kind, being by measure 5⅜ inches.

The Liver was divided into two Lobes, of which the left was the less: The Spleen * 1.511 long, soft, and round: The Stomach fleshy, and full of Insects.

It frequents Rocks, old Castles, and Churches by the Sea-side. It is found not only * 1.512 in Cornwal, but also in Wales and all along the Western Coast of England, about the Cliffs and Rocks near the Sea. Its Voice is like that of the common Jackdaw, but more hoarse.

Aldrovandus will needs have the Pyrrhocorax to be a different bird from the Cora∣cias, * 1.513 following therein Aristotle. Bellonius makes these names Synonyma of the same bird; we must needs confess, that if there be such a bird as Aldrovandus describes v. g. less than a Crow, equal to a Jackdaw having yellow Bill and Feet, it is distinct from our Chough. But I am sure the Bird frequent on our Western Shores, and com∣monly known by the name of the Cornish Chough, is that which Bellonius and Turner make to be the Pyrrhocorax, and hath red Legs and Feet. Wherefore I take the Co∣racias and Pyrrhocorax of Gesner and Aldrovandus to be one and the same bird, not∣withstanding the Bill and Legs in this are said to be yellow; which perchance may be so in the Coracias or Chough when young.

§. VII. Bontius his Indian Raven.

THere is a strange kind of Raven in the Molucca Islands, and especially in Banda, which resembles our Country Raven in the Bill; but in the Temples is colou∣red like those * 1.514 Meleagrides which the Low Dutch call Kalcoutse hanen. It hath a great thick Bill, a little pointed, and made for Rapine; wide Nosthrils; great, black, ill∣favoured Eyes: The Head and Neck long, decently covered or adorned with blackish feathers. Its Feet and Toes strong, armed with long, crooked, and very hard or solid Claws. It walks after the manner of our Raven: But differs from it in nature and disposition; in that it feeds not upon Carrion or dead Carkasses, but chiefly upon Nutmegs, of which it is very greedy, making great destruction of that fruit, to the no small detriment of the Owners. Its flesh is very delicate, and being roasted hath a plain aromatical rellish, contracted from its food.

§. VIII. * 1.515 The horned Indian Raven or Topau, called the Rhinocerot Bird.

THis horned Bird as it casts a strong smell, so it hath a foul look, much exceeding the European Raven in bigness. It hath a thick Head and Neck, great Eyes; the Bill but moderate in respect of the body: The longer and more acuminate part bending downward argues the Bill to be made and designed for rapine: But the upper part, which is shorter, thicker, and bending upward doth resem∣ble a true Horn, both to the sight and touch: The one moity whereof, viz. that toward the Head, is * 1.516 contiguous to the Bill, so that both together after the same manner grow to [or rather spring out of] the end of the Head: The other moity is separate from the Bill, bending the contrary way, viz. upwards, so that * 1.517 they seem to be like the forked tail of a Fish. It lives upon Carrion and Garbage, i. e. the car∣kasses and Entrails of Animal.

Aldrovandus describes the Bill thus: It is almost twenty eight inches long, croo∣ked, not after the manner of rapacious birds, but like a Bow. All the lower part is of a pale or whitish yellow, the upper part toward the Head of a red or Vermilion, else of the same colour with the lower. The upper Mandible only within is serrate or dented after the manner of the * 1.518 Toucan. The horn springs out of the forehead, and grows to the upper part of the Bill, being of a great bulk, so that near the forehead it is a Palm broad; not unlike the Rhinocerots horn, but crooked at the tip: The colour both in the upper and lower part is Vermilion, in the middle yellow. If the rest of the parts of the body are answerable to the Head; I am of Cardans and Plinies opinion, that this Bird is bigger than an Eagle.

Of this sort of Bill we have seen three varieties, all which we have caused to be en∣graven and exhibited to the Readers view.

CHAP. III. Of the Pie-kind.

§. I. The Magpie or Pianet. Pica varia caudata.

IT weighs eight or nine ounces. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the Claws * 1.519 is twelve inches and an half, to the end of the Tail eighteen. The Bill about an inch and half long, black, thick, and strong, the upper Chap being somewhat crooked and sharp-pointed; the Tongue cloven at the end, and blackish, like to that * 1.520 of a Jay. The sides of the fissure of the Palate rough with hair-like excrescencies. The Nosthrils round, and beset with reflected bristly hairs. Excepting the whiteness * 1.521 of the Breast and Wings, and the length of the Tail, this Bird is very like the Jack∣daw. * 1.522 The Irides of the Eyes are of a pale Hazel colour. In the nictating membranes is seen a yellow spot.

The Head, Neck, Throat, Back, Rump, and lower Belly are of a black colour; * 1.523 the lower part of the Back near the Rump is more dilute, and inclining to cinereous. The Breast and sides are white, as also the first joynt of the Wing. The Wings are smaller than the bigness of the body would seem to require. The Tail and prime feathers of the Wings glister with very beautiful colours (but obscure) of green, purple and blue mingled, only in the exteriour Vanes. The number of beam feathers * 1.524 is twenty; of which the outmost is shorter by half than the second; the second also shorter than the third, and that than the fourth, but not by an equal defect; the fourth and fifth are the longest of all. The eleven foremost about their middle part, on the inside of the shaft are white, the white part from the extreme feather gra∣dually decreasing, till in the tenth it be contracted into a great spot only.

The Tail is made up of twelve feathers, of which the two middlemost are the * 1.525 longest, being by measure eight and an half or nine inches; the next to them above an

inch shorter, and of the rest the exteriour than the interiour in like proportion. The greatest and longest, that is the middle feathers of the Tail, have their bottoms green, their middles blue, and their tops purple.

The Feet and Claws are black: The lowest bone of the outmost fore-Toe is joyned * 1.526 to that of the middle.

The length of the Guts was twenty four inches, of the blind Guts half an inch. It * 1.527 hath a Gall-bladder, and a long Spleen: The Stomach not very fleshy, and having its Echinus.

There are sometimes found of this kind all over white, but rarely. In the King's * 1.528 Aviary in St. James's Park we saw brown or reddish ones.

This Bird is easily taught to speak, and that very plainly. We our selves have known many, which had learned to imitate mans voice, and speak articulately with * 1.529 that exactness, that they would pronounce whole Sentences together so like to hu∣mane Speech, that had you not seen the Birds you would have sworn it had been man that spoke.

They build their Nests in Trees with that Art and cunning as is admirable, fencing them round on the outside both above and below with sharp thorns, leaving only one * 1.530 hole, and that a very narrow one, for themselves to pass in and out. He that desires an exact description of the Nest let him consult Aldrovandus: With us in England they are so common every where, that we thought it not needful to insist longer on the describing of them. It lays five or six, and sometimes seven Eggs at once, seldom * 1.531 more; greater and paler than Crows Eggs, and very thick spotted with black.

Its Food is the same with that of the Jackdaw. Its sets upon, kills, and devours Sparrows, and other small birds: Yea, we have sometimes seen a Magpie strike at a Blackbird.

§. II. The Brasilian Pie of Aldrovandus, lib. 12. cap. 19. The Toucan of Marggrav. and others, The Xochitenacatl of the Mexicans, Nieremb.

IT is of a middle size between a Pie and a Blackbird. Thevetus reports, that the * 1.532 Bill is thicker and longer than almost the whole body besides. The Bill is near two Palms long, and one broad, being measured from the beginning of the lower Chap to the end of the upper. The lower Chap where it is thickest, viz. near the Eyes, is twice as little as the upper, and near the end, where it is crooked, thrice. It is of a very thin substance like Parchment, but bony, shining, very light, hollow, and inwardly capable of a great deal of Air: For which reason I think, contrary to the manner of other Birds, its wants Nosthrils: The Bill being so thin that the Air * 1.533 can easily penetrate it. And if Nature had made any aperture in it, it would have rendred it obnoxious to fracture. Hence also perchance it is, that she hath furnished it with certain teeth, so disposed that the Bill cannot be shut exactly close, but easily admits the ingress of the Air. The Bill, I say, is serrate, and as it were composed of certain little scales, which may easily by the fingers be plucked off, [or asunder.] The colour of the Bill is yellowish, more in the lower than the upper part [inwardly it is of a pleasant red] toward the end (saith Nierembergius) of a Scarlet colour. The Head in proportion to the body is great and thick, as is sutable and requisite to sustain * 1.534 a Bill of that length and bigness; black; yet the Crown, whole Back, and Wings shew something of whiteness. The Eyes are great, placed in the middle of the Head: * 1.535 The Pupil very black, encompassed with a white circle, and that again with a yellow. The Neck, Back, and Wings are black. The Breast shines with a most bright and * 1.536 lovely Gold or Saffron colour, with a certain redness near the beginning; the Belly and Thighs with a most beautiful Vermilion. The Tail again is black, but in the end of a notable red.

It is made so tame, as to sit and hatch its Young in Houses. Thevetus reports, that this bird feeds upon Pepper, which it most greedily devours, gorging it self there∣with, * 1.537 so that it voids it again crude and unconcocted; and that the Natives make use especially of that Pepper, preferring it before that which is fresh gathered from the * 1.538 Plant, because they persuade themselves that the strength and heat of the Pepper is qualified and allayed by the Bird, so that afterwards it is less noxious. All this out of Aldrovandus. Faber suspects the story of the Pepper, because his American friends, whom he consulted about this Bird, made no mention of any such thing. I suspect

that the Toes in this Bird are disposed after the manner of the Woodpeckers, viz. two forwards, and two backwards. For such is the conformation of the Feet of the Aracari of Marggrave, a bird near of kin, and very like to this. And Thevetus in his figure expresses only two foretoes.

Since the writing of this, hapning to read in John Faber his Expositions of some Pictures of New-Spain Animals of Recchas, I found there mentioned a bird of this sort seen and described by Carlo Antonio dal Pozzo at Fontain-bleau in France, with its Toes so disposed as I imagined, viz. two forwards two backwards, as in Wood∣peckers, to the genus whereof the Toucan, as Faber in this place proves, doth un∣doubtedly belong. For it not only hath a like situation of Toes, but also in like man∣ner hews holes in trees to build its Nest in, as Frier Peter Alvaysa, and other Indians and Spaniards, who had long lived in America, told Faber for a certain truth; and Ovie∣dus, in the forty third Chapter of his Summary of the History of the West Indies published in Italian, writes; adding, that he thinks there is no bird secures her young ones better from the Monkeys, which are very noisom to the Young of most Birds. For when she perceives the approach of those Enemies, she so settles her self in her Nest as to put her Bill out at the hole, and gives the Monkeys such a welcom there∣with, that they presently pack away, and glad they scape so. From this quality of boring trees this Bird is by the Spaniards called Carpintero, and by the Brasilians Taca∣taca, in imitation I suppose of the sound it makes.

Because the Bird exactly described by Dal Pozzo, seems to be specifically different from that of Aldrovandus, I shall here add his description.

It was (saith he) a little bigger than the common Magpie. [Lerius maketh it of the bigness of a Dove; Oviedo, not bigger, or but little bigger than a Quail.] Its Bill, which is very broad, had its upper part [or Chap] whereit grew to the Head, tinctu∣red with green, a line of green being also thence produced to the point; but its lower Chap at its setting on to the Head a blue colour. All the rest of the Bill was of a dark red, like Serpentine wood, with many intercurrent black spots and lines. N. B. Its Bill was empty and hollow, and upon that account very light [Oviedo makes it very heavy, and to weigh more than the whole body besides, which is cer∣tainly a mistake] so that it had little strength in it, neither could the bird peck or strike smartly with it. Its inside was of a Saffron-colour, but blue toward the tip.

It had a very flat thin Tongue, not much unlike those long feathers on the Neck of a Dunghil-Cock: This it moved up and down, and stretcht out to the length of the Bill. It was of a true flesh-colour, and which you would wonder at, fringed, as it were, on each side with very small filaments, which made it shew like a true feather. [This Oviedus also confirms.]

Its feathers on the Neck down to the middle of the Breast were whitish, termi∣nating in a sooty colour; on the Head and Back blackish. Round the Eyes was a space bare of feathers, but curled with hair, of a Violet-colour, as is seen also in Par∣rots. The rest of the body was covered with feathers of a Weasel-colour [mustelini coloris.] It had no Tail, [having been, I suppose, plucked off] but one ready to come; the beginning whereof consisted of feathers of a dark white, particoloured with black, weasel, and Vermilion colour. It also frequently flirted up that rudiment of a Tail, as Wrens and Wagtails are wont to do.

Each foot was divided into two Toes standing forward, and two backward; above of a Violet-colour, underneath of an ash or grey.

It often hopped and leapt up and down, and cried with a voice not unlike the chat∣tering of a Magpie.

It fed upon almost all the same things that Parrots do, but was most greedy of Grapes, which being pluckt off one by one, and tossed to it, it would most dextrous∣ly catch in the Air before they fell to the ground. The flesh of the whole body was of a deep Violet colour.

Faber doth not undeservedly enquire how, seeing the Bill is so light and thin, the Bird can pierce trees with it? Which difficulty he thus satisfies; that though it be thin and light, yet is it of a bony substance, and therefore it is not to be wondred at that, dextrously used by the living Animal, it should therewith by many repeated strokes pierce a tree, having perchance the instinct to chuse a rotten one, as we see drops of rain wear holes in Flints, nay, the very feet of Pismires walking often over them, as Pliny observes, make impressions on them. * 1.539 Lerius writes, that this Bird is of the colour of a Raven except the Breast, which is of a Saffron-co∣lour, compassed beneath with a line of Vermilion; the skin of which part pluckt

off the Indians dry, and use for an ornament of their Cheeks, gluing it on with Wax.

This same Bird is described by * 1.540 John de Laet, out of a Portugues Author, and out of the same by * 1.541 Marggrave. It is of the bigness (saith he) of a Pie or Dove, hath a Crop under the Breast three or four inches broad, of a Saffron-colour, and com∣passed about the borders with Vermilion feathers. The Breast is yellow, the rest of the body black. One would wonder how so little a bird could carry so great a Bill, but it is exceeding light, and very tender.

We have seen in several Cabinets the Bill of this Bird, and our selves have also one of them.

§. III. The Jay. Pica glandaria.

IT weighed seven ounces. Its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the * 1.542 Tail was fourteen inches; to the end of the Feet but twelve and an half: The distance between the extremities of the Wings spread twenty one and an half. The Bill black, strong, from the tip to the Angles of the mouth about or near an inch and * 1.543 half long: The Tongue black, thin, pellucid, and cloven at the tip: The Irides of * 1.544 the Eyes white. The feathers of the Head and Body in this bird are taller, slenderer, and stand more staring or erect than ordinary. Near the lower Chap of the Bill are two black spots, on each side one: The Chin and lower part of the Belly whitish: Else the Breast and Belly are of a colour mixt of cinereous and red. The Rump above is white: The Back red, with a certain mixture of blue: The feathers on the crown of the Head variegated with black and white.

The Sails of the Wings are in number twenty: Of which the first is shorter by half * 1.545 than the second: The fourth the longest, being by measure six inches and a quarter. As for their colours, the first or outmost is black, the bottom or lower part being white, which is proper to it alone: The six next-following have their exteriour Vanes of an ash-colour; the three next likewise, but more obscure and mingled with blue, being also marked toward their bottoms with transverse black and white strokes. The five succeeding have their exteriour Vanes half white, half black, viz. the lower half white, the upper black, but so that each extremity of the white is terminated with blue. The sixteenth in place of the white of the four precedent hath trans∣verse blue, black, and white spots: The seventeenth is black, having one or two blue spots: The eighteenth is black, with some little red: The nineteenth red, with the tip black. The undersides of all the feathers of the Wing are of a dark or dusky colour. The covert-feathers of the fifteen exteriour Sails are very beautiful, being variegated or chequered with black, white, and lovely shining blue lines: The rest of the covert-feathers being black.

The Tail is six inches and a quarter long, consisting of twelve feathers, wholly * 1.546 black, except toward their roots: Under the Rump there is something of blue ming∣led with cinereous.

The Feet and Toes are of a ferrugineous, dusky colour. The middle Toe is the * 1.547 longest, the outmost is equal to the back-toe. The lower internodium of the outmost Toe is joyned to the middlemost. The back Claw is greatest.

The Eggs are cinereous, with darker spots scarce appearing. The Guts twenty * 1.548 four inches long; the blind Guts but half an inch. It hath a Gall, and a long Spleen: The Stomach or Gizzard not very fleshy, and having its Echinus: Wherein we found * 1.549 Acorns, &c. Yet it feeds not only on Acorns, (whence it got the name of Pica glan∣daria) * 1.550 but also upon Cherries (of which it is very greedy) Goose-berries, Rasps, and other fruit.

It differs from that described by Aldrovandus, in that it hath no transverse spots in * 1.551 the Tail.

The Female differs little or nothing from the Male either in bigness or colour, so that it is very difficult to know them asunder.

It learns to imitate mans voice, and speak articulately as well as a Jackdaw. * 1.552

§. IV. The Roller, Garrulus Argentoratensis.

THe bird we described was a Cock, and weighed six ounces. Its length from * 1.553 the tip of the Bill to the Claws eleven inches and an half, to the end of the Tail thirteen and an half: The breadth or distance between the tips of the Wings spread twenty six inches.

The Bill was black, sharp, something hooked, otherwise like to that of a Jay, from * 1.554 the point to the Angles of the mouth 1 ⅝ inches long. The Irides of the Eyes were of a pale hazel-colour. Near the Eyes, toward the hinder part of the Head, were * 1.555 two bunches, as it were Warts, void of feathers. The Tongue black as in Jays, jagged or torn, but not cloven: The roof of the mouth green, and having a double cleft or fissure. The bottom of the Palate is rugged or rough with little bunches. At the Base of the Tongue there is only a little forked excrescency on each side. The circumfe∣rence of the Eyes is bare or void of feathers. * 1.556

The Rump and lesser rows of covert feathers of the Wings are of a lovely blue or ultramarine colour (as the Painters call it.) The middle of the Back between the shoulders red: The Head of a sordid green, mingled with blue; of which colour is also the Throat, with white lines in the middle of each feather. The Breast and Belly are of a pale blue, like those of a Pigeon.

The number of Sails in each Wing is twenty, of which the first, second, and third * 1.557 are equal, and from the tenth all the rest. Almost all of them have their lower half blue, and the upper black. The foremost are black almost down to the bottom, only in their exteriour Webs they have a mixture of blue. The covert feathers of the Wings are of a pale blue, of which colour also, but paler are those that invest the underside of the Wing.

The Tail consists of twelve feathers, of which the ten intermediate are equal, each * 1.558 being four inches three quarters long: The two extreme longer than the rest by three quarters of an inch. The two middlemost are of a dark ash-colour, the next to them have their tips of a bluish white, which colour gradually increases in the rest, till in the outmost it takes up half the feather. Below the white the interiour webs of the feathers are black, and the exteriour blue: The tips of the outmost feathers are black. The tail-feathers and sails of the Wings where ever they are blackish above, are blue underneath. The outmost feather of the * 1.559 Ala notha is black, the rest blue.

The Feet are short, and like those of a Dove, of a dirty yellow colour: The * 1.560 middle Toe the longest, next to that the outmost fore-toe. The Claw of the mid∣dle Toe in the inner side is edged. The Claws are black; and the Toes divided to the bottom.

The Stomach within was of a Saffron colour, and therein we found a large Grass∣hopper: * 1.561 The Guts thirteen inches and an half long; the blind Guts two and an half.

We found of these Birds not only in Germany, but also in the Isles of Sicily and * 1.562 Malta, to be sold in the Markets, and in the Poulterers shops.

There are many singular and characteristic marks in this bird; as 1. The knobs or wart-like bunches under the eyes. 2. The figure of the Tail, the outmost feather on each side being longer than the rest. 3. The Toes divided down to the bottom. 4. The Tongue having only two forked Appendices.

* Gesners blue Crow; the same I suspect with the precedent.

The blue Crow, whose figure Jo. Kentmannus, sent to Gesner, but the History thereof George Fabricius out of Misnia; is a wild bird, and not easie to be tamed; called by the Misnians, * 1.563 Ein wild Holtzkrae, of others, Galgen-regell, or Halck-regel. It is found beyond the River Elb, in the Luchovian Forest, and in the neighbouring Woods: It haunts and abides in desart and unfrequented places. Some from the colour call it Ein Tentschen Pappagey, that is, The German Parrot. It is transported into Forein Countries for no other commendation but the colour. So far George Fabri∣cius. The Bill (as the Picture shews) is black: The Legs dusky, and for the propor∣tion of the body small. It is here and there all over the body, viz. on the Head,

Wings, Tail, about the Rump, and all the underside of a shining blue colour, in some places more sincere, in some mixt with green. The colour of the Back and upper side of the Neck is dusky: The greater feathers of the Wings black. I am verily per∣swaded, that this bird is no other than the Strasburgh Roller.

§. V. * The Sea-Pie. Pica Marina.

ALdrovandus in the twelfth Book and fifteenth Chapter of his Ornithology doth thus briefly describe this bird. The whole Bird, excepting the Head, Neck, Feet, and also part of the Wings, is of a greenish colour. The Bill is strong, a little longer than a Pies, very sharp. The top of the Head, and down as low as a third part of the Neck, is of a delayed Chesnut colour. The lower part of the Head to the Tem∣ples and Eyes yellow. The Eyes black, with yellow Irides, encompassed again with a black circle. The Feet dusky; the Toes long; the Nails very crooked and black: The rest of the body green, except the second row of Wing-feathers, which are of a dilute Chesnut, having their ends blue.

Whether he himself saw this Bird, or described it from a picture, he tells us not: But in that he affirms, that the Strasburg Roller never lives in maritime places, and so with∣out reason challenges the name of the Sea-pie, which the Bolognese (as Gesner witnes∣seth) attribute to it, he is without doubt deceived: Sith we our selves (as we said before) saw at Messina in Sicily, and in the Isle of Malta several of them.

§. VI. * The Persian Pie. Aldrovandus.

THe bird which Aldrovandus calls by this name, and describes from a Picture, sent him from Venice, hath a strong, thick, short, whitish Bill: Also white Eyes with a black Pupil. The second row of Wing-feathers, the Rump, and foremost fea∣thers in the Tail are yellow. The Feet are bluish with black tabulary scales: The Claws small, but crooked and black: Else it is all over of a dusky colour. Besides these Dr. Charleton in his Onomasticon Zoicon, p. 68. mentions another sort of Pie, viz. * 1.564 The Indian Mock-bird, not much unlike the Jay, but somewhat smaller. We have not as yet had the hap to see this bird: Nor is there any thing written of it by others, that we know of.

§. VII. Caryocatactes, Gesn. and Turn.

IT weighed five ounces three quarters. Its length from the Bill to the end of the Toes was thirteen inches and an half, to the end of the Tail the same. The breadth between the tips of the Wings spread twenty two inches and an half.

The Bill from the tip to the corners of the mouth is almost two inches long, black, strong, and like that of a Pie, save that it is not sharp pointed, but blunt at the end, and the upper Mandible a little prominent. The Tongue is short, scarce reaching be∣yond the Angle of the lower Mandible, cloven with a deeper incision than in any other Bird I have observed. In the lower Chap from the Angle is a wrinkle exactly equal to the fissure or cleft of the Tongue; so that the Tongue seems never to ex∣tend further, the wrinkle filling up the fissure. The bottom of the Palate and sides of the fissure therein are rough. The Irides of the Eyes are of a hazel colour: The Nosthrils round, and covered with whitish, bristly, reflected feathers.

The whole body, as well lower as upper side, is of a dusky red; all over, except the Head, beautified with triangular white spots in the tops of the feathers; these spots on the Breast are greater than elsewhere. The Head is not spotted at all. The upper side of the body partakes more of red. Between the Eyes and Bill it is white. The feathers under the Tail, beyond the vent are milk-white.

The sails in each Wing are about twenty, of a black or dark colour, the Tail-feathers twelve, all of equal length, being by measure four inches three quarters, ex∣cept the outmost on each side, which are a little shorter. And for their colours, the

outmost on each side are three quarters white, and from them the white part is gra∣dually less and less in the succeeding feathers to the middlemost, in which it doth wholly disappear: The rest of the Tail-feathers is of a shining black.

The Feet and Claws are black: The outmost Toe, as in the rest of this kind, is joyned to the middlemost at the bottom.

It hath a Gall; its Guts were eighteen inches long: The blind Guts half an inch: The Testicles small. It feeds on Nuts, &c. It hath a note or voice something like a Magpie.

We found this Bird in the Mountainous part of Austria, near the way leading from Vienna to Venice, not far from a great Village called Schadwyen, where there is a very steep, difficult, and craggy ascent up the neighbouring Mountains whereupon there stand always ready there certain Yokes of Oxen, to draw the Coaches or Waggons of such as travel that way up the craggy Cliffs and Rocks, which Horses could not at all, or with great difficulty climb and struggle through, drawing a Coach after them.

§. VII. * The Bohemian Chatterer. Garrulus Bohemicus, * 1.565 Aldrov. eidem Ampelis.

IT is almost as big as a Blackbird, but bigger than the * 1.566 Hawfinch. Its length from Bill∣point to Tail-end nine inches: Its breadth, viz. the Wings being spread, four Palms. Whence it is manifest, that Gesner is mistaken, in that he writes that for shape, and size of body, and colours it approaches to the common Garrulus. Its Bill is of a deep black, of the bigness of a House-Sparrows. Gesners figure represents it too long, and too crooked. The Nosthrils are encompassed with hairs of the same colour, which make, as it were, a transverse black spot: In which are included the Eyes, that are round, and of a most beautiful colour, to wit, Vermilion; resembling that of the Chalce∣donian Carbuncle, commonly called the Granate: Which perchance gave occasion to some to believe that they shine in the Night. Its Head is after a sort compressed, be∣ing by Gesner represented too round; of a Chesnut or ferrugineous colour, adorned with a crest or tuft, bending backward, after the manner of the crested Lark. The colour of the Crest toward the Bill is a delayed Chesnut, but backward cinereous, inclining to dusky, not unlike to the colour of * 1.567 Umber. The Neck is short, black in the fore and hind part, red on the sides, near the Bill white. The Breast is of a chesnut or ferrugineous colour, but dilute and inclining to rosie. The whole Belly is ash-coloured, except towards the vent, where are some white feathers, whose roots or lower parts, v. g. from the middle to the flesh, are black, and softer than their upper parts. The Back inclines to a chesnut or bay, but toward the Rump it is cinereous or dun. The outer feathers of the Wings are black, the inner ash-coloured, but declining to black. The outer Wing-feathers are marked with spots very pleasant to behold: Some of these feathers, viz. the first, seven in num∣ber, are white, their Appendices being red like to Cinnabar or Vermilion. Gesner was told by a certain person, I know not who, but untruly, that these feathers were horny [I suppose he meant their shafts] Yet are they pretty hard and solid, long, and after a sort Cartilagineous. To these succeed other feathers adorned in like manner with spots, but of a pale yellow, resembling in some measure the figure of the Let∣ter L: Which are so disposed, that in some feathers appear seven, in some six, and in some but five only. Again, the last feathers have white spots, which by how much they are situate nearer the outside, by so much do they become less conspicuous; so that of the last feathers of all sometimes three, sometimes two, and sometimes only one is so spotted. The covert feathers are also tipt with white. Concerning the yel∣low spots it is to be noted, that in the Females they are white, and that over against them are to be found other white spots. I have learned by inspection, that the Tail of the Cock consists of ten feathers only, the Tail of the Hen of twelve; which near their roots are of a dark cinereous or Mouse dun, but above are black. The end of the whole Tail is yellow, but more resplendent in the Male than in the Female. Near the vent are some other feathers of a Chesnut-colour, making as it were ano∣ther Tail, but far less. The colour of the Legs is dusky, inclining to blue. The shape and bigness of the Feet answer to those of a * 1.568 Hawfinch: The colour differs, being black in the Garrulus, flesh or rose-coloured in the Hawfinch, It hath black and crooked Claws.

See the description of the Entrails and Bowels in Aldrovandus. This Bird is said to be peculiar to Bohemia. It feeds upon Fruit, especially Grapes, of which it is very greedy. Wherefore it seems to me, not without reason, to be called by that name [Ampelis.] It is a Bird of a very hot temperament, and exceedingly voracious: flies in compa∣nies, and is easily tamed. What else Aldrovandus hath of its disposition and man∣ners, food, flight, use, &c. See in his Ornithology. It is wonderful, and to me scarce credible, what he saith he learned by * 1.569 ocular experience, to wit, that the Tail of the Cock is made up of ten feathers, the Tail of the Hen of twelve.

CHAP. IV. Of Woodpeckers in general.

TO Woodpeckers, if under this name we comprehend the Nuthatch, the Wall∣creeper, the great Reed-Sparrow, and the Ox-eye creeper, there are very few notes common, viz. to climb or run up trees, sticking to their bodies or boughs; and for that purpose to have strong and musculous thighs. But if we ex∣exclude the foresaid Birds, and restrain the name to Woodspites, properly so called, there are many and remarkable notes whereby they may be distinguished from all other kinds of birds: As for example, 1. To have a streight, hard, strong, angular, and sharp Bill, very fit and proper to pierce and bore holes in trees. 2. A Tongue of a very great length, round, ending in a sharp, stiff, bony thorn, dented on each side, to strike Ants, Cossi, and other Insects withal. This Tongue they can at pleasure put forth to a great length, thrusting it deep into the crannies, holes, and clefts of trees, to stab and draw out Insects lurking there. 3. Short Legs, but very strong. 4. Toes standing two forwards, and two backwards: Which is common to these and Parrots. Such a disposition of Toes (as Aldrovandus rightly notes) Nature, or rather the Wisdom of the Creator, hath granted to Woodpeckers, because it is very convenient for the climbing of trees. Their Toes also are close joyned together; that they may more strongly and firmly lay hold on the tree they climb upon. 5. All of them, un∣less perchance you except the Wryneck, have a hard, stiff Tail, bending also down∣wards, and its feathers ends often broken, and their shafts almost bare; on which they lean, and so bear up themselves in climbing. Their Tail consists of but ten fea∣thers. 6. To feed only upon Insects. 7. To want the blind Guts, which is peculiar to this kind, agreeing to no other bird or beast beside, that we know. 8. To lay white Eggs.

Whether all these marks agree to those American Birds which we have ranked un∣der this head we know not. We have referred them to this kind, for the like dispositi∣on of their Toes, two forward, two backward; especially seeing they belong neither to Parrots nor Owls.

Albertus writes that all Woodspites build in the hollows of trees, which before him Pliny also hath recorded. They themselves are said to hew out for themselves a place to build in; making such an artificial hole, so exactly round, that the most skilful and ex∣perienced Geometrician could not with his Compass make a rounder. They hatch and bring up six or seven Young at once. The Eggs of all kinds of them that we have hitherto seen are white. The Woodspite is called by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from stri∣king or piercing of trees. The Latine name Picus some think to be derived from the French and Italian word Becco, signifying a Bill or beak of a bird. Aldrovandus thinks that it was rather deduced from the Flemmish word Picken, signifying to strike or knock with the Bill. The word Pick with us is variously applied, but originally seems to have the same signification as in Flemmish, viz. either to strike with the Bill, or gather up with the Bill. Hence in the North of England these Birds are called Pickatrees, a word exactly of the same signification with the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

That Woodpeckers will learn to speak I can hardly be perswaded, though Albertus Magnus and Scaliger affirm it.

The Woodpecker was not only by the ancient Latines, called Pluviae avis, the Rain∣sowl, but is so also by our Country men now adays, because by its voice more loud and frequent than usual it is thought to presage rain.

CHAP. V. Of several sorts of Woodpeckers.

§. I. The greatest black Woodpecker.

THe Cock, which we described, weighed ten ounces and an half: being in length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail eighteen inches and an half; in breadth between the tips of the Wings spread twenty nine inches and an half.

Its Bill from the point to the Angles of the mouth was two inches and an half long, strong, hard, triangular, as in the rest of this kind. Above the Nosthrils a hard wrinkle is produced beyond the middle of the Bill. That part of the Bill which is below the wrinkle is white, the rest black. The Tongue, when extended, is of a very great length. It can shoot it out and draw it back at pleasure, which is com∣mon to it with the rest of this kind. Its Nosthrils are round, covered with reflected hairs: Its Head very great. The Irides of the Eyes are of a pale yellow.

The colour of the whole body is black, excepting the crown of the head, which down to the Nosthrils is of a lovely red or Vermilion colour.

The number of flag-feathers in each Wing is nineteen, of which the fifth and sixth are the longest; the Sarcel or pinion feather is very short, and not greater than those of the second row.

The Tail is made up of ten feathers, of which the outmost are the shortest, the rest on both sides gradually longer to the two middlemost, which are the longest of all. All but the outmost (which as we said are the least and shortest) are stiff, sharp∣pointed, bending inward, about seven inches long, upon which in climbing trees they lean and support their bodies.

The Legs on the forepart are feathered down half way, behind no longer than the knees. The Feet are of a lead colour, It hath two back toes, as the rest of its kind: The Claws strong and great, except that of the lesser back-toe, which is very small.

The Gall of a dark green: The Testicles yellowish: The Guts seventeen inches long, great and lax: The stomach also lax and membranaceous, full of Hexapods and Ants. It altogether wants the Appendices or blind Guts, as the rest of this Tribe.

This Bird we found in the Market at Ratisbone in Germany to be sold, killed not far from that City. It is not found in England that we know of.

§. II. The green Woodpecker, or Woodspite, called also the Rain-fowl, High-hoe, and Hew-hole.

THe Cock weighed six ounces three quarters. Its length from the Bill to the Toes was eleven inches, to the end of the Tail thirteen and an half. The Wings extended were equal to twenty one inches and an half. The Bill from the point to the Angles of the mouth was almost two inches long, black, hard, strong, triangular, ending in a blunt point. A reddish dusky circle immediately encompasses the Pupil of the Eye; the rest of the Iris being white. The Tongue when stretched out is of a very great length, ending in a sharp, bony substance, rough underneath, wherewith, as with a Dart, it strikes Insects. The top of the Head is of a Crimson or Vermilion colour, spotted with black. The Eyes are encompassed with black, under the black on each side is another Vermilion spot. The Throat, Breast and Belly are of a pale green: The Back, Neck, and lesser rows of covert feathers of the Wings green: The Rump of a pale yellow or straw-colour, as Aldrovandus rightly expresses it. The feathers under the Tail are crossed with transverse dusky lines.

In each Wing are nineteen prime feathers, beside the outmost (which is very short) of a dusky colour, and marked with semicircular white spots. But more particular∣ly, the outer Webs of the * 1.570 interiour flags are green, the inner Webs dusky, with semicircular white spots: The outer Webs of the exteriour flags dusky, and painted

with white spots, the inner Webs of the same colour with the precedent. The fea∣thers covering the roots of the flags underneath are of a pale green, with transverse dusky lines. The Tail consists of ten feathers, stiff, and bending inwards, which by reason the shaft reacheth not to the end of the Webs, seem to be forked. The two middlemost feathers are the longest, by measure four inches and an half, have their tips black, else they are marked with cross bars, above of a dark green, and under∣neath whitish, the three next on each side differ not from these. Of the two out∣most (which are blunter than the rest) the greater are all over varied with transverse bars of black and dark green alternately placed, the lesser or outmost have their tops green, and bottoms black.

The Feet and Toes are of a pale green, and sometimes of a lead colour: The Claws dusky. The Toes placed as in the rest of this kind, two forward, two backward. The lowest bones of the fore toes are joyned together.

It hath a large Gall, an Inch and half long: The right Testicle round, the left ob∣long, and bent almost into a circle, which lest any one should think accidental, I ob∣served in three several birds. It hath no blind Guts, but in their stead the streight Gut is dilated in that place. Its Crop was full of Ants and Ants Eggs. It feeds also upon Caterpillars and Cossi. It sits more upon the ground than other Woodpeckers, and seeks its food there.

Its Tongue is round, ending in a stiff, sharp, bony tip, dented on both sides. This Tongue the Bird can dart out to a great length, viz. some three or four inches, and draw up again, by the help of two small round Cartilages, fastned into the fore∣mentioned bony tip, and running along the length of the Tongue: These Cartilages from the root of the Tongue take a circuit beyond the Ears, and being reflected back∣wards to the crown of the Head, (where they both meet again, and are kept down down by a Ligament going over them) make a large bow. Below the Ligament they run down the Sagittal Suture, and then declining a little to the right side, pass just above the orbit of the right Eye, and along the right side of the Bill into a hole excavated there, whence they have their rise or original. The musculous spongy flesh of the Tongue encloses these Cartilages like a sheath, and is so made that it may be extended or contracted like a Worm. That part also of these Cartilages, reaching from the hind part of the Head to the end of the Bill, is covered with the like muscu∣lous flesh that may be contracted or extended like the Tongue, only both Cartilages are not enclosed in one muscle, but have each its several distinct musculous sheath, like two small strings or worms. On the ends of these Cartilages (for I could without much force draw them out of their socket in the Bill) there was a white glutinous or mu∣cous matter. On the inside the flexure of these Cartilages reaching from the root of the Tongue to the top of the Head, was a broad thin muscle, which served to move the Cartilages to and fro. For by contracting it self it streightens the bow of the Carti∣lages (almost after the manner as the Tunica Uvea dilates the Pupil) and so necessarily forces the Cartilages forward through the Tongue, and thrusts out the Tongue: But we leave these things to be more curiously weighed and examined by others.

The tips of the shafts of the Tail-feathers in this and other Woodpeckers seem to be broken or worn off by their resting upon them in climbing.

This kind lays five or six Eggs at once. I have seen six young ones together in a Nest.

* Bellonius his greatest green Woodpecker.

Bellonius makes this Bird (which he would have to be Aristotles third kind of Woodpecker) far greater than the common green Woodspite now described. He gives him a crooked Bill, contrary to the manner of the rest of this Tribe: Feet after the fashion of others: Divers spots in the Wings, such as are seen in the Wings of the rest, but different in colour.

§. III. The greater spotted Woodpecker or Witwall, Picus varius major; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Arist.

IT is as big or bigger than a Blackbird. The Female weighed two ounces three quarters. Its length from the Bill to the Claws was eight inches, to the end of the Tail nine and an half: the distance between the tips of the Wings extended six∣teen inches.

The Bill in the Cock was an inch and a quarter long, measuring from the tip to the corner of the slit of the mouth, streight, black, thicker at the head, and slenderer by degrees, ending in a sharp point, being of a triangular Pyramidal figure, and channel'd with a furrow or two. The Nosthrils round and covered with black bristles. The Irides of the Eyes red. The Tongue made like that of the green Woodpecker.

On the hind part of the Head is a line of Crimson or Vermilion red, reaching from white to white in each cheek; [in the Cock, not in the Hen.] In the Hen the Throat and Breast were of a dirty yellowish white: The lower Belly under the Tail of a * 1.571 lovely red or Crimson colour. Hence the Italians call it Cul rosso, the Welsh by a name signifying Fire-tail. the feathers encompassing the Base of the upper Chap, and those about the Eyes and Ears are white. The Head is black, with a dash of shining green, the Back also black. At the insertion of the Wings on each side is a great white spot. From the corners of the mouth a broad, black stroak reaches own to the Back: just below the Head another black stroak crosses this.

The flag-feathers of the Wing are in number twenty (of which the first or out∣most is the shortest) black, and marked with semicircular white spots. The interiour covert feathers of the Wings are white, and make up part of those white spots we mentioned on the shoulders; the middlemost are wholly black, the exteriour have one or two white spots. The ridge or Base of the Wing is white.

The Tail is three inches and an half long, made up of ten feathers; of which the two middlemost are the longest, being strong, stiff, sharp-pointed, and bending in∣wards: The shaft, as in others, is not produced to the utmost tip (perchance worn or broken off with climbing) by reason whereof the feathers appear forked. The outmost Tail-feather on each side is small, black, and having a white spot in the exte∣riour Web. In the two next the lower part is black, and the rest white, with two transverse black spots or stroaks, of which the upper cuts both Webs of the feather, the lower only the interiour. In the third the black reacheth higher, and the white part hath only one transverse black stroak. The fourth pair are all black, having only a semicircular spot of white toward the top, the very tip being of a reddish white: The two middlemost are wholly black.

Annot. I think it is not needful so scrupulously to describe every particular spot in each feather: for that nature takes a latitude, sporting her self, as they call it, in these lesser things, not observing always the same number, figure, and situation of spots. In the Bird I described, the flag-feathers of the Wings were spotted on both sides the shaft with white spots, which when the Wing was extended stood in rows crossing the feathers: The four middle feathers of the Tail wholly black, the rest variegated with white and black transverse spots. The feathers stand so that the Tail, when shut, seems a little forked.

The Feet are of a lead colour. It hath the Toes so situate as the others of this kind, viz. two forward, two backward: The two fore-toes likewise connected from the divarication place to the first joynt.

It hath a small Liver with a Gall annexed. The Breast-bone is very long, produced almost to the vent: A small Gizzard or stomach, in that we dissected full of * 1.572 Cossi, Spondyli, and Beetles. The Guts lie deep within the body, that they be not hurt when the Bird turns her head downward, and strikes trees with her Bill. It is common to this, with the rest of its kind, to want the blind Guts.

§. IV. The lesser spotted Woodpecker or Hickwall, Picus varius minor.

THis is for shape and colour like to the last described, but much less, weighing scarce an ounce; being in length from Bill to Tail not more than six inches; though the Wings extended were no less than eleven inches broad from tip to tip.

The Tail consisted of ten feathers, from the exteriour to the middlemost gradu∣ally longer each than other, the two middlemost being the longest. Of these the four middlemost are wholly black, strong, sharp, and bending inward, as in the rest of this kind, so made to sustain the body when she climbs trees: The three exteriour are less sharp, of which the outmost and least hath the bottom black, and the upper part white, with two transverse black spots. In the next the black part is extended in the inner Web as far as the second transverse black spot; in the outer the white reacheth lower, yet hath it only one transverse black spot toward the top. The third is black, having only the tip white.

The Throat, Breast, and Belly are of a sordid white, above the Nosthrils it is of a dusky colour, and on the head it hath a white spot. The hinder part of the head is black. From the Eyes to the middle of the Neck two broad lines of white feathers terminated on both sides with black are produced, concurring about the middle of the Neck [only the feathers that cover the Ears are of the same colour with the Breast.] The upper part of the Back, and upper covert feathers of the Wings are black. The prime feathers and rest of the covert feathers are elegantly spotted with white semicircular spots. The middle part of the Back is white with cross lines of black. The Bill, Tongue, Irides, Feet and Toes like those of the last described. The Legs feathered, but not down to the Toes: The Claws black and crooked. The same number of prime feathers in Wings and Tail. The Stomach dissected was full of Insects.

It wants the Appendices or blind Guts, like the rest of this kind.

The Cock differs from the Hen in that instead of a white spot on the head is hath one of a lovely red or Crimson.

Aldrovandus writes, that this kind wants those red spots on the Head and Rump; which is true of the Female, but not of the Male, for his Head, as we said, is marked with a red spot.

§. V. * The Brasilian parti-coloured Woodpecker, called Ipecu, Marggrave.

THis Bird is about the bigness of a Dove. The length of the Neck was two inches, of the body four, of the Tail also four, of the Legs almost an inch and half. It hath four Toes in its Feet, two standing forwards, and two backwards, as in Parrots. The Head is covered with feathers of a Vermilion colour, on which also it hath a Crest like a Dove. The Neck underneath is black to the very Bill, as also above: But in both sides there is a broad white line produced toward the Back [divisim.] The Wings are outwardly all over black, inwardly white: The Tail black. In the Belly and upper part of the Legs the feathers are black and white. Its Bill is streight, sharp-pointed, an inch and half long, wherewith it pierces the barks of trees, as the Woodpecker.

§. VI. The Wryneck: Iynx sive Torquilla.

THis Bird is of the bigness of the common Lark, or somewhat less: It weighs more than an ounce. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail seven inches and an half: The breadth of the Wings spread eleven inches. The Bill is short, smaller, and less triangular than in the rest of this kind, of a lead-colour. The Tongue round, ending in a sharp bony thorn, which it can dart out to a great length, and withdraw again, like the rest of this kind. The Irides of the Eyes of a yellow hazel colour. The Feet and Legs short, of a pale lead colour [or, as I described them of a flesh colour.]

It could ruffle up the feathers of its Head, so as to make them appear like a Crest, as doth the Jay. The Plumage is so elegantly and curiously coloured, that it is very difficult in words to describe it; the upper part of the body being variegated with white, black, reddish, dusky, and grey or ash-colour. From the crown of the Head all along the middle of the Back runs a list of black. The Head is cinereous, with transverse white, black, and red lines: The Throat and lower Belly yellow with transverse black lines; the middle of the Breast is whiter, with fewer lines. The feathers covering the bottom of the prime Wing-feathers are yellow, with transverse black lines. The Rump is more ash-coloured than the Head, with white spots and transverse black lines.

The prime Wing-feathers are in number nineteen, the first or outmost being some∣thing shorter than the second, black, but spotted with great red spots; which spots, especially in the feathers next the body, are powdered with small, black specks. The tips of the second row of Wing-feathers are white. The Tail-feathers are ten, not sharp-pointed, nor stiff, nor bending inwards, as in the above described Woodpeckers; two inches and an half long, of a cinereous colour, crossed at large intervals with bars of black: To speak exactly, the part next the cross bars is of a dark ash-colour, the rest of the intermediate spaces of a paler cinereous, sprinkled, and as it were be∣dewed with black specks.

The Toes are so disposed as in the rest of this kind, two forward, two backward: The outmost Toes in each Foot are equal, and twice so long as the inmost.

It wants the blind Guts like the rest of this kind. The length of the Guts was nine inches.

It strangely and ridiculously turns its head back to its shoulders, whence it is by Gaza called Torquilla. It feeds upon Ants, which darting out its Tongue it stabs through with great celerity, with the thorny point we mentioned (as Children are wont to catch Frogs with an Iron Dart, shot out of a Bow, and drawn back again) and so swallows them, never touching them with its Bill, as other birds are wont to do their meat: Witness Gesner, who tells us, that himself kept one five days in a Cage, and affirms upon his own experience that it feeds upon no other food but Ants.

The Hen is paler and more cinereous than the Cock. Aldrovandus observed a long black spot behind the Eyes in the Cock.

Annot.] I described this Bird thus. The Quils or prime feathers in each Wing were eighteen, of a dusky colour, marked in their exteriour Webs with red spots, in their interiour with pale ones: so situate as in the pied Woodpecker. The Throat and upper part of the Breast were yellow, and the Belly white, from Bill to Tail varie∣gated with thick-set, cross black lines. At each corner of the mouth grew white fea∣thers, varied with the like transverse lines.

§. VII. * The Brasilian Jacamaciri of Marggrave.

FOr the conformity of its Feet we have subjoyned it to the Woodpeckers. It is of the bigness of a Lark. It hath a streight, sharp-pointed, black Bill, almost two inches long: A short Tongue, [wherein it differs from Woodpeckers] blue Eyes; short Wings; which end a little beneath the rise of the Tail. The Tail is almost three inches and an half long, streight, composed of seven or eight feathers. The upper Legs are feathered, the lower bare, the skin being of a colour mingled of yellow and green; of which colour are also the Feet. In each foot it hath four Toes, two standing forwards, and two backwards; both the inner Toes in each Foot, as well the fore as the back one, are but half so long as the outer. The Claws are black. The whole Head, upper part of the Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail above are of a green colour mingled with golden or igneous, so that they shine wonderfully. A ring of the same colour doth also encompass the Neck. Under the Throat, on the Breast, the lower Belly, and under the Tail it is of a dark yellow colour, like yellow Way.

§. VIII. * The Brasilian Curucui of Marggrave.

IT is a very elegant and beautiful bird, almost of the bigness of a Pie: Hath a short broadish Bill, of a brimston colour: A wide mouth, and, when open, or a trian∣gular figure: Fair blue eyes with a golden circle [I suppose he means encompassing the Pupil] and under each Eye a spot of white skin, like a Hen: In the Eye-lids above and beneath black, stiff hairs: The Neck not long: The Legs short and fea∣thered almost to the Feet, with black feathers. It hath a Tail five inches and an half long, of a good breadth. Under the lower Bill, in the middle, and at both sides, is as it were a beard, made up of black bristles, yet shining with a gloss of blue as in the Necks of Mallards. Under the Throat the feathers are only black. The whole Breast and lower Belly are of an excellent Vermilion colour: The whole Back and upper side of the Tail are of a shining green, with a gloss of blue, and golden, or igneous colour, The end of the Tail hath a black border. Underneath the Tail it hath white feathers elegantly straked with cross black lines. The beginning of the Wings is of that shining green we mentioned: The middle part is hoary, the black feathers being poudered with very little grey specks, as Mallards use to be: The ut∣most part, that is, the longest feathers, are of a dark dusky or blackish colour. The Legs, as I said, are almost wholly cloathed with black feathers: What is bare, toge∣ther with the Feet, is of a dusky ash-colour. The Toes are so disposed as the Par∣rots. The feathers under the Wings are grey.

§. IX. * Guira acangatara of the Brasilians, Marggrav.

THis Bird is about the bigness of a Magpie. It hath a Bill an inch long, the up∣per Chap whereof is a little hooked, the whole of a dark yellow: The Eyes Crystalline, with a dusky circle: The Neck two inches long, the body three. The Tail very long, viz. eight inches, consisting of eight streight feathers. The upper Legs are an inch and half long, as also the lower. The Toes in each foot four, standing as in Parrots, the two inward in each foot being shorter, the two outward longer. The whole Head is cloathed with feathers, which in their middles longways near the shaft are dusky, in their sides yellow, as is the Crest. The Neck and Wings (on the other side) have their feathers yellow in the middle, and dusky in the sides. The ends of the Wings are almost wholly dusky. The whole Belly, Back, excepting the Wings, upper Legs, and rise or base of the Wings to three inches and an half length, are covered with feathers of a pale yellow. The end of the Tail hath white feathers, the rest of the Tail is dusky. The lower Legs and Feet are of a * 1.573 Sea-water-colour. On the Head are long feathers erected like a Crest. It makes a great cry in the Woods.

§. X. * The Brasilian Aracari of Marggrav. the other Xochitenacatl of Nieremberg.

IT is of the bigness of a Woodpecker [I suppose he means the common green one] hath a Bill four inches long, an inch and half broad or deep, three inches and an half thick where thickest, [I suppose he means so much by measure round] a little bending downward like a Turkish Scymitar, and sharp-pointed like a Parrots; the upper Chap being a little longer than the lower: Both upper and lower are for above half way reckoning from the end, serrate or toothed. The upper part of the Bill is greater than the lower. The Bill is hollow, very light, [lighter than a Spunge:] The upper Chap white, distinguished by a black line running along the middle or ridge from head to point, the lower Chap wholly black. The whole Bill is inserted into the Head triangle-wise, and where the insertion is, compassed about with a triangu∣lar white line. It hath a Tongue four inches long, very light, and plainly resembling a feather to see to: Or else is feathered and black, (if the Tongue may be said to have a feather.) It hath a Head not very big, broad, and compressed; great Eyes,

with a black Pupil, yellow Irides, and the * 1.574 rest of the outsides of the Eyes black. The Neck is not longer than a Parrots. The body from the rise of the Neck to the Tail is about five inches long. The Tail is broad like a Woodpeckers, and six inches long, or somewhat more. The Legs and Feet are of a dark green or black, like to those of Parrots, having two fore-toes, whereof the one longer than the other, and two back-toes likewise of unequal length. The Claws crooked, and dusky or black. The length of the upper Legs is two inches, of the lower one and an half. The whole Head and Neck as far as the beginning of the Breast are covered with black feathers, which where they end are terminated in a circle. The Breast, and all the lower Belly elegantly cloathed with yellow feathers mingled with pavonine. Cross the Breast from the one side to the other is a broad line drawn, of a sanguine colour. The whole Back, Wings, Tail, and upper Legs are covered with dark green feathers, [or black with a gloss of green] like the colour usual in our Magpies. The end of the Back above the beginning of the Tail is of a sanguine colour to more than the Circumfe∣rence of a Crown piece. The Wings end at the rise of the Tail, and within side are of a dark ash-colour. The Bill is black within. This Bird doth, as it were, pro∣nounce its own name, crying with a sharp voice, but not very shril, Aracari.

This Bird is very like the Toucan or Brasilian Pie. The conformation of its Feet argues it to belong to the Woodpecker-kind. We saw the Bill of this Bird in the Re∣pository of the Royal Society, London, our selves also have one of them: It is much less than the Toucans Bill, not so compressed side-ways, but rounder. The upper Chap wholly white, without any line of black in the top, (wherein it differs from the Ara∣cari's Bill described by Marggrave) the lower black.

§. XI. * The yellow blue-footed Persian Woodpecker of Aldrovandus.

THis Bird communicated to me by Tartaglinus the Venetian, (who shewed me many exotic Animals painted) at first sight, from the constitution of the Bill and Feet I judged to be of the Woodpecker-kind. In bigness it differs little or nothing from the green Woodspite; only it hath a thicker Head and Neck, and a longer Bill. The feathers from the middle of the Crown to the end of the Tail have something of ferrugineous: But the Bill is altogether ferrugineous. The Feet are of a pale blue. The Claws are black: The rest of the body is yellow, save that all the Wing-feathers ends or tips incline somewhat to ferrugineous; and that a spot of the same colour en∣compasses the Eyes. He said it was an exotic Bird, and bred in Persia.

§. XII. * The American Hang-nest, called by the Brasilians Guira tangeima. Marggr.

IT is a Bird somewhat bigger than a Lark, equal to the spotted Woodpecker. Its body is about three inches long; Its Neck an inch and half: The Head is small, the Bill streight, sharp-pointed, an inch long. Its Legs and Feet are like those of other birds, its Tail streight, four inches long. The colour of its Bill is black, except the lower part, where it is inserted, which hath something of dusky: The Head and Neck, as low as the beginning of the Breast, very black. The upper part of the Neck from the Head almost to the beginning of the Back is of a * 1.575 Sky-colour. Through the begin∣ning of the Back it hath a transverse black spot, reaching as far as the Wings: But the Wings themselves are of a deep black, only in the middle they have a white spot situate longways the feathers, of an inch and half long. The Tail also is wholly black: The rest of the body is of a Sky-colour. The Legs are bluish: The Pupil of the Eyes black, with a yellowish white Iris. These Birds build admirable Nests of a Cylindrical figure, and hand them in great numbers on the ends of the boughs and twigs of trees. These Nests are made of the small Fibres of roots and twigs of trees and herbs, curi∣ously platted and interwoven.

§. XIII. The Brasilian Jupujuba or Japu of Marggrave.

THis is of the same figure with the precedent, and builds after the same manner, in the same tree [one of these is a Male, the other a Female] but hath some∣what a shorter Tail. The whole body is invested with very black feathers. In the middle of each Wing it hath a yellow spot, an inch long: In the end of the Back, and near the vent it is all yellow. [I have seen also that were wholly black, with their Backs of a sanguine colour.] The Tail below from its rise half way is yellow, the other half being black; above it is wholly black, only it hath on both sides a feather half yellow. The Legs and Feet are black: The Bill of a Brimstone∣colour. The Eyes of a Sapphire colour, with a black Pupil. It hath a blue Tongue, cleft or doubled at the top. Near the house of the Owner of the Engine Tapucurai is planted the tree Uti, in which hang more thau four hundred Nests of these Birds; of which there are there a very great number, which hatch and bring up three broods of young in a year. Each Nest is made of dry grass and horse-hair, or hogs bristles mingled, of a dusky colour, of the figure of a narrow Cucurbite with its Alembick, long, in the whole about a foot and half, and from the bottom for one foot upwards hollow like a Purse, the remaining or upper part of it for half a foot being solid, and hanging by its tip on the tip of a little branch of the tree. All these Nests hang down on this fashion from the tips of the twigs of trees.

We have often seen the Nest of this Bird artificially built kept among other rarities in the Cabinets of the curious. I persuade my self that this was the very Bird, which the Ancients understood by the name of Picus nidum suspendens, i. e. the Hang-nest-Woodpecker. I am sure there is a great deal more reason why this should be so called, than the Oriolus, which Aldrovandus takes to be the Picus nidum suspendens, Antonius Pigafeta writes, that Parrots do on this fashion hang their Nests on the ex∣tremities of the branches of trees; falsly imagining that the Nests which he saw hanging on the twigs of trees were Parrots Nests.

CHAP. VI. Of Woodpeckers less properly so called.

§. I. The Nuthatch or Nutjobber, Sitta seu Picus cinereus.

IT is somewhat less than a Chaffinch. The Cock weighed almost an ounce. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was five inches three quar∣ters, to the end of the Toes six inches.

The Bill was streight, triangular, black above, underneath toward the Throat white, almost an inch long, measuring from the tip to the Angles of the slit of the mouth. The Tongue broad, not longer than the mouth, horny at the end and jag∣ged: The Nosthrils round, and covered with small bristles. The Head, Neck, and Back of an ash-colour: The sides under the Wings red: The Throat and Breast of a pale yellow [or rather Chesnut-red.] The lower Belly under the Tail hath some red feathers with white tips. From the Bill through the Eyes to the Neck is extended a long black stroak: The Chin is white.

The number of flag-feathers is nineteen, of the which the first is very short and little. The interiour, or those next the body, have their Webs cinereous; the ex∣teriour dusky: The shafts of all are black. The Wings underneath are marked with a double spot, the one white at the roots of the exteriour quils, the other black and larger, beginning at the insertion of the bastard-wing.

The Tail is short, scarce two inches, made up of twelve feathers, all of equal length, unless the outmost be somewhat the shorter, not sharp-pointed, nor stiff as in Woodpeckers, but flexile and limber: The two middlemost cinereous; the two next to them black with cinereous tips; the two succeeding have the inside of their tips white,

the outside cinereous. The outmost have their tips of a dark ash-colour, and under that a transverse whitespot, the rest of the feathers being black.

The Legs are short; both Legs and Feet of a dark flesh-colour. It hath but one back-toe, equal to the middle of the fore-toes. The Claws are great, crooked, and of a dusky colour; that of the back-toe the biggest. The outmost fore-toe the least: Both outmost and inmost joyned to the middle toe at the bottom.

It had a musculous Stomach or Gizzard, in which we found Beetles; short blind Guts. The length of the Guts was six inches and an half.

It builds in the holes of trees, and if the entrance be too big, it doth artificially stop up part of it with clay, leaving only a small hole for it self to pass in and out by.

It feeds not only upon Insects, but also upon Nut-kernels. It is a pretty spectacle to see her fetch a Nut out of her hoard, place it fast in a chink, and then standing above it, with its head downwards, striking it with all its force, breaks the shell, and catches up the Kernel.

This bird is by Aristotle called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, who makes two kinds of it, a greater, and a lesser. Gaza retains the same name, calling it in Latine, Sitta, Later Writers stile it Picus cinereus, i. e. the ash-coloured Woodpecker; because like them it climbs and runs up the bodies and boughs of trees. It is called by some 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because it moves and flirts up the Tail.

§. II. * The Wall-creeper, or Spider-catcher. Picus murarius, Aldrov. l. 12. c. 37.

IT is somewhat bigger than a House-Sparrow, almost as large as a Stare. The colour of the whole body is best seen when the Wings are spread. It hath a long, slen∣der, black Bill. The Head, Neck, and Back cinereous: The Breast white: The Wings partly cinereous, partly red, viz. toward the Belly: The Tail short: The long feathers of the Wings, the lower part of the Back, the Belly, and Legs, (which, af∣ter the manner of Woodpeckers, are short) black: The Toes long, three standing for∣ward, and one backward, though Bellonius attributes to it two fore-toes, and so many back ones: Wherefore it is to be suspected, that either he knew not the Wall-creeper, or else set forth one different from ours, which I do not believe, because the rest of the description he gives of it, agrees exactly to our Bird. Thus far Aldrovandus; who writes, that this Bird is frequent and obvious enough in the Territory of Bologna; in flying like to the Hoopoe, almost always shaking its Wings like that, never resting in one place. By later Writers it is called Picus murarius, because as Woodpeckers cling to trees, and hang on them, so this sticks to all Walls, especially those of Towers, and seeks Insects in their chinks: Whence in Winter-time it is often seen in Cities. It is a brisk and chearful bird, and hath a pleasant note. It flies alone, and sometimes two in company. It builds its Nest in the holes of trees. They say it is found in Eng∣land; but we have not as yet had the hap to meet with it.

§. III. The greater Reed-Sparrow, Junco Aldrov. Cinclus Turneri.

THe Cock, which we described, was for bigness not much inferiour to a Thrush. The Bill was great, somewhat crooked; from the tip of the Angles of the mouth, more than an inch long. The upper Chap of a dusky colour, the lower whitish. The Tongue cloven, and divided into many filaments. The inside of the mouth of a deep yellow or Saffron colour. The Nosthrils are round and great: The Irides of the Eyes of a red hazel colour. Not far from the Angles of the mouth in the upper Mandible grow four or five black hairs. The Throat, Belly, and Breast are white, with a kind of yellowish tincture, more yellow about the vent: The su∣pine or upper side of the body of a dusky yellowish colour. Above each Eye is a whitish line.

The number of prime feathers in each Wing is eighteen. The Plumage covering the roots of these feathers underneath is yellow. The Tail is three inches and a quar∣ter long: I mean the middle feathers, for the extreme are but two and three quarters; They have a strong shaft, and are stiff like those of a Woodpecker.

The Legs and Feet are great, strong and musculous, which is especially remarka∣ble in this bird. It hath but one back-toe, which toward the root or rise of it is broad and torose. The outer fore-toe is joyned to the middlemost at the bottom.

It had a yellow Gall, large Testicles, a shorter Breast-bone than Woodspites; short blind Guts: Reed-Beetles in the stomach.

It is always conversant among Reeds, and sings sweetly. It sticks to, and climbs up Reeds, as Woodpeckers do up trees.

The Alcedo vocalis of Bellonius seems to be the same either with this or the lesser Species; the description whereof see in Aldrovandus, lib. 20. cap. 62.

§. IV. The lesser Reed-Sparrow. An Cannevarola Aldrovandus? An Ficedula cannabina Olinae?

IT is equal to, or somewhat less than a Redstart. It creeps and sings among Reeds. From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was five inches three quarters: From tip to tip of the Wings extended eight inches. The Bill, measuring from the point to the Angles of the mouth, was three quarters of an inch long: The lower Chap almost white, the upper blackish, the Mouth, within yellow: The Tongue cloven, and divided into filaments, the Irides of a hazel colour. The Back toward the Rump is of a dark olive or dusky green, toward the Head more cinereous. The middle of the Breast is white; the Throat and lower Belly have a mixture of yellow. The sides are of a dirty, greenish colour.

The prime feathers of the Wings are in number eighteen, of which the second is the longest. They are of a dark brown or dusky colour, as in the Redstart, and other small birds. The Tail is 2⅛ inches long, and composed of twelve feathers. The soles of the Feet are of a greenish yellow. The outmost Toe adheres to the middle∣most below, as in others. The Bill and Feet in this Bird are greater than the propor∣tion of the rest of the body seems to require. The Female differs little or nothing from the Male.

Annot. This Bird I bought in the Market at Florence, where they call it Beccasigo: which name they give to many small birds that feed fat. I suppose it is that described and figured in Olina by the title of Beccasigo Cannabino. My description differs some∣thing from this of Mr. Willughby, but not considerably, viz. The Back was of a pale green inclining to yellow, which just above the Tail was more yellow. The feathers of the Wings and Tail were of a Mouse-dun, having their edges of the same colour with the Back. The Tail, when spread, terminated in a circular Circumference. The Breast, Belly, and Throat were white, dashed with yellow. The Bill long, streight, flat, or depressed; The lower Chap of a horn-colour, the upper more dus∣ky, but not black: The Legs long, and of a light blue, with a little dash of yellow. The Mouth within yellow: The soles of the feet yellow.

It is common in the Low Countries among the Reeds.

Another Bird of this name, but different in kind, we shall describe afterwards.

§. V. The Creeper. Certhia.

IT is a very small bird, scarce bigger than the copped Wren. It hath a long, slender, sharp Bill, bending downwards like a Bow. The upper Chap of a dark colour, the nether white at the base, and black at the tip. The Tongue not longer than the Bill, wherein it differs from the Woodspites, yet hard and stiff at the point, and sharp like a Goad. The Irides of the Eyes of a dark hazel colour.

The Throat, Breast, and Belly white: The Head, Back, and Wings inclining to a Fox-colour; the middle parts of the feathers being whitish. Above the Eyes on each side is a white spot. The beam-feathers of the Wings are eighteen, the first of which is very short, the fourth the longest, and by measure two ½ inches: The three outmost are dusky, the rest have white tips, and a broad white line through their middle, something inclining to fulvous. The edges of those next the body are likewise ful∣vous, and have white only on the exteriour side of their shafts. The covert-feathers of the Wings are more black, the middlemost have their middle part fulvous; all their tips white. The Tail consists of ten feathers only, as in Woodspites, is very long for the

bigness of the bird, viz. two inches and an half, sharp-pointed, stiff, of a dusky red, or reddish dun colour.

The Feet are of a light brown: The Legs short: The Feet have long Toes, all armed with very long, sharp, white Claws, especially the back-toe, which hath it extraordinarily long like a Lark.

It is sufficiently characterized and distinguished from all other birds by its littleness and bow-bill.

Aldrovandus attributes to his Certhia a short Tail, wherein it differs from ours.

It runs up the bodies and boughs of trees, having its Feet and Tail, fitly disposed and formed for such a purpose.

It is frequent in England; and as Aldrovandus reports, builds in the hollows of trees after the manner of Woodpeckers; It lays a great number of Eggs, sometimes, they say, not fewer than twenty.

§. VI. The Hoop or Hoopoe, Upupa Latinis, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Graecis.

IT weighs three ounces. Its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail was twelve inches and an half: Its breadth, the Wings being stretched out, nineteen inches.

Its Bill is two inches and an half long, black, sharp, and something bending. The Tongue small, as Aldrovandus rightly hath it, deep withdrawn in the mouth, trian∣gular, being broad at bottom, and sharp at top, like a perfect equilateral triangle. The shape of the body approacheth to that of a Plover. The Head is adorned with a most beautiful Crest, two inches high, consisting of a double row of feathers, reaching from the Bill to the nape of the Neck, all along the top of the Head: Which it can at pleasure set up, and let fall. It is made up of twenty four or twenty six fea∣thers, some of which are longer than others; the tips of them are black; under the black they are white, the remaining part under the white being of a Chesnut, inclining to yellow. The Neck is of a pale red: The Breast white, variegated with black strokes tending downward. The older birds had no black strokes in their Breasts, but only in their sides. The Tail is four inches and an half long: [Aldrovan∣dus saith six] made up of ten feathers only, black, with a cross mark or bed of white of the figure of a Crescent or Parabola, the middle being toward the Rump, the horns toward the ends of the feathers. The Tail is extended further than the Wings complicated.

There are in each Wing eighteen quils or master-feathers, of which the ten fore∣most are black, having a white cross bar, which in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh is more than half an inch broad. The seven following feathers have four or five white cross bars. The limbs or borders of the last are something red: The Rump is white. The long feathers springing out of the shoulders and co∣vering the back are varied with white and black cross lines or bars, after the same man∣ner as the Wings.

The Irides of the Eyes are of a hazel colour: The lower Eye-lid bigger than the upper: The Legs short: The outmost toe at bottom fastned to the middle, without any intervening membrane. The Windpipe (as Aldrovandus describes it) at the be∣ginning of the divarication or division into two branches which go to the Lungs, hath two little bones outwardly supplying the use of the * 1.576 Larynx, between which is spread a very thin skin: The annulary-Cartilages beyond the divarication in each branch in our observation were only semicircular, as in Herons.

In the Stomach dissected we found Beetles; whence it is manifest that it feeds upon Insects, but whether also upon Grapes and other Berries, as some of the Ancients have delivered, we know not. I hear (saith Aldrovandus) that among other things it feeds upon Ants. It hath no blind Guts.

In the number of Tail-feathers, want of the blind Guts, cross lines of the Wings, and partly also in its food it agreeth with Woodpeckers, to which therefore we have subjoyned it.

About Collen and elsewhere in High Germany it is very frequent, where they call it Widehuppe. It sits for the most part on the ground, sometimes on Willows. Turner saith, that it is found no where in Britany: But he is deceived; for we are assured by cre∣dible persons, that it is sometimes, though more rarely, seen in Northumberland, and also in Surrey.

Aristotle witnesseth that it makes its Nest of dung, especially mans dung, daubing it therewith instead of Clay.

It took its name in both Languages [Greek and Latine] from the sound of its voice. The most of our English Grammarians ((saith Turner) call that bird Upupa, which those that speak barbarously from the noise it makes with its Wings are wont to call Vannellus, and they in their own Language a Lapwing. This inveterate error our Grammar Schools do still retain.

They say the Hen is always greater than the Cock.

CHAP. VII. Of Land Birds that feed upon Fish.

§. I. The Kingfisher. Ispida an Veterum Alcyon?

IT weighed an ounce and a quarter: In length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail exceeded seven inches. The ends of the Wings extended were ele∣ven inches distant.

The Bill was almost two inches long, thick, strong, streight, sharp-pointed, black, yet whitish at the Angle [of the lower Mandible.] The upper Chap is for the most part longer than the lower, yet in some birds the lower is longer than the upper. The Tongue is short, broad, sharp-pointed, and undivided: The Mouth within of a Saffron-colour, the Nosthrils oblong. The Chin is white with a certain mixture of red; the middle also of the Breast or Belly is of the like colour. The lower Belly under the Tail is of a deep red, as are also the sides and feathers under the Wings. The Breast is red, the outmost borders of the feathers being of a dirty bluish green. From the Neck through the middle of the Back to the Tail it is of a most lovely bright, but pale blue, which by its splendour is said to hurt their Eyes that look long and intently upon it. If you heed this colour attentively you may observe the blue crossed with obscure or dark-coloured lines. Between the Nosthrils and the Eyes is a red spot, and another beyond the Eyes: to which succeeds a white mark, tinctured with red. The crown of the Head is of a black green, with cross blue lines.

In each Wing are twenty three Quils, of which the third is the longest; both quil-feathers, and those next to them have their exteriour Webs blue, their interiour dusky. The lesser rows of Wing-feathers, all excepting those covering the base of the Wing, have blue tips. The long-feathers springing from the shoulders, and co∣vering the Back, are of a bluish green. The Tail is short, about an inch and an half in length, made up of twelve feathers, of a dark blue, with somewhat of black.

The Legs and Feet are very short and little, black before, red behind, as are also the soals of the feet and the back-toes. The structure of the Feet in this Bird is singular and different from all others, for the three lower joynts of the outmost toe are joyned to the middlemost; of the inmost only one: This inner toe is the least, and shorter by half than the middlemost, the outer almost equal to the middlemost: The back-toe is somewhat bigger than the inner foretoe. The third or lowest bone of the Leg is greater than is usual in other birds. The toes seem as it were joynted with many cross lines. The bones of the Tongue are lesser and shorter than in other birds.

The Stomach is great and lax, as in carnivorous birds; in that we dissected was full of the bones and scales of fishes. The Guts are slenderer toward the vent. Ges∣ner affirms, that the fat of this bird is red; which we found to be true. The same Author tells us, that in one Nest are often found nine young ones: In a Nest in a hole about half a yard deep in the bank of a River we observed but five young ones.

It is a Vulgar persuasion, that this bird, being hung up on an untwisted thread by the Bill in any room, will turn its Breast to that quarter of the Heaven whence the wind blows: They that doubt of it may try it.

Dr. Charleton, in his Onomasticon, makes mention of another Kingfisher brought out of India, which scarce exceeds a Wren in bigness. We have not as yet hapned to see this Bird, neither do we remember to have elsewhere read any thing of it.

§. II. The Brasilian Jaguacati guacu, Marggrav. akin to the Kingfisher.

IT is by the Portugues called Papa peixe, because it lives upon fish. It is equal in bigness to a Throstle or Mavis: For the figure of its body like to the greater Woodspite. It hath a black, streight, and sharp-pointed Bill, almost three inches long: Black Eyes, and very short black Legs: The upper Legs are in part bare of feathers. The Feet have four toes (one standing backward) of unequal length: For the two outer are short and contiguous, but the third or inner is much the shorter, and more remote. The Claws are black. The Tail is two inches long, reaching further than the ends of the Wings. The superiour feathers of the whole body, viz. the Head, Neck, Wings, and Tail, are of a rusty, but shining, colour. About the Neck it hath a ring of pure white feathers. The Throat, underside of the Neck, Breast, and Bel∣ly are also cloathed with white feathers. Near both the Eyes it hath also a spot of white. In the Tail some of the feathers are sprinkled with white spots, which yet are scarce seen, unless when they spread their Wings and fly.

§. VII. The Bee-eater, Merops sive Apiaster.

FOr the shape of the body it is like the Kingfisher, for bigness equal to a Blackbird: From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail eleven inches and an half long; the Wings, being spread, eighteen inches broad.

The Bill is great, from the tip to the Angles of the Mouth almost two inches long, black, and for the proportion of the body very like that of a Kingfisher, save only that it is a little more arcuate or bending downward: The Tongue slender, deeply cut in or torn at the tip: The * 1.577 Irides of the Eyes of a lovely red, and in some of a hazel colour.

The Head is great and oblong. The colour of the feathers at the Base of the upper Chap is a greenish blue, but in the middle between the Nosthrils white. The crown of the Head red, but in some birds having something of green mixt. From the cor∣ners of the mouth through the Eyes on each side is extended a black stroak; conti∣guous whereto under the Chin are bright, but pale yellow feathers. The Neck and Shoulders are green, with a certain mixture of red. The whole Belly and Breast, as far as the Chin, are blue, this colour is deeper near the Chin, fainter on the Breast and Belly. In some the colour of the underside inclines more to green: Perchance these are Cocks.

The number of beam-feathers in each Wing is about twenty one or twenty two; decreasing by degrees to the tenth. All to the twentieth have black tips. The first or outmost ten beneath the black are of a bluish green: The next nine beneath the black are of a lovely Orange colour, as are also the lesser rows next to them: Those above near the ridge of the Wing are blue. The long feathers springing from the shoulders are of a pale yellow.

The Tail is near an hand-breadth long, made up of twelve feathers, of a blue co∣lour, the exteriour Webs having something of green intermixt: The underside of the Tail was of a dun colour. The two middle feathers run out in length beyond the rest, and end in sharp points.

The Legs are very short, but thick for the length: Both Legs and Feet exactly like those of the King-fisher. For the fore-toes, as in that, are all joyned together to the first joynt, as if they were but one toe, the outmost and middle to the second or third. The Claws are black, the Feet and Toes of a dusky red.

The Liver was of a pale yellow: The Stomach rather membranous than musculous, in that we dissected filled with Beetles and other Insects. The colours of the Wings varied in several birds, in some was more blue, in some more green, in some more red, and in some less.

It is strange that Aldrovandus should not take any notice of, or not mention at least the connexion of the Toes in this Bird.

It is not unfrequent in the Campagn of Rome: For that we saw it there to be sold in the Market more than once. It is not found in England that we know of

Bellonius writes, that it is so common in Candy, that it is seen every where in that Island.

Aristotle tells us, that it feeds upon Bees, whom all other Writers of the History of Animals do therein follow. But it feeds not only upon Bees, but also upon Cicadae, Beetles, and other Insects. Yea, as Bellonius relates, upon the Seeds of Nipplewort, Ba∣stard Parsley, Turnep, &c. not abstaining from Wheat and other grain. From its exact agreement in the shape and make of its Body, Bill, and Feet with the Kingfisher, we suspect that it likewise preys upon fish.

Bellonius, in the first Book of his Observations, writes thus concerning the Merops. Flying in the air it catches and preys upon Bees, as Swallows do upon flies. It flies not singly, but in flocks, and especially by the sides of those Mountains where the true Thyme grows. Its Voice is heard afar off, almost like to the whistling of a man. Its singular elegancy invites the Candy Boys to hunt for it with Cicadae, as they do also for those greater Swallows called Swifts, after this manner: bending a Pin like a hook, and tying it by the Head to the end of a thread, they thrust it through a Cicada, (as Boys bait a hook with a fly) holding the other end of the thread in their hand. The Cicada so fastned flies nevertheless in the Air, which the Morops spy∣ing, flies after it with all her force, and catching it, swallows Pin and all, wherewith she is caught.

§. IV. * The other Bee-eater of Aldrovandus. Merops alter, seu Meropi congener Aldrov.

THe Germans call this Bird the Sea-Swallow, both because at first sight it seems to resemble a Swallow, partly in the shortness of its Legs, and partly in its flying, and also because like the Swallow it catches Insects as it flies. I should rather make it congenerous to the Bee-eater than the Swallow, because it differs widely from the Sea-Swallow [so much as to have little common with it.]

This Bird is a little longer than the precedent, and (as its picture shews) a little grosser or thicker-bodied: Its Bill is black, long, sharp-pointed, and approaching somewhat more to the figure of a Sithe than in that. The Head, Neck, Breast, and almost the whole Belly yellow. From the bill it hath a great black spot, which is carried on backwards through the Eyes to the beginning of the Neck. The Back is of a Chesnut colour, but mingled with green and yellow. The Wing-feathers are painted with divers colours: For the first [the uppermost] are blue, the second mixt of blue and yellow, the third altogether yellow; the fourth, viz. the prime or beam-feathers black, with red tips. The upper part of the Tail is of a bright green, the lower of a very fair yellow, so that it seems to be half green, half yellow. It hath yellow Feet and black Claws.

§. V. * The Brasilian Guira guainumbi of Marggrave, of kin to the Merops.

IT is a Bird to see to of the bigness of a Pigeon, because it is thick and deep-fea∣thered, but the bulk of the body, the feathers pluckt off, is indeed no bigger than that of a Thrush. It hath a head somewhat bigger than a Throstle; a black Bill about two inches long, the upper Chap whereof is a little longer than the nether: Both up∣per and nether Chap are on both sides toothed like a Saw. It hath short Legs, not much exceeding an inch in length, for colour black: Four Toes in each Foot, one situate backward, three forwards, as is ordinary: But the first or inmost foretoe is shorter, the middlemost longest, and the third again short, but not of equal rise with the rest: For the rise of the first is from the middle of the foot, and also of the second; but the rise or beginning of the third is near the third joynt of the middlemost: The first hath three joynts, the second four, the third again three, the back-toe but two. The Claws are black, and bending downwards. The Tail is very long, streight, con∣sisting of a few streight feathers, about an inch broad, but ten inches long: Indeed only two feathers make up the end of the Tail, which for two inches have naked shafts, and again have their ends web'd for two inches. The whole body is about six inches long. The feathers very beautiful: viz. on their Head they have as it were a Mitre or Crown of Sapphire-coloured feathers, which near the rise of the Bill resemble

the colour of the Turcois stone: In the middle of this Mitre is seen a black spot of the bigness of a Gross of Misnia. Beneath the Eyes (which are yellow with a black Pu∣pil) it hath also black feathers mingled with Sapphire-coloured. The Throat, and the whole Breast and Belly are of a dark yellow. The upper part of the Neck, the whole Back, Wings, and Tail are of a green or grass colour, but wherewith a Sea∣green is mixt, as in the Necks of Mallards and Peacocks. From the Knees to the Bel∣ly the upper Legs are covered with green feathers. In the middle of the Neck un∣derneath it bears as it were a badge of three or four black feathers, and about them Sapphirine ones, which make a kind of spot or mark.

This Bird for the like constitution of its Feet, and some agreement in colour, we have subjoyned to the Merops.

§. VI. The Water-Ouzel or Water-Crake: Merula aquatica.

THis Bird is well nigh as big as the common Blackbird: Weighs two ounces and an half; is in length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail eight inches and an half, to the end of the Claws nine: In breadth between the tips of the Wings stretcht out twelve inches and an half.

It hath a shorter body than the Blackbird, and a thicker Neck. Its Bill is streight, sharp-pointed, slenderer than a Blackbirds, measuring from the point to the Angles of the mouth about an inch long, or somewhatless, black-coloured.

The Head and upper side of the Neck are of a dark, dusky colour, or black with an eye of red. All the Back, and both prime and covert-feathers of the Wings are particoloured of cinereous and black, the middle parts of the feathers being black, the edges blue. The underside of the Neck and forepart of the Breast are milk white: The feathers contiguous to the white are reddish: The lower Belly towards the Tail black. The Eyelids white round about.

It hath in each Wing eighteen quills. The Tail is shorter than in the rest of this kind [that is, Merula] scarce two inches and an half long, composed of twelve fea∣thers of equal length. The Legs, Feet, and Claws are black: The outmost foretoe at bottom joyned to the middlemost. The Tongue is black, slender, and a little cloven at the tip. The circles encompassing the Pupils of the Eyes great, broad, and of a fair hazel colour. The Eyes are furnished with nictating membranes. The Nosthrils are long. The Plumage covering the wholebody thick-set, as in water-birds.

It frequents stony Rivers and Water-courses in the Mountainous parts of Wales, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Yorkshire, &c. That I [J. R.] described was shot beside the River Rivelin near Sheffield in Yorkshire: That Mr. Willughby described near Pentambath in Denbighshire, in North-Wales. It is common in the Alps in Switzer∣land; where they call it Wasser-Amzel.

It feeds upon fish, yet refuseth not Insects. Sitting on the banks of Rivers it now and then flirts up its Tail. Although it be not Web-footed, yet will it sometimes dive or dart it self quite underwater. It is a solitary Bird, companying only with its Mate in coupling and breeding time.

CHAP. VIII. The greatest Land-birds, of a peculiar kind by themselves, which by reason of the bulk of their bodies, and smalness of their Wings cannot fly, but only walk.

§. I. The Ostrich: Struthiocamelus.

WHat occurs in Ancient and Modern Writers concerning this Bird see in Ges∣ner and Aldrovandus.

It is the greatest of all birds, except perchance the Emen, which though it be not so tall, yet in bulk of body is well nigh equal to it. Mr. Willughby saith, it is either equal or bigger, but I think that, if either have advantage of other in magni∣tude,

it is the Ostrich. When it holds up its Head it approacheth to the height of two Yards. Pliny writes, that it exceeds the height of a horseman sitting on horse∣back: Which is to be understood when it stretches its Neck forth, and reaches up∣wards as high as it can. The Head is small, depressed or flat-crown'd, and (as Aldrovandus truly) like a Gooses: The Bill also is compressed, and compared with the body very small, of a triangular figure, and horn colour, the tip being black. The skin at the Nosthrils ends in a semicircle. The slit of the mouth is large, reaching so far that its extremes or Angles lie directly under the Eyes. The Eyes are great, with hazel-coloured Irides. Of all great birds this alone hath both Eye-lids [upper and lower] as Pliny witnesseth. Which whether it be true or not we leave to be exa∣mined by others that have opportunity of seeing the bird. The Head and Neck, al∣most as far as the Breast, are bare of feathers, as are also the Thighs. The Head and Neck are covered with a certain Down, or thin-set hairs instead of feathers. The sides under the Wings, and the Thighs are absolutely bare. The lower part of the Neck where the feathers begin is white. The Wings are small, and altogether unuseful for flying, designed by Nature only to assist the bird in running, being spread and moved. The feathers of the Back in the Cock are cole-black, in the Hen only dusky, so soft that they resemble a kind of Wool. The Wing-feathers are of the same co∣lour [with the Back] beneath, but above in their upper part purely white. The Tail is thick, bushy, and round, not as in other Birds, to be spread out in breadth, the component feathers in the Cock being whitish, in the Hen duskish, with white tops; which feathers are in great request for Souldiers Hats, Helmets, &c.

Its Neck and Legs are very long: It hath but two toes, wanting the back-toe and inmost foretoe. The outer toe in that we described was five inches and an half long, the other eight: The length of the whole Foot from the end of the heel eleven Inches. The longer Toe was covered with twenty four great, disjoyned, annulary scales. This Toe is armed with a great, strong, black Claw; the other or outer Toe had no Claw in the Bird we described. The Toes are connected with a thick, strong membrane as far as the first joynt.

It swallows Iron, Leather, Grass, Bread, Hair, and whatever else you offer it, pro∣miscuously: Howbeit it doth not concoct Iron and other hard things, but avoids them entire by siege. That we saw at Bruxels was usually fed with bread mixt with hair. Africa produces this bird; in the Desarts whereof are sometimes seen such multitudes of them in company, that to them that behold them afar off they seem to be Troops or Armies of horsemen. They are also found abundantly in Arabia; and not less plen∣tifully in America, but of a different kind; as will appear by and by.

They lay very great Eggs, viz. sometimes as big as a young Childs head, and of fifteen pound weight, covered with a very hard and stony shell, which being buried in the sand, are cherished only by the heat of the Sun till the Young be excluded. For the Writers of Natural History do generally agree, that the old birds after they have layed and covered their Eggs in the sand forsake them, and take no more care of them.

That Ostrich-feathers were much used by the Ancients for the adorning of Caps, Helmets, &c. is manifest by the testimony of Pliny: And that still they retain their esteem, being also used now adays for the same purposes every body knows. They were also formerly wont to be employed, not only in Italy, but in England, for to make Fans for Gentlewomen, to cool themselves withal in the Summer time.

§. II. * The American Ostrich, called Nhanduguacu by the Brasilians, Marggrav.

THis sort is somewhat less than the African: Their Legs are long, the lower about a foot and half, the upper a foot. They have three Toes in each foot, armed with thick, black, but not sharp Claws. One Toe standing backward, which is round and gross; so that they can hardly walk on a smooth or boarded floor, but easily slip and fall. They carry their Necks bending like a Swan or Stork, being about two foot in length. Their Heads are like those of Geese. They have fair black Eyes: A compressed or flat Bill, not very broad, two inches and an half long. They have little Wings, unfit for flight, one of which they spread and set up like a sail, to assist them in running, which they do with that speed and swiftness, that a good Grey∣hound can hardly overtake them. Their whole body is covered with grey feathers,

which are longer and more beautiful on the Back. The body with the feathers ap∣pears almost round. They have not such a Tail made up of crested feathers, as is re∣presented commonly in the Pictures of Ostriches; but the feathers are stretched forth along the Back even to the vent. It swallows bits of Iron, Brass-mony, Dice, or any the like things you offer it, but concocts them not, casting them out again by siege. It feeds on fruits and flesh. It is frequent in the fields of the * 1.578 Capitania of Serigippo, and the Capitania of Rio grande. In Fernambuco it is not found. Its flesh is good to eat.

§. III. The Cassowary or Emeu of Aldrovandus, Clusius, Nierembergius, Bontius and Wormius

WE have seen four birds of this kind at London; three Males, and one Female: viz. one Male among his Majesties birds kept in St. James's Park near West∣minster; two Males and a Female at Mr. Maydstons, an East-India Merchant in Newgate-Market, brought out of the East Indies. It hath a horny Crown on the top of the Head. The Head and Neck are bare of feathers, only thin-set with a hairy down. The skin is of a purplish blue colour, excepting the lower part of the backside of the Neck, which is red, [or of a Vermilion colour.] In the lower part of the Neck hand down two Wattles or Lobes of flesh as low as the Breast. It hath a very wide mouth. The Bill is near four inches long, of a moderate thickness, and streight. The Legs are thick, and strong. It hath three Toes in each foot, all standing forward, for it wants the back-toe. The Claw of the outmost Toe is much longer than the rest. It hath some rudiments of Wings rather than Wings, consisting of only five naked shafts of feathers, somewhat like Porcupines quils, having either no Webs and fea∣thery parts, or which were in the Bird we described broken and worn off. It hath no Tail; a great body invested with blackish or dusky feathers, of a rare texture, which to one that beholds the Bird at a distance seem rather to be hairs than feathers. It is a gentle-natured bird, and easily made tame. We shall give the Reader a more full and accurate description of all its parts out of Clusius his Exotics. This Bird (saith he) as it walked, holding up its head, exceeded the height of four foot by some inches: For the Neck from the top of the Head to the beginning of the Back was almost thirteen inches long; the body two foot over; the Thighs with the Legs to the bending of the Feet seventeen inches long. The length of the body it self from the Breast to the Rump was almost three foot. The feathers covering the whole body, with those on the lower part of the Neck next to the Breast and Belly, and the Thighs were all double, two coming out of the same small short pipe or hose, and lying the one upon the other; the upper being somewhat the thicker or grosser, the nether the more fine and delicate: They are also of a different length, as I observed in the case of the like Bird. For those on the lower part of the Neck were shorter; those on the middle of the body and sides longer (viz. of six or seven inches:) But those on the extreme or hind-part of the body about the Rump (for it wanted the Tail) nine inches long, and harder than the rest. Although they are all hard or stiff, yet are they not broad but narrow, with thin-set filaments opposite one to another on each side; of a black colour, but about the Thighs tending to cinereous, the shaft only remaining black, as in the rest. These feathers had that form and situation, that to those that behold the Bird afar off, its skin might well be thought to be covered not with feathers, but only with hairs, seeming like to a Bears; and to want Wings; though indeed it had Wings, lying hid under the feathers covering the sides, furnished with * 1.579 four greater feathers of a black colour, as I observed in the case, though they were so broken at the tops, that I could determine nothing certainly concerning their length. But their broken shafts were pretty thick, hard and solid, and ran deep down into the outmost part of the Wing. The upper part of the Wing next the bo∣dy had its covert feathers like those on the Breast. For it is to be thought, that this kind of Wings are given to this Bird to assist her and promote her speed in running: For I believe she cannot fly, nor raise her self from the earth: [He might have been more positive in this, for it is most certain.] The Legs in compass exceeded five inches, and were covered with many as it were barks or broad scales, especially above the bending of the foot. It had thick, hard Feet, divided into three thick Toes, on the upper part covered with scales, underneath altogether callous: The middle (which was longer than the rest) consisted of three joynts, the interiour of one, the exteriour

of two. The Claws of all were very great, almost two inches long, thick, hard, and horny. The Head was small for the bigness of the bird, and almost bald or smooth, of a dark Purple colour, together with the upper part of the Neck, in which ap∣peared thin-set, black hairs. The Eyes a little above the slit of the Bill, great, and firy, almost like to those of Lions, compassed with black hairs, as are also those small, open Ear-holes which it had behind the Eyes. The upper Chap of the Bill was as it were arched or bent like a Bow, a little above the point perforate with two holes, serving for Nosthrils; from the middle whereof, reaching to the top of the Head, arises a kind of towring Diadem or Crown, of a horny substance, near three inches high, of a dusky yellow colour; which, as I understood, falls off at moulting time, and grows up again with the new feathers. The nether Chap of the Bill from the * 1.580 slit to the utmost point was five inches long. The fore-part of the Neck, almost four inches below the Bill, had as it were two membranous Wattles hanging down like a beard, two inches long, of a red Vermilion colour. The back-part of the Neck was likewise destitute of feathers, from the Head all along, being also of a red Ver∣milion colour: The lower part was covered with some few red feathers, wherewith black ones were intermingled.

This Bird, although it seem to have some marks common with the Ostrich, as a small Head, almost bald; and that without choice it swallows whatever you offer it; yet hath it not feet divided into two Toes like them, but into three, wanting the back∣toe, after the manner of the Bustards: And therefore so firm and strong, that I have seen a tree of the bigness of a mans thigh wholly crushed, and its bark taken away (as its Master told me) by the Feet and Claws of this bird. For it was not wont to assault those with whom it fought, with its Bill, running forward; but turning it self obliquely or sideways, to strike backward with its Feet.

But although it devoured indifferently whatever was offered, as Oranges entire, and the like, yet its ordinary food was white bread, which it swallowed divided into great lumps or morsels. But I was informed, that it was especially delighted with new-laid Hens Eggs, which it swallowed whole together with the shell. But if it were not in perfect health, it avoided them again entire, and then swallowing them anew the second time, it retained and concocted them. Moreover they affirmed to me, that this bird was a Cock, and that it was sometimes seen to put forth a penis from behind like a Camel. An Egg of this bird, the greatest and fairest among many that I saw, being measured longways was fifteen inches in circuit, cross-ways but twelve, or a little more: So that for its bigness it might be imployed and used for a vessel, as well as an Ostriches, which, (as Pliny testifies) the Ancients did sometimes use, and our Age also still doth for that purpose. For I remember that I have more than once seen Ostriches Eggs, tipt with, and set in Silver, made use of for drinking Cups. Howbeit the Shell of this Birds Egg was not very thick nor white, like the Shells of Ostriches Eggs, but in the outside of a greenish ash-colour, adorned with continuous, at least very thick-set small protuberances of a deep green. Of the rest which I saw one was almost of the same bigness, form, and colour with that described; but some were more round, others lesser; the colour also of some was more dilute, and less elegant. Moreover, it was told me, that this sort of Bird is not peculiar to the Mo∣lucca Islands, but found also in Sumatra or Taprobane, and the neighbouring Conti∣nent to those Islands. Thus far Clusius.

The Hen is much less than the Cock, of a dark Olive or dusky colour. It seems to be a miracle in nature (saith Aldrovandus, who borrowed his description out of the Journal of a Holland Voyage) that this bird wants a Tongue. Whatever it eats it swal∣lows. This is not so very wonderful; for we know other Birds besides this which want the Tongue, as for example, The Pelican, &c. Whatever other Authors have concerning the Emeu, as far as I have read, is all transcribed out of Clusius: Excepting Dr. Harvey, who doth briefly describe this Bird from ocular inspection; adding, that it swallows even live coals: And I have observed a Cut of it in the Tables of birds set out by Visscher, with this Inscription, Avis ignem devorans; i. e. The bird that eats or devours fire.

§. IV. The Dodo, called by Clusius Gallus gallinaceus peregrinus, by Nieremberg Cygnus cucullatus, by Bontius Dronte.

THis Exotic Bird, found by the Hollanders in the Island called * 1.581 Cygnaea or Cerne by the Portugues, Mauritius Island by the Low Dutch, of thirty miles com∣pass, famous especially for black Ebony, did equal or exceed a Swan in bigness, but was of a far different shape: For its Head was great, covered as it were with a certain membrane resembling a hood: Beside, its Bill was not flat and broad, but thick and long; of a yellowish colour next the Head, the point being black: The upper Chap was hooked; in the nether had a bluish spot in the middle between the yellow and black part. They reported that it is covered with thin and short feathers, and wants Wings, instead whereof it hath only four or five long, black feathers; that the hinder part of the body is yery fat and fleshy, wherein for the Tail were four or five small curled feathers, twirled up together, of an ash-colour. Its Legs are thick ra∣ther than long, whose upper part, as far as the knee, is covered with black feathers; the lower part, together with the Feet, of a yellowish colour: Its Feet divided into four toes, three (and those the longer) standing forward, the fourth and shortest backward; all furnished with black Claws. After I had composed and writ down the History of this Bird with as much diligence and faithfulness as I could, I hapned to see in the house of Peter Pawius, primary Professor of Physic in the University of Leyden, a Leg thereof cut off at the knee, lately brought over out of Mauritius his Island. It was not very long, from the knee to the bending of the foot being but little more than four inches; but of a great thickness, so that it was almost four inches in compass, and covered with thick-set scales, on the upper side broader, and of a yel∣lowish colour, on the under [or backside of the Leg] lesser and dusky. The upper side of the Toes was also covered with broad scales, the under side wholly callous. The Toes were short for so thick a Leg: For the length of the greatest or middlemost Toe to the nail did not much exceed two inches, that of the other Toe next to it scarce came up to two inches: The back-toe fell something short of an inch and half: But the Claws of all were thick, hard, black, less than an inch long; but that of the back-toe longer than the rest, exceeding an inch. The Mariners in their dialect gave this bird the name of Walghvogel, that is, a nauseous, or yellowish bird: Partly because after long boyling its fleshbecame not tender, but continued hard, and of a difficult concoction; excepting the Breast and Gizzard, which they found to be of no bad relish; partly because they could easily get many Turtle-Doves, which were much more delicate and pleasant to the Palate. Wherefore it was no wonder that in comparison of those they despised this, and said they could well be content to be without it. Moreover they said, that they found certain stones in its Gizzard: And no wonder, for all other birds as well as these swallow stones, to assist them in grinding their meat. Thus far Clusius.

* 1.582 Bontius writes, that this Bird is for bigness of mean size, between an Ostrich and a Turkey, from which it partly differs in shape, and partly agrees with them, especially with the African Ostriches, if you consider the Rump, quils, and feathers: So that it shews like a Pigmy among them, if you regard the shortness of its Legs. It hath a great, ill-favoured Head, covered with a kind of membrane resembling a hood: Great, black Eyes, a bending, prominent, fat Neck: An extraordinary long, strong, bluish white Bill, only the ends of each Mandible are of a different colour, that of the upper black, that of the nether yellowish, both sharp-pointed and crooked. It gapes huge wide, as being naturally very voracious. Its body is fat, round, co∣vered with soft, grey feathers, after the manner of an Ostriches: In each side instead of hard Wing-feathers or quils, it is furnished with small soft-feathered Wings, of a yellowish ash-colour; and behind the Rump, instead of a Tail, is adorned with five small curled feathers of the same colour. It hath yellow Legs, thick, but very short; four Toes in each foot, solid, long, as it were scaly, armed with strong, black Claws. It is a slow-paced and stupid bird, and which easily becomes a prey to the Fowlers. The flesh, especially of the Breast, is fat, esculent, and so copious, that three or four Dodos will sometimes suffice to fill an hundred Seamens bellies. If they be old, or not well boyled, they are of difficult concoction, and are salted and stored up for provision of victual. There are found in their stomachs stones of an ash-colour of di∣vers figures and magnitudes; yet not bred there as the common people and Seamen

fancy, but swallowed by the Bird; as though by this mark also Nature would manifest, that these Fowl are of the Ostrich kind in that they swallow any hard things, though they do not digest them. Thus Bontius.

We have seen this Bird dried, or its skin stuft in Tradescants Cabinet.

CHAP. IX. Of the Poultry kind.

THe characteristic notes of the Poultry kind are: 1. To have a short, strong, and somewhat crooked Bill, very fit to pick up grains of Corn, Pulse, and other Seeds, on which this kind chiefly feeds: 2. A thick and fleshy body: 3. Short, hollow Wings; whence this sort of birds flies not high, and makes but short flights for the most part: 4. A Stomach furnished with thick muscles, whose use is to grind the grains of Corn, and other hard meat swallowed whole, which they perform by the help of little stones which the birds now and then swallow; and so supply the defect of Teeth: 5. Very long blind guts: 6. White flesh, especially that of the muscles of the Breast, which colour after boyling discovers it self more mani∣festly. This note is peculiar to this kind, not agreeing to any other bird that I know. This is a sign that their flesh is of all other most wholsom, and affords best nourish∣ments: So that it is not undeservedly had in highest esteem, and sold dearest of any other. 7. To breed many young at a time. 8. To build their Nests upon the ground; the reason whereof is because 9. The young ones newly hatched are not fed by their Dams with meat put into their mouths, but are covered with a thick Down, forsake their Nests, and running up and down follow the old ones, and feed themselves, pick∣ing up their meat with their Bills. 10. Because they are (as we said) corpulent, and cannot fly long, they seek their food walking up and down upon the earth, and for that reason have broad Toes, that they may stand firmer and surer, and are for the most part good runners. 11. The most, if not all birds of this kind, dust themselves. 12. The Poultry kind only, but not all the several Species of this kind, are armed with Spurs.

We shall distinguish the birds of this kind into tame and wild: the wild we shall subdivide into those that have the back-toe and those that want it: Those again that have the back toe, into granivorous and phytivorous, or by a more evident mark, such as have scarlet red Eye-brows.

Birds of the Poultry kind are either

• Tame and domestic, as the Peacock, Turkey, Dunghil Cock, &c.
• Wild which either
  • Have the back toe being
    • Granivorous, as the Pheasant, Partridge, Quail, &c.
    • Phytivorous, with red Eye∣brows, as Cock of the Wood, &c.
  • Want the back-toe, as the Bustard, &c.

CHAP. X. Of tame Poultry.

§. I. The Dunghill Cock and Hen. Gallus gallinaceus & Gallina domestica.

THis Bird called by the Grecians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and of old by a general name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is and hath been so well known in all Ages and places, that it would be but lost labour to bestow many words on the describing of it. By its erect Tail having the component feathers so situate as to make an Angle or ridge; its fleshy, naked, serrate Comb, and Gills or Wattles hanging down under its Chin, and

lastly, by its long Spurs, it is abundantly distinguished from all other birds of its kind, and easily known at first sight. The Dunghil Cock alone of all diurnal Birds (ex∣cepting the Nightingale) sings or crows by night, viz. after Midnight two or three times at intervals before break of day. The number of quill-feathers in each Wing, computing all to the very least, is twenty seven. The Tail consists of fourteen, which as far as I know, is peculiar to this Species: For the rest of the Poultry kind have eighteen, or at least sixteen feathers apiece in their Tails. Of these the two middlemost are in Cocks the longest, and elegantly reflected or arcuate; Sickle feathers the Vulgar call them.

The Cock being a most salacious bird doth suddenly grow old, and becomes less fit for generation. For his spirits being spent, and the radical moisture, as they call it, consumed, by the immoderate use of Venery, his body must necessarily wax dry, and his heat of lust be extinguished. Aldrovandus writes, that himself hath found by experience, that Cocks when they are above three years old do indeed impregnate Hens, but that they become more impotent and insufficient for such exercises. Hens also, sith they do for the greatest part of the year daily lay Eggs, cannot long suffice for so many births, but for the most part after three or four years become barren and effete. For when they have spent all the Seed-Eggs which from the beginning were in their bodies, they must needs cease to lay, there being no new ones generated within.

How long these Birds would live, were they let alone, I cannot certainly determine, though Aldrov. limits their age to ten years. For they being kept only for profit, and within a few years (as we said before) becoming unfit for generation, who is there that without all hope of gain will keep them only to make experiment how long they will live? But that they are in their kind short-lived we may rightly infer from their salaciousness and intemperate lust, which infeebles the body, wastes the spirits, and hastens the end.

Cocks, being very couragious and high spirited birds, that will rather die than yield, are wont by our Countrymen to be with great care and exact diet fed and trained up for the combat. For in Cities and great Towns there are frequent Cock∣fightings, yet not upon set days, but appointed by the Cock-masters at their pleasure, or when they agree among themselves. Yea, in many places there are Theaters built, (Cock-pits they call them) where such shows are exhibited, to which there is com∣monly a great concourse of people. There are matches made, and great Wagers laid, besides bettings on either side of great sums of money, which they carry away whose Cocks get the victory. Right and well bred Cocks of the Game, will sooner die upon the spot, than yield and give over the fight, or turn tail and run away.

No better flesh in the world (in my opinion) than that of a year-old Pullet well fed, or a fat Capon; nothing inferiour to, not to say better than that of a Pheasant or Partridge, Some there are that think, and we also incline to their opinion, that the flesh of those Hens is most sweet and delicate, which are fed at the Barn-door, running about, and exercising themselves in getting their food, by scraping with their feet: And that the flesh of those is less pleasant and wholsom, that are shut up in Coops and cram'd. Some are so curious that they think those limbs most wholsom which are most exercised, and therefore in Wild-Fowl they prefer the Wings, in Tame the Legs.

A particular Anatomical description of the Cvarium, or Egg-cluster, the womb and other parts of generation in a Hen may be seen in Aldrovandus his Ornithology, tom. 2. p. 199, &c. but a more exact in Dr. Harvey's Exercitations De Generatione. Of the Coition of Cock and Hen, laying of Eggs, sitting, and hatching of Chickens the same Authors may be consulted; as also that great Anatomist and Naturalist Mar∣cellus Malpighius, in his little Tractate de Ovo, who of all others doth most exactly de∣scribe the process of generation, or of the formation, and growth of the Chicken in the Egg, during the whole time of incubation, and hath also illustrated his descripti∣ons with Figures. Of the use of the flesh, Eggs, and all other parts of Pullen both in Food and Physic, Gesner and Aldrovandus have writ sufficiently; to whose works we refer those who desire to know all those particulars.

That the Lion is afraid of a Cock, cannot endure the sight of him, yea, is terrified by his very crowing, hath been delivered and received by Ancients and Moderns with unanimous consent and approbation, and divers reasons sought and assigned for this antipathy: When as the thing it self is by experience found to be false.

We have beheld more than once, not without pleasure and admiration, a Capon bringing up a brood of Chickens like a Hen, clocking of them, feeding of them, and

brooding them under his Wings, with as much care and tenderness as their Dams are wont to do. And we were told, that he was trained and induced to perform this office, almost after the same manner that Jo. Baptista Porta prescribes, lib. 4. Magiae Nat. cap. 26. First, they make him very tame, so as to take meat out of ones hand, then about Evening-time pluck the feathers off his breast, and rub the bare skin with Nettles, and then put the Chickens to him, which presently run under his breast and belly, and (it is likely) rubbing his breast gently with their heads allay the stinging and it ching of the Nettles; and this they do for two or three nights, till he begin to love and delight in the Chickens. Perchance also the querulous voice of the Chickens may be pleasant to him in misery, and invite him to succour the miserable. A Capon once accustomed to this service will not give it over, but when one brood is grown up, you may take them away, and put another to him of newly hatcht Chickens, and he shall be as kind to them, and take as much care of them as of the former, and so others, till all being grown up or removed, he hath been for some time idle and dis∣used the employment.

I might be infinite should I prosecute at large all that might be said of this bird, or write a full, exact, and particular History of it. If any Reader desires to know more of it, let him consult Aldrovandus whose design was, to omit nothing in his History which was either known to himself, or had been before published by others.

This same Author in his Ornithology gives us many kinds, or rather rarities, of Hens. 1. A common Hen, but white and copped, lib. 14. cap. 2. 2. A dwarf Hen, or short∣leg'd Hen: Which variety is also found in England, kept by the curious, and called Grigs. 3. A Padua Cock and Hen: Which ought rather to be called a Pulverara Cock and Hen; from Pulverara a Village some miles distant from Padua, where they are found. These are larger and fairer Fowl than the common sort, else differ in no particular: Whence also if they be removed into other Countries, they do by degrees degenerate, and in a short time [in some few generations] come to be of the size and and shape of the Natives of such places. 4. A rough-footed Cock and Hen, lib. 14. cap. 5. 5. A Turkish Cock and Hen, different from ours especially in the variety and beauty of their colours, cap. 6. 6. A Persian Cock and Hen, whose characteristic is the wanting of a Rump or Tail. This kind is also kept by some among us, and cal∣led Rumkins. The first five varieties, in my opinion, differ not specifically. For these Birds by reason of the difference of Climate, soil, food, and other accidents, vary infinitely in colours, differ also in bigness, and in having or wanting tufts on their heads, &c. Those birds which he describes and gives figures of in the tenth and eleventh Chapters, under the titles of Another Indian Cock and Hen, and in the twelfth Chapter under the title of two other Indian Hens, are the same with the Mitu and Mituporanga of Marggravius, of which we shall give an account §. IV.

The Wool-bearing Hen I take to be altogether fabulous, and its figure in Aldrov. lib. 14. cap. 14. taken out of a certain Map, fictitious. Perchance it was no other than the frisled or Frisland Hen, which Odoricus de Foro Julii and Sir John Mandevil call the Wool-bearing Hen. The birds which M. Panlus Venetus makes mention of in these words, In the City Quelinfu, in the Kingdom of Mangi are found Hens, which instead of feathers have hairs like Cats, of ablack colour, and lay very good Eggs, seem to be Cassowaries.

Besides those set forth by Aldrovandus, we have often seen, and our selves also have now at Middleton another kind or variety of Hen, called in English the Frisland Hen, not (as I suppose) because it was first brought to us out of Frisland, but because the feathers of the body are curled or frisled: By which Epithete I believe this Bird was at first called, the word being afterward by the mistake of the Vulgar corrupted into Frisland, of like sound. For knowing this to be an outlandish Hen, they thought it could not be more fitly denominated than from its Country, and thereupon imagined it to be called a Frisland Hen, instead of a frisled Hen. Nor did they want a probable argument to induce them to think it to be of a Frisland breed or original, viz. the curling of the feathers, which one would be apt to attribute to the horror of cold. I suppose this to be the same bird which Aldrovandus hath put in the Chapter of monstrous Hens, in the last place, whose figure he saith was sent him by Pompilius Tagliaserrus of Parma, with this description. I would have you to understand, that there are two things espe∣cially found in this Cock worthy of admiration. The first and chief is, that the feathers of its Wings have a contrary situation to those of other birds, for that side which in others is naturally under most or inmost, in this is turned outward, so that the whole Wing seems to be

inverted: The other is, that the feathers of the Neck are reflected towards the head like a crest or ruff, which way the whole Tail also turns up.

A Hen cut asunder in the middle (in this case they prefer a black one) and applied * 1.583 hot to the head, in the phrensie, headach, &c. usually helps, and gives ease: They say also, that used in like manner, it heals the bitings of venomous beasts. Laid upon Carbuncles it draws out the venom; nor must we omit, that it stanches the bleeding of green wounds. A live Hen [or Cock] pluckt about the Fundament, and so ap∣plied to Pestilential swellings called Bubones, draws out the venom.

1. The Jelly of an old Hen, made of a Hen cut with Calves feet, and Sheeps feet, or Beef, boiled six or seven hours in a close vessel, to which you may add Spices, or Cor∣dial waters, is a great strengthener and nourisher.

2. Cock-Ale is made of Hensflesh, boiled till the flesh falls from the bones, then it is beaten with the bones, and strained for Wine or Ale with Spices. Note. The flesh of Hens is better than that of Cocks, except Capons. The flesh of a black Hen, that hath not laid, is accounted better and lighter.

3. Cock-broth is thus made: Tire and old Cock till he fall with weariness, then kill and pluck him, and gut him, and stuff him with proper Physic, and boil him till all the flesh falls off, then strain it. This broth mollifies, and by means of the nitrous parts wherewith that decrepite Animal is endued, and which are exalted by that ti∣ring of him, cuts and cleanseth, and moves the belly, the rather if you boil therein purging Medicines. It is famous for easing the pains of the Colic (boiled with pur∣gers and discutients) good against a Cough and Tartar of the Lungs (boiled with breast herbs.)

4. The Brain thickens and stops fluxes, as that of the belly (taken in Wine,) Women anoint therewith the gums of Children, to make them breed teeth.

5. The inward tunicle of the stomach, dried in the Sun, and powdered binds and strengthens the stomach, stops vomiting and fluxes, and breaks the stone.

6. The Stones are said wonderfully to restore strength after sickness, and to yield prolific seed, to provoke and increase lust (taken fresh) and to cure Fevers.

7. The Gall takes off spots from the skin, and is good for the Eyes.

8. The Grease of Hen or Capon is hot, moist, and softning, between the Goose and Hogs grease, and obtunds A crimony, cures chapt lips, pains in the Ears and pustles in the Eyes.

9. The Weasand of a Cock, burt and not consumed, given before Supper, cures pis∣sing of bed. Solenand. s. 4. Cons. 11.

10. The Dung doth all the same that the Pigeons, but weaker: and besides, cures the Colic and pain of the Womb. Moreover, it is good especially against the Jaun∣dise, Stone, and suppression of Urine.

Note. The white part of the Dung is esteemed the best.

Give half a drachm Morning and Evening for four or five days. Quercet. Pharmac. Rest. c. 21.

Outwardly it dries running heads, and other scabs (the ashes sprinkled on.)

The yellow dung cures the Ulcers of the Bladder, fried in fresh Butter or Oyl olive, and cast into cold water, to let the filth settle, that the Oyl may swim, which * 1.584 is to be cast into the Yard.

11. The Eggs are used, the Shells, Membranes, Whites, Yolks.

The Shells break the Stone, and cut tartareous mucilage.

The membranes are diuretic, given inwardly, or outwardly applied, (and are laid on the prepuce of infants.)

The White cools, binds, and conglutinates. It is of frequent use in the redness of the Eyes, and for healing of wounds (with bole) and fractures, &c.

Note. Hippocrates gives three or four Whites in Fevers to cool and cleanse.

The Yolk is Anodyne, ripens, digests, loosens, and is very much used in Clysters. Moreover, mingled with a little Salt it is wont to be laid on Childrens Navels (in a Walnut shell) to give a stool.

There is an Oyl made of it, which is of frequent use in consolidating and closing up wounds, and chaps, and the ripening of tumors.

§. II. A Peacock, Pavo, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

THis Bird is so well known every where, and so sufficiently characterized by the length and glorious eye-like spots of his Tail alone, that it may perchance seem superfluous to bestow many words on describing of it. I shall therefore only pre∣sent the Reader with Aldrovandus his description.

In the Cock (saith he) the Head, Neck, and beginning of the Breast are of a deep blue. The Head in proportion to the body little, and (as Albertus notes) in a man∣ner Serpentine, adorned with two oblong white spots, the one above the Eyes, the other, (which is the lesser, but much the thicker) under them, which is also suc∣ceeded by a black one; else, as I said, blue. It hath a tuft on the top of its head, not entire, as in some other birds, but consisting of a kind of naked, but very tender, green stalks or shafts of feathers, bearing on their tops as it were Lily-flowers of the same colour. Of which most beautiful tuft or crest thus Pliny, Pavonis apicem crinitae arbusculae constituunt: And indeed they seem not to be feathers, but the tender shoots of Plants newly put forth. The Bill is whitish and * 1.585 slit wide, being a little crooked at the tip, as it is in almost all granivorous birds, and in it wide Nosthrils: The Neck long, and for the bigness of the Fowl very slender. The Back of a pale ash-colour, besprinkled with many transverse black spots. The Wings closed (for spred I cannot see them, who de∣scribe it painted by the life) above towards the Back are black, lower towards the Belly and withinside red. The Tail is so disposed, that it is as it were divided into two. For when he spreads it round, certain lesser feathers making as it were an entire Tail by themselves, and being of another, to wit, a dusky colour, do not stand up like those long ones, but are seen extended as in other birds: So that without doubt the longer must needs be inserted into another muscle, by help whereof they are so erected and spread. These long feathers, (as Bellonius writes) spring out of the upper part of the Back near the vent, that is, out of the Rump: And those other lesser ones are made by Nature to support the longer. The Rump is of a deep green, which together with the Tail it erects; the feathers whereof are short, and so disposed, that they do as it were imitate the scales of an Aethiopian Dragon, and cover and take away the sight of part of the long feathers of the Tail. The longer feathers are all of a Chesnut colour, beautified with most elegant gold lines tending upward, but ending in tips of a very deep green, and those forked like Swallows Tails. The circular spots, or (as Pliny calls them) the eyes of the feathers, are particoloured of a deep green, shining like a Chrysolite, a Gold and Sapphire colour. For those Eyes consist of four circles of different colours, the first a golden, the second a chesnut, the third a green: The fourth or middle place is taken up by a blue or Sapphire coloured spot, almost of the figure and bigness of a Kidney-bean. The Hips, Legs and Feet are of an ash-colour besprinkled with black spots, and armed with spurs after the manner of Dunghil-Cocks. The Belly near the Stomach is of a bluish green, near the vent it is black, or at least of a dusky colour.

In the Peahen there is little variety of colours. The whole Wings, Back, Belly, Thighs and Legs are of a dusky colour, inclining to cinereous. The Crown of the Head and Crest are of the same colour; yet in the top of the Head are some small spots, as it were points of green dispersed. Those white spots we noted in the Cock are in the Hen far greater. The circle encompassing the Pupil of the Eye in the Cock is yellow, in this of a lead-colour. The Chin is wholly white. The fea∣thers of the Neck are waved and green; near the Breast they have their extremities white.

Their Food is the same with that of the common Cock and Hen: But they do especially delight in Barley. Albertus saith, that Peacocks eat Serpents, whence it is no wonder that Serpents should be terrified with their voice. That they were origi∣nally exotic birds, and of old time brought out of India into Europe is most probable, though now adays they are every where very frequent.

It is proper to this Bird only, the Turkey excepted, to erect his Tail, and spread it round, as if it delighted and took pride to have the glistering Eyes thereof beheld: But that he doth it upon being commended, and that so soon as he casts down his Eyes and sees the deformity of his Feet, out of shame he presently lets fall and contracts his Tail, as if he were not altogether devoid of reason, is without doubt false and fabulous.

Its flesh is esteemed harder, colder, drier, and of more difficult concoction than that of Hens. That being boiled or roast it will not putrefie, but keep a year or more uncorrupt, is commonly believed, and proved by an experiment made by St. Augustine, who in his 21. Book of the City of God, Chap. 2. writes thus: Who but God the Crea∣tor of all things gave to Peacocks flesh a faculty of not putrefying: Which thing at first hearing seeming to me incredible, it hapned that at Carthage there was set before us a roasted Peacock; of the brawn of whose breast we caused to be kept so much as we thought con∣venient: Which being produced after so many days space as any other roasted flesh would cor∣rupt in, did not at all offend our Nose. Being laid up again, after more than thirty days it was found the same as before, and likewise the same after a year, save that it was somewhat drier, and a little contracted or shrunk. To us it seems not so wonderful that the flesh of a Peacock, which is of it self sufficiently hard and solid, being rendred harder and drier by roasting should continue a long time uncorrupted in a hot Country, such as Africa is, especially if care be taken, that in moist and rainy weather it take no wet, but be kept always dry; and I doubt not but the same would happen to Turkeys flesh, or even to Pullets flesh boiled or roasted. Let them abstain (saith Aldrov.) from eating Peacocks flesh who live a sedentary or idle life, using no exercise: For it is more agreeable, or at least less hurtful to those that exercise much, [I mean the flesh of young Peacocks only, as being more tender] but to those that are liver-grown, or troubled with the Spleen, or with the Piles very noxious. But in my opinion, and to my Palate the flesh of young Peacocks is very tender, delicate, and well tasted, purely white, and deservedly had by the Romans of old in high esteem, and price, no∣thing inferiour to that of Hens or Partridge.

Aristotle writes, that Peacocks lay twelve Eggs, but with us they seldom lay more than five or six before they sit.

They are pestilent things in Gardens, doing a world of mischief: They also throw down the Tiles, and pluck off the Thatch of houses. The Peacock (saith Aldrovan∣dus) though he be a most beautiful bird to behold, yet that pleasure of the Eyes is compensated with many an ungrateful stroke upon the Ears, which are often afflicted with the odious noise of his horrid, or, as he calls it, * 1.586 hellish cry. Whence by the common people in Italy it is said to have the feathers of an Angel, but the voice of a Devil, and the guts of a Thief. It is said (and I can easily believe it) to produce its life to an hundred years. The Peacock, saith Columella, is no less salacious than the Dunghil-Cock, and therefore requires five Hens: Yea, if there be no other Female for him to couple withal he will run upon and tread the sitting Hen, and break her Eggs, whereof she being conscious, endeavours as much as she can to hide her Nest from him. This bird is said to love cleanliness. It sometimes varies in colour, being found white, especially in Northern Countries.

§. III. The Turkey. Gallopavo, sive Meleagris & Numidica avis.

THe Turkey being now so well known, and become so common every where in Europe, needs no very minute and operose description, wherefore we shall con∣tent our selves with that of Peter Gyllius, sufficiently exact of it self, and made up and perfected by Aldrovandus, by the addition of whatsoever worthy the observation was by him omitted; which runs thus:

It is as tall as a Peacock. Its Neck together with its Head is altogether bare of fea∣thers, and only covered with a purplish-coloured skin; so very thick, that when it cries, or prides it self, it so stretches, and as it were blows up the skin, that before hung loose and flaggy, that it approaches to the bigness of a mans arm. The Crown of the Head is particoloured of white, blue, and purple. It hath no Crest or Comb like a Cock, but a certain red, * 1.587 fleshy Appendix, arising above the upper Chap of the Bill, which is sometimes extended to that length, that it not only reaches all along the declivity of the upper Chap, but hangs down below the tip of the Bill at least an inch, so that the Bill is covered with it, that it cannot be seen but sideways. This Ap∣pendix when it walks or feeds it contracts to that shortness, that whereas before it hung down an inch lower than the Bill, now being shrunk up it falls short of the length of the Bill it self. The feathers of this bird do somewhat resemble a Hawks, and have their ends white. It hath very long Legs. Its Toes and Claws have the same di∣stinction and figure with the Dunghil-Cock. The body of that I saw was round, and

taller than a Peacocks. Round about the Eyes it was of a florid blue and purple co∣lour. The Eyes themselves were indued with a very quick and sharp sight, like those of Hawks. The Cock when any one came near the Hen, bristled up his feathers, and by his superb gate, strutting up towards him, endeavoured to drive him away. The Hen was white, and resembled a Peacock when he hath cast the feathers of his Tail. Thus far Gyllius: In which description, saith Aldrovandus, are two notes of no small moment wanting: viz. That its Legs * 1.588 want Spurs, and that the Cock is differenced from the Hen, when they are come to their full growth and maturity, by a bristly bush or beard before his Throat, or in the upper part of his Breast: Add hereto, that the worm-like Caruncle on the Head is in the Hen very small. What he saith of their feathers being like Hawks, is to be understood by reason of their many spots, wherein the likeness consists.

To this we may further add, that the Tail of a Turkey is made up of eighteen fea∣thers; that each Wing hath twenty eight prime feathers or quils: That the Legs have small Spurs, or rather certain rudiments of Spurs, and those very conspicuous and plain to be seen, however Aldrovandus writes that they do altogether want Spurs. Their Eggs are white, but thick-speckled with sordid yellowish red spots, much like to the freckles of the face of a man.

This stately Fowl at first sight from the shape of its body, and also from its condi∣tions, one would take to be rather of the Hen than the Peacock kind, saith Aldro∣vandus: To me it seems to be more like the Peacock than the common Cock, in its bigness and stature or tallness, in the manner of carrying its Tail, but especially of set∣ting it up and spreading it, as if both it self admired it, and took pride in shewing it to others.

That these birds were the Meleagrides of the Ancients, as also their Gallinae Africanae & Numidicae guttatae, Aldrovandus takes much pains to prove. In English they are called Turkeys, because they are thought to have been first brought to us out of Turkey.

Turkeys love hot Countries: yet they can bear cold ones well enough, after they are grown up and have been used to them: But their young Chickens are very nesh and tender, and not to be reared without great care and attendance.

Their flesh is very white and delicate, a dish becoming a Princes feast, saith Aldrovandus, if it be well concocted yielding a plentiful and firm nourishment; of the same taste and quality with that of a Peacock, and as difficult to concoct, unless its hardness be before by some means corrected. This is to be understood of old and well grown Turkeys, for Turkey-pouts and young Turkeys are tender enough, and of easie concoction.

The antipathy this Fowl hath against a red colour, so as to be much moved and pro∣voked at the sight thereof, is very strange and admirable.

§. IV. The Brasilian Mitu or Mutu of Marggrave.

THis Bird, saith Marggrave, is of the Pheasant kind; the Spaniards also (as Nie∣rembergius tells us) call it a Pheasant. But we, partly for its bigness, partly for its colour, partly also for its gentle nature, easily becoming tame, but chiefly for that it spreads its Tail in like manner * 1.589 circularly, think that it ought rather to be ranked with the Peacock and Turkey, to which we have therefore subjoyned it. It is bigger than the common Cock or Hen. The length of its body from the Neck to the rise of the Tail is ten inches: The length of the Neck six inches. It is all over covered with black feathers, ex∣cept on the Belly and under the Tail, whereit is of a brown colour, almost like that of a Partridge. The feathers on the Head, Neck, and Breast are finer than the rest, and for softness and beauty comparable to black Velvet. On the top of the Head it hath black feathers complicated into a very low and flat cop, which one that carelesly be∣held the Bird would scarce take notice of, but when it is angry, or on other occasions it can erect them into a conspicuous crest. It hath a remarkable Bill, not thick, croo∣ked, about an inch and half long: The lower Chap is small, the upper almost four times bigger. The Bill is of a very bright carnation colour, but toward the tip white. Its * 1.590 Legs are like a Hens, ten inches long, to wit, four from the Feet to the Knees, and six above them, where they are covered with black feathers. It hath also four Toes, like a Hens, which from their rise to the first joynt are connected by an inter∣venient

skin, as in some other birds. It hath a Tail a foot long, like a Turkeys, which it always moves in breadth; crying Kit Kit like them: A well-shaped Head like a Gooses; a Neck about six inches long, as was before said: Brave, great black Eyes; and behind the Ears a white naked spot like a Hen. It is easily made tame; it roosts willingly on high upon trees like Turkeys. Finally, it hath very good and savoury flesh.

The Pauxi of Nieremberg, the Indian Hen of Aldrovandus, lib. 4. cap. 12. a variety of the Mitu.

It was (saith Nieremberg out of Fr. Hernandus) of the bigness of a Dunghil-Cock, or something bigger: Its feathers were of a black colour, but shining, and almost like a Peacocks: Its Bill red, crooked, and like a Parrots, &c. What was most remarka∣ble in, and peculiar to this Bird was a certain tumour fastened to the root of its Bill, where it was more slender, of the shape of a Pear, of the hardness of a stone, and of a blue colour, like that of the stone called Cyaneus or the Turcois.

Aldrovandus describes his * 1.591 Indian Hen, from a Picture, as I suppose, in this wise. From the Bill to the end of the Tail (which was white, and striped with black lines) it was black, which blackness yet did every where incline to blue. The vent and be∣ginning of the Tail underneath were white. Its Bill was strong, crooked, and red. Its Legs were almost of the same colour, but much paler, and in their hind part in∣clining to blue. The Claws were black. It carried on its forehead a great protube∣rance, of the shape of a Fig, and of a bluish colour. The Tail was long, not erect, as in our common Cocks and Hens, but extended in length, as in a Pie.

These birds differ not from the Mitu in any thing almost but that protube∣rance or excrescence at the beginning of the Bill. Nierembergius also makes mention of this variety in his tenth Book, Chap. 75. The Pauxi, saith he, (for so he there calls this Bird) hath a great head, which in some is plain or smooth, in others crested; in others instead of a crest of feathers arises a stone or globular body (a stone they call it though it be not over-hard) like an Egg, or bigger, of the colour of Soder. I wonder that Marggrave should make no mention of this bunch: Surely it was want∣ing in all the birds he saw. Whether this Bird be a Species distinct from the Mitu, or only accidentally different, we refer to further inquisition.

§. V. The other Indian Cock of Aldrovandus, Mituporanga of Marggravius, Tepetototl of Nierembergius.

THere is also found (saith Marggrave) another kind of * 1.592 this Bird, which the Brasilians call Mituporanga, differing only in the Bill and feathers of the Head. This kind hath no long Bill, but an indifferently thick one, yet not so * 1.593 high as the Mitu, nor so crooked: The tip of both Chaps is black, all the rest of the Bill covered with a Saffron-coloured skin; the like whereto it hath also about the Eyes. It hath goodly, black Eyes. The Head and Neck covered with feathers of a deep black, like Velvet. On the top of the Head it hath curled feathers, twisted or turning up spirally, as far as the beginning of the Neck; which it can erect in the manner of a curled or frisled crest. All the rest of the Bird is black, wherewith is here and there mingled a gloss of green. About the vent it hath white feathers. The Legs are ci∣nereous, and of the figure of the Mitu's. The Tail black, but the extremities of its feathers white. This Bird also easily becomes very tame and familiar.

Of this Bird Nierembergius * 1.594 writes thus. The fawning and familiarity of Dogs doth not exceed the officiousness of the Tepetototl or Mountain Bird, which others call, Tecuecholi, and the Spaniards Natives of America a Pheasant, which is very tame and domestic: It is a bird of the bigness of a Goose, of a black shining co∣lour; yet having some feathers white underneath, about the Tail, at the ends of the Wings; ash-coloured Legs and Feet; a crooked Bill, partly cinereous, and partly yellow, and about its root as it were swelling out; a folded or curled crest; black Eyes, but a pale Iris. It is fed with Corn, made up into a mass or loaves, and baked, and with such like meat. Its flesh is fat, and good to eat, and not unlike that of well∣fed Turkeys. It is a very gentle Creature, and loving to man, and begs its food, when an hungry, by catching hold of the cloths of those that it lives in the house with:

And when it hath occasion to go into any Room, if the door be shut, it knocks at it with its Bill. If it can, and be permitted, it follows its Master; and when he comes home, receives him with great expression of joy and clapping its Wings.

Aldrovandus * 1.595 describes and sets forth the figure of this Bird under the title of Ano∣ther Indian Cock. The whole body (saith he) of this Bird was of a deep black: It wanted both Spurs and Tail, as also the Comb: Instead of which it had on its Head curled feathers. Its Bill was of two colours, partly yellow, to wit, toward the Head, partly black. The upper Chap of its Bill hooked. Where in other Cocks the holes of the Nosthrils are, there this Bird had a certain yellow protuberance, of the bigness of a Cherry. The Legs and Feet were covered with whitish * 1.596 annulary scales. Also some small feathers near the vent were white.

If this Bird be rightly described by Aldrovandus, it seems so to differ from the Mi∣tuporanga of Marggrave, as his Indian Hen above described doth from the Mitu, viz. by the Cherry-like protuberance on its Bill. Moreover, it differs also in that it wants a Tail, whereas the Mituporanga hath a sufficient long one. But Aldrovandus saw not the bird it self, but only its Picture, which whether or no it were exact, and not taken when the bird had lost its Tail, there is some reason to doubt.

§. VI. The Guiny Hen.

IT is for bigness equal to a common Hen: But its Neck longer and slenderer. The figure of its body almost like a Partridges. It is of an ash-colour, all over che∣quered with white spots. A black ring compasses the Neck: The Head is reddish. On the Crown or top of the Head grows a hard horny cap, [a horn Mr. Willughby calls it] of a dusky red colour. The Cheeks beneath the Eyes are blue, and bare of feathers, under which is a red Gill. They say, that these Birds are gregarious, and feed their Chickens in common. So far Mr. Willughby. But because this description is very short and succinct, (though sufficient for the knowledge of the bird) I shall present the Reader with a full and exact one out of Gesner. The * 1.597 Mauritanian Cock is a very beautiful bird, in bigness and shape of body, Bill, and Foot like a Pheasant. [Those that we have seen, as also those described by Bellonius and Marggrave were as big as ordinary Hens,] armed with a horny Crown, rising up into a point, on the backside * 1.598 perpendicularly, on the foreside with a gentle ascent or declivity. Nature seems to have intended to fasten and bind it down to the lower part by three as it were * 1.599 Labels or slips proceeding from it; between the Eye and the Ear on both sides one; and in the middle of the forehead one, all of the same colour with the Crown; so that it sits on the head after the same manner as the Ducal Cap doth upon the head of the Duke of Venice, if that side which now stands foremost were turned back∣ward. This Crown below is wrinkled round about: Where it rises upright in the top of the Neck, at the hinder part of the head grow certain erect hairs (not feathers) turned the contrary way. The Eyes are wholly black, as also the Eye-lids round about, and the Eye-brows, excepting a spot in the upper and hinder part of each Eye-brow. The bottom of the Head on both sides all along is taken up by a kind of callous flesh of a sanguine colour, which that it might not hang down like Gills or Wattles, Nature hath taken care to turn backward and fold up, so that it ends in two acute processes. From this flesh arise up on both sides certain Caruncles, wherewith the Nosthrils are invested round, and the Head in the forepart separated from the Bill, which is pale-coloured; of these also at the Bill the lower edges are lightly re∣flected back under both Nosthrils. What is between the Crown and this flesh on the right and left side is marked with a double scaly incisure, but behind with none.

Its colour under the Jaws or Throat is exactly purple, in the Neck a dark purple: In the rest of the body such as would arise from black and white fine powder, sprinkled or sifted thin upon a dusky colour, but not mingled therewith: In this colour are dispersed and thick-set all over the body oval or round white spots, above lesser, below greater, comprehended in the intervals of lines obliquely intersecting one another, as is seen in the natural position of the feathers; in the up∣per part of the body only, not in the lower. [I suppose he means, if we should fan∣cy lines to be drawn in the manner of Network all over the back, the spots would stand in the middle of the Meishes of that Network.] This you may find to be so, not only from viewing the whole body, but even single feathers plucked off. For the

upper feathers, in oblique lines intersecting one another, or if you please, certain circumferences, made (as I said) of black and white powder, and having their ex∣tremities joyned together as in Honey-combs or Nets, do comprehend oval or round spots in dusky spaces; but so do not the lower. * 1.600 Yet both are placed in a like manner. For in some feathers they are so joyned together in order, that they do almost make acute triangles, in others so as to represent an oval figure. Of this kind there are three or four rows in each single feather, so that the lesser are contained within the greater. In the end of the Wings and in the Tail the spots stand in equidistant right lines, long ways of the feather. Between the Cock and Hen you can scarce discern, the similitude is so great; save that the Head of the Hen is all black. Its voice is a di∣vided or interrupted whistle, not louder, nor greater than that of a Quail, but liker to that of a Partridge, except that it is * 1.601 higher, and not so clear. This description was sent to Gesner by our Dr. Key [Cajus.]

Marggravius saw others brought out of Sierra Lyona like to the above described, whose Neck was bound or lapped about with, as it were, a membranous cloth of a blue ash-colour. A round many-double tuft or crest consisting of elegant black feathers covers the Head. The white points or spots round the whole body are variegated as it were with a shade.

§. VII. Macucagua of the Brasilians, a bird of the Hen-kind. Marggrave.

IT is of the bigness of our Country Hen, or bigger; hath a black Bill, more than an inch and half long, forward a little crooked, like a Partridges: In the middle of the Bill are two large holes for Nosthrils. The Eyes are black; and behind them at a little distance are the Ears, as in Hens: The body thick and great, wherewith the Wings end, for it hath no Tail. The lower Legs are bare, two inches and an half long. It hath in its Feet three Toes standing forward, thick, with short and blunt Claws; a round heel like an Ostrich, and a little above that a short Toe toward the inside of the Leg, with a blunt Talon. The whole Head and Neck is speckled with a dark yellow and black: Under the Throat it is white. The Breast, Belly, and Back are of a dark ash-colour. The Wings are all over of an Umber-colour waved with black, except the prime feathers, which are wholly black. The upper Legs are clo∣thed with feathers of the same colour with the Belly; the lower, together with the Feet, are blue: The Claws grey. It is a very fleshy bird, and hath so much flesh as scarce two ordinary Hens have, and that also well tasted. Under the outer skin, which is thick and fat, it hath another membrane wherewith the flesh is covered. It lives upon divers fruits that fall from wild trees. I found in its stomach wild Beans, the Seeds of Araticu, &c. It runs upon the ground; for its Feet are unfit to climb trees. It lays Eggs a little bigger than Hens Eggs, of a bluish green colour. This might have been put in the next Chapter among the wild birds.

CHAP. XI. Wild Birds of the Poultry-kind, and first of all, the Granivorous.

§. I. The Pheasant. Phasianus.

THis Bird is supposed to be so called from Phasis a River in Colchis, from whence it was first brought ito Europe. Aldrovandus, not improbably, takes this word to be rather derived from the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of the same sound, and (as he sup∣poses) signification. They differ much in weight, according as they are fatter or leaner. One Cock we made trial in weighed fifty ounces, another but forty five; a Hen thirty three. Its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail was thirty six inches, to the end of the Claws twenty four. The distance between the tips of the Wings extended thirty three inches. The Bill like to that of other gra∣nivorous birds, from the tip to the angles of the mouth an inch three quarters long,

in old birds whitish: It hath on both sides a fleshy and tuberous membrane, by which it is above joyned to the Head, under which the Nosthrils are as it were hid. The Irides of the Eyes are yellow. A red or Scarlet colour [according to Aldrovandus powdered with black specks] compasses the Eye round for a good breadth. In the forepart of the Head, at the Basis of the upper Chap of the Bill, the feathers are black with a kind of purple gloss. The Crown of the Head and upper part of the Neck are tinctured with a dark green, shining like silk, which colour yet is more di∣lute on the Crown of the Head. [Aldrovandus writes, that the Crown commonly is of a very elegant, shining ash-colour, at the sides and near the Bill being green, and either in Sun or shade very changeable: Which most beautiful colour doth also take up the * 1.602 whole Neck above. Mr. Willughby makes the Crown of the Head to be of a shining blue, with a certain mixture of red, and as well the Head as the upper part of the Neck to appear sometimes blue, sometimes green.] It hath moreover on both sides the Head about the Ears feathers sticking out, which Pliny calls horns. There grow also to the Ears in their lower angle black feathers longer than the rest. The sides of the Neck and the Throat are of a shining purple colour, Note, that as well the green as the purple colour inheres only in the exteriour part or borders of the feathers, the rest, i. e. the middle and lower part, of the feather being on the top of the Head dusky, on the Neck black. The feathers under the Chin, and at the angles of the Mouth are black, with green edges or borders.

Below the green the rest of the Neck, the Breast, Shoulders, middle of the Back, and sides under the Wings are clothed with most beautiful feathers, having their bot∣toms black, their edges tincted with a most beautiful colour, which, as it is diversly objected to the light, appears either black or purple: Next to the purple in each fea∣ther is a cross line or bed of a most splendid gold colour: Below the gold a fulvous, which reaches as low as the black bottom we mentioned. Howbeit the gold colour is not immediately contiguous to the fulvous, but divided by an intermediate narrow line of a shining purplish. On the underside of the Neck the extremities [tops] of the feathers are painted with a black spot of the figure of a Parabola. The shafts of all are fulvous. The feathers themselves about the shaft in the lower part of the un∣der side of the Neck are marked with an Oval white spot in the black bottom we spoke of. The feathers on the shoulders and middle of the Back are variegated with these colours: First, their edges are fulvous, next succeeds a narrow purplish line, then a pretty broad black line running parallel to the edges of the feathers, wherein is included another broad white line: This Aldrovandus calls an Oval line. The space comprehended within this line, and the rest of the feather, to the very bottom, are black. Yet in the middle of the Back the space comprehended is various, of dusky and black. The shafts of the feathers are fulvous or yellow. The lower feathers of the Back are almost wholly ferrugineous, inclining to a Fox colour, want that white spot, are longer than others, and end as it were in small filaments. Yet they have this common with the fore-mentioned, that in the light, about their middles they seem to * 1.603 have an appearance of that green colour, which else is not seen in them; that their shafts approach to a gold colour, and that their bottoms or lower parts are all dusky. The Tail (if you measure the middle feathers, which are much longer than the rest) is full twenty six inches long, almost of the figure of an Organ; for as in that the Pipes on each side are gradually longer and longer, or bigger and bigger, the biggest being the middlemost, so is it in this Tail: Those two middlemost feathers (which, as we said, are the longest of all) have on each side them eight, all of diffe∣rent magnitude, the exteriour shorter and lesser than the interiour in order to the out∣most. They are of an ash-colour, on the sides ferrugineous, near the shafts adorned with black spots, in the longest feathers in both Webs, opposite one to another, in the lesser in one Web only, or if there be any mark in the interiour Web it is more obscure, and scarce observable. The Wings closed are nine inches long, spread * 1.604 eighteen inches broad. The Wing-feathers that are next the body are variegated with the same colours as those on the middle of the Back: The subsequent are liker those on the lower part of the Back: Yet the ridges of the Wings resemble those of the common Partridge, whose colour the prime feathers or quils of the Wings do almost exactly represent, viz. being of a dusky ash-colour, and all over spotted with whitish spots. The Breast and Belly whereabout the Gizzard lies, and that part thereof which the Wings cover glister with the same colours wherewith the Neck is beautified, but more obscure, and the feathers here are much bigger. Near the vent and on the Thighs it is of a dark ferrugineous. The Legs, Feet, Toes, and Claws

are of a horn colour; yet the Toes and Claws are darker than the Legs. A thick membrane, and perchance not unfit for swimming, connects the Toes: The like whereto (that I know of) is not found in any other pulveratricious bird. The Legs are armed with Spurs, shorter than in a Cock, but sharp, and of a black colour. The Hen is nothing so beautiful as the Cock, almost of the colour of a Quail.

It lives in the Woods; and feeds upon Acorns, Berries, Grain, and Seeds of Plants. It frequents rather Coppice Woods, than where there are only Timber-trees.

The Books of all Writers of Animals, Ancient and Modern, celebrate the Pheasant, for the goodness of its flesh, assigning to it the first place among birds at Table. Physi∣cians make it the standard wherewith they compare, and accordingly judge of the temperament and goodness of other meats, saith Longolins, as he is cited by Aldrov. Aldrovandus by many arguments proves, that Pheasants are better meat than Pullen; which who desires to know, may consult him in the Thirteenth Book, and Fifth Chapter of his Ornithology: At last he thus concludes, Pheasants therefore, as well because they are rare, as because they are of a most delicate taste, and yield so excel∣lent a nourishment, as we have proved, seem to be born only for great mens Tables, and have been always had in highest esteem of all Birds.

Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, and some other Birds, are taken in great numbers with a Net they call commonly * 1.605 Expegatorium, by the help of a Setting-dog, trained up for this sport, who finds out the birds, and when he sees them, either stands still, or lies down on his belly, not going very near them, least he should spring them; but looking back on the Fowler his Master, wags his Tail, by which the Fowler knows that the Birds are near the Dog; and so he and his Companion run with the Net, and cover both Birds and Dog.

That all Birds, but particularly Pheasants, Partridge, and Quails, are far more sa∣voury and delicate, when killed by a Hawk than if they be caught in snares, or by any other fraud, many have written, and most think. And indeed, there is no doubt but by this means their flesh becomes more short and tender: For that violent motion of the bloud occasioned by their flight, and its fervent heat consequent thereupon, macerates the flesh, and disposes it to corruption, but that it thence becomes more savoury and delicate, all men now-adays are not agreed. But the old rule for∣bids me to dispute about tastes. Boterus reports, that Ireland wants Pheasants and Partridges.

§. II. The Brasilian Jacupema of Marggrave.

IT is a sort of Pheasant, something less than a Pullet. Its Head is not great, like a Hens, as is also the Bill. The Eyes are black; the Neck about seven inches long: The length of the body from the bottom of the Neck to the rise of the Tail about nine inches: Of the Tail (which is broad) a whole foot. The Legs are long [which he divides into upper and lower,] the upper five inches long, the lower three, or a little more. In each Foot four Toes like those of Hens, of which the middle of the three foremost is two inches long. The whole bird is clothed with black feathers, with which something of brown is mixed. The feathers of its Head it can erect in form of a Crest, and those black feathers [I suppose he means those on the Head which make the Tuft or Crest] are encompassed with other white ones. The Throat under the Head, and for an inch and half down the Neck is bare of fea∣thers, and covered with a red skin. The whole Neck below is variegated with white feathers dispersed among the black ones; as also all the lower Belly, and the hindmost half of the Wings. The upper Legs and the Tail are wholly black, without the ad∣mixture of any brown. The lower Legs and Feet are of an elegant red colour. They are made tame; and their flesh is good. This bird took its name from its voice, for it cries, Jacu, Jacu, Jacu. This might as well have been ranked among the Domestic birds.

§. III. The common Partridge. Perdix cinerea.

THe Cock weighed fourteen ounces and a quarter; the Hen thirteen and an half. The length [of the Cock] from the Bill to the Claws was fourteen inches and a quarter, to the end of the Tail twelve and three quarters. The Bill from the tip to the corners of the aperture of slit of the mouth three quarters of an Inch, to the Eyes an inch. The breadth was twenty inches.

The Bill in young Partridges is of a dusky colour, but in old ones it grows white. The Irides of the Eyes are a little yellowish. Under the Eyes are certain red ex∣crescencies. The Chin and sides of the Head are of a deep yellow or Saffron-colour. The Cock hath on his Breast a red mark of a semicircular figure, resembling a Horse∣shooe. The Hen hath not so much red on her Breast. Below the Chin, as far as the Horse-shooe mark, it is of a blue cinereous, adorned with transverse black lines: Be∣neath the mark the colour fades into dirty or yellowish cinereous. The longer fea∣thers on the sides of the Breast and Belly have each of them a great transverse red spot, their shafts being white. The upper side of the body is particoloured of red, cinereous and black. This Naturalists call a testaceous or potsheard colour.

The Prime feathers in each Wing are about twenty three in number, of which the foremost are dusky, with transverse yellowish white spots. The longest feather is five inches and a quarter. The interiour covert-feathers of the Wings, and the long feathers springing from the shoulders have their shafts of a yellowish white.

The Tail is composed of no less than eighteen feathers, and is in length three inches and an half: The four middle feathers are of the same colour with the rest of the body; the other seven on each side of a sordid yellow, with cinereous tips.

The Legs below the Knees are bare; they have no footstep or appearance of any Spur. Both Legs and Feet are in young ones of a greenish colour, but in old ones they grow white. The Toes are joyned together with a membrane as in Heathcocks.

It hath a great Craw, a musculous Stomach or Gizzard, and a gall-bladder. For the taste and wholsomness of its flesh it is deservedly preferred before all other birds. It feeds upon Ants and Ants Eggs, upon the grains of Corn, and also upon the green leaves. But in Winter-time, when it feeds upon green Corn, its flesh is less com∣mendable, than in Summer and Autumn when it feeds upon the Kernel or grain.

The Common Partridge is a multiparous bird, laying sixteen or eighteen Eggs ere it sits. With us in England it is most frequent. The Italians call it Starna, as much to say as externa, or outlandish; and in some places also Pernice. It is more rare with them. and sells dearer than the red-leg'd Partridge.

The Partridge (understand it of all the several sorts) by reason of the heaviness of its body, and shortness of its Wings, can neither fly high, nor long continue its flight, howbeit for those short flights it makes it flies very swift and strongly.

In Winter-time they fly in company: For they are of that nature, that they breed and bring up fifteen or sixteen young together, which company all Winter with the old ones. But in the Spring time, when they pair together, they fly by two and two; for then the old ones beat away the Young from them. This out of Bello∣nius: Which is true, not only of birds of this kind, but also of Pheasants, Heath∣cocks, &c.

Bellonius saith, that the singing of Partridges is a certain sign of day approaching. We have often heard them crying and calling one another after Sun-set.

Partridges (saith Aristotle) when any one comes near their Nest, cast themselves down before his feet that looks for it, running and flying as if they were lame, by that means drawing him away from their Nests, and enticing him to follow them; which when they have done, themselves fly away, and afterwards call together their Brood, which so soon as they hear the voice of their Dams presently run to them.

§. IV. The Brasilian Partridge called Jambu by Piso.

OF these in the Woods by the Sea-shore are found two kinds, greater and lesser, These are lesser than our Europaean Partridge, those both for figure and bulk of body and goodness of flesh are equal and like to ours. The feathers of both all over the body are of a dark fulvous colour, but mingled and spotted with dusky.

§. V. The Damascus Partridge of Aldrov.

IN the shortness, thickness, and roundness, and whole shape of its body it ap∣proaches to our Partridges. The colour is so like to the lesser Partridges, that at first you can hardly distinguish them: But the Feet in this are in a manner yellow: The Bill is also longer, though else the Bird be much less.

§. VI. The Red-leg'd Partridge, Perdix ruffa Aldrov. called in Italy Coturnice & Coturno.

THe Cock weighed more than thirteen ounces: His length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Claws was eighteen inches: His breadth between the tips of the Wings extended twenty two. The Irides of the Eyes were red: The Bill almost an inch long, and red: The Legs and Feet also red: The Claws dusky: The Toes as far as to the first joynt connected by a membrane intervening. It had small Spurs [others had none, perhaps these were young ones.] The soles of the Feet were of a dirty yellow.

The Head, Neck, Back, and Rump were ash-coloured, as also the outer part of the Thighs. The lower part of the Neck tinctured with a vinaceous colour. The Cheeks under the Eyes, and the Chin to the middle of the Throat white: Yet in the very angle of the nether Chap was a small black spot. A black border beginning from the Nosthrils, and produced above the Eyes encompasses this white space. The Craw below the black line is cinereous: The Breast of a dilute red, inclining to yellow. The feathers on the sides are painted with very beautiful colours. For the tips of some of them are black; and next the black they have a transverse line, the shorter and nearer to the Head of a whitish colour, the longer and more remote of a yellow: Below this a black line again. Of others the tips are red, the colours we have men∣tioned in order succeeding. The bottoms of all are cinereous.

The beam-feathers in each Wing are in number twenty five, the exteriour whereof are dusky, the interiour of a dark cinereous: But yet the outer edges of the third, and succeeding to the fifteenth, are of a white, tinctured with red. The Tail is four inches long, the two middle feathers being cinereous, the exteriour five on each side having their upper half red, their lower cinereous.

It hath a large Craw, a musculous Stomach, or Gizzard, in which dissected we found Caterpillars and Snails.

The Back of the Hen is not all out so cinereous, but rather inclines to red, the middle parts of the feathers being black. The line running above the Eyes is some∣what red. The Cheeks are of the same colour with the Back: Else it doth not much differ from the Cock. This kind is a stranger to England: Howbeit they say it is found in the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey, which are subject to our King. It is of a more gentle nature than our common Partridge, and easily made and kept tame: Whereas the common Partridge can hardly be induced to put off his wild nature, and to go out and return home again like tame fowl: Yet I have been told by persons of good credit, that a certain Sussex man had by his industry and application made a Co∣vey of Partridges so tame, that he drave them before him upon a wager out of that Country to London, though they were absolutely free, and had their Wings grown, so that they might if they would have made use of them to fly away.

That this Bird feeds upon Snails Aristotle hath delivered, and our experience con∣firms:

Yet not on Snails only, but also on Caterpillars, Seeds of Wheat and other Grain.

Partridges, to speak of them in general, are very salacious birds, infamous for masculine Venery, and other abominable and unnatural conjunctions. The Ancients have left many fabulous things concerning them, viz. That the Cocks, if they can find them, break the Eggs, lest the Hens being detained by sitting upon them should not be ready or willing to yield themselves to be trodden; for which cause the Hens lay privately, concealing their Nests, as much as they can, from the Cocks. That the Cocks when they want the Hens, to wit, when they have withdrawn themselves to sit, do not only manifest their petulancy and salacity, by their voices and fighting, but also defile one another promiscuously by that nefarious coition, interdicted mankind by no less than a capital punishment. Which things Pliny after his manner hath wittily and elegantly comprised in a few words. Illae [i. e. foeminae] quidem & maritos suos fallunt, quoniam intemperantiâ libidinis srangunt earum ova, nè incubando detineantur. Tunc inter se dimicant mares desiderio foeminarum. Victum aiunt venerem pati. That they make two Nests, wherein they lay their Eggs, half in one, and half in the other; in one whereof the Female sits, and in the other the Male: and that both do hatch and bring up their part of Young. That the Hens without being ever trodden by the Cocks, if they do only stand opposite to them, and the wind blow from thence upon them, will conceive Eggs, and those prolific: Of which thing some Modern Writers have indiscreetly indeavoured to give an account, before they had any assu∣rance of the truth of the matter of fact. That the Hens are so intemperately lust∣ful, that contrary to the manner of other birds, they cannot abstain from the use of Venery so much as while they are sitting: Which particulars also Pliny briefly and in∣geniously thus words: Neque in ullo animali par opus libidinis. Si contra mares steterint foeminae, aurâ ab his flante praegnantes fiunt. Hiantes a. exertâ linguâ per id tempus aestu∣ant, concipiúntque supervolantium afflatu, saepe voce tantùm audita masculi: Adeoque vin∣cit libido etiam foetûs charitatem, ut illa furtim & in occulto incubans, cùm sensit foemi∣nam aucupis accedentem ad marem, recanat, revocétque, & ultro se praebeat libidini. That the Cock being overcome in fight dares never so much as come in sight of his Mistris or Mate. That the Partridge when her own Eggs are broken, or any ways marred, or lost, steals another Partridges Eggs, sits upon them, hatches them, broods and brings up the Young, which yet when they are a little grown, hearing their Dams voice, [that is, the voice of that Partridge that laid the Eggs,] do by instinct pre∣sently know it, and leaving their Foster Mothers, betake themselves to their own Dams. That she often turns her upon her back, and so, lying with her belly upward, covers her self with clods and straws, and by that means deceives and escapes the Fowlers. But it is not worth the while to insist long upon rehearsing or refuting these particulars.

These Birds (saith Aldrovandus) in the Feasts and Entertainments of Princes hold the principal place, without which such Feasts are esteemed ignoble, vulgar, and of no account. Indeed, the Frenchmen do so highly value, and are so fond of Par∣tridge, that if they be wanting they utterly sleight and despise the best spread Tables, and most plentiful and delicate Treatments; as if there could be no Feast without this dish. As the flesh of Partridge (saith Bellonius) is very delicate and grateful to the Palate, so in like manner is it greatly commended, for that it nourishes much, is easily digested, and breeds good bloud in the body. The flesh of the greater kind is more solid and hard, (though hard only comparatively) of the lesser more tender, and consequently yields a finer, more dissipable and spirituous nourishment, is also of easier concoction, but yet is not so white as that of the greater. Palate-men, and such as have skill in eating, do chiefly commend the Partridges Wing, preferring it much before the Leg, as indeed it is much better. Hence that English Proverbial Rhythm:

If the Partridge had the Woodcocks thigh, 'Twould be the best bird that e're did fly.

He that desires yet further information concerning the quality and temperament of Partridges flesh, let him consult Aldrovand.

§. VII. Bellonius his Greek Partridge, or great red Partridge, the same with the precedent.

THe great Partridge which the Grecians, following the Italians, commonly call Coturno, seems to us to be different from the Partridges both of France and * 1.606 Gothland: For it is twice as big as our Country Partridge, hath red Bill and Legs, is spotted on the Breast and sides in like manner as ours, of the bigness of a * 1.607 hand∣som Hen. This kind of Partridge is so frequent in the Rocks of Colme, the Cyclades Islands, and the Sea-coast of Candy, that there is not such plenty of any other bird. Their cry is different from that of our Partridge, being great and sonorous, especi∣ally in breeding and coupling time, when they express and often repeat the sound of this word [Cacabis] whence it should seem that the Latines were taught by the Greeks to express the note of a Partridge by the word Cacabare. We also borrowed the name Cacabis, whereby we in some places call a Partridge from their voice or cry. They follow one another on the Rocks. Of this kind, in my judgment, Aristotle is to be understood when he saith, If Hens couple with Partridges they generate a different kind. They build in an open place without cover or shelter in May-time, among cer∣tain herbs, what time they come down from the Rocks, seeking convenient places to build and bring up their Young. They lay their Eggs upon the ground, under some great stone, sometimes eighteen, sometimes sixteen, more or less, like Hens Eggs, but less, white, and speckled thick with small red spots, very good to eat as Hens Eggs, but their Yolks congeal not. After they have hatcht their Young, they lead them out into the Champain or open fields to seek their food. Wherefore we think this kind of Partridge to be altogether different from ours: for in some places of Italy both kinds are found, and called by divers names, viz. This by the name of Coturno the other by the name of Perdice or Pernice. Thus far Bellonius.

Aldrovandus thinks that this bird differs from the greater red Partridge or Cotur∣nice of the Italians only in bigness: and truly I am now wholly come over to his opi∣nion; sith Bellonius himself makes them all one. What Partridges Bellonius means by the Partridges of Gothia I know not.

§. VIII. The Quail, Coturnix.

IT is the least bird in this kind; of a flatter or broader body, and not so narrow or compressed sideways as the Land-Rail or Daker-Hen. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is seven inches and an half: Its breadth between the ex∣tremities of the Wings spread fourteen inches.

Its Bill from the tip to the corners of the mouth half an inch long: its figure more depressed and plain than in the rest of this kind: The lower Chap black, the upper of a pale dusky. The Irides of the Eyes are of a hazel colour: The Eyes have a nictating membrane.

The Breast and Belly are of a dirty pale yellow: The Throat hath a little mixture of red [ruffi.] Under the lower Chap of the Bill is a long and broad stroke of black tending downward. Above the Eyes, and along the middle of the Head are whitish lines. The head is black, only the edges of the feathers reddish or cinereous. The middle part of each covert-feather of the Back and lower part of the Neck is marked with a yellowish white stroke, the rest of the feather being particoloured of black and reddish ash-colour. Under the Wings is a bed of white terminated on each side with a border of red mingled with black.

The beam or quill-feathers of the Wings are dusky, crossed with pale red lines: The lesser rows of hard feathers in the Wings are almost wholly of one and the same reddish colour. The Tail is short, not above an inch and half long, consisting of twelve feathers, of a blackish colour interrupted with pale-red transverse lines.

The Feet are pale-coloured, covered with a skin divided rather into scales than entire rings: The soals of the Feet yellow. The outer Toes, as far as the first joynt, are connected with the middlemost by an intervening membrane.

It hath a Gall-bladder. The Cock had great Testicles for the bigness of its body, whence we may infer that it is a salacious bird. It hath a musculous Stomach or

Gizzard; and just above the Stomach the Gullet is dilated into the bag, which we call the Ante-stomach, the interior Superficies whereof is granulated with papillary Glandules.

For catching of Quails they use this Art: The Fowler betimes in the Morning ha∣ving spread his Net hides himself under it among the Corn: then calls with his Quail∣pipe, The Cock Quail, thinking it to be the note of the Hen that he hears, comes in a trice with all speed to the place whence the noise comes. When the Bird is got un∣der the Net, up rises the Fowler and shews himself to him, he presently attempting to fly away, is entangled in the Net and taken.

The Quail is a bird no less salacious than the Partridge, infamous also for obscene and unnatural lust. The Cocks are of high spirit and courage; and therefore by some are wont to be trained up and prepared for the combate, after the manner of Cocks: And Aelian tells us, that of old time at Athens Quail-fightings were wont to be exhibited as shews; and so grateful and delightful they were to the people, that there was as great flocking to them as to a spectacle of Gladiators. In some Cities of Italy, especially Naples, they do also now adays keep fighting Quails, as Aldrovandus reports. The manner how they induce and provoke them to fight see in him.

Quails are birds of passage: for being impatient of cold, when Winter comes they depart out of Northern and cold Countries into hotter and more Southerly; flying even over Seas; which one would admire, considering the weight of their bodies and shortness of their Wings. When we sailed from Rhodes to Alexandria of Egypt (saith Bellonius) many Quails flying from the North toward the South were taken in our Ship, whence I am verily perswaded that they shift places: For formerly also when I sailed out of the Isle of Zant to Morea or Negropont, in the Spring time I had observed Quails flying the contrary way from South to North, that they might abide there all Summer: At which time also there were a great many taken in our Ship.

Among the Ancient Greeks and Latines Quails were condemned and banished Ta∣bles as an unwholsom dish; for being reported to feed upon Hellebore, and to be ob∣noxious to the falling sickness, they were thought to produce the like disease in those that eat their flesh: But undeservedly, for now adays they are eaten without any danger, and esteemed a choice dish: And being somewhat rare with us in England are sold very dear: Indeed their flesh both for delicacy of taste, and wholsomness of nourishment is nothing inferiour to that of Partridge or Pheasant. Poulterers, and such as feed them in Coops do not permit them a high place to be in, because leaping up they hurt their heads against the top: nay, though their Coops be so low that they can hardly stand upright in them, yet by striking their heads against the top, they will rub off all the feathers; as we have observed.

§. IX. The Rail or Daker-hen, Ortygometra Aldrov. lib. 13. cap. 33. Crex Aristotelis.

THe weight of that we described was five inches and an half: Its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Claws was fifteen inches, to the end of the Tail eleven and an half; its breadth between the extreams of the Wings stretch'd out nineteen inches: Its Bill 1 ⅛ inch long, measuring from the point to the end of the slit. The body of this bird is narrow or compressed side-ways, and like to that of Water-hens, The lower part of the Breast and the Belly are white; the Chin also is white, else the Throat is of a more sordid or dirty colour. On the Head are two broad black lines: Also a white line from the shoulders as in the Morehen. The middle parts of the covert feathers of the Back are black, the outsides of a reddish ash-colour. The Thighs are variegated with transverse white lines. In each Wing are twenty three quil-feathers. The lesser rows of Wing-feathers both above and below are of a deep yellow, as also the borders of the prime feathers. The Tail is al∣most two inches long, made up of twelve feathers. The Bill is like the Water-hens, the upper Mandible being whitish, the nether dusky. The Legs bare above the Knees: the Feet whitish. In the Stomach dissected we found Snails.

It is called Rallus or Grallus perchance from its stalking [à gradu grallatorio] or per∣chance from Royale, because it is a Royal or Princely dish.

Aldrovandus describes his Rail thus, Its Bill is less than a Water-fowls, but much bigger than a Quails: Its Tail also is very little, and next to none: Its Legs and Feet in proportion to its body long, of a middle colour between Saffron and green. The

colour of almost the whole Head, the Neck, Back, and also the greater part of the Wings respecting the Back of a * 1.608 testaceous colour, in brief very like to that of a Hen-Quail, wherefore it is by the Italians rightly called the King of Quails [Il re delle Qualie] which is as much to say as a great Quail. The Wings where they are contiguous to the Belly are red. The fore-part of the Neck and the beginning of the Breast are wholly testaceous: The Belly and Hips like the Goshawks [Accipitris stel∣larii.] The Female is all over of a paler colour.

Bellonius describes this Bird by the title of the other Rail that lives in Broom fields. [Ortygometrae alterius in genistis degentis.]

It is said to be the Quails Leader or Guide when they go from one place to ano∣ther. In the whole shape of its body it resembles the Water-fowl, especially the Morehen. Its Legs are long, its Body slender, its Belly white, its Tail short, its Bill pretty long; all which are marks of Water-fowl: Wherefore, in my judgment, it more properly belongs to that Tribe, and ought thither to be referred.

This, if I much mistake not, is the Bird which Dr. Turner takes to be the Crex of Aristotle. There is (saith he) a certain Bird in England with long Legs, else like to a Quail, save that it is bigger, which among Corn and Flax in the Spring and begin∣ning of the Summer hath no other cry than Crex, Crex; but this it often iterates: Which I think to be the Crex of Aristotle: The English call it a Daker-hen, the Ger∣mans Ein Schryck. I never saw or heard it any where in England save in Northumber∣land. But seeing (as Gesner rightly) it is manifest by the testimony of the most anci∣ent Writer Herodotus, that the Crex is as big as the black Ibis, the English Daker-hen cannot be the Crex. Although this Bird be more rare in England, yet is it found every where in Ireland in great plenty.

§. X. The Indian Quail of Bontius.

THis Bird feeds by Coveys, like Partridges, in the Woods of Java, although it be also made and kept tame, and its Female, accompanied with her Brood, walks up and down the Yards of houses like the common Hen; the Cocks also are no less stout, and given to fighting among themselves till they kill one another, than the Dunghil-Cocks. In the colour of their feathers they very nearly resemble the true Quail: But their Bill is a little longer: They also make such an interrupted noise or cry by intervals as Quails are wont to do; but of a far different sound from that of Quails, more like to that horrid drumming noise which Bittours make among Reeds in fenny places, which in Low Dutch we call Pittoor. The longer these Birds con∣tinue or draw out that cry, the more generous are they thought to be. They are of so cold a nature, that when shut up in Cages or Coops, if you do not expose them to the Sun-beams, and strow Sand under them, they presently languish, and run a hazard of dying: And therefore by night after Sunset, they shrink up on a heap, as the Cuc∣kow doth with us in hollow trees in Winter-time, and in the trunks of trees cover themselves with their feathers. But when the Sun rises they presently sing, and that sound is heard many paces off, that you would wonder so little a bird (for they do not exceed a common Pigeon or Turtle in bigness) should have so deep and loud a cry. I have sometimes kept of them in Cages, which would give me notice of the approach of Morning or break of day, if I had any serious business to do. For if any business be to be done, it is most commodiously dispatcht either in the Morning or Evening. For the day time, while the Sun roasts all things with his scorching heat, is unfit for action, and very unhealthful to stir much in.

CHAP. XII. Wild Birds of the Poultry-kind that feed on Leaves and Berries, &c. having Scarlet Eye-brows.

§. I. The Cock of the Mountain or Wood, Urogallus five Tetrao major, Aldrov. called by the Germans Orhun, by the Venetians Gallo di montagna.

FOr bigness and figure it comes near to a Turkey. The Cock we measured from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail was thirty two inches long: The Hen but twenty six. The ends of the Wings extended were in the Cock forty six inches distant, in the Hen no more than forty one.

It had such a Bill as the rest of this kind, an inch and half long, measuring from the tip to the angles of the mouth; its sides sharp and strong. Its Tongue is sharp, and not cloven. In the Palate is a Cavity impressed equal to the Tongue. The Irides of the Eyes are of a hazel colour. Above the Eyes is a naked skin of a scarlet colour, in the place and of the figure of the Eyebrows, as in the rest of this kind. The Legs on the forepart are feathered down to the foot, or rise of the Toes, but bare behind. The Toes are joyned together by a membrane as far as the first joynt, then they have on each side a border of skin all along, standing out a little way, and serrate.

The Breast is of a pale red, with transverse black lines, the tips of the feathers be∣ing whitish. The bottom of the Throat is of a deeper red: The Belly cinereous. The upper side of the body is particoloured of black, red, and cinereous, the tips of the feathers being powdered with specks, excepting in the Head, where the black colour hath a purple gloss if beheld in some positions. The Chin in the Cock is black, in the Hen red. The Tail is of a deeper red than the other feathers, and crossed with black bars; the tips of the feathers being white. The Tail of the Cock is black, the tips of the feathers being white, and their borders as it were powdered with red∣dish ash-coloured specks. The middle feathers especially, and those next to them are marked with white spots. The feathers covering the bottom of the Tail have white tips, else are variegated with alternate black and reddish ash-coloured transverse lines. After the same manner the whole Back is also painted with black and white cross lines, but finer, and slenderer. The feathers under the Tail are black, but their tips and ex∣teriour edges white. The Head [in the Hen] is of the same colour with the back. The tips of the Breast-feathers are black.

Each Wing hath twenty six quill-feathers, the greater whereof are of a more dusky and dark colour: The rest have their exteriour Vanes variegated with red and black. The tips of all beside the ten outmost are white. The longer feathers spring∣ing from the shoulders are adorned with angular beds of black, wherewith a little red is mingled below. The lesser rows of hard feathers of the Wings are variegated with dusky, red and white, their tips being white. In the Cock the shoulders and lesser rows of hard feathers above are variegated with red and black lines, underneath are white, except those under the first internodium, which are black. The longer feathers under the shoulders are white, which when the Wings are closed make a large white spot. The Wings under the second internodium are black, with transverse lines of white. In the Cock the Neck is of a shining blue. The Thighs, Sides, Neck, Rump, and Belly are in like manner variegated with white and black lines. The Head is blacker: About the vent it is of an ash-colour.

It hath very long blind Guts, straked with six white lines. The Stomach muscu∣lous, as in the rest of this kind, full of little stones. The Craw was stuft with the Leaves, Tops, and Buds of the Fir-tree. The skin of the stomach sticking to the muscles is soft and hairy like Velvet.

But for the knowledge of this Bird, and distinguishing it from all others, there is no need of so prolix and particular a description of colours, which vary much by age, and perchance also place, and other accidents, when as the bigness alone is sufficient for that purpose.

This Bird is found on high Mountains beyond Seas, and as we are told in Ireland, (where they call it, Cock of the Wood) but no where in England. At Venice and Padua we saw many to be sold in the Poulterers Shops, brought thither from the neigh∣bouring Alps.

I take the Grygallus major of Gesner and Aldrovandus (who also calls it the Tetrax of Nemesianus) to be the Female of this Bird. For the Females in this kind of Birds in variety and beauty of colours excel the Males. Whereas Gesner taking it for granted, that the Females do in no kind of creature excell the Males in variety of co∣lours, being deceived by this presumption, took and described for different Species the different Sexes in both these kinds, viz. the Cock of the Mountain, and the black game: And so of two Species made four; to wit, 1. Urogallus major. 2. Grygallus major. 3. Urogallus minor. 4. Grygallus minor. The second and fourth being the Females of the first and third. Moreover, being himself mistaken, he thought Turner to be so: Who makes the Male Morehen, that is the lesser Tetrao, or lesser Urogallus of Gesner, to be black; the Female all variously spotted, so that if it were not bigger and redder than a Partridge, it could hardly be distinguished from it. Aldrovandus follows Gesner, making the Grygallus major of Gesner (that is, the Female of the Urogallus major) the Te∣trax of Nemesianus; without cause reprehending Longolius, who indeed was of the same opinion; whereas he himself erroneously makes the Male and Female of the Cock of the Mountain [Urogallus major] diverse or distinct kinds. So then the case stands thus:

• 1.
  • Cock of the Mountain the Male— 1. The greater Urogallus, Gesn. Aldrov.
  • Cock of the Mountain the Female— 2. The greater Grygallus, Eorund.
• 2.
  • Black game or Grous the Male— 3. The lesser Urogallus, Eorund.
  • Black game the Female— 4. The lesser Grygallus, Eorund.

The flesh of this bird is of a delicate taste and wholsom nourishment, so that be∣ing so stately a bird, and withal so rare, it seems to be born only for Princes and great mens Tables.

§. II. The Heathcock or Black game or Grous, called by Turner the Morehen. Tetrao, seu Urogallus minor.

THe Cock weighed forty eight ounces: was in length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail twenty three inches, [The Hen was but nineteen inches long.] Its breadth thirty four inches [the Hens thirty one.]

The Cock is all over black, but the edges of the feathers, especially in the Neck and Back, do shine with a kind of blue gloss. His Legs are grey. The Female is of the colour almost of a Woodcock or Partridge, red with black transverse lines. The Breast and Belly are hoary, The Wings underneath and the long feathers are white, as in the Cock. The middle of the Back is of a deeper red. The Rump and edges of the feathers on the Throat are hoary. The feathers under the Tail white.

In each Wing are about twnety six beam-feathers: In the Cock the bottom of the fifth of these is white, of the eighth and succeeding to the twenty sixth the whole lower half. Of the eleventh and following feathers to the two and twentieth the tips are also white. The long feathers under the shoulders are purely white. In the Hen the ten outmost feathers are dusky, the rest of the same colour with the body, saving their tips, which are whitish. The bottoms of all but the first six are white. Moreover, those great quil-feathers, which, as we said, are dusky, have something of white in the outer borders. The Wings underneath, and those longer feathers in both Sexes are white, which when the Wings are closed appear outwardly on the Back in the form of a white spot.

The Tail consists of sixteen feathers, and is in the Cock near seven inches long; [Understand this of the exteriour feathers, for the interiour do not exceed four inches.] In the Cock the three exteriour feathers on each side are longer than the rest, and stand bending outward, the fourth on each side shorter, and less reflected. In the Female the outmost feathers are indeed longer than the rest, but not reflected. The Tail is of the same colour with the body, only the tips of the feathers of a hoary white.

The Bill is black and crooked; the upper Chap somewhat prominent and gibbous. Under the Tongue is a kind of glandulous substance: In the Palate a Cavity impressed equal to the Tongue. The Tongue is undivided, soft, and somewhat rough. The Eyebrows bare and red. The Ears great both in Male and Female. The Legs rough with feathers growing on their fore-part: The Toes naked, and connected by a membrane as far as the first joynt. On each side the Toes are the like borders of skin as in the precedent Fowl, standing out from the Toe, and pectinated. The Claw of the middle Toe is on the inside thinned into an edge. It hath no spurs.

Its Guts are * 1.609 fifty one inches long: Its blind Guts (which is strange) twenty four, striate with six lines. The Craw large. They feed upon the tops of Heath, Acorns, &c. The Pouts do a long time accompany their Dams even after they be come to their full growth, as do young Partridges. They are infested with Lice and Ticks.

This kind is frequent in the sides of high Mountains; sometimes it descends into the plains, not rarely occurring in the lower Heath-grounds. The Male differs so strangely from the Female, that to one unacquainted with them they might well seem to be of different kinds; yea, to Gesner himself they seemed so, as we shewed in the foregoing Chapter.

This is Turners Morehen, which he thinks to be so named from the colour of the Cock, which is black, as in Moors, though he is mistaken in that he writes, that it hath on its Head a red fleshy Crest, and about the Cheeks two as it were red fleshy Lobes, or Gills, for it hath no other red flesh about the Head but the Eye-brows, which all the rest of this Genus have. See Aldrovand. lib. 14. cap. 15. Gesner calls it Gallus Scoticus Sylvestris, that is, The wild Scotch Cock. I suspect also that the Gallus Palustris Scoticus of the same Gesner is no other than this Bird. The Histories of these Birds you have in Aldrovands Ornithology, lib. 14. cap. 15, 16.

§. III. * The Attagen of Aldrovandus, called by the Italians Francolino.

IN bigness and the whole habit and fashion of its body it approaches to a Pheasant. It hath a short, black Bill, crooked at the end. The colour is various almost the whole body over. The Head especially hath a very beautiful aspect, a yellowish Crest variegated with black and white spots, being erected in the middle of its Crown. The Pupil of the Eyes is black, the Iris yellow. It hath Eye-brows, like the Heathcock, of naked scarlet-coloured skin. Under the Bill and in the beginning of the Throat hangs down as it were a beard of very fine feathers. Its Neck is of the longest, and in comparison with the bulk and make of its body slender, of an ash∣colour, besprinkled with black and white spots; which in this respect differ, that here the white, in the Head the black are the deeper. The spots of the Breast are of the same colour, wherewith are other ferrugineous ones mingled. The Belly, Tail, Hips, and Legs [which are covered with feathers] are of a lead colour, and also besprinkled with black spots. The fore-toes of the Feet are long, the back-toe short, all armed with crooked Claws.

They are by the Italians called Francolini as it were Franci, that is, Free Fowl, because the common people are forbidden to take them, and Princes grant them free∣dom of living.

Olina describes this Francolino a little otherwise. In the figure (saith he) and proportion of its body it resembles a common Partridge, but in bigness something exceeds it. The Breast and all the Belly are spotted with black and white. The ends of the Wings and Tail are black. The Head, Neck, and Rump are fulvous, inclining to red, with a little and black intermixed. But neither his figure represents, nor description mentions any Crest. The Legs also in Olina's figure are naked.

This Bird is either the same with our other Lagopus, called the Red-game, or very like it; but differs from it, in that it hath a Crest upon its Head. But the Attagen of Bellonius (as may be seen by its Picture) is destitute of a Crest. Indeed I should think it to be the same, did not the place forbid it. For our red Game lives upon the tops of the highest Mountains in Northern Countries, whereas the Attagen of Aldro∣vandus is found plentifully in the Mountains of Sicily, which is a very hot Country. Yet I make no question, but the Bird, which Bellonius and Scaliger understand by this * name, that lives in the Pyrenaean Mountains, and the Mountains of Auvergne, and

which, Bellonius saith, comes not down into plain Countries, is the very same with our Red Game: And perchance also the Attagen of Aldrovandus is no other, sith Francolinus is a name common to both Aldrovandus and Bellonius his Bird: And Al∣drovandus writes, that his Attagen is a Mountain Bird. Neither is it a sufficient argu∣ment to prove the contrary, that Sicily where it is found is a hot Country: for Mount Aetna in Sicily is so cold, that the top of it for the greatest part of the year is covered with Snow. I am sure when we went up it in the year 1664, in the beginning of June the Snow was not melted. But if the Legs thereof be bare, (for Aldrovandus doth not affirm it in his description, though his figure represents them bare) and the Head al∣ways crested, it cannot be our Red Game.

The flesh of this Bird is most excellent, of easie digestion, and yielding plentiful and very good nourishment: And therefore among the Ancients was preferred before all other, and placed in the highest degree of dignity.

§. IV. The Hazel-hen, Gallina corylorum, Attagen, Gesh.

THe Bird we described was a Cock, * 1.610 weighed but a pound, being from Bill point to Tail end fifteen inches long; and twenty two broad.

The Bill, as in Hens, is blackish, from the tip to the angles of the slit of the mouth almost an inch long: The upper Chap a little prominent and crooked. In the Palate is a Cavity equal to the Tongue. Above the Eyes a naked red skin takes up the place of Eye-brows, as in the Heathcock, and others of this kind. The Eye-brows of the Female are not so red, but paler. The Legs before are feathered half way down, be∣hind bare as high as the knees. The fore-toes are joyned together by a membrane from the divarication to the first joynt: And have besides such like serrate borders, or welts, standing out on each side, as were observed in the precedent Birds. The inside of the Claw of the middle Toe is thinned into an edge.

The whole Belly is white. The Breast white, spotted with black spots in the middle of the feathers: The several feathers having some one spot, some two or three cross lines: The lower part of the Throat red, but the Chin of a deep black, encompassed with a white line. The Hen wants this black spot under the Chin. From the Eyes to the hind-part of the Head a white Line is produced. The Head is of a reddish ash-colour: The Back and Rump are yet more cinereous, of a colour like that of a Partridge. The lower part of the Throat or Gullet is variegated with transverse black lines. The sides under the Wings are red or fulvous, the tips of the feathers being white. The long feathers springing from the shoulders, that cover the Back, are all white.

The Wings are concave as in Partridges and the rest of the Poultry kind: The beam-feathers in each Wing are twenty four in number, the foremost or outmost whereof on the outside the shaft were parti-coloured of dusky and white, on the in∣side dusky. The greater rows of covert Wing-feathers were variegated with red, white, and black.

The Tail was made up of sixteen feathers all equal, of about five inches long. The seven exteriour on each side had their tips of a dirty white; next the white a bar or bed of black an inch broad; the rest of the feather to the very bottom particolou∣red of black and white. The two middlemost of the Tail are of the same colour with the body, having cross bars of white powdered with dusky specks. The tips of the long feathers under the Tail are white, the middle part black, the lower red.

The Stomach is musculous: The Guts thirty six inches long: The blind Guts fifteen, which in this Bird also are striate. The flesh boiled or roast, as in the rest of this kind, is white, very tender also and delicate.

Most learned men (saith Aldrovandus) are of opinion, that this is the Bird which by the Ancient Greeks and Latines was called Attagen; from whom yet he dissents. It is wont (saith Georg. Agricola as he is quoted by Aldrovandus) to live in thick and shady woods. The same also writes that it is found plentifully in the Mountainous Woods about the foot of the Alps, especially where hazels and briers abound. We saw them in the Market at Nurenberg to be sold: Whence we gather that they are found in the great Woods near that City, though they be not mountainous: What they live chiefly upon we cannot certainly say, but we verily believe that their food is

the same with the other Birds of this kind, viz. Bill-berries, Crow-berries, Black-ber∣ries, &c. and in the Winter-time the tops of Heath, Fir, and other ever-green shrubs: But whether they do eat the Catkins of Hazel (as Albertus affirms, and from whence they seem to take their name) we know not.

§. V. The white Game, erroneously called the white Partridge, Lagopus avis, Aldrov.

FOr figure and bigness it comes near to a tame Pigeon, save that it is something bigger; weighs fourteen ounces: From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail or Feet (for they are equally extended) is about sixteen inches long; between the extremities of the Wings spread twenty four inches broad. The Bill short, black, like a Hens, but less: The upper Chap longer and more prominent. The Nosthrils are covered with feathers, springing out of a skin on the lower side the holes. Above the Eyes, in the place of the Eyebrows is a naked skin of a scarlet colour, and of the figure of a Crescent.

In the Cock-birds a black line drawn from the upper Chap of the Bill reaches fur∣ther than the Eyes towards the Ears; which in the Hens is wanting: All the rest of the body, excepting the Tail, is as white as Snow.

Each Wing hath twenty four prime feathers, of which the first or outmost is shor∣ter than the second, the second than the third. The shafts of the six outmost are black. The Tail is more than a Palm long, compounded of sixteen feathers, the two middle∣most whereof are white; the outmost on each side without the shaft also white, all the rest black. [Those that I (J. R.) described in Rhoetia had the two middle fea∣thers of their Tails only white, all the rest black.] The feathers next the Tail, in∣cumbent on it, are of equal length with the Tail it self; so that they do wholly co∣ver it. The Legs, Feet, and Toes, to the very Claws, are covered with soft fea∣thers, thick-set, like Hares feet, whence it took the * 1.611 name. The Claws are very long, not unlike the nails of some Quadrupeds, as for example Hares; of a dark horn or lead colour. Its back-toe or heel is small, but its Claw great and crooked. The fore-toes are joyned together by an intervening membrane, as in the other fowl of this kind. The Claw of the middle Toe is something hollow all along the middle, the edges of this furrow or channel being sharp. Under the Toes grow long hairs very thick.

The Craw is great, and in that we dissected full of the tops and leaves of Fir, Heath, Bill-berry, &c. The Stomach or Gizzard musculous: The Guts forty inches long: The blind Guts long, great, and striate.

In the Alps of Rhoetia, and in other high Mountains, which are for a great part of the year covered with Snow, it is frequently found. Wherefore Nature, or the Wisdom of the Creator, hath fenced its Feet against the sharpness of the cold with a thick covering of feathers and down.

These Birds, for the excellency of their flesh, are commonly called White Par∣tridges, and thought to be so by the Vulgar; whereas indeed the Partridge and La∣gopus are far different Birds. Yet the Savoyards, and other Alpine people, who are not ignorant of their difference, call them so still; at first perchance by mistake from their agreement in figure and magnitude they began to be so called, and now they continue the old name.

§. VI. * The other or particoloured Lagopus of Gesner.

THere is another sort of Lagopus found on the Mountains of Switzerland. The Bird we described of this kind was a Male. Its Belly white, its Wings also milk white: Yet on the hinder part were some feathers partly dusky, partly spotted. The Head, Neck, and Back particoloured, with dusky and spotted feathers. The Neck underneath had a great deal of white, and but a little black; above was co∣vered partly with pied, partly with white feathers. Above each Eye was a semicir∣cular skin of a red colour. Its Bill was very short, and black, the upper Chap whereof was crooked, and received [within its edges] the nether, which was chan∣nelled. The Tail was five inches long, consisting of twelve black feathers, and two

white ones in the middle, and three or four particoloured ones. The Legs and Feet, down to the very Claws, were covered with white feathers growing very thick and close together, so that nothing at all appeared bare but the black Claws. Only the soal of the Foot and inner part of the Toes were without feathers: Yet might the Toes be wholly covered with the hair-like feathers meeting underneath. It was as big as a Pigeon, or something bigger: The length of the whole about five Palms. I suppose this Bird is called in Italian about Trent Otorno; about the Lake called by the Ancients Verbanus, now Maggiore, [or the greater,] Colmestre: Our Country∣men [the Switzers] Stein-hun [or Stone-hen;] as some do also the precedent. Others for distinction sake add the bigness. I guess this second kind to be a little the bigger. As for the former kind I doubt not but it is the first Lagopus of Pliny, white, &c. But this second, although perchance it may be doubted, whether it be the second Lagopus of Pliny, which, as he writes, differs from Quails only in bigness, yet ought by all means to be referred to the same Genus with the first. Thus far Ges∣ner. I am of opinion that this Bird is not only generically, but even specifically, the same with the former or first Lagopus of Pliny: For, except some marks and spots on the upper side of the body, it agrees perfectly therewith: But those are not sufficient to infer a difference of kind: Seeing that the first Species also is said to change colour in Summer, and become dusky: Yea, those which ascend not up the Mountains are reported not to be white, no not in Winter. But I dare not pronounce any thing rash∣ly; referring the matter to the determination of the learned and curious, that live in those Countries, or have opportunity of travelling and sojourning there.

§. VII. The Red Game, called in some places the Gorcock and More-cock, Lagopus altera Plinii.

IT is near half as big again as a Partridge, for the figure of its body not unlike: Somewhat [yea, considerably] bigger than the Lagopus: Its Feet and Claws ex∣actly like his. Its Bill is short and blackish: Its Nosthrils elegantly covered with fea∣thers, as in the Lagopus. But especially remarkable are the scarlet-coloured naked skins above each Eye, of the figure of a Crescent, in place of Eye-brows, which in the Cock are much broader, and have in their upper Circumference a border of loose flesh snipt, as it were a fringe or Crest. In the Cock the Plumage about the basis of the Bill is powdered with white specks; and at the basis of the lower Chap, on each side is a pretty great white spot; but not so in the Female. Moreover, the Male differs from the Female, in that it is much redder than she: So that in the Throat and upper part of the Breast it hath no mixture at all of any other colour. All the upper side of the Body, Head, Neck, Back, and covert-feathers of the Wings are partico∣loured of red and black, each single feather being painted with red and black trans∣verse wayed lines. Howbeit in the Cock the red exceeds the black; yet hath he in the middle of the Back and on the Shoulders great black spots, which the Female hath not.

In each Wing are twenty four quil-feathers, all dusky, except the exteriour edges of those next the body, which are red. The outmost feather of the Wing is shorter than the second, the third the longest of all. The interiour bastard Wing is made up of white feathers. The feathers also on the under side of the Wings next to the flags are white. The Breast and Belly are almost of the same colour with the Back in both Sexes: Yet in the middle of the Breast and Belly are some pretty great white spots. The Legs and Feet are clothed with a long thick Plumage or Down to the utmost ends of the Toes. The Tail is more than a handful long, not forked, consisting of sixteen feathers, all black except the two middlemost, which are vari∣ed with red. The flesh is very tender, especially in the younger ones, not so white as a Hens.

It is frequent in the high Mountains of Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Westmorland, and Wales. It lays five, six, seven, or eight Eggs, seldom more, one inch three quarters long, sharper at one end, all speckled with dark red specks or points, only towards the sharper end are one or two beds void of sports. The younger are infested with belly-worms, which sometimes as they fly hang down a foot length from behind. We take this Fowl to be the Lagopus altera of Pliny, lib. 10. cap. 48.

It delights to abide in the highest tops of the highest Mountains, and with us never comes down into the Plains, yea, seldom into the sides of the Mountains.

This is the Bird which Bellonius call the Attagen, as we said before in the Chapter of the Attagen of Aldrovandus, and takes that Bird which the Savoyards call, the white Partridge, and Pliny, Lagopus, to be a variety of this; for it is all over white, and hath the Legs covered with feathers (though finer) like the Attagen: The Italians also call both kinds Francolino. And indeed the colour and bigness excepted, the Red Game differs little from the Lagopus. The figure of the Bill and whole body is the same in both: The Feet alike feathered to the very Claws: So that Mr. Willughby also, together with Bellonius, did sometimes suspect that they differed rather acciden∣tally than specifically. But to me so great difference of colour and bigness do necessa∣rily infer a diversity of kind. The flesh of these, and the rest of this Tribe, doth suddenly corrupt, and therefore the Fowlers, so soon as ever they take them, present∣ly exenterate them, and stuff the Cavity of the Belly with green Ling.

§. VIII. * Bellonius his Damascus Partridge, which Aldrovand supposes to be the other Lagopus of Pliny.

THere are (saith he) no wild Birds at Damascus more notable than the Partridges of that Country. They are less than the red or ash-coloured. In the colour of the Back and Neck they resemble a Woodcock: But their Wings are of a different colour. For where they are joyned to the body they are covered with white, dusky, and fulvous feathers: Ten of the prime feathers are cinereous. The inner side of the Wings and the Belly are white. It hath a collar-like mark on its Breast, like the * 1.612 Merula torquata, consisting of red, fulvous, and yellow colours: Else in the colour of the lower part of the Head and Neck, in the Bill and Eyes it is like a Par∣tridge, and hath a short Tail. We had ranked it with the Water Rail, or Woodcock or Plover, but that its Legs were feathered, like the Savoyard white Partridges (which is the Lagopus) or a rough-footed Doves. This, if rightly described, is a kind of La∣gopus or Heath Cock, which we have not yet seen; and the least of that kind that we have yet seen or heard of.

CHAP. XIII. Birds of the Poultry-kind that want the back-toe.

§. 1. The Bustard, Otis seu Tarda avis.

IT is for bigness nothing inferiour to a Turkey. Its length measuring from the be∣ginning of the Bill to the end of the Tail was sixty inches. Its breadth, or di∣stance between the tips of the Wings spread two yards and an half. Its Bill like a Hens, the upper Chap being something crooked. The Head and Neck are ash-co∣loured; the Belly white: The Back variegated with red and black transverse lines. It wants the back-toe, which is especially remarkable: For by this note alone and its bigness, it is sufficiently distinguished from all other Birds of this kind. It feeds up∣on Corn, Seeds of Herbs, Colewort, Dandelion leaves, &c. In the Stomach of one diffected we found a great quantity of Hemlock Seed, with three or four grains of Bar∣ley, and that in Harvest time. On New-market and Royston Heaths in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, and elsewhere in Wasts and Plains they are found with us.

They are of slow flight, and when they are lighted can hardly raise themselves from the earth, by reason of the bulk and weight of their bodies, from whence without doubt they got the Latine name Tarda. They are called by the Scots Gustar∣dae, as Hector Boethius witnesseth in these words: In March, a Province of Scotland, are Birds bred, called in the Vulgar Dialect Gustardes, the colour of whose feathers and their flesh is not unlike the Partridges, but the bulk of their body exceeds the Swans.

Some say, one may catch them with ones hands before they can compose themselves to fly; but this is a mistake, for though (as we said before) it be long ere they can raise themselves from the earth, yet are they very timorous and circumspect, and

will not suffer a man to come within a Furlong of them, before they take Wing and fly away. Yet our Fowlers report that they may be run down with Grey∣hounds.

Italy (saith Aldrovandus) hath none of these Birds, unless they be brought over accidentally by the force of tempestuous winds. But we when we travelled in Italy did see in the Market at Modena a Bustard to be sold, whence we suspect that there are of them in that Country.

Though some discommend their flesh, yet with us it is esteemed both delicate and wholesome. Hence, but chiefly for its rarity, the Bustard sells very dear, serving only to furnish Princes and great mens Tables at Feasts and public entertainments.

§. II. The French Canne-petiere, Anas campestris or Tetrax of Bellonius.

THe Field-Duck seems to us to be a Bird peculiar to France, where there is not a Country man but knows it, at least by name. It is so called, not because it is a Water-bird, but because it sits on the ground like the Water-Duck. But it hath no similitude or agreement with Water-fowl, being a Land-bird. It is of the bigness of a Pheasant; the Head, saving the bigness, resembling a Quails, the Bill a Pullets. It is more known by its name, than by its shape: For we have a Country-Proverb against suspicious persons, wherein we say, that they play the Land Duck. It is taken in Plains and open fields, as they take Partridges, in snares, with Nets and à la for me, and also with Hawks. But it is very crafty in defending and shifting for it self: flying near the ground, and that * 1.613 with great force and swiftness, for two hundred or three hundred paces, and when it alights or falls on the ground running so swiftly, that scarce any man can overtake it. It hath only three Toes in each foot, like the Bustard or Plover. The roots of all the feathers are red, and as it were of a sanguine colour, so joyned to the skin as in the Bustard, whence also we take it to be a kind of Bustard: For both, but especially this, is white under the Belly: But the Back is variegated with three or four colours, to wit, a yellow tending to red, with somewhat of cine∣reous and red intermixed. Four Wing-feathers in the upper part have black tips. Un∣der the Bill, down as far as the Breast, it is white. A white Collar near the Crop compasses the Breast, as in the Savoy Merulae, or Water-Ouzels. [But this Collar ap∣pears not in Bellonius his figure.] The colour of the Head and upper part of the Neck is the same with that of the Back and Wings. The Bill is black, less than in the Ionic Attagen. The Legs incline to cinereous. He that desires an exact descri∣ption of this Bird, let him imagine a Quail of the bigness of a Pheasant, but very much spotted; for just such is this Field-Duck. All the interiour parts it hath com∣mon with other granivorous birds. It is reckoned among delicate Birds, and esteemed as good meat as a Pheasant. It feeds indifferently upon all sorts of Grain, as also upon Ants, Beetles, and Flies, and likewise upon the leaves of green corn. And although the colour of the Neck and Head be not always the same, (and herein consists the difference between the Male and the Female) yet the Back and Wings never change colour. This Bird seems not to have been mentioned by the Ancients.

CHAP. XIV. Of Doves or Pigeons in general.

THe Marks common to all sorts of Pigeons, whereby they may be distinguished from all other kinds of Birds, are not very many, viz. a peculiar figure of body, resembling that of a Cuckow; short Legs; long Wings; swift flight; a mournful voice; to lay only two Eggs at one sitting, but to breed often in a year. Aldrovandus saith, it is proper to all Pigeons to wink with both Eye-lids. They do not all agree in the figure of the Bill: For some have slender and indifferently long Bills, others thick and short ones. The Feet of all, at least so many as we have yet seen, are red or sanguine. In the Pigeon-kind the Male and Female divide between them the labour of incubation, sitting by turns. The Male also assists the Female in

feeding and rearing the Young. And for an internal note, it is common to them to have no Gall-bladder.

CHAP. XV. Of the several kinds of Pigeons.

§. I. The common wild Dove or Pigeon. Columba vulgaris.

A Female, which we described, weighed thirteen ounces: Was in length from Bill to Tail thirteen inches; in breadth twenty six.

Its Bill was slender, sharp-pointed, and indifferently long, like to that of a Lapwing or Plover, above the Nosthrils soft, and white by the aspersion of a kind of furfuraceous substance, else dusky. The Tongue neither hard, nor cloven, but sharp and soft. The Irides of the Eyes of a yellowish red. The Legs on the forepart feathered almost to the Toes: The Feet and Toes red; the Talons black.

The Head was of a pale blue; the Neck as it was diversly objected to the light did exhibite to the Beholder various and shining colours. The Crop was reddish, the rest of the Breast and Belly ash-coloured. The Back beneath, a little above the Rump, was white, (which is a note common to most wild Pigeons) about the shoulders ci∣nereous, else black, yet with some mixture of cinereous.

The number of prime feathers in each Wing was about twenty three or twenty four. Of these the outmost were dusky, of the rest as much as was exposed to sight black, what was covered with the incumbent feathers cinereous. The covert-fea∣thers of the ten first Remiges were of a dark cinereous: Of the rest of the covert-feathers (almost to the body) the tips and interiour Webs, as far as the shafts were cinereous, the exteriour black. The covert-feathers of the underside of the Wings purely white.

The Tail is made up of twelve feathers, four inches and an half long, the middle being somewhat longer than the extremes. The tips of all were black: The two outmost below the black on the outside the shaft were white; all the rest wholly cinereous, the lower part being the darker. The feathers incumbent on the Tail were cinereous.

It had a great Craw, full of Gromil seed. The blind Guts were very short, scarce exceeding a quarter of an inch. It hath (as we said of Pigeons in general) no Gall∣bladder, and lays but two Eggs at a time.

This kind varies mumch in colour; there are found of them ordinarily milk-white.

Aldrovandus describes and figures many sorts of tame Pigeons, which he thus distinguishes:

Tame or house Doves are ei∣ther

• Of our Country, which have their Feet either
  • Naked
    • The greater called Tronfi, and in English Runts, whose description and figure you have, t. 2. pag. 462.
    • The lesser or most common, t. 2. pag. 463.
  • Rough
    • The greater, t. 2. pag. 466
    • The lesser
      • Crested, t. 2. pag. 469.
      • Smooth-crown'd, t. 2. pag. 467.
• Outlandish, to wit,
  • Frisled Pigeons, t. 2. pag. 470.
  • Cyprus Pigeons
    • Hooded, with their Feet
      • Rough, t. 2. pag. 471.
      • Bare, of which there are several kinds set forth, p. 472, 473, 474
    • Smooth-crowned, called Indian Pige∣ons, t. 2. pag. 477.
  • Candy Pigeons, having in the Bill, above where it is joyn∣ed to the Head a white Tubercle or Wattle, p. 478.
  • ... Persian or Turkey Pigeons of a dark colour, p. 481.
  • ... Varro's Stone or Rock Pigeon.

Under the title of Domestic, which I have Englished tame or house Doves, he com∣prehends the common wild Pigeon kept in Dove-cotes, which is of a middle nature be∣tween tame and wild.

§. II. Divers sorts of tame Pigeons.

1. THe greater tame Pigeon, called in Italian, Tronfo & Asturnellato; in English, a * 1.614 Runt; a name (as I suppose) corrupted from the Italian Tronfo: Though to say the truth, what this Italian word Tronfo signifies, and consequently why this kind of Pigeon is so called, I am altogether ignorant. Some call them Columbae Rus∣sicae, Russia-Pigeons, whether because they are brought to us out of Russia, or from some agreement of the names Runt and Russia, I know not. These seem to be the Campania Pigeons of Pliny. They vary much in colour, as most other Domestic Birds: Wherefore it is to no purpose to describe them by their colours. In respect of magnitude they are divided into the biggest and the lesser kind. The greater are more sluggish birds, and of slower flight; the same perchance with those Gesner saith he observed at Venice, which were almost as big as Hens. The lesser are better breeders, more nimble, and of swifter flight. Perchance these may be the same with those, which * 1.615 Aldrovandus tells us are called by his Country men Colombe sotto banche, that is, Pigeons under Forms or Benches, from their place; of various colours, and bigger than the common wild Pigeons inhabiting Dove-cotes.

2. Croppers, so called because they can, and usually do, by attracting the Air, blow up their Crops to that strange bigness that they exceed the bulk of the whole body beside. A certain * 1.616 Hollander informed Aldrovandus, that these Kroppers Duve, as they call them, are twice as big as the common Domestic Pigeons, which as they fly, and while they make that murmuring noise, swell their throats to a great bigness, and the bigger, the better and more generous they are esteemed. Those that I saw at Mr. Copes, a Citizen of London, living in Jewin Street, seemed to me nothing bigger, but rather less than Runts, and somewhat more slender and long-bodied. These dif∣fer no less one from another in colour than the precedent.

3. Broad-tail'd Shakers, called Shakers because they do almost constantly shake or wag their Heads and Necks up and down: Broad-tail'd, from the great number of feathers they have in their Tails; they say, not fewer than twenty six. When they walk up and down they do for the most part hold their Tails erect like a Hen or Tur∣key-Cock. These also vary much in colour.

4. Narrow-tail'd Shakers. These agree with the precedent in shaking, but differ in the narrowness of their Tails, as the name imports. They are said also to vary in colour. This kind we have not as yet seen, nor have we more to say of it.

5. Carriers. These are of equal bigness with common Pigeons, or somewhat less, of a dark blue or blackish colour. They are easily distinguished from all others, 1. By their colour. 2. In that their Eyes are compassed about with a broad circle of naked, tuberous, white, furfuraceous skin. 3. That the upper Chap of the Bill is covered above half way from the Head with a double crust of the like naked fungous skin. The Bill is not short, but of a moderate length. They make use of these birds to convey Letters to and fro, chiefly in the Turkish Empire. Perchance these may be the Persian and Turkish Pigeons of Aldrovand, all over of a dusky or dark brown co∣lour, excepting the Eyes which are scarlet, the Feet which are of a pale red, and the Bill, which (as he saith) is yellow; wherein they differ from ours, whose Bills are black. The nature of these birds is such, that though carried far away they will re∣turn speedily thither, where either themselves were bred or brought up, or where they had hatcht and brought up Young. Of this kind we saw in the Kings Aviary in St. James's Park, and at Mr. Copes, an Embroiderer in Jewin Street, London. More∣over, we read that the Ancients sometimes made use of Pigeons in sending Letters, as for example, Hirtius and Brutus in the Siege of Modena, Hirtius sending a Dove to Brutus, and Brutus back again to Hirtius, having, by meat laid in some high places, in∣structed these Pigeons, before shut up in a dark place, and kept very hungry, to fly from one to another.

6. Jacobines, called by the Low Dutch, Cappers, because in the hinder part of the Head or Nape of the Neck certain feathers reflected upward encompass the Head be∣hind, almost after the fashion of a Monks Hood, when he puts it back to uncover his

Head. These are called Cyprus Pigeons by Aldrovand, and there are of them rough∣footed. Aldrovandus hath set forth three or four either Species or accidental varieties of this kind. Their Bill is short: The Irides of their Eyes of a Pearl-colour, and the Head (as Mr. Cope told us) in all white.

7. Turbits, of the meaning and original of which name I must confess myself to be ignorant. They have a very short thick Bill like a Bullfinch: The crown of their Head is flat and depressed: The feathers on the Breast reflected both ways. They are about the bigness of the Jacobines, or a little bigger. I take these to be the Candy or Indian Doves of Aldrovand, tom. 2. pag. 477. 478. the Low Dutch Cortbeke.

8. Barbary-Pigeons, perchance the Candy-Dove of Aldrovand. The Bill is like that of the precedent. A broad circle of naked, tuberous, white flesh compasses the Eyes, as in the Carriers. The Irides of the Eyes are white. My worthy Friend Mr. Philip Skippon, in a Letter to me concerning tame Pigeons, writes, that the Eyes of this kind are red. Perchance the colour may vary in several birds.

9. Smiters. I take these to be those, which the fore-mentioned Hollander told Aldrovandus, that his Country-men called Draiiers. These do not only shake their Wings as they fly: But also flying round about in a ring, especially over their Fe∣males, clap them so strongly, that they make a greater sound than two Battledores or other boards struck one against another. Whence it comes to pass that their quil∣feathers are almost always broken and shattered; and sometimes so bad, that they cannot fly. Our Country-men distinguish between Tumblers and Smiters.

10. Tumblers, these are small, and of divers colours. They have strange motions, turning themselves backward over their Heads, and shew like footbals in the Air.

11. Helmets. In these the Head, Tail, and quil-feathers of the Wings are always of one colour, sometimes white, sometimes black, red, yellow, or blue; the rest of the body of another, different from that, whatever it be. These are also called Helme by the Low Dutch, as Aldrovandus writes from the relation of the fore-menti∣oned Dutchman.

12. Light-horsemen. This is a bastard kind, of one Parent a Cropper, the other a Carrier, and so they partake of both, as appears by the Wattles of their Bill, and their swollen throats. They are the best breeders of all, and will not lightly forsake any house to which they have been accustomed.

13. Bastard-bills. Which name why it is imposed upon them I know not, unless perchance because their Bills are neither long nor short, so that it is not certain to what Species they ought to be referred. They are bigger than Barbaries, have a short Bill and red Eyes; but are not all of the same colour.

14. Turners, having a tuft hanging down backward from their Head, parted like a horses Main.

15. Finikins, like the precedent, but less.

16. Mawmets, called (as I take it) from Mahomet; perchance because brought out of Turkey, notable for their great black Eyes, else like to the Barbaries.

17. Spots, because they have each in their forehead, above their Bill a spot: Their Tail is of the same colour with the spot, the rest of the body being white.

The Younger Pigeons never tread the Females, but they * 1.617 bill them first, and that as often as they tread them. The elder Doves bill only the first time, the second they couple without billing. Aldrov. Ornithol. tom. 2. pag. 363.

The Sex, especially of the tame Pigeons, is easily known by their note or murmur, which in the Hens is very small, in the Males much deeper.

Aristotle, and out of him Pliny and Athenaeus write that it is proper or peculiar to Pigeons not to hold up their heads as they drink, like other birds, but to drink like Kine or Horses by sucking without intermission.

Albertus sets the twentieth year for the term of a Pigeons life. As for tame Pigeons (saith Aldrovandus) a certain man of good credit told me, that he had heard from his * 1.618 Father, who was much delighted in Pigeons, and other Birds, that he had kept a Pi∣geon two and twenty years, and that all that time it constantly bred, excepting the last six months, which time, having left its Mate, it had chosen a single life. Aristotle assigns forty years to the life of a Pigeon. Aldrov. Ornithol. tom. 2. pag. 370.

Pigeons are far harder to concoct than Chickens, and yield a melancholy juyce. They say that the eating of Doves flesh is of force against the Plague; insomuch that they who make it their constant or ordinary food are seldom seized by Pestilential diseases. Others commend it against the Palsie and trembling: Others write, that it is of great use and advantage to them that are * 1.619 dim-sighted. The flesh of young

Pigeons is restorative, and useful to recruit the strength of such as are getting up, or newly recovered from some great sickness: To us it seems to be most savoury, and if we may stand to the verdict of our Palate, comparable to the most esteemed.

A live Pigeon cut asunder along the back-bone, and clapt hot upon the Head, mi∣tigates fierce humours and discusses melancholy sadness. Hence it is a most proper medicine in the phrensie, headach, melancholy, and gout, Schrod. Some add also in the Apoplexy. Our Physicians use to apply Pigeons thus dissected to the soals of the Feet, in acute diseases, in any great defect of spirits or decay of strength, to support and refresh the patient, that he may be able to grapple with, and master the disease. For the vital spirits of the Pigeon still remaining in the hot flesh and bloud, do through the pores of the skin insinuate themselves into the bloud of the sick person now dis-spirited and ready to stagnate, and induing it with new life and vigour, en∣able it to perform its solemn and necessary circuits.

The hot bloud dropt into the Eyes allays pain, and cures blear eyes, and discusseth suffusions and bloud-shot, and cures green wounds. It properly stops bloud that flows from the membranes of the brain; and mitigates the pains of the gout.

Note 1. The bloud of the Cock-Pigeon is best, and that taken from under the right Wing, (because it is of a hotter nature.)

Note 2. The bloudy juyce from the feathers of the Wings may be used for the other bloud, and it is best from the young Pigeon.

The coat of the stomach dried and powdered is good against Dysenteries.

The Dung is very hot from the nitrous faculty (wherewith it is indued) and there∣fore burns, discusses, and makes the skin red by attracting the bloud.

Hence it is of common use in Cataplasms and Plasters that rubifie. Beaten, and sifted, and laid on with Water-cress Seeds, it is good against old diseases: Such as are the Gout, Megrim, * 1.620 Turn-sick, old Headach, and pains in the Sides, Colics, Apoplexies, Lethargy, &c. It discusseth Strumaes, and other Tumours (laid on with Barley-flour and Vinegar) and cures the falling of the hair (anointed) and Colic (in Clysters) and discusseth defluxions on the knees (applied with salt and oyl.)

Inwardly, it breaks the Stone, and expels Urine. Give from a scruple to two scru∣ples. Schrod. out of Galen and Fernelius.

Doves dung (as Crescentiensis saith) is best of all others for Plants and Seeds, and may be scattered when any thing is sown together with the Seed, or at any time afterwards: One Basket-ful thereof is worth a Cart-load of Sheeps dung. Our Country-men also are wont to sow Doves dung together with their grain.

§. III. * A wild Pigeon of St. Thomas his Island, Marggrav.

IT is of the bigness and figure of our Country Pigeon, but its upper Bill hooked, the foremost half being of a blue colour mixt with a little white and yellow; the hindmost of a sanguine. The Eyes are black, with a circle of blue. The whole bo∣dy is covered with green feathers like a Parrot. The prime feathers of the Wings are duskish, as is also the end of the Tail. Under the vent it hath yellow feathers. The Legs and Feet are of an elegant Saffron-colour, but the Claws dusky.

§. IV. A Turtle-dove. Turtur.

THe Male, which we described from Bill-point to Tail-end was twelve inches long: from tip to tip of the Wings extended twenty one broad: Its Bill slen∣der, from the tip to the angles of the mouth almost an inch long, of a dusky blue co∣lour without, and red within: Its Tongue small and not divided: The Irides of its Eyes between red and yellow. A circle of naked red flesh encompasseth the Eyes as in many others of this kind.

Its Feet were red; its Claws black; its Toes divided to the very bottom. The inner side of the middle Claw thinned into an edge.

Its Head and the middle of its Back were blue or cinereous, of the colour of a common Pigeon. The Shoulders and the Rump were of a sordid red: The Breast and Belly white: The Throat tinctured with a lovely vinaceous colour. Each side of

the Neck was adorned with a spot of beautiful feathers, of a black colour, with white tips. The exteriour quil-feathers of the Wings were dusky, the middle cinereous; the interiour had their edges red. The second row of Wing-feathers was ash-colou∣red, the lesser rows black. The Tail was composed of twelve feathers; of which the outmost had both their tips and exteriour Webs white. In the succeeding the white part by degrees grew less and less, so that the middlemost had no white at all. The length of the Tail was four inches and an half.

Its Testicles were great, an inch long: Its Guts by measure twenty six inches: Its blind Guts very short. Its Crop great, in which we found Hemp-seed: Its Stomach or Gizzard fleshy. Above the stomach the Gullet is dilated into a kind of bag, set with papillary Glandules.

§. V. * The Indian Turtle of Aldrov. lib. 15. cap. 9.

THe Hen, excepting the Feet, which are red, and the Bill, which is black, as in the Cock, is all over white. But the Cock hath his Head, Neck, Breast, Wings as far as the quill-feathers, and Back down to the Rump reddish, but of a much fainter colour than in our common Turtle, and not at all spotted. Its bigness is almost the same, its note the same: Its Bill also like, but black. In its Eye is a most manifest difference: For in this the Iris is of a most lovely shining Saffron, or rather scarlet colour, which in the common Turtle is only yellow. [In that we described, the Irides of the Eyes were between red and yellow.]

The ring also is of a different colour; for in the Indian Turtles it is slender, and black, and compasses the Neck round, whereas in the common ones it is more than an inch broad, parti-coloured, and compasses not the Neck. The longer feathers of the Wings, the Rump, and whole Tail are of a dusky colour, having their shafts black, and edges white. The Belly, especially near the vent, is yellow. The Feet red, adorned with whitish * 1.621 tables. The Claws are dusky, inclining to yellow. They feed upon Millet. Thus far Aldrovandus. Of this sort of Bird we have seen many kept by the curious in Aviaries and Cages.

§. VI. * The Indian Turtle or Cocotzin of Nieremberg, the Picuipinima of Marggrave: Our least Barbados Turtle.

IT is a little bigger than a Lark, Nieremberg saith, than a Sparrow; hath a small dusky [black] Bill, like a Pigeons; black Eyes, with a golden Circle. The whole Head, the upper part of the Neck, the Sides, Back, and Wings are covered with dark ash-coloured, or black and blue feathers, having black, semilunar borders. But the long feathers of its Wings, which are seen as it flies, are of a red colour, and black on one side, and in their tips. The Tail is of a good length, consisting of dusky ash-coloured feathers, yet some of them are black, and have their exteriour half white. The feathers of the Belly are white, having their borders black, of the figure of a Crescent. The Legs and Feet like those of other Doves, but whitish. These Pi∣geons are good meat, and grow very fat. Nieremberg adds, that the Head is little, the Bill little and black, the Neck short, the Legs red [wherein it differs from Marg∣graves bird,] the Claws dusky and little. The Mexicans gave it its name from the colour of its Wings, and the noise it makes in flying; the Spaniards (who call it a Turtle) from its murmuring voice, and the taste and quality of its flesh, although it be much less than our common Turtle. It cries hu, hu, affords good nourishment, though somewhat hard of concoction. It is found in Mountainous places, and also near Towns. It is native of the Country of Mexico, and very common there. They say, that it will cure a woman of jealousie, if you give it her boil'd to eat, so that she knows not what she eats. There is also another sort of this Bird, every way like it, save only that the body is fulvous and black, and the Head ash-coloured: Whence some call it Tlapalcocotli.

This Bird is either the same with, or very like to our least Barbados Turtle, which is of the bigness of a Lark, being exactly equal to the figure we give of it, taken from the live bird.

§. VII. The Ring-Dove, Palumbus torquatus.

THat we described weighed twenty ounces and an half. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was eighteen inches: Its breadth thirty.

Its Bill yellowish, covered for some space from the Head with a red or purplish skin, wherein are the Nosthrils. Above the Nosthrils is as it were a white Dandroof. The Tongue is sharp-pointed, not cloven, but channel'd. The circle about the Pupil of the Eye of a pale yellow.

The Feet were bare, of a red colour, as in other Pigeons. The outmost Toe by a membrane joyned to the middlemost as far as the first joynt. The Legs feathered al∣most down to the foot.

The upper part of the Neck is adorned with a semicircular line of white, which they call a ring, and from whence the Bird took its name [Ring-Dove.] Both above and beneath this ring the Neck, as it is variously objected to the light, appears of va∣rious colours. The Head and Back are of a dark ash-colour. The lower part of the Neck, and upper part of the Brest are purplish, or red, with a certain mixture of ci∣nereous. The Belly of a light ash-colour, inclining to white. In the Cock these co∣lours are deeper than in the Hen.

The quill-feathers in each Wing about twenty four, of which the second is the longest: The ten foremost or outmost were black: The second, and succeeding as far as the seventh, had their utmost edges white: The rest of the hard feathers were of a dusky ash-colour. At the bottom or rise of the bastard Wing a white spot tending downwards covered the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth quill-feathers. The Tail was seven inches long, and made up of twelve feathers, the top or end, for two inches and an half, being black, the remaining part cinereous.

The Liver was divided into two Lobes: It had no Gall-bladder, but a large Gall-channel to convey the Gall into the Guts.

These Birds in Winter-time company together, and fly in flocks: They build in trees, making their Nests of a few sticks and straws. They feed upon Acorns, and also upon Corn, and Ivy and Holly berries.

§. VIII. The Stock-Dove or Wood-Pigeon, Oenas, sive Vinago.

IT is as big or bigger than a common Pigeon. The Cock weighed fourteen ounces and an half, was from Bill to Tail fourteen inches long, and between the tips of the Wings extended twenty six broad. The colour and shape of the body almost the same with that of a common Pigeon: The Bill also like, and of equal length, of a pale red colour. The Nosthrils were great and prominent. The top of the Head cinereous. The Neck covered with changeable feathers, which as they are variously objected to the light, appear of a purple or shining green; no Silk like them. The fore-part of the Breast, the Shoulders and Wings are dashed with a purplish or red∣wine colour, whence it took the name [Oenas.] The Wings, Shoulders, and middle of the Back are of a dark ash-colour, the rest of the Back to the Tail of a paler. All the quil-feathers (except the four or five outmost, which are all over black, with their edges white) have their lower part cinereous, and their upper black. The Tail is five inches long, made up of twelve feathers, having their lower parts cinereous, their upper for one third of their length black. The nether side of the body, ex∣cepting the upper part of the Breast, is all cinereous. The Wings closed reach not to the end of the Tail. In both Wings are two black spots, the one upon two or three quil-feathers next the body, the other upon two or three of the covert feathers incumbent upon those quils: Both spots are on the outside the shafts, and not far from the tips of the feathers. The two outmost feathers of the Tail have the lower half of their exteriour Vanes white.

The Feet are red, the Claws black: the Legs feathered down a little below the Knees. The blind Guts very short. It had no Gall-bladder that we could find; a large Craw, full of Gromil seeds, &c. It had a musculous Stomach, long Testicles; and a long Breast-bone.

§. IX. * The Rock-Pigeon.

THis (as Mr. Johnson described it to us) hath a small body, ash-coloured, and red Legs. But these two last notes are common to most Pigeons. Perchance this may be the Columba Saxatilis of Aldrovand, called by the Bolognese, Sassarolo. It is (saith he) bigger than the Stone-Pigeons of Varro, of a livid colour, having a red Bill, and is altogether wild. It is sometimes taken in the Territory of Bologna.

§. X. * The Dove called Livia by Gesner.

IT is in shape very like a House-Dove, but a little less, having red Feet, a whitish Bill, with something of Purple about the Nosthrils. The feathers investing the body are all over cinereous: But the extreme feathers of the Tail are black, the mid∣dle have something of red. The Neck above, and on the sides is covered with fea∣thers partly purple, partly green, as they are diversly exposed to the light, shining with this or that colour. The lower part of the Neck is of a colour compounded of cinereous and purple. The four longer feathers of the Wings are black, with somewhat of red; the least Wing-feathers are cinereous; the middle partly cinereous, partly black [in their ends] the last of them towards the Back are reddish. The length of this Bird from the Bill to the end of the Tail was almost fourteen inches. It differs from the Ring-Dove in that it is much less, and hath no white spots about the Neck and in the Wings like that.

This Bird, if it be different from the next above described is to us unknown, as also to Aldrovandus, who borrows the figure and description of it of Gesner.

CHAP. XVI. Of Thrushes in general.

UNder this title we comprehend also Blackbirds and Starlings. The marks common to all are, A mean bigness between Pigeons and Larks: A Bill of a moderate length and thickness, a little bending downwards: The Mouth yellow within-side; a long Tail: Promiscuous feeding upon Berries and Insects. Most of the Birds of this sort are canorous, and may be taught to imitate mans voice, or speak articulately.

This Genus comprehends under it three Species, 1. Thrushes strictly and properly so called, having an ash-coloured Back, and a spotted Breast. 2. Blackbirds, so called from their colour. 3. Starlings, whose characteristic is a broader and flatter or more depressed bill than that of Thrushes or Blackbirds.

That Latine Proverb, * 1.622 Turdus malum sibi ipse cacat, spoken of those who are the cause of their own destruction, took its original from that ancient conceit, that the parasitical Plant, called Misselto, of the Berries whereof in old time Birdlime was wont to be made, sprang from the Seed voided by the Thrush. Misselto (saith Pliny) sow it how you will, springs not unless cast forth in the Excrements of Birds, especially the Ring-Dove, and Thrush. Such is its nature, that unless ripened in the belly of Birds it will not grow. But that Misselto comes not at all of seed may be proved by many ar∣guments, of which the principal is, that sometimes it grows on upright boughs, and on the underside or that respecting the earth. He that desires further information concerning this matter may consult * 1.623 Aldrovandus and Scaliger.

There are four kinds of Thrushes common and well known in England: Two abide all the year, and build with us, viz. 1. The Missel-bird or Shrite. 2. The Mavis or Song-Thrush: Two are Birds of passage, coming in the Autumn, continuing here all Winter, and going away next Spring, never breeding with us, to wit, 1. The Fel∣defare: 2. The Redwing. Of Blackbirds or Ouzels England breeds and feeds three kinds, 1. The common Blackbird; 2. The Ring-Ouzels; 3. The Water-Ouzel; of

which we treat in another place, among the Piscivorous Land-birds. The Rock-Ouzel of Darbyshire is, if I mistake not, the Female of the Ring-Ouzel, although it hath not the least shadow or appearance of a ring. We know but one sort of Stare. The Stone-Ouzel or greater Redstart, as also the Solitary Sparrow, and Witwal, which we have seen beyond Seas, are strangers and unknown to England. To this Tribe we have subjoyned some exotic Birds out of Marggravius, for their agreement in bigness or colour, &c.

CHAP. XVII. Thrushes properly so called, having a spotted Breast.

§. I. The Missel-bird or Shrite; Turdus viscivorus major.

THis Bird is the biggest of this kind, weighing four ounces and an half. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was eleven inches. Its breadth eighteen.

Its Bill is streight, like a Blackbirds, or for the bigness, a little shorter: The upper Chap dusky, somewhat longer than the lower: The Tongue hard, channel'd and slit at the tip, horny, and pellucid: The inside of the Mouth is yellow: The Nosthrils great, almost of an Oval figure: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured. The Legs and Feet yellowish; the Claws black. The outer fore-toe sticks to the middlemost as far as the first joynt, no membrane intervening. The Head is of a dusky cinereous, or lead-colour, the middle part of each feather being blacker. The Back, Tail, and Rump have some mixture of yellow. In Summer it changes colour, and becomes more cinereous. [The colour of the Head, Back, Wings, and Tail, in a word of the whole upper side seemed to me to approach to that of Spanish Olives pickled while yet immature, such as are usually brought over to us.] The underside of the body from the Bill to the Tail is speckled with pretty great blackish spots. The upper part of the Breast, the Sides, and feathers under the Tail are yellow, the middle of the Belly white.

The number of quill-feathers in each Wing is eighteen, whereof the second, being the longest, is by measure five inches. The tips of the feathers next incumbent on the quills are white. The Tail is four inches and an half long, and made up of twelve equal feathers.

It hath no Craw: The Gizzard is not very thick or fleshy; therein we found Mag∣gots, Caterpillars, &c. though the Bird was killed in January. The Guts were great, but short: The blind Guts very little and short. It had a pale-coloured Liver, and a Gall bladder.

Sitting upon the tops of high trees, as Oaks, Elms, &c. in the Spring time it sings rarely well. It abides the year round with us in England, and breeds here. It is a solitary Bird, accompanying and flying only with its Mate. It is the worst meat of all its kind.

In Winter time it feeds much upon Holly-berries. And (which is strange) the birds of this kind are observed each to take possession of his tree, and to be always near it, and not to permit other birds to feed on it, but to beat and drive them away: Which quality of theirs is the occasion that they are easily taken.

A late English Writer saith, that this bird makes as large a Nest as a Jay, and lays as big an Egg: Builds commonly with rotten twigs the outside of his Nest, the inside with dead Grass, Hay, or Moss, that he pulls from trees. It seldom lays above five Eggs, but four most commonly, breeds but twice a year, and hath three young ones, never above four, that I could find; She feeds all her young ones with Misselto ber∣ries, and nothing else as I could perceive, having diligently watched them for two or three hours together. This I can hardly believe, for that the old ones feed upon other berries too, and also Insects. For Convulsions or the Falling sickness, kill this bird, dry him to a powder, and take the quantity of a penny weight every morning in six spoonfuls of black Cherry water, or the distilled water of Miselto-berries. The reason of this conceit is, because this bird feeds upon Misselto, which is an approved remedy for the Epilepsie.

§. II. The Mavis, Throstle, or Song-thrush. Turdus simpliciter dictus seu viscivorus minor.

IT is called viscivorous, not because its feeds upon Misselto-berries, but because it is like the Missel-bird. It is lesser than the Fieldfare, scarce bigger than the Red∣wing, of three ounces weight; from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail or the Feet, (for all is one) nine inches long. The Bill is an inch long, of a dusky colour. The Tongue, viewing it attentively, appears to be a little cloven: The Mouth within∣side is yellow: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured.

In the colour and spots of the Breast and Belly it agrees with the Missel-bird: For the spots are dusky; the Breast yellowish; the Belly white. The upper surface of the body is all over dusky, with a mixture of yellow in the Wings. [I should rather call this an Olive-colour, from its likeness to that of unripe pickled Olives, such as are brought over to us out of Spain.]

This Bird for its outward shape and colour is so like the Redwing that they are hard to be distinguished: Only this hath more and greater spots on the Breast and Belly. Aldrovandus tells us, that it is proper to this kind to be spotted about the Eyes. The lesser feathers, covering the Wings underneath, are of a yellowish red colour: The lower covert-feathers have yellow tips. The quill-feathers in each Wing are in num∣ber eighteen. The Tail is three inches and an half long, and made up of twelve feathers.

The Legs and Feet are of a light brown or dusky: The soals of the Feet yellow; The exteriour toe grows to the middle one as far as the first joynt. It hath a Gall∣bladder; the Stomach or Gizzard not so thick and fleshy as in other birds of this Tribe. Its feeding is rather upon Insects than berries: It eats also shell-snails, which are by most Naturalists reckoned among Insects. The Sex cannot be known by the colour. It abides all the year, and breeds with us in England. It builds its Nest out∣wardly of earth, moss, and straws, and within dawbs it with clay, laying its Eggs and Young upon the bare clay; it lays at one sitting five or six Eggs of a bluish green co∣lour, speckled with a few small black spots, thin-set. In the Spring time it sits upon trees and sings most sweetly. It is a solitary bird like the Shrite. But it builds rather in hedges than high trees. Moreover, it is a silly bird, and easily taken.

For the delicate taste of its flesh it is by all highly and deservedly commended. If we stand to Martials judgment, the Thrush is the best meat of all birds:

Inter aves Turdus, siquid me judice verum est, Inter quadrupedes gloria prima lepus.

This (saith a late English Writer) is a rare Song-bird, as well for the great variety of his notes, as his long continuance in song [at least nine months in the year.] They breed commonly thrice a year, in April, May, and June, but the first birds prove usu∣ally the best. They may be taken in the Nest at fourteen days old or sooner, must be kept warm and neat, not suffering them to sit upon their dung if it happen to fall into the Nest. When they are young you must feed them with raw meat, and some bread mixt and chopt together, with some bruised Hemp, wet their bread and mix it with their meat. When they are well feathered, put them in a large Cage, with two or three Perches in it, and dry Moss at the bottom; and by degrees you may give them no flesh at all, but only bread and hemp-seed. Give them fresh water twice a Week, to bathe themselves, otherwise they will not thrive. If he be not clean kept he is subject to the Cramp, like other singing birds.

§. III. The Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris.

IT weighs well nigh four ounces. Its length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail, or utmost Claws (for they are equally extended) is ten inches and an half: Its breadth, the Wings being spread, seventeen. The Bill is an inch long, like a Blackbirds, yellow save the tip, which is black: The Bills of the Hens or young birds are darker and less yellow, as in Blackbirds; the Tongue is rough, horny,

channel'd in the middle. The edges of the Eye-lids being yellow make a yel∣low circle round the Eye. The Nosthrils are great. In the lower part of the nictating membrane is a black spot. The Ears are large: The Feet black, but the Claws more: The outer Toe is joyned immediately to the middle one as far as the first joynt.

It seems to be somewhat bigger than a Blackbird, and the second in bigness of this kind, or next to the Missel-bird.

The Head, Neck, and Rump are ash-coloured, [in some of a deep blue.] The crown of the Head sprinkled with black spots [which yet in some birds are wanting.] The Back, Shoulders, and covert feathers of the Wings are of a dark red or Ches∣nut-colour; the middle parts of the feathers being black. The Throat and upper part of the Breast are yellow, spotted with black, the black spots taking up the mid∣dle parts of the feathers. The bottom of the Breast and Belly are white, and less spotted. The covert-feathers of the sides under the ends of the Wings are white: Thence a red or yellow line separates the white from the black. On each Cheek it hath a black stroak reaching from the Bill to the Eyes. It hath also on both sides, at the bottom of the Neck, just by the setting on of the Wings, a black spot. The number of quil-feathers, as in the rest, is eighteen, the outmost of which are black, with white edges; the inner have something of red, The covert-feathers of the in∣side of the Wings are white. The Tail is four inches and an half long, composed of twelve feathers, of a dark blue or blackish colour: Only the tips of the outmost fea∣thers are white, and the edges of the middlemost ash-coloured.

The Liver is divided into two Lobes, and furnished with its Gall-bladder: The Muscles of the Gizzard are not very thick. I found no footstep of the passage for conveying the Gall into the Guts.

These Birds fly in flocks together with Stares and Redwings. They shift places ac∣cording to the seasons of the year. About the beginning of Autumn come over in∣credible flights of them into England, which stay with us all Winter, and in the Spring fly all back again, not one bird remaining; insomuch that (as far as ever I could hear) there was never seen young Fieldfare or Redwing, or so much as a Nest of those birds with us in England. Whither they betake themselves, or where they breed is not to us perfectly known: It is by some reported, that they breed in Bohemia; others tell us with much confidence, in Sweden. They have a hoarse chattering note, not much unlike a Magpie; by reason the sides of the fissure in the Palate are rough; as we conjecture.

This kind of Thrush (saith Gesner) loves to feed upon Berries of all sorts, especi∣ally those of Juniper. With us in England they are very greedy of Holly-berries. This bird is accounted very good meat, and preferred far before the Missel-bird. In open weather they feed upon Worms, and other Insects, lying much upon Meadows and Pasture-grounds.

§. IV. The Redwing, Swinepipe, or Wind-thrush, Turdus Iliacus sive Illas aut Tylas.

IT is rather less than the Mavis; not exceeding two ounces and an half in weight. Its length from Bill-point to Tail-end is eight inches and an half: Its Bill an inch long; the upper Mandible dusky, the lower partly dusky, partly yellow. Its Tongue hard and rough, the tip being divided into many Filaments. The Mouth withinside is yellow: The Irides of the Eyes of a dark hazel colour. The Legs and Feet pale: The outer Toe joyned to the middle below, as in the rest of this kind.

The upper side of the body is of the same colour with that of the Mavis: The Breast not so much spotted. The covert-feathers of the underside of the Wings, and of the sides of the body under the Wings, which in the Mavis are yellow, in this kind are of a red Orange-colour, by which mark it is chiefly distinguished from it. The belly is white, as in the Fieldfare: The Throat and Brest yellowish, spotted with dusky spots, which take up the middle parts of the feathers. The sides of the Breast and Belly are in like manner spotted. The spots are less, but thicker set than in the Mavis. Above the Eyes is a long spot or line of a clay colour, reaching from the Eyes to the hinder part of the Head.

The number of quill-feathers in each Wing, as in the rest of this kind, and almost all small birds, is eighteen: These are more red or chesnut-coloured than the rest of

the feathers: They differ also in divers birds; for in some the edges of the outmost feathers are white, which are not so in others. The tips of the two inmost quill-fea∣thers, as also of the second row of feathers, beginning from the tenth, are white. The Tail is three inches and an half long, consisting of twelve feathers.

The Gizzard like those of the precedent: The blind Guts in like manner very short. We found in this some remainder of the channel conveying the Yolk into the Guts. The Liver is large for the bulk of the body, and hath its Gall-bladder appendant. In the Stomach dissected we found divers sorts of Insects, Snails, &c. It comes to us from beyond Seas, as the Fieldfare, with which it flies in company, observing the same times of coming and returning. Whither it goes, and where it breeds is not to us certainly known: Perchance in the Mountainous parts of Bohemia or Hungaria, as Gesner saith he had heard. Its flesh by reason of its bitterness is less esteemed.

Dr. Charleton thinks they are called in English, Wind-Thrushes, because about the beginning of Winter, when strong Winds blow, by which perchance they are assi∣sted in their passage, they come flying over to us from beyond Seas. I rather think, we borrowed that name from the Germans, who call this bird Wyntrostel, that is, Vineyard Thrushes, because, as Bellonius reports, they feed upon Grapes, and are very noisom to the Vineyards: So that they are by mistake called Wind-Thrushes, their true name being Wine-Thrushes.

§. V. * The Brasilian Tamatia of Marggrave.

THis Bird is of the bigness of a Lark or small Woodpecker, all spotted like a Thro∣stle or Mavis: On the Belly it hath white feathers, with dusky spots. It is yellow under the Throat, as also about the Neck. It hath a long, red Bill, a little dusky above, the upper Chap somewhat longer than the nether. Above the Nosthrils stand up certain slender feathers like hairs or bristles. It hath four Toes in each foot, and crooked Claws. Its Head is bigger than the proportion of the body requires, as also its Bill. Not knowing better whither to refer this bird, for its agreement with Thrushes in bigness and colour, I have placed it here.

CHAP. XVIII. Birds of the Thrush-kind, that are black of colour.

§. I. The common Blackbird, Merula vulgaris.

IT is little, or nothing less than a Fieldfare; of four ounces weight; nine inches and an half long from the tip of the Bill to the Claws, to the end of the Tail ten and an half, and the Cock eleven.

The Bill is an inch long, in the Cock of a deep yellow; in the Hen the tip and upper part is black. The Mouth in both Sexes is yellow within. The Bill in young Cock∣birds is black, and turns not perfectly yellow till they be near a year old. The cir∣cumference of the Eye-lids is also yellow. The Cock, after he hath mewed his chicken feathers, becomes cole-black; the Hen and young Cock-birds are rather brown, or of a dark russet than black: Their Breasts have something of reddish, and their Bellies of ash-colour. The Cocks while young cannot be distinguished from the Hens by their colour.

The number of quill-feathers in each Wing is eighteen, of which the fourth is the longest. The Tail is four inches and an half long, made up of twelve feathers of equal length save the two outmost, which are somewhat shorter than the rest.

The Feet are black: The outmost fore-toe and the back-toe are equal: And the outmost Toe joyned to the middlemost at bottom, as in the rest of this kind.

The Liver is divided into two Lobes, and hath its Gall-bladder annexed. The Giz∣zard not very fleshy nor thick, as in the rest. It feeds promiscuously upon Berries and Insects. I could not find any remainder of the Yolk-channel in the Guts.

The Cocks in this kind are very canorous, whistling and singing very pleasantly all the Spring and Summer-time, only their note is too loud and shrill near hand.

The Hen lays four or five Eggs, seldom more at once, of a bluish green colour, full of dusky spots and lines.

On the Alps, the Appennine, and other high Mountains are sometime found birds of this kind all over white. We our selves saw one in a Poulterers Shop at Rome parti∣coloured of black and white. But this we look upon as accidental: Either the cold∣ness of the Region, or the constant intuition of Snow effecting this alteration of co∣lour, as in Crows, Ravens, &c. So that we do not think a white Blackbird (pardon the seeming contradiction in adjecto) to differ specifically from a black one.

The Blackbird builds her Nest very artificially withoutside of Moss, slender twigs, bents, and fibres of roots, cemented and joyned together with Clay instead of Glue, dawbing it also all over withinside with Clay: Yet doth she not lay her Eggs upon the bare Clay, like the Mavis, but lines it with a covering of small straws, bents, hair, or other soft matter, upon which she lays her Eggs, both that they might be more secure, and in less danger of breaking, and also that her Young might lie softer and warmer.

The Blackbird loves to wash it self, and prune its feathers with its Bill. It flies also singly for the most part: Whence it took the name Merula in Latine, being (as Fe∣stus and Varro tell us) so called because it flies and feeds Mera, that is, solitary or singly.

The flesh of Blackbirds is accounted good meat, yea, some prefer it before that of the Thrush. But Palate-men, and such as are critical in discerning of tastes, are of ano∣ther opinion.

§. II. The solitary Sparrow.

MEeting with a Female of this kind at Florence in Italy, I thus described it. It is of the bigness of a Blackbird, and for shape of body very like it, nor much different in colour.

The Head and Neck were thicker than to answer the proportion of the body. The top of the Head was of a dark ash-colour. The Back was of a deep blue, al∣most black, only the extreme edges of the feathers were whitish. The Shoulders and covert-feathers of the Wings were of the same colour. Each Wing had eighteen quill-feathers, besides a little short one outmost, all dusky, but some had white tips. The second row of Wing-feathers had also white tips. The Tail was about four inches long, and composed of twelve black feathers. The underside of the Body Breast, Belly, and Thighs, was all variegated with black, cinereous, and whitish transverse waved lines, so that in colour it resembled a Cuckow. Under the Throat, and in the upper part of the Breast no ash-colour appeared, and the white lines had something of red mingled with them. The Bill was streight, blackish, rather longer than a Thrushes Bill, as also a little thicker and stronger. The Legs short and black: The Feet and Claws black. The Legs, Feet, and Claws in this sort seemed to me les∣ser than in the rest of the Thrush-kind. The Mouth within was yellow, the stomach filled with Grapes.

The Cocks are much more beautiful, all over of a shining blue, or bluish purple colour, as Aldrovandus witnesseth, and as we also observed in a Cock we saw at Rome, whose Back especially was of a most lovely glistering dark purple colour.

It is wont to sit alone on the tops of ancient Edifices and Roofs of Churches, sing∣ing most sweetly, especially in the Morning, whence it took its name, being supposed to be the bird spoken of, Psalm 102. 7. It builds also in the like places, for which Olina is my Author. For the excellency of its singing it is highly prized in Italy, specially, at Genua and Milan. It hath a whistling note like a Pipe, and may easily be taught to imitate mans voice.

§. III. * The Blue-bird of Bellonius, Passeri solitario congener, † 1.624 Aldrov.

THere is also (saith Gesner) another bird akin to the solitary Sparrow, of the Blackbird kind, frequenting rocky places, whence by the Grecians it is called, Petrocossyphus, [that is, the Rock-Ouzel or Blackbird] by our Country-men Steinrotele, esteemed in like manner for its singing. In another place he thus discourses concern∣ing the same bird: This (viz. which * 1.625 Bellonius, whose words he had cited, calls Merula torquata, i. e. Ring-Ouzel) seems to be the very same with that bird of which Raphael Seillerius of Augsburg lately wrote to me in these words. The bird which from its blue colour the Germans call Blauvogel is of the bigness of a Stare, hath his Breast, Loins, and Neck of a lovely blue, yet darker than the Kingfisher. The Back and Wings are somewhat black, yet shewing something of blue. The Bill is an inch and half long, under the Nosthrils dusky, the upper Chap being hooked, and co∣vering the nether, for the most part. The Feet are divided, as in other birds. It lives in the highest parts of the Alps, neither is it contented to abide in the tops of the Mountains, but chuses the most rocky and craggy places, and such as are covered with Snow, neither do we know certainly that it is found in any other place than the Mountains about the River Athesis, especially near the City of Inspruck. For this cause it is had in great account even by the Inhabitants themselves of those places, and is fed with such meat as men usually eat, and such as is usually given to Blackbirds and Thrushes designed for fowling. It speaks with an articulate voice very pleasant and various; and is it self so docile, and observes things so diligently, that it will express most things by some articulate sound. Being awakened at Midnight, and called up∣on by a by-stander, as if it were bidden, it will sing with a clear and loud note. Like other birds, it aims at mens Eyes, because seeing in them, as in a Looking-glass, its own image, it is affected with a desire of its like, and thinks to joyn it self in compa∣ny with it. Before the Autumn, at what time other birds sit, and are busie in bring∣ing up their Young, together with its colour it changeth also its voice. Its colour about the beginning of Winter of blue becomes black, which about the beginning of next Spring it changes again into its own natural blue. Being fully fledg'd, and once got out of the Nest, and a little accustomed to flying, it cannot any more (as all the Fowlers affirm) by any allurement or deceit be enticed and taken, so naturally crafty it is. It makes its Nest in deep holes in very high and unaccessible solitudes, having found a secure place, to which it may safely commit it self and its Young. And by its cunning doth not only remove it from the access of men by placing it on the highest ridges of the Mountains, but also hide it in deep Caverns from the Chamois, and other wild beasts, and there it feeds three or four Young with worms, till it brings them out of the Nest, and turns them loose to shift for themselves. Now the Fowlers having either by chance, or by lying in wait, found out the place, taking with them a long, round, smooth stilt or stake, made of a singular piece of wood, hard to be found (such as the climbers of Rocks and hunters of Chamois are wont to make use of to assist them in getting up the crags and cliffs of Rocks) mount up there where you would not think it possible for them to find room to set one foot. And to omit no∣nothing, they wrap their heads with cloth, covering their faces so far that they may see side-ways, to avoid dizziness; and this they do partly to fence them against the old birds, partly, and chiefly (this being the true cause of their so doing) to hin∣der their prospect any ways but just forward, to see where they are to pitch their stake, or clap on their hands. So at length, not without extreme toil and danger, they arrive at the Nest, which with that long pole or stake I mentioned they draw up out of the deep hole where it was placed, and carry away with them, cherishing, and bringing the Young up at their own houses: And afterwards either sell them dear, or present them to Gentlemen and great persons of their knowledge. Thus far Seillerius. I suspect that this very bird, which Gesner calls Blauvogel, is the same which about Chur in the Grisons Country and elsewhere is called Steirotele, or near akin to it.

* 1.626 Bellonius, who thinks this bird to be the Cyanus or (as Gaza translates it) the Caeruleus of Aristotle, writes thereof in this manner. That bird which Aristotle calls Cyanus, Pliny, Caeruleus, because it haunts among the Rocks of the high Moun∣tains, and is like a Blackbird, is now by the Grecians commonly called Petrocoslypho,

that is, the Rock-Ouzel. It is lesser than a Blackbird, and blue all over, kept in Cages, and highly esteemed for its singing. Its voice is the same with the Blackbirds. It hath no French name, because it is not found in France, nor yet in Italy, unless brought thither in Cages. It is sometimes taken out of the Nest to be taught so speak arti∣culately. * 1.627 In another place, where he also treats professedly of this bird, adding a figure of it; although (saith he) we call the bird by Aristotle entitled Cyanus, by Gaza rendred Caeruleus, In French Merle bleu, yet we do not this as if it were known to France; but because of the Countrimen of Epidaurus, who use divers Idioms, some who speak Italian call it, * 1.628 Merlo biavo, others who speak Greek, Petrocossypho, others who speak Dalmatic call it simply, Merle. Kept in a Cage it sings more sweet∣ly even than a Blackbird. For which reason the Countrimen of Illyricum, who live among the Rocks, take them out of the Nests, and carry them to the Cities to sell. It is not found in France, unless brought in from abroad. It builds in the tops of Mountains, as we observed in Candy, Citharaea, Corcyra, Zacynthus, and Euboea, now commonly called Negroponte. Aristotle also in the fore-quoted place making mention of it, saith it was commonly seen among the Rocks in Scyros. Aristotle com∣posing his History of Animals at Athens, sent abroad men through divers Countries to search out all kinds of living Creatures: In Scyros the Mountains are cragged, with many Rocks. But to make a brief, compendious description of this bird, we need but imagine a small Blackbird of a blue colour; for just such a one is this bird. It is full of tongue, and seldom descends into the plain Country. It breeds for the most part five Young, and never more. It affords as good and better nourishment than a Blackbird, flies swifter, and uses the same food. All this out of Bellonius; whom Aldrovandus pronounces mistaken, in that he thought this bird to be the Cyanus of Aristotle. Himself, with Gesner, deeming the Cyanus of Aristotle to be of the Wood∣pecker kind: Which how he proves see in this place.

Turner conjectures the Caeruleus of Aristotle to be that bird which is called in English, a Clot-bird, a Smatch, an Arling, a Stonecheck, and in High Dutch, Ein Brechvogel. This he saith in England breeds in Coney-burrows, and under stones, and appears not in Winter. The English names and place of building argue Turner to have meant the common Oenanthe or White-tail; which is a far different bird from the Caeruleus of Bellonius.

For my part, to speak freely what I think, I judge the Blauvogel of Gesner to be the very same bird with the solitary Sparrow; but the Caeruleus of Bellonius to be a bird specifically different, and which I have not yet seen alive, though I have often seen its picture.

§. IV. The Indian Mockbird, Caeruleus Indicus.

WE saw this Bird dried in Tradescants Cabinet. It is of the bigness of a com∣mon Lark, hath a streight sharp Bill, a long Tail: And is all over of a blue colour. Upon second thoughts, however Tradescant might put the Epithete of Indi∣an upon this bird, I judge it to be no other than the Caeruleus or Blue Ouzel of Bellonius, described in the precedent Article.

§. V. * Aldrovandus his Brasilian Merula, Book 16. Chap. 16.

BEllonius figures this bird among the Merulae, induced only by this reason, that those who bring it out of Brasil into Europe call it, the Brasilian Blackbird. Where∣fore seeing he speaks nothing concerning the nature of the Bird, and it is alike un∣known to me, I also adjoyn it to the Merulae, although in the shortness, or rather crookedness, of its Bill it differs much from them. Those (saith Bellonius) who trade in Countries newly discovered, bring back thence such strange rarities as they think will sell dear with us here: But because they cannot bring the birds themselves alive in Cages, therefore they flay off the skins of such as are more beautiful than the rest, as this is, and bringing them over make a great gain of the sale of them; especi∣ally of this which they call, the Brasilian Blackbird; though in bigness it differs from a Blackbird. The colour of the whole body, except the Tail and Wings, which

are black; is so deep [perchance by the word intensè he may mean bright] a red, that it exceeds all other rednesses. The Tail is long; the Feet and Legs black; The Bill short, as in a Sparrow. The feathers are red to the very bottom. That which Aldrovandus describes, perchance from a picture, was in some things different from Bellonius his bird. For, saith he, the Wings are not all over black, but all the upper feathers by the shoulders of a deep red. Next to them are some black ones, then red ones again; the subsequent, viz. all the great feathers, being black, as is also the Tail. The Bill also is not so short as in Sparrows, yet thick, and remarkably crooked, without of a dusky colour, within yellow, as I conjecture from the colour of the corners of the mouth [rictûs.] Moreover, the Feet are not black, but of an ash-colour, only a little dusky, being great for the proportion of the Legs: The Claws short, but crooked, of the same colour.

We have seen in Tradescants Cabinet a red Indian bird dried, of the bigness almost of a Mavis, having a long Tail, which perchance is the same with the bird in this Ar∣ticle described.

§. VI. * The Rose or Carnation-coloured Ouzel of Aldrov. lib. 16. cap. 15.

THis bird our Fowlers call, the Sea-Starling. It is seen sometimes in our fields, and is much among dung-heaps. To me it seems rather to be a kind of Ouzel [Merula] than Starling. For a Starling is spotted, which this is not. It is somewhat less than a Blackbird, hath its Back, Breast, and Wings above of a Rose or Carnati∣on colour, its Head tufted, its Wings and Tail black, the prime feathers being near a Chesnut colour: The Bill next the Head black, else of a flesh colour: The Feet of a deep yellow or Saffron-colour. The Cock in this kind is of a more lively and lovely colour. The head of the Hen is in colour like to the Cocks, but the Neck, Wings, and Tail not so black as his. They become very fat, and are accounted good meat.

We have not as yet seen this bird, neither do we remember to have elsewhere read or heard any thing of it.

§. VII. The red-breasted Indian Blackbird, perchance the Jacapu of Marggrave.

WE saw the Case of this bird in Tradescants Cabinet. It was of the bigness and shape of a Blackbird, as far as I could judge by the dried skin. The colour of the whole upper side was black; only the edges of the feathers about the Rump were ash-coloured. The Breast was of a scarlet colour: The Bill like a Blackbirds: The Tail also long, and like a Blackbirds.

I take this to be the same bird, which Marggrave describes under the title of Jacapu of the Brasilians, though he attribute to it only the bigness of a Lark. It hath (saith he) a long Tail, shorter Wings, short and black Legs, with sharp Claws on the four toes: A Bill a little crooked and black, half an inch long. The whole body is cove∣red with shining black feathers; yet under the Throat spots of a Vermilion colour are mingled with the black. This bird differs from ours in its smalness, and the shortness of its Bill.

§. VIII. The Ring-Ouzel, Merula torquata.

IT is like, and equal to, or somewhat bigger than the common Blackbird: From Bill to Tail eleven inches long, to the end of the Feet ten and a quarter; the Wings extended were by measure seventeen inches. The Bill more than an inch long, of a dark dusky or blackish colour. The mouth yellow withinside: The Tongue rough. The Irides of the Eyes are of a dark hazel colour: The Legs and Feet dusky. The outer Toe is joyned to the middle as far as to the first joynt. The colour of the up∣per side of the body is a dark brown, or russet, inclining to black. The feathers co∣vering the Breast and Belly are marked with a long whitish spot down the shaft,

having also white edges. The Ring or Collar is below the Throat, just above the Breast, of a white colour, an inch broad, of the form of a Crescent, the horns end∣ing at the sides of the Neck.

It hath eighteen quil-feathers in each Wing; twelve in the Tail, the outmost being a little shorter than the rest; four inches long. The exteriour feathers of the Tail are blacker than the middlemost. The small feathers under the Wings whitish.

[In a bird that I described at Rome the edges of the prime feathers of the Wings, as also of the covert-feathers of the Head and Wings were cinereous. The ring also was not white, but ash-coloured. I suppose this was either a young bird, or a Hen.]

It hath a large Gall, and a round Spleen: In the Stomach we found Insects, and Berries like to Currans. These Birds are common in the Alps in Rhoetia and Switzerland: They are also found in the mountainous parts of Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and elsewhere in the North of England.

They say that the Female of this kind hath no ring: Whence I perswade my self that the bird which I sometimes described for the Merula Saxatilis or Montana, that is, the Rock-Ouzel of Gesner, p. 584. was no other than a Hen Ring-Ouzel.

It nearly resembles the common Blackbird in bigness, figure, and colour; yet is in some things manifestly different; viz. it is a thought bigger, hath a longer body, and not so dark a colour. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was ten inches and an half, to the end of the Claws nine and an half: Its breadth one foot and five inches: Its weight three ounces and two drachms. The top of the Head, the Shoulders, Back, Wings, and Tail, in a word, the whole upper side was of a dark brown or dusky colour, The number of quill-feathers in each Wing eighteen. The Tail was four inches and an half long, not forked, black, made up of twelve fea∣thers. The underside, viz. the Breast, Belly, Sides, Thighs, and under-coverts of the Wings, particoloured of brown and white, or rather cinereous; the middle part of each feather being brown, and the borders round about cinereous.

Its Bill is every way like the common Blackbirds, excepting the colour which in this is of a dark brown, or blackish. The inside of the mouth, as in that, yellow. The Legs are of a moderate length, and dusky colour, as also the Feet and Claws.

The Guts indifferent large, but not very long, and consequently not having many revolutions: The blind Guts small, white, and very short, as in the rest of this kind. The Stomach or Gizzard was of a moderate bigness, filled partly with Insects, partly with the purple juyce of Bill-berries, which had also tinctured all the excrements of the Guts.

It is usually conversant about the Rocks and steep Cliffs of high mountains. This we described was shot by Fr. Jessop Esq on a Cliff or Scar, called Rive-edge, where they dig Mill-stones, not far from a Village called Hathers-edge in the Mountains of the Peak of Derbyshire, where the Inhabitants call it Rock-Ouzel.

§. IX. * The Rock Ouzel, or Mountain Ouzel of Gesner, called in High Dutch, Berg-Amzel, Merula Saxatilis seu Montana.

IT differs from the Ring-Ouzel, 1. In that it wants a Ring. 2. In that the Throat is * 1.629 red, with black spots, the Belly is cinereous, with black spots. 3. That the ex∣treme edges of the great Wing-feathers are whitish, and the lesser rows have some∣times white spots in their middle about their shafts. But these differences are not to me so considerable, as to induce me to believe that this bird is a Species different from the Ring-Ouzel; at least if it be true, that the Hen in that kind wants a ring, and differs other ways in colour from the Cock, as we have been informed. Yet will we not be very confident or positive, but refer it to further inquiry and observation.

To these may be added Aldrovandus his 1. * 1.630 MERULA BICOLOR, described lib. 16. cap. 12. varied with two colours especially, viz. dusky or blackish, and reddish yellow. 2. * 1.631 MERULAE CONGENER, Aldrov. lib. 16. cap. 13. having a red line near the Bill. 3. * 1.632 MERULAE CONGENER ALIA, in Chap. 14. of the same Book, like to the ash-coloured Butcher-bird. Which, because we have not seen, nor read of elsewhere, we omit: Whosoever pleases may look out their figures and descriptions in the places cited. The second of these Aldrovandus saw only painted, neither did he see the first alive.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Starling, and Birds akin to it.

§. I. A Stare or Starling, Sturnus.

THe Cock weighed three ounces and an half, the Hen three. From Bill to Claws it was nine inches long, to Tail end eight and three quarters. Its breadth was sixteen inches. It is of the bigness and shape of a common Black∣bird. Its Bill from the tip to the angles of the mouth an inch and a quarter long, in the Cock of a pale yellow, in the Hen dusky, broader and more depressed than in Thrushes or Blackbirds, by which * 1.633 mark especially it differs from them. The upper Mandible is equal to the nether: The Tongue is hard, horny, and cloven: The Iri∣des of the Eyes of a hazel colour, whiter on the upper part. It hath the nictating membrane, which I believe few birds want. The Legs and Feet are yellowish, [ra∣ther of a flesh colour:] The Claws blackish. The outer and inner fore-toe are equal to each other; and the outer joyned to the middle toe as far as the first articulation. The Legs feathered down to the Knees.

The tips of the feathers on the Neck and Back are yellow: The feathers under the Tail cinereous, else they are black all the body over, with a certain blue or purple gloss, varying as it is variously exposed to the light. In the Hen the tips of the fea∣thers on the Breast and Belly, to the very Throat, are white. In the Cock the Back participates more of purple, the Rump of green; only the lower Belly is more spotted.

All the quil-feathers are dusky; but the edges of the third, and subsequent to the tenth, and from the fifteenth again to the last are more dark, The covert-feathers of the Wings glister, and the tips of the lesser coverts are yellow. The feathers co∣vering the underside of the Wings are dusky, having pale-yellow edges.

The Tail is three inches long, made up of twelve dusky feathers with pale yellow edges: It lays four or five Eggs lightly tinctured with a greenish blue.

The blind Cuts as in the rest of this kind are very short and small, nearer to the Fundament than in others. The muscle of the Gizzard not very thick: The Guts thirteen inches long. It feeds upon Beetles, Worms, and other Insects. It hath a Gall-bladder.

Stares are gregarious birds, living and flying together in great flocks. They com∣pany also with Redwings and Fieldfares; yet do they not fly away with them, but abide with us all Summer, breeding in the holes of Towers, Houses, Trees, &c.

This kind sometimes varies in colour. For we have seen in Wales two white Star∣lings; one with a black Head, and all the rest of the body white at Aberdaren, a little Village in Carnarvanshire. Stares are not eaten in England by reason of the bitterness of their flesh: The Italians, and other Outlandish people are not so squeamish, but they can away with them, and make a dish of them for all that. It is a notable bird at imitating mans voice, and speaking articulately.

§. II. * Bontius his Indian Stare.

IT resembles our Country Stare, in the Sea-green and dark blue feathers, spotted with cinereous spots; but it hath a yellow Crest on the Neck, and its Head is set with black soft feathers, that feeling of it you would think you touched Velvet. It imitates mans voice much more accurately than a Parrot, so that oftentimes it is trou∣blesome with its pratling.

§. III. The greater Redstart of Olina, called by Aldrovand, * 1.634 Merula Saxatilis, at Florence, † 1.635 Tordo Marino, at Vienna, Stein-Reitling.

IT is equal in bigness, and like in shape to a Starling. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the Claws nine inches and an half. The measure of the Wings extended fourteen. The Bill is morethan an inch long, broad and flat, as in Stares, not round, and rising up in a ridge, as in Blackbirds, black of colour: The upper Chap longer, sharp-pointed, and somewhat crooked. The mouth within yellow. The Tongue a little elest at the end. The Legs and Feet of a lead colour; the Claws black; the soal of the foot yellow. The outer Toe grows or is fastned immediately to the mid∣dle one as far as the first joynt; the inner toe is a little shorter than the outer. The Chin underneath is whitish: The tips of the feathers on the Breast cinereous. Be∣neath the Breast is a transverse black line; below which the Plumage is of a red or deep Orange-tawney colour. The Head and Back brown, the tips of the feathers being cinereous. The quil-feathers of the Wings of a black brown, with reddish tips. The Tail consists of twelve feathers, of a red tawney or Orange colour, whence it took the name of the greater Redstart. The lesser feathers under the Wings are of the like colour.

Its Stomach was fleshy, and stuffed with the stones of certain berries, we knew not what. Its Guts were eleven inches long. It imitates mans voice, learning to speak articulately, like the Stare.

The Hens are paler-coloured; above being of a Mouse-dun, spotted with white spots; underneath rather hoary. Those parts which in the Males are fulvous, in the Females are of a pale yellow.

Lighting upon three or four of these birds at Florence, comparing them together, I [J. R.] described them as exactly as I could in these words.

It is equal in bigness, and like in shape to a Throstle. Its colour is various, on the top of the Head and Neck mingled of a dirty white or ash-colour and brown, so that it appears grey or hoary. Viewing each single feather, the bottom or lower part is blue; the middle part about the shaft black, which black line near the tip of the fea∣ther is crossed by another, which together represent the figure of the letter T in each feather. The very tips of all are white. The colour that fills up the angles of the T-like mark is dusky. These colours in the Neck, Shoulders, upper part of the Back, and covert-feathers of the Wings are more bright and conspicuous. The fea∣thers on the middle of the Back in the Cock-birds are marked about their middles with a large white spot, above which is a cross line of blue, then one of black, and lastly, their tips are red. The bottom of the Back about the Rump is more cine∣reous or blue. The feathers incumbent on the Tail are red, with white tips. The great feathers of the Wings have their tips and exteriour edges white, else they are black: The greater covert-feathers are also of the same colour. The feathers co∣vering the underside of the Wings are of a pale red or yellow colour.

The Tail is short, scarce exceeding three inches, made up of twelve feathers of equal length, all red or fulvous, excepting the two middle, that are dusky, which yet in some birds are also above half red. It is here to be observed, that all the Tail-feathers have their outer edges toward the top, of the same colour with the middle feathers.

The nether side of the body, viz. the Throat, Breast, Belly, Thighs, are parti∣coloured of white or grey, black and yellow. [In some Cock-birds the whole Belly was of a fulvous colour, speckled with many white spots, and a few black ones.] The Throat and upper part of the Breast are darker than the Belly, for that the fore∣mentioned colours are there more mingled and confounded, whereas in the belly they are more distinct, and make greater spots. If you heed each feather, you shall find the bottom to be blue, in the middle a yellow spot, encompassed with a black line, and the top white. The Wings are long, reaching almost to the end of the Tail. The description of the Bill and Legs we have already given in Mr. Willughby's words, and have nothing further to add concerning them.

It is said to abide and build in mountainous places. It is kept in Cages for its sing∣ing. I suspect that Bellonius his solitary Sparrow is the same with this bird, though the description answers not exactly in all things.

§. IV. * The Brasilian Pitanga guacu, called by the Portugnese, Bemtere, Marggrav.

IN bigness it is equal to a Stare; hath a thick, broad, Pyramidal Bill, a little more than an inch long, * 1.636 outwardly sharp: A broad, compressed Head: A short Neck, which sitting it contracts or draws up: A body near two inches and an half long: The Legs and Feet dusky: Four Toes disposed in the usual manner. The Head, upper side of the Neck, the whole Back, Wings, and Tail of a dark brown or black, mingled with a little green. The under side of the Neck, the Breast, and lower Belly have yellow feathers. But above, by the Head it hath a Crown [like that of a Monk] of a white colour. It hath a loud shrill cry. Some of these birds have on the top of their Heads a yellow spot, and some have it partly of a clay colour; else in all things like. This kind is called by the Brasilians, Cuiriri.

CHAP. XX. Atinga guacu mucu of Marggrave.

IT is about the bigness of a Throstle: Hath a great Head, a Neck of a moderate length, a body three inches long: The Bill a little hooked, of a colour mingled of green and yellow, sanguine Eyes, with a black Pupil. The Legs are ash-co∣loured, of a moderate length, above [the Knees I suppose he means] covered with feathers: In the Feet four Toes disposed after the usual manner: an exceeding long Tail, viz. of about nine inches, consisting of about ten feathers; of which some of the lower are shorter than the upper. The whole Head, Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail have brown or * 1.637 fuligineous feathers, which in the Tail are darker-coloured than the rest. The end of each feather of the Tail, for about half an inch, is white, and between the white and red [part] shaded with black. The Throat, Breast, lower Belly, and Thighs are covered with ash-coloured feathers. On the Head it hath long feathers, which it can set up like two horns. It is a bird remarkable for the length of its Tail. For its agreement in bigness, its Bill, and some other accidents, we have sub∣joyned it to the Thrush-kind.

CHAP. XXI. The Witwall, as it is by some called, Galbula seu Picus nidum suspendens, Aldrov. Oriolus Alberti; Chloreus Aristotelis, & Icterus Plinii, in Aldrovandus his judgment.

THis bird from the beginning of the Bill to the end of the Tail was by measure ten inches long: Equal in magnitude to, or somewhat bigger than a Thrush: Its Bill more than an inch long, red, like a Thrushes, but bigger, and longer: Its Tongue cloven and rough: The Irides of its Eyes red: Its Legs, Feet, and Toes of a Lead-colour. The hind-Toe near the rise of it was broad and callous. The ou∣ter Toe joyned to the middle, as in the rest of this kind, up to the first joynt.

The quil-feathers of the Wings were black: But the tips of the fifth, sixth, and seventh, also of the tenth, and four subsequent white, and the utmost edges of the third and fourth. The foremost feathers of the second row were almost half way of a pale yellow: Else the upper surface of the whole Wing black. The twelve feathers of the Tail were of equal length, viz. about three inches and an half: The two middlemost black, the rest had their upper halfs yellow, their lower black. All the body beside was of a bright yellow, very beautiful to be∣hold: So that for the lustre and elegancy of its colours it scarce gives place to any of the American birds. Between the Eyes and Nosthrils on each side it had a black spot.

In the Female the colours are not so fair and lively, the yellow being mingled with black and brown, the Breast shaded with dusky lines: The lesser rows of Wing-fea∣thers, and the two middle feathers of the Tail green. The young ones also are greener, and have their Breasts spotted.

The Guts are sixteen inches long, great and lax: the blind Guts very small and short: The Testicles round. In the Belly we found Caterpillars.

We shot this bird near Frankeford in Germany. Afterwards we saw many of them at Naples in the Poulterers Shops: Whence we guess that they are frequent in the neighbouring Country.

The structure of the Nest, and how artificially it hangs it, see in Aldrovand. The Low Dutch call this bird by a very fit name, Goutmerle, that is, the golden Ouzel: For it agrees with Thrushes or Blackbirds, in the shape of the Bill and the whole body; in the bigness, also food, and manner of living. It is called Galbula or Galgulus, from its yellow colour.

It is a bird of passage. Gesner writes, that it comes into his Country for the most part in May, but sometimes also in April: After whose coming they have certain hope that there will be no more frosts. Whence it appears, that it delights in hot places and seasons. It feeds wonderfully fat, hath very delicate flesh, and yields whol∣som nourishment; and no wonder, sith it is akin to the Thrushes, and uses the same food, viz. Insects and Berries.

CHAP. XXII. * Matuitui of Marggravius.

IT is of the bigness of a Stare: Hath a short Neck, a strong Breast, short Legs, a Tail two inches and an half long. It hath a streight, strong Bill, the upper Chap whereof is a little prominent, the point inclining downwards, of a Vermilion colour. The whole Head, upper side of the Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail are brown, spotted with a pale yellow, partly speckled like a Sparrow-Hawk. Under the Throat it hath yellow feathers. The Breast and Belly are white, speckled with brown. The Legs of a dark ash-colour.

CHAP. XXIII. * Guirapunga of Marggrave.

THe cry of this Bird may be heard a great way off. It is bigger than the Missel∣bird, almost equal to a Pigeon: Hath a Bill an inch long, and pretty broad * 1.638 sharp-pointed; the upper part a little prominent above the lower, and bend∣ing downward, black, having wide or open Nosthrils. Its Mouth is large, the slit reaching as far as the Eyes; so that the aperture of the Mouth with the Bill forms a triangle. It hath a short Tongue; Eyes between black and blue. Under the Throat, (which is broad) and in the lower part of the Neck it hath many black fleshy Wat∣tles an inch long, hanging down before, of the figure of the point of a Spear. The Head is covered with dark brown feathers: The whole Neck, Breast, Belly, Back, and Thighs with ash-coloured, wherewith (especially in the Back) are some black ones mixed, and toward the Tail also green ones. It hath a Tail three inches long, consisting of ash-coloured and black feathers mingled with a little green. The Wings (which end not far below the rise of the Tail) are first black, then brown, some dark green feathers being intermingled. The lower Legs are black, and above an inch long. It hath four Toes in each foot like other birds, with black Claws. The Breast is as it were divided into two, having a valley or furrow all along the middle. The Windpipe is large, whence also it hath a loud and strong cry.

It hath a double note, which it useth promiscuously; one like that of a Hammer striking a Wedge in the Woods, (cick, cock:) The other, as if one should strike a crackt Bell, [Kur, kur, kur, &c.] It cries only in the middle of Summer, in December and the beginning of January for five or six Weeks, in other Months it is not heard, whence by the Portugues it is called Ave de verano.

The Hen Guirapunga is of the bigness and figure of our Throstle, and alike fleshy: Hath a broad Head; a Bill also broad, and not very long: A wide mouth when it gapes: A black Bill: Pretty great Eyes: A Tail some three inches long, or something more; neither do the Wings reach to the end thereof. The whole bird is clothed with blackish feathers, with which some brown and pale green ones are mingled; yet the colour in the Back is browner, in the Throat, Breast, and Belly a more delayed green, and mingled like that of a Throstle. It is a fat and well-fleshed bird. The Legs and Feet are black, in other particulars not different from the common rule.

BOOK I. PART II. SECT. II. Of small Birds.

Of small Birds in general.

SMall Birds in general may be divided into slender-bill'd, which are for the most part Insectivorous; and such as have short and thick Bills, which are for the most part Phytivorous, living upon the fruits and seeds of Plants. The first kind are commonly called soft-beak'd, the second hard-beak'd birds.

Of both kinds there are many subalternate Species, viz. of slender-bill'd, Larks, whose characteristic notes are a very long * 1.639 heel; earthy coloured feathers, mounting up in the air, and singing as they fly; Swallows, whose marks are a short Bill, a wide Mouth, long Wings, a forked Tail, short and small Legs and Feet; swift, and almost continual flight: The Hedge-Sparrow, Redstart, Robin-red-breast, and many others, which we divide into two Classes or ranks. The first is of such whose Tail is only of one colour; the second of those whose Tails are particoloured; either all the feathers, or the outmost on each side being in part white.

Of thick-bill'd Birds the kinds are, the Sparrow, whose marks are an earthy or te∣staceous colour, a Bill a little crooked, feeding upon Corn, the Hawfinch, the Green∣finch, the Shel-apple or Sheld-dapple, the Linnet, the Chaff-finch, the Gold-finch, the Siskin, &c. whose characteristics we will give when we come to treat of them.

An Addition concerning singing birds in general.

AMerica (as Marggravius observes) breeds more fair-coloured birds, but fewer singing birds than Europe.

As we have distinguished small birds in general into soft and hard beak'd, so may we also distinguish singing birds. The soft-beak'd are, The Mavis or Song-Thrush; the Blackbird; the solitary Sparrow, which is a stranger to England; the Nightingale, esteemed the Prince of all singing birds, of the rearing and ordering of which we shall treat at large when we come to his History; the Skie-Lark; the Wood-Lark; the Tit-Lark; the Robin-red-breast; the Wren; the Black-cap; the Beccafigo; the Red∣start; and the Hedge-Sparrow.

The hard-beak'd are, The Canary bird; the Linnet; the Chaffinch; the Goldfinch; the Greenfinch; the Bulfinch; the Brambling; the Hortulane; the Siskin; the Citril, the Hirngril; the Yellow-hammer.

In all singing birds in general observe to keep them very neat and cleanly; and therefore often to shift the straw, moss, gravel, or whatever else you put in the bot∣toms of their Cages; and to give them fresh water, and meat often; for nothing offends them more than the stench of their own dung, or putrid meat and water. Be∣sides, if their Cages be foul, they will be apt to clog their Feet with their dung, which often rots off their toes, at least causes the Cramp, Gout, and other infirmities. Al∣drovandus advises to put in their Cages a piece of Pumice stone, or old rubbish, to cleanse and whet their Bills upon, which otherwise will be apt to grow blunt.

All Birds (saith he) are wont to swallow something out of the earth to cleanse their bodies; I rather think they use only to swallow some grit or gravel, to assist them in grinding their meat in their Gizzards; and therefore it is needful to put fine gravel in their Cages.

In the rearing of young ones from the Nest observe, 1. To feed them often, but to give them but little at a time, as the old ones do, for fear of over-charging their stomachs, and causing them to cast up their meat. 2. After they begin to feed themselves, give not over feeding them presently, lest they neglect and starve them∣selves.

Hard-beak'd birds are to be fed with seeds, and of all seeds Aldrovandus commends Canary-seed, as the most savoury, pleasant, and wholsom of all other, which makes them sing with greater alacrity, and also live long: For want of which you may (saith he) give them Millet, Panic, Spelt, Off-corn-wheat, Hemp-seed, and Lime∣seed; he might have added Rape-seed, Cole-seed, and many others.

Soft-beak'd birds are to be fed with heart of Veal or Weather, Worms, Flies, and such kind of Insects, as also that sort of paste the receipt whereof we shall give you in the History of the Nightingale.

In preparing their meat have a care to free it from all skin, fat, and Sinews, or strings, which will be apt to stick in their Throats, or twine about their Tongues, and cause them to fall off their meat, &c.

Aldrovands method to make birds sing in Autumn or Winter.

ABout the beginning of May purge them with Beet, first mingling the juyce of it with their water; then giving them no water at all, but only hanging up Beet∣leaves in their Cages, putting in also a handful of earth and rubbish. Then by degrees accustom them to darkness for ten days, putting them still in places darker and darker, and at last in a room perfectly dark, that hath not the least chink to let in light. Du∣ring all the time of their imprisonment in this dungeon, no body must come in there but their Keeper, and he with a Candle once in three days to give fresh water and meat, and to cleanse their Cages: [It would be convenient to have two Cages, and change them every twentieth day.] Every fourth day give them a Beet-leaf, and every tenth day juyce of Beet, else they will incur the danger of growing blind. In this manner they must be kept till about the tenth of August, and then new purged, after the manner we before prescribed; and then by degrees again accustomed to the light, but by no means exposed to the Sun-beams for fear of blinding them. This doing you shall be Master of your purpose.

Diseases incident to singing birds, and their remedies.

1. BLindness, which if radicated and confirmed is incurable; taken at first, when their Eyes begin to water, may be remedied by giving them Sugar dissolved in the juyce of Beet every other day for four days, and putting into their Cages a twig of Figtree to rub their Eyes against; which by the instinct of nature they will use to do.

2. The Falling sickness, which Aldrovand also accounts an incurable disease. If they escape the first fit he advises presently to cut their Claws to the quick, and sprinkle them with Wine, and to keep them from the heat of the Sun all Summer.

3. Fractures of the bones of their Legs or Wings: In which he advises by no means to splinter or bind up the part; but only to take away the Perches out of their Cages, and to set their meat and water in the bottom of their Cages; and keep them where no company comes to scare them.

4. Swellings and inflammations or impostumes.

5. An Hydropical distemper.

6. The Gout, known by roughness and swellings in their Legs and Feet, especially their Knees.

7. The Phthisic or subtile disease, in which their breast veins are distended, but the flesh fallen away, and their Bellies swelled as though they had the Dropsie. In all these distempers Aldrovand advises still to purge with Beet, as was before pre∣scribed.

8. Aphthae, or small Ulcers in their mouths, for the cure of which dissolve Pumpion seeds in water, and give it them for their drink for three or four days, and when you perceive them to mend, give them fine Loaf-Sugar in like manner dissolved in water.

9. The Pip, which may be known by the hardness of the end of their Tongue: Small birds (saith a late English Writer) that feed upon Seeds are very seldom subject

to this disease; but most commonly Throstles, Blackbirds, and Stares, which feed up∣on soft meat. I have also known Nightingales to be troubled with it, that have been fed too much with Eggs hard-boyled. For the remedy of this (for the bird will ne∣ver eat his meat kindly, nor sing with any stomach so long as he hath it) take the bird in your hand, and having opened his Bill, with a Needle take that hardness off from the top of his Tongue, and the sides of his Bill also; and give him as in the precedent disease.

10. The disease of the Rump, known by the birds growing melancholy, and ab∣staining from singing. The best remedy whereof is to cut off that sharp part that lies upon the top of the Rump, and give him some cleansing thing in his meat, and refreshing thing in his water.

11. The flux of the Belly or Scouring. For remedy whereof pluck off the Tail∣feathers, and the feathers about the Vent, and anoint the place with Oyl or Capons grease, and if they be hard-beak'd birds, instead of Hemp-seed, or Rape-seed, give them Pumpion seeds [or red Beet seeds] for two or three days; if soft-beak'd, give them nothing but the yolks of hard-boyl'd Eggs.

12. Moulting or casting their feathers is a kind of disease common to all birds. At that time they all grow melancholy, and cease to sing, and forsake their meat, and some of them will be very sick. For help of this Aldrovand advises to sprinkle them twice or thrice a Week with Wine not too strong, then setting them in the Sun till they be dry, and after putting some greens about their Cage.

To preserve birds of all kinds in health, Aldrovand saith, it would be useful to purge them once a month with Pumpion seeds decorticated, Lettuce, Succory, Beet, Pim∣pernel, or Mercury, which last herb is proper to the Linnet. Such birds as are used to dust themselves, it would without doubt be convenient to put sand or dust in their Cages; for this basking themselves in the dust rids them of Lice and Vermine: Likewise, such as are used to wash themselves ought to have water set them for that purpose.

It would also be of advantage, indeed it were necessary, to put a little fine gravel in their Cages, that they may pick up and swallow some grit or small stones, to help them in grinding their meat in their stomachs, as wild birds are used to do, in whose Gizzards you will never fail to find small stones and grit.

Olina advises in tumours or impostumes on the head, (which are most incident to birds of a hot complexion) to cauterize the place affected with a hot Iron, and then anoint it with black Sope dissolved, or Oyl and hot ashes. Some use to purge the birds, before they burn them, with juyce of Beet.

For the Aphthae he prescribes lightly to touch the Palate with a feather dipt in ho∣ney of Roses, which hath been sharpned with a little Oyl of * 1.640 Sulphur.

For the Asthma, or shortness of breath, he advises to drop two or three drops of Oxymel into their throats with a feather; mingling thereof also with their water for two or three days, or dissolve white Sugar-candy in their water.

Hoarseness and loss of voice he saith is remedied by giving them for their drink a decoction of Jujubes, dried Figs, and pounded, boil'd in common water, and that for two days, and the next two or three days juyce of Beet: And if it be in Summer time setting them all night in the open air, so as the dew may not fall upon them.

For a scouring he commends water in which Iron is quencht, or a light decoction of Services, or Cornelian Cherries.

For costiveness he advises to put a feather anointed with oyl into the Fundament once or twice a day for two days, giving them also the same days juyce of Beet.

For the Gout: Washing the Legs and Feet twice a day for four or five days with a decoction of the root of white Hellebore in common water, as hot as the Bird can endure it; and for want thereof bathing it with Brandy Wine, or Aqua Vitae.

To stir up and quicken birds to sing, give them somewhat that they are most greedy of, and most delighted in, or something that is heating. Some use to give them Lin∣seed mingled with Pine-kernels pounded; putting in their drinking Cup two or three Chives of Saffron, encompassing their Cages with some pleasing verdure, as of

Birds fed with Paste are wont to have their drinking Cup set without their Cages; Seed-birds within. Keep their Cages neat, and in the bottom put in Winter-time hay or straw broken, in Summer-time sand. So far Olina. I suppose it would be conve∣nient to give them a little gravel in their Cages all times of the year for the reason be∣fore intimated.

THE FIRST MEMBER OR SUBSECTION, Of small Birds with slender Birds.

OF these there are many sorts. All besides Swallows may conveniently enough be divided into such as have the feathers of their Tails all of one colour, and such as have a particoloured Tail. We will first treat of Larks and Swallows by themselves, then we will reduce the rest to the now mentioned heads.

CHAP. I. OF LARKS.

§. I. Of Larks in general.

A Lark, called by the Grecians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying a Hel∣met, by the Latines also Cassita and Galerita, from Cassis, and Galea, or Gale∣rus of like signification (which names do yet properly agree to the crested Lark) is distinguished from other sorts of Birds, 1. By its long Heel or Claw of the back-toe; which is the characteristic mark of this bird: 2. By the testaceous or earthy colour of its feathers: Which note is not common to all the Birds we compre∣hend under this title, nor proper to this kind, fith it agrees to Sparrows, and other Birds: 3. By its singing as it flies mounting up in the air. We have in England ob∣served four sorts of Larks: 1. The most common one: 2. The Wood-Lark: 3. The lesser crested Lark: 4. The Tit-Lark.

§. II. The common Skie-Lark. Alauda vulgaris.

IT is not much bigger than a House-Sparrow, yet longer bodied; of an ounce and half weight: from the tip of the Bill to the Claws or Tail-end, (for they are equally extended) six inches and a quarter. The ends of the great feathers in the Wings stretched out were ten inches and a quarter distant. The Bill, measuring from the tip to the angles of the Mouth, was three quarters of an inch long: The upper Mandible black or horn-coloured, the lower commonly whitish. The Tongue broad, cloven, hard: The Nosthrils round. It sometimes ruffles up the feathers of its head, almost in fashion of a Crest. A cinereous Ring or Crown compasses the hind part of the Head from Eye to Eye, but more sordid, and less conspicuous than in the Wood-Lark. The Head is of a testaceous or reddish ash-colour, the middle parts of the feathers being black. The Back is of the same colour with the Head: The Chin whitish: The Throat yellow, with brown spots: The sides of a reddish yellow. Each Wing hath eighteen quil-feathers. Of these all betwixt the sixth and seventeenth have blunt, indented, white tips. The edges of the four or five outmost are white, of those next the body cinereous, of the rest reddish.

The Tail is three inches long, consisting of twelve feathers, of which the outmost on each side hath both its upper half, and also the exteriour Vane of the lower white: The next to this hath only its outer Web white, the inner being black: The three following on each side are black. The two middlemost are sharp-pointed; of which that that lies undermost when the Tail is shut hath ash-coloured edges: That which covers it lying uppermost, towards the tip is cinereous, toward the bottom blackish. The Feet and Legs are dusky: The Claws black, with white tips. The outer toe grows to the middle below as in other small birds.

The Liver is divided into two Lobes, the left much less than the right, that there may be room for the Gizzard, which in this bird is fleshy, and great for the bigness of the bird. The flesh is very sweet and delicate. In mild Winters it feeds wondrous

fat: And there are then taken an innumerable number with us in England for the furnishing and adorning of our Tables, as Polydore Virgil truly writes. It builds upon the ground, and lays four or five Eggs at once: A late Writer saith three or four, and that to his knowledge he never found five in all his life.

This Bird builds (saith Olina) in plain, open ground, under some clod of Earth; others say in Corn, or thick high grass in Meadows: And though in Winter we see great flocks of them, yet we find the fewest of their Nests of any birds that are so plentiful. He makes his Nest of dried herbs and strings, and breeds thrice a year, in May, July, and August, rearing his young very suddenly: So that if you have a Nest, you must take them as soon as they are spoon-feathered, or else you run the risco of losing them, for they will get them gone of a sudden. This bird breeds much later than the Wood-Lark, by almost two months, for she seldom hath young ones before the middle of May.

Young Nestlings may be brought up almost with any meat, but if you give them sheeps Heart and Egg chopt together, till they are about three weeks old, it will not be amiss: And when they come to eat alone, give them Oatmeal, Hemp-seed and bread, mixed together with a little Egg. Olina saith, to save charges, you may feed them with Wheat, Oats, and Millet. These birds that are so young may be brought up to any thing, one bird learning another birds Song. You must always observe to give them sand at the bottom of the Cage, and let them have a new Turf every week placed in a dish of water in their Cage, (which must be as large as two of the Wood-Larks Cage.) They need have no Pearches in their Cages.

The Cock may be known from the Hen, according to Olina, by having his heel so long that it reaches beyond his knee; and having two black spots on his Neck, one on each side, somewhat in fashion of a Ring or Collar; his breast darker, and more speckled with black, and a grosser body. My English Author saith, that those you intend to keep for singing were best be taken in October or November, and then they will sing a little after Christmas; and advises to chuse the streightest, largest, and loftiest bird, and he that hath most white in his Tail, for these (saith he) are the usu∣al marks for a Cock. If you find him very wild and buckish, tie his Wings for two or three weeks, till he is become both acquainted and tame also, and then when you perceive him pretty orderly, untie his Wings, still letting him hang in the same place he did. You must feed this old bird with Hemp-seed, Bread, and a few white Oats, for he takes great delight to husk the Oats: And when he begins to sing, once in a week you may give him a hard Egg, or shred him a little boyled Mutton, or Veal, or Sheeps heart. You must observe in this bird, as in all others, that you give it no salt meat, nor bread that is any thing salt.

§. III. The Woodlark, called at Rome, Tottovilla.

THe Cock we made trial in weighed an ounce and a quarter: Its length from Bill to Tail was six inches and an half: The distance between the ends of the Wings spread twelve inches and an half.

It is lesser than the common Lark, and shorter bodied. Its Bill, as in the rest of this kind, streight, slender, sharp-pointed, above half an inch long, somewhat flat, of a dusky colour: Its Tongue broad, cloven: The Irides of its Eyes hazel-coloured: Its Nosthrils round. Its Feet of a pale yellow, inclining to flesh colour: Its Claws dusky; that of the back-toe longest. The outmost fore-toe sticks to the middle be∣low near the divarication.

The Breast and Belly are of a pale whitish yellow; the Throat deeper coloured; both spotted with black in the middle parts of the feathers. The Head and Back are par∣ticoloured of black and reddish yellow, the middle of each feather being spotted with black. The Neck is ash-coloured. A white line encompasseth the Head from Eye to Eye like a Crown, or Wreath. The Rump is of a yellowish red or tawny.

Each Wing hath eighteen prime feathers; the outmost being much shorter than the rest. The next five are half an inch longer than the rest, having their points sharp, and their outer edges white: The rest have blunt points, indented as it were in the middle, having yellow edges. The feathers of the bastard wing are dusky with clay-coloured tips, and at its root is a white spot. The small feathers on the ridge of the Wing are ash-coloured. The Tail was two inches long, consisting of the usual

number of feathers, viz. twelve, not forked; yet the middle feathers were some∣thing shorter than the rest, and ended in sharp points, being between green and a sordid red or fulvous colour. The four next on each side had blunt points, were whitish at tips, the outmost most, the rest in order less, else blackish.

It hath no Craw: In the Stomach we found Beetles, Caterpillars, Gromil-seed, &c. The stomach was provided with strong and thick muscles. The blind Guts in this kind, as in all other small birds, that we have observed, are very short: The Gut be∣low these appendants is larger.

These birds fly many together in company, singing as they fly with a note not much unlike a Blackbirds.

It is distinguished from the common Lark, by the following marks especially: 1. Whistling like a Blackbird. 2. A Circle of white feathers encompassing the Head from Eye to Eye like a Crown or Wreath. 3. The first or outmost feather of the Wing being much shorter than the second, whereas in the common Lark it is near equal. 4. The outmost feathers of the Tail having white tips. 5. That it sits upon trees. 6. It is lesser than the common Lark, but hath a shorter, and thicker, or roun∣der body for its bigness.

Aldrovandus makes no mention of this bird that I know of. Olina figures and de∣scribes it in his Uccelleria under the title of Tottovilla.

The Woodlark is comparable to the Nightingale for singing, and by some preferred before it. He will also emulate the Nightingale, and hath great variety of notes.

It is a very tender bird, and yet breeds the soonest of any in England. My Author saith, that he hath had a Nest of young birds ready to fly by the sixteenth of March: That it builds most commonly in lays, where the grass hath been pretty rank, and is grown russet, under some large Turf, to shelter its Nest from the wind and weather. He could never bring up a nest of young ones, because they either had the cramp, or fell into a scouring in less than a weeks time after he had taken them: Nor could he ever hear of any who had kept them so long as till they sung. So that they are never bred from the Nest.

The Seasons of taking Woodlarks, and which best to keep.

There are three seasons of taking Woodlarks; 1. The first is in June, July, and August, when the Branchers are taken, having not yet moulted. These birds sing presently, but continue their singing but little, for they soon fall a moulting. They are com∣monly very familiar birds as being taken young.

2. The next season for taking them is in the latter end of September, which my Au∣thor calls the general flight-time, when they rove from one Country to another. By this time they have all moulted their feathers, and you can hardly distinguish a young bird from an old. The birds taken at this season are brave, strong, and sprightful; and prove well at Spring if they be well kept all Winter; otherwise they will be lou∣sie, and quite spoiled. They usually begin not to sing till after Spring, and continue till July.

3. The third season is from the beginning of January to the latter end of February, when they are paired, and have parted with their last years Brood. These sing with∣in three or four days, or a week at furthest, (if they be well conditioned birds) and will soon become tame. For your fearful, wild, buckish birds seldom prove good: For upon every turn they bolt against the sides of the Cage, and bruise themselves, and so are apt to leave off singing. Therefore if you have a bird that is a good bird and wild, have a Net knit French Meash, and put it in the inside of the Cage, sowing it close to the sides and strait, that when he bolts or flirts he may take no harm. Birds taken at this season for the most part prove the best, they being in full stomach, and singing in a very short time after, and being also more perfect in their song than those taken at other seasons.

How to order a Woodlark when taken.

In the first place you must have a Cage with two pans; one for mixt meat, and another for Oatmeal and whole Hemp-seed. First, boil an Egg hard: Then take the crum of a half-peny white-loaf, and as much Hemp-seed as the bread: Chop your Egg very small, and crumble your bread and it together: Then bruise your Hemp-seed very small with a rolling pin, or pound it in a Mortar, mingle all together and

give it him. 2. You must put red gravel sifted fine at the bottom of his Cage; for he delights to bask himself in the sand, which if he doth not pretty often he proves lousie, and then seldom comes to any thing: If you leave gravel-stones in the sand, he will be apt to break his feathers in basking him. Shift this sand twice a week, otherwise he will be subject to clog his feet with his dung. 3. Be sure that his meat be not too stale, for he will never thrive upon it when dry or mouldy. 4. Have a great care to shift his water oft [thrice a week at least] for it stinks sooner than any birds water; because throwing about his meat some falls into it, which causes it im∣mediately to stink. 5. Line your Pearch in the Cage with some green bays, or else make a Pearch of a Mat; which I have found them very much to delight in.

Note 1. If your bird be very wild when he is taken, keep him three or four days from company, till he begins to eat his meat. Strew some of the Hemp-seed and Oat∣meal upon the sand, and some of his mixt meat also, because sometimes they find not the Pan till they be almost famished.

Note 2. If he be very poor, at the beginning of the Spring give him every two or three days a turf of three-leaved grass, and boil him a sheeps heart, and mince it small, and mingle it with his meat, and it will cause him to thrive exceedingly.

Note 3. If you would have your bird sing very lavish, feed him all the time of his song with some sheeps heart mixt with his Egg and bread and Hemp-seed; and put in his water two or three slices of Liquorice, and a little white Sugar-candy, with two or three blades of Saffron; do so once a week, and it will cause him to be long winded.

How to know a Cock from a Hen.

The surest way to know a Cock from a Hen is, 1. The largeness and length of his call. 2. The tall walking of the bird about the Cage. 3. At Evenings the doubling of his note, which we call Cudling, as if he were going to roost: But if you hear him sing strong you cannot be deceived, for Hen-birds will sing but little. The use of this is chiefly to know those birds that are taken at flight-time; because those taken at other seasons sing soon after they are taken, or not at all.

The Woodlarks Diseases, and their Cures.

Their diseases are, 1. The Cramp, caused by dung clogging and numbing their Feet, if their gravel be not often shifted; or by hanging them out abroad in the rain, so wetting the sand they sit upon. This is helpt by lining their Pearch, that they may delight to sit upon it, and giving them fresh sand, anointing them as the Nightin∣gale.

2. Giddiness in the Head occasioned by feeding upon much Hemp-seed, is helped by giving them some Gentles or Maggots, or else Hog-lice, or Ants and their Eggs: And putting three or four slices of Liquorice in their water.

3. Lousiness and Scurf: Cured by smoaking his feathers with Tobacco, and gi∣ving him fresh Gravel, and setting him in the Sun: For if he hath strength to bask in the sand he will immediately rid himself of the Vermine.

§. IV. The Tit-Lark, Alauda pratorum, Aldrov.

IT seemed to us less by half than the common Lark, weighing scarce an ounce; ha∣ving a long body, and a small head: A slender sharp Bill of half an inch long, the upper Mandible black, more flat and depressed toward the Head: The tip of the Tongue is jagged, the Circle about the Pupil hazel-coloured. The colour on the top of the Head, Shoulders, and middle of the Back various, of a yellowish green and black; the middle parts of the feathers being black, the outsides or edges of a yellowishgreen. The lower part of the Back or Rump is only green without any mixture of black. The upper side is of the fore-mentioned various colour, the sin∣gle colours being less conspicuous by reason of a small mixture of cinereous. As for the underside of the body, the Breast and sides under the Wings were of a sordid yel∣lowish white, spotted with black, the lower belly and Throat under the Chin white, without any black spots.

The quil-feathers of the Wings were dusky, their exteriour edges being of a yellowish green. The middle feathers of the first row of coverts have their tips and exteriour edges white; and the middlemost of the second row theirs still of a lighter white. The rest of the covert-feathers of the Wings are almost of the same colour with the scapular feathers. I suppose it is peculiar to this kind to have the four first quill-feathersequal.

The Tail is made up of twelve feathers, the two outmost of which on each side, are particoloured of white and brown: In the outmost feather about the one half, and that the uppermost, is white, the white dividing the feather obliquely. Of the next feather the tip only is white: The rest of the feathers are of a dark brown, ha∣ving their exteriour edges of a yellowish green. Of the two middlemost the edges round about are of the same yellowish green, not so even and trim as those of the other feathers, but as it were jagged or fringed. The Tail, when folded up, is a little forked, near three inches long.

The Feet are yellow: The Claw of the back-toe, as in the rest of this kind very long and dusky. The Gizzard not so musculous as in other Larks, wherein we found Beetles and Insects like to meal-worms. The blind Guts are something longer than in the common Lark. It hath also a Gall-bladder.

This bird sits also upon trees. In general it is less than the common Lark, greener, and not so finely coloured: In length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Claws or Tail (for they are equally extended) six inches: In breadth between the tips of the Wings spread out ten and a quarter.

Mr. Jessop suspects that there is yet another different sort of this bird, which may be called the lesser field-Lark which is 1. A little bigger than that here described; 2. Less * 1.641 green; 3. Having paler Feet; And 4. much shorter Spurs.

The Titlarks Nest I once saw in a Furze-bush not far from the ground: It was built outwardly of Moss, inwardly of straw, with a little horse-hair. She lays five or six Eggs.

In this kind the Cock is all over more yellow than the Hen, but especially under the Throat, on the Breast, Legs, and soals of the Feet.

The Titlark (saith a late English Writer) sings most like the Canary bird of any bird whatsoever; whisking, curring, and chewing: But his Song is short, and hath no variety in it: He comes with the Nightingale about the beginning of April, and goes about the beginning of September. The Young are to be fed, when first taken, after the same manner as the Nightingale: The old one (if taken) in like manner to be at first cram'd: When he will feed himself give him Woodlarks meat, or almost any other. Before his going away he is apt to grow fat like the Nightingale, but will eat though never so fat. He is a hardy bird, and long-lived, if preserved with care, not subject to colds or cramps.

§. V. The Titlark that sings like a Grashopper, Locustella, D. Johnson.

IT is lesser than the Rogulus non cristatus, hath a pretty long, streight Bill, yet ha∣ving a little declivity above, the upper Chap black, the nether of a horn colour. The upper side of the body is of a dusky yellow, besprinkled with blackish spots; the underside of a * 1.642 pale yellow. The Tail is of the longest, of a brown or dusky colour, when spread ending in a circular circumference. On the lower Belly, the Thighs, and under the Tail it hath brown spots tending downwards. It hath long, slender dusky-coloured Legs, crooked Claws, and a very long Spur or heel. It feeds upon flies: It hath a note like a Grashopper, but louder and shriller. When it sings it commonly sits upon a bush, with its mouth open, and streight up, and its Wings dis∣shevel'd.

§. VI. The Calandra, which perchance is no other than the Bunting.

THis bird Olina describes in this manner. It is a kind of Lark something bigger than the common, otherwise for shape of body not much unlike it: In respect of bigness comparable to a Thrush. Its head is greater than a Thrushes; its Bill shorter and thicker: Its Feet as in other Larks. The colour of its under or fore part is a light cinereous, with certain black spots on the Breast, after the manner of a Thrush. Of its upper or hind-part, viz. the Back, Wings, and Tail, &c. like that of * 1.643 Umber. About two inches below the Bill a circle of black feathers encompasses the Neck, in fashion of a Collar or Necklace.

This bird seems to be the same with our Bunting hereafter to be described. The figure of the Bill in Olina's Cut doth not agree to the Bunting, indeed answers not to his own description; it being drawn as slender and long as a Thrushes, whereas he de∣scribes it thicker and shorter. Bellonius his description of the Calandra agrees well enough to the Bunting; although he also describes the Bunting elsewhere, under the title of Cenchramus. Howbeit, that we may leave the Reader to the liberty of his judgment concerning these matters, we shall subjoyn Bellonius his description of Ca∣landra. Calandra (saith he) is a sort of Lark; which who so desires to know, let him fancy a crested Lark approaching to the bigness of a Starling. Wherefore he that shall call it a great Lark, may well seem not unfitly to denominate it. For both its voice, though higher, is altogether like the voice of a Lark, and also the colour of its feathers the same, its Head the same, its Wings the same, its Tail the same, and likewise its conditions the same: Its Legs, Feet, and Toes altogether alike, and in these the Spur or back-claw long, as in Larks. The Neck slender where it is joyned to the Head, as we observed also in the Peacock, and which is likewise common to Quails. But because it differs not from a common Lark save in bigness, and the crested Lark, as we said, is bigger than the common, and hath a tuft on his Head, which both the common Lark and the Calandra want; I can easily allow this sort of bird to be called a Lark, and to be comprehended under the Genus of Larks. The Calandra exceeds the rest of this kind in bigness, and therefore stands in need of a thicker Bill, that it might break the harder sorts of grains upon which it feeds, though those that are kept shut up in Cages are wont to be fed with Oats and crums of white bread. Thus far Bellonius.

§. VII. The crested Lark, called by the Germans, Kommanick, seen and described at Vienna in Austria. Alauda cristata, Galerita.

IT is bigger than the common Lark, hath a greater and longer Bill, almost an inch long, measuring from the point to the corner of the mouth: The upper Chap dusky, the lower whitish. The Tongue is broad, somewhat cloven; the Irides of the Eyes of a cinereous hazel colour. The Crest upon the crown of the Head con∣sists of seven or eight feathers [I counted ten or twelve.] These feathers are situate * 1.644 transversly, and may be erected or lowred, spread or contracted at pleasure, like the Tail. These feathers are blacker than the rest, and almost half an inch long. The Back is more cinereous, and less spotted than in the common Lark: The Rump almost wholly destitute of spots.

The prime feathers of the Wings are in number eighteen, besides the outmost very short and small one. The outer Vane of the first Pinion feather is of a dirty white, inclining to red or yellow: The rest are not so black as in the common Lark, and have some mixture of a pale red, even in their lower part. The Breast and Belly are white, with a dash of yellow: The Throat spotted, as in the common Lark: The Tail is 2⅛ inches long, composed of twelve feathers; the two outmost whereof on each side have their exteriour borders white, with a dash of red, being else black; the third and fourth are wholly black; the fifth and sixth of the same colour with the body. The Gall from green inclines to a dark blue. [I suppose this is accidental, and that the colour of the Gall varies in divers birds.] The blind Guts are very short.

This differs from the common Lark, 1. In bigness: 2. In the Crest: 3. In the co∣lour of the Back, which is less spotted, and not so beautiful: 4. In the measure of the Tail, which in this Bird is shorter: 5. In that it soars not so much in the air, and when it mounts up stays not so long there: 6. That it flies not in flocks, as they do. Last∣ly, (as Aldrovandus observes) it is frequently seen about the banks of Lakes and Rivers.

Dioscorides prescribes this bird to be eaten roasted, Galen in some places of his works roasted, in some places boiled, to asswage Colic pains. Marcellus Virgilius pre∣fers the powder of it, put in an earthen pot, and dried or burnt in an Oven, taken in water to the quantity of two or three spoonfuls, before all other medicines for the Colic.

§. VIII. The lesser crested Lark.

THis (as * 1.645 Aldrovandus describes it) is like the greater crested Larks, but much less, and hath a considerable long tuft on its Head for the smalness of its bo∣dy: Red Feet. The colour of its whole body seems to incline more to brown than that of the greater kind. I have observed them running in flocks abroad in the fields.

This Bird Mr. Johnson of Brigual hath observed in the North of England.

§. IX. The Giarola of * 1.646 Aldrovandus, having a long heel.

IT was of the bigness of a Lark. Its length from the tip of its Bill to the points of its Claws was two Palms: Its Bill brittle, red, withinside and about the corners of the Mouth yellow: It gapes wide. The colour of its Crown, Neck, Back, and Wings is various; so that therein it exactly resembles a Quail, and is also very like to a Woodcock. For all the feathers are of a dusky Chesnut-colour, only their edges are encompassed with a more dilute or whitish, or moderately reddish colour. The bottom of the Head, or beginning of the Neck is encircled with a border of whitish feathers, as it were a Wreath or Crown. The Tongue is cloven, the Belly white, the roots of the feathers cinereous. The Tail so short that scarce any thing of it ap∣pears, yet is it forked and particoloured; for the last or outmost feather on each side is all over white, the last save one partly white, partly chesnut. The whole Tail is scarcean inch long, and narrow, being made up of very narrow feathers. Its Legs and Feet are sufficiently large, and of a flesh colour or reddish white. In the Feet this is worthy the observation, that the back-toe is very long, and hath a Claw of equal length, so that both together make up an inch. This Claw is not, as in other birds for the most part, crooked from its rise, but first streight for a good way, and toward the tip moderately hooked. The Claws also are whitish.

§. X. The Bird called Spipoletta at Florence, Tordino at Venice: Perchance the * 1.647 Stopparola, or † 1.648 Grisola, or Spipola secunda of Aldrovand.

IT is less than a Lark, about the bigness of a Beccafigo: From Bill point to Tail end 7⅛ inches long: Between the tips of the Wings extended eleven three quar∣ters broad. Its Bill is small, slender, about half an inch long, streight, sharp, and cole-black: Its Spur or back-claw very long, like a Larks.

Its colour on the top of the Head, Neck, Shoulders, and Back cinereous, with a dash of green. [Mr. Willughby makes the Back to be of an obscure or dusky yellow, the Head more cinereous.] The Breast and Belly are white: The Throat spotted. The Belly of the Hen-bird is yellowish. [The Throat, Breast, and Belly in some are white, in others of a lovely yellow: But in all generally the Breast is darker than the Throat or Belly, and spotted.] It hath in each Wing eighteen prime feathers, (I found not in this kind that small, short, outmost feather, which we have observed in the Wings of many small birds,) of a dark or dusky colour; excepting the outer

edges, which are either whitish, or yellowish. The feathers also of the second row are of the same colour with those of the first. The Tail is about three inches long, and consists of ten feathers, of which the two outmost on each side have their out∣ward Vanes and tops, in the whole, above their halves milk-white; all the rest are dark-coloured, and almost black, especially in the Males, excepting the two mid∣dlemost, which round the edges are either yellowish or white. [Mr. Willughby de∣scribes the Tail a little otherwise, and perchance more exactly, thus: The Tail is black, but the upper half of the outmost feather on each side, and the tip of the next are white; the two middlemost from dusky incline to an ash-colour.]

This bird is sufficiently distinguished by the length of its heel from other sorts of birds, by the black colour of its Wings and Tail, Bill and Feet from other Larks.

Concerning its manners, place, nest, breeding, &c. we have nothing further to add. We saw it at Venice and Florence in the hands of Country-men and Fowlers among other small birds to be sold in the Markets. At Florence they called it Spipo∣letta; whence, induced by the agreement of names, we guess it to be either the first or second Spipola of Aldrovandus. But yet seeing in the descriptions of these birds there is no mention made of the length of the heel, (which it is not likely so curi∣ous a spectatour as Aldrovand should either oversee, or through neglect and forget∣fulness omit) notwithstanding the convenience of names these may perchance be di∣stinct Species. And therefore that we may not give the Reader just occasion to to complain, that we have rashly omitted any thing in our Ornithology, we will annex to this Chapter Aldrovandus his descriptions of Spipolae, Stopparolae, and other small birds, to which we judge this to be the same, or very like.

The first Spipola of * 1.649 Aldrovandus.

The first Spipola, which is greater than the rest in this kind, hath an ash-coloured Head: Under the Bill a white spot in place of a beard. Its Breast is red: Its Belly particoloured of red and white: Its Tail black above, white underneath: Its Back ash-coloured. Its Wings particoloured of white, black and red: its Legs and Feet yellow; its Claws black: Its Bill long, slender, and dusky coloured. This bird, if it be exactly described, is to us as yet unknown.

The other Spipola of * 1.650 Aldrovandus.

This inclines more to an ash-colour than the precedent: But differs from it in that it hath not a red Brest, but marked with black spots drawn downwards. It is also more cinereous above than beneath: Moreover, the Belly is almost white. Behind the Eyes is a great spot approaching after a sort to a ferrugineous colour. The ma∣ster feathers of the Wings, and those which cover them, are black, their sides and ends being cinereous. The Legs and Feet are dusky: The Tail ash-coloured.

The third Spipola of Aldrovandus, described in the same Chapter.

This some call Boarina. It is a small bird, almost all over of a pale or whitish yel∣low, but deeper in the Wings than elsewhere. The Bill and Feet are dusky.

The Stopparola of Aldrovand, lib. 17. cap. 27.

The Fowlers (saith he) of our City call this bird Stopparola, a name I know not what it signifies, nor whence it is derived, unless perchance it be from Stubble, which our * 1.651 Country men call Stoppia. It is, if I be not mistaken, of the Genus of the † 1.652 Muscicapae, hath the Breast and Belly for the most part white; the Head (which on the Crown is speckled with white spots) Neck, Back, and Tail brown; the quill∣feathers of the Wings black, as are also the coverts, but yellowish on the sides: The Legs and Feet slender, and black: The Bill indifferently long, sharp-pointed, and black.

A Bird like to Stopparola & Magnanina, Aldrov. in the same place.

It is of the bigness of a Wagtail; hath a long, streight, sharp Bill, yet above having a little declivity; black above, and of a horn colour underneath: The Neck, Breast, and Belly pale: The Eyes small and lively, having a black Pupil;

and a white circle, and a dusky spot hardly conspicuous about them; The Feet leaden∣coloured.

The Grisola of * 1.653 Aldrovandus.

There is a certain other small bird caught in our fields, which the Fowlers call Grisola, perchance from its grey or hoary colour, although it be not grey, but of a dusky ash-colour: Or perchance because it cries much, keeping alone; for we some∣times use the word gridare, to signifie lamenting. It feeds upon flies, and other such like Insects, as I gather from the figure and construction of its Bill; for it is slender, streight, and long. On the Neck and Breast it is distinguished with oblong, brown spots, tending downwards. The whole Belly is white. The Head, upper side of the Neck, Back, and Tail are dusky, as are also the Wings, the feathers whereof have their sides and ends of a pale ash-colour. The Legs and Feet are also dusky or blackish.

The Glareana or Grien Vogelin of Gesner.

Hither also for its spotted Breast we will refer the Glareana or Grien Vogelin of Gesner: which because the Author described from the inspection of a Picture sent him from Strasburgh, we suspect not to differ from the above described, although in some particulars it seems to vary. We refer the Reader, that desires more concerning it, to Gesner or Aldrovandus.

CHAP. II. Of the Swallow in general.

THe characteristic notes of Swallows are a great Head, a short Neck, a small, short Bill, a wide mouth, for the more easie catching of Flies, and other In∣sects, as they flie to and fro: Very long Wings; a swift and almost continual flight; a long and forked Tail for the more ready and speedy turning their body, and directing their flight: White Eggs, speckled with ferrugineous spots, as Aldrovandus truly observed. This bird is the Springs Herald, being not seen throughout all Eu∣rope in Winter-time: Whence that Greek Proverb, common to almost all Languages, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; One Swallow makes not a Spring.

We have observed four sorts of Swallows in England, and not more elsewhere. Those are, 1. The common or House-Swallow: 2. The Martin, or Martinet, or Martlet: 3. The Sand-Martin or Shore-bird: 4. The black Martin or Swift. Of this last we have seen a sort painted with the whole Belly white. And Julius Scaliger affirms, that he hath seen one of this kind as big as a Buzzard: No way differing in shape from the common one, save in the Legs and Talons, and hookedness of the Beak, all fitted for prey.

As for the Physical vertues and faculties of Swallows and their parts, Schroder hath thus briefly summed them up.

1. Swallows entire are a specific remedy for the Falling sickness, dimness of sight, blear eyes, (their ashes mingled with honey and so applied) they cure also the Squinancy, and inflammation of the * 1.654 Uvula, (being eaten, or their ashes taken inwardly.)

2. A Swallows heart is also said to be good for the Falling sickness, and to strengthen the memory. Some eat it against the Quartan Ague.

3. Some will have the bloud to be a specific for the Eyes: And they prefer that which is drawn from under the left Wing.

4. There is a Stone found sometimes (though seldom) in the stomach of some of the young Swallows, called Chelidonius, of the bigness of a Lentile or Pease. This they will have to help the Falling sickness in Children (bound to the arm, or hung about the neck.)

Note. They report this stone to be found especially in the increase of the Moon, and in the first hatch'd yong one. Others take it out in August about the Full of the Moon.

5. The Nest, outwardly applied gives relief in the Squinancy: Heals the redness of the Eyes, and is good for the biting of an Adder, or Viper.

6. The Dung heats very much, discusses, and is acrimonious. Its chief use is against the bitings of a mad dog, taken outwardly and inwardly; in Colic and Nephritic pains taken inwardly, put up it provokes excretion. Schrod.

An approved Medicine for the Falling sickness.

Take one hundred Swallows, [I suppose here is some mistake, and that one quar∣ter of this number may suffice] one ounce of Castoreum, one ounce of Peiony roots, so much White-Wine as shall suffice. Distill all together, and give the Patient to drink three drachms fasting every Morning. This will lessen every fit, and perfectly cure them. Purge often, as the strength of the Patient will bear, with Stibium.

CHAP. III. Of Swallows in particular.

§. I. The common or House-Swallow. Hirundo domestica.

THe Female weighed scarce an ounce: From the Bill to the end of the Tail be∣ing seven inches long, and measuring from tip to tip of the Wings extended, twelve and an half broad. Its Bill was short, black, flat, and depressed, very broad at the Head, but sharp-pointed; black also on the inside: But the Tongue and roof of the mouth yellow. The aperture of the mouth gaping very wide, for the conveniency of catching Flies and Gnats as she flies. The Tongue short, broad, and cloven: The Eyes great, and furnished with nictating membranes: The Irides hazel∣coloured. The Feet short and black; the outmost toe growing to the middlemost at bottom.

The Head, Neck, Back, and Rump are of a very lovely shining, but dark purplish blue colour. As well above as underneath the Bill, that is to say, in the Forehead and under the chin, is a deep sanguine spot: But that underneath is much the bigger. The Throat is of the same colour with the Neck. The Breast and belly white, with a dash of red; as are also the interiour covert-feathers of the Wings. The Tail is forked consisting of twelve feathers; the outmost of which are an inch longer than the next, and end in sharp points: Of the rest the interiour are also shorter in order than the exteriour, but the difference much less. All these feathers of the Tail, except the two middlemost, are black, and each adorned with a white spot: Which spots cross the Tail in a streight line. [The two middlemost want the white spot.] The Wings have eighteen quill-feathers, alike black: But all the covert feathers are of a deep shining blue.

In the Stomach of an old bird we found Beetles; in the stomachs of the young ma∣ny small, pellucid, unequal stones, tinctured with a fair Claret colour; not far from the Eggs small worms spirally rolled up, of three inches length. These birds build in Chimneys. About the end of September we saw great numbers of them to be sold in the Market at Valentia in Spain, when we travelled through that Country, Anno 1664.

What becomes of Swallows in Winter time, whether they fly into other Countries, or lie torpid in hollow trees, and the like places, neither are natural Historians agreed, nor indeed can we certainly determine. To us it seems more probable that they fly away into hot Countries, viz. Egypt, Aethiopia, &c. then that either they lurk in hol∣low trees, or holes of Rocks and ancient buildings, or lie in water under the Ice in Northern Countries, as Olaus Magnus reports. For as Herodotus witnesseth, they abide all the year in Egypt, understand it of those that are bred there (saith Aldrovan∣dus) for those that are bred with us only fly thither to winter. I am assured of my own knowledge (saith Peter Martyr) that Swallows, Kites, and other Fowl fly over Sea out of Europe to Alexandria to winter.

Swallows sometimes vary in colour, as do also many other birds; I have (saith Aldrovandus) often seen House Swallows all over white. If any one desires to have white Swallows, let him anoint their Eggs while they sit, with oyl-olive, Aldrov.

§. II. The Martin, or Martinet, or Martlet. Hirundo agrestis sive rustica Plinii.

THis being measured from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was six inches long: The Wings being spread ten inches and an half broad. Its Head flat; Its Bill also very much depressed and flat, as in the House-Swallow; at its insertion into the Head ⅜ of an inch broad, but sharp at the point: From the tip to the angles of the Mouth but half an inch long; the upper Chap somewhat longer than the nether. The Mouth is yellow withinside: The Tongue cloven. The Circles encompassing the Pupils of the Eyes of a havel-colour. The Feet small, and Legs short. The soal of the foot bare; in which appear the bottoms of the exteriour Toes joyned by a membrane. The Claws are white: The Feet to the very Claws covered with a white Down: By which note it is easily distinguishable from all its fellows of the Swallow∣kind.

Its Head, Neck, Back, Tail and Wings are of the same colour with the House-Swallows, but sadder, and not so glossie: Its Rump, Breast, and Belly milk-white. Under the Chin the white is somewhat more sullen or obscure. Each Wing hath eighteen master-feathers: From the tenth the six or seven following have their tips broad and indented. The tips of the * 1.655 interiour quil-feathers are white. The Tail is less forked than in the House-Swallow. The feathers from the middle on each side are longer in order, the exteriour than the interiour, almost by an equal excess; other∣wise than in the House-Swallow, the outmost feathers of whose Tail (as we said before) exceed the next three times as much as they do the following, &c. The length of the outmost feathers is two inches and an half, of the middlemost one and three quarters.

In the stomachs of the Young of this kind we found no stones, but many Flies and Beetles. This bird builds a round Nest like the House-Swallow, and also of like mat∣ter, yet not in Chimneys, but in Windows, under Eves of Houses, &c. It differs moreover, in that the House-Swallows Nest is like those of other birds, semicircular, and all open above; but its Nest is covered above, a round hole only being left open in the side, by which the old one goes in and out.

§. III. The Sand-Martin, or Shore-bird. Hirundo riparia, Aldrov.

THis bird is the least that we know of the Swallow-kind; being from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail no more than five inches and a quarter long. Its Bill is small, sharp, flat, black, as in the rest of this kind, from the point to the angles of the Mouth half an inch long: Its Tongue cloven: Its Eyes great; its Feet dusky. At the rise of the back-toe a few small feathers grow; else the Legs are bare as far as the knees.

Its Head, Neck, and Back are of a dark dun, or Mouse colour: Its Chin, Breast, and Belly white. At the bottom of the Throat a Ring of the same Mouse-dun en∣compasses the Neck. The number of feathers in Wings and Tail is the same as in other Swallows. But the quil-feathers of the Wings are blacker than the feathers on the back; from the tenth to the last all of equal length; the six next to the tenth have their tips indented. The middle feathers of the Tail are an inch and three quarters long, the outmost an inch and half.

It builds in the holes of River-banks, lays five or six Eggs, makes its Nest of straws, bents, &c. within of feathers, on which it lays its Eggs.

It differs from the Common Martin in having no white upon the Rump, nor its feet feathered, as that hath.

Of this kind great numbers are brought to the Markets at Valentia in Spain to besold for the use of the Kitchin; where the Fowlers and Country people call them * 1.656 Papilion di Montagna. They are frequent also in Holland, and no less in England.

§. IV. The black Martin or Swift. Hirundo apus.

THis is the biggest of all Swallows we have hitherto seen. It hath a great Head, a huge wide mouth; but a very small, black Bill, (wherein it agrees with the * 1.657 Churn-Owl) towards the Nosthrils broad and depressed. Its Tongue is broad, and somewhat cloven: Its Nosthrils long, placed obliquely, obtuse toward the Head, acute toward the point of the Bill: Its Eyes great, and their Irides of a hazel colour.

It hath almost no variety or difference of colour in the whole body: For as well the upper as the lower side, and also the Wings and Tail are black, with an obscure tincture of green, or red: Only under the Chin is a notable spot of white or ash∣colour.

It hath in each Wing eighteen quil-feathers, all ending in sharp points, but especi∣ally the exteriour ones. The Tail is about an hand-breadth long, consisting of but ten feathers, from the middle to the outmost in order one longer than another, ending all in sharp points.

Its Legs are very short, but thick: Its Feet very small. All its Toes stand for∣wards; for the least, which in others is wont to stand backward, is in this placed the same way with the rest. The least Toe hath, as in other birds, one bone: The other three, contrary to the manner of all other that we know besides it, have all an equal number of bones or joynts, viz. only two, the one very short, the other longer. The Toes also are all divided from the very rise.

The Gall-bladder is little. The Stomach not very fleshy, out of which dislected we took Beetles and other Insects.

They say, that by reason of the length of its Wings, and shortness of its Legs, if it happens to alight or fall upon the ground, it cannot raise it self up again, but may easily be caught. Wherefore it doth either always fly, or sit upon the tops of Churches, Towers, or other ancient buildings.

Its weight was three quarters of an ounce: Its length from the tip of the Bill to the Claws five inches, to the end of the Tail seven and a quarter. The distance be∣tween the tips of the wings extended sixteen inches and an half.

Of this kind we have seen the Picture of one having its whole nether part, Throat, Breast, and Belly, white: And, as we said before, Scaliger mentions one of the bigness of a Buzzard.

§. V. * Aldrovandus his Sea-Swallow.

THis bird, in my judgment belongs not to this Family, but ought to be ranked with the * 1.658 lesser Lari or Sea-Gulls.

It is (saith Aldrovandus) much bigger than a Swallow, and hath longer legs. Its whole Belly up to the Breast is white; its Head, Wings, and Back duskish. Its Wings and Tail, as in Swallows, are very long, and of a blackish colour, but brown within∣side. Its Tail is forked. Its Bill strong, and black, as in a Gull. Its * 1.659 Mouth wide, and of a scarlet colour within. From the Bill through the Eyes, almost to the Breast, is extended a notable black line, which near the Breast makes as it were a Collar. The Feet are as black as Jet, and (as I said before) less than a Swallows. For its likeness it is called by Fowlers, The Sea Swallow.

§. VI. * The American Swallow, called by the Brasilians, Tapera, by the Portugues, Andorinha. Marggrav.

IT is like our Country Swallows, of the same bigness, and flying about after the same manner. It hath a short, broad, black Bill: A wide Mouth, which it can open beyond the region of the Eyes, like the greater Ibijan; elegant, black Eyes: Long Wings, reaching as far as the end of the Tail; which is of a good breadth. Its Legs and Feet like those of our Country Swallows. All the upper part of the

Head, the Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail feathers are of a brown colour mingled with grey. The Belly is white, as are also the feathers under the Tail: The Legs and Feet dusky.

This bird perchance may not differ specifically from our Europaean black Martin or Swift: For that, as we before observed, the Europaean Swift varies sometimes in co∣lour, being found with a white belly.

§. VII. * The Chinese Swallow of Bontius, whose Nest is edible.

IN the Sea-coast (saith he) of the Kingdom of China, a sort of small particoloured birds, of the shape of Swallows, at a certain season of the year, viz. their breed∣ing time, come out of the midland Country to the Rocks; and from the foam or froth of the Sea-water dashing and breaking against the bottom of the Rocks gather a certain clammy, glutinous matter, perchance the Sperm of Whales, or other fishes, of which they build their Nests, wherein they lay their Eggs, and hatch their Young. These Nests the Chinese pluck from the Rocks, and bring them in great numbers in∣to the East Indies to sell; which are esteemed by gluttons great delicacies, who dis∣solving them in Chicken or Mutton broth, are very fond of them, preferring them far before Oysters, Mushromes, or other dainty and licorish morsels which most gra∣tifie the Palate.

We have seen of this sort of Nests in the Cabinets of Athanasius Kircher the Je∣suite, and other Virtuosi. They are (as * 1.660 Olaus Wormius reports) of a Hemispherical figure, of the bigness of a Goose-Egg, of a substance resembling Ising-glass. Con∣cerning their faculties or vertues (saith John de Laet in his Epistle to Wormius) re∣ports vary, some attributing to them something Venereal, others not. But he writes, that he had been informed by those who commanded in chief in the East Indies, that the birds that build them were found upon that part of the Sea-coast that is com∣monly called Coromandel, and chiefly about Patane.

CHAP. IV. Slender-bill'd birds that have their Tails all of one colour.

The Hedge-Sparrow, Curruca Eliotae, An Magnanina Aldrov?

THis is almost as big as a Titlark or Robin-red-breast. Its Bill is slender, * 1.661 pret∣ty long, and black; the Tongue cloven, horny, and black at the tip: The Nosthrils of the figure of a Kidney-bean: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-co∣loured: The Ears great and wide.

The upper side of the body is particoloured of black and dirty-red, the middle parts of each feather about the shaft being black, the outsides or edges red. These colours are so dull and sullen, that the bird notwithstanding, look'd on at a distance, appears but of a brown or dirty colour. The Head and Back shew something of ci∣nereous, the middle spots being darker. The Rump is greenish, and void of spots. The prime feathers of the Wings dusky, with reddish edges. The interiour of the second row of Wing-feathers have whitish tips: The lesler covert-feathers of the Wings are of the same colour with those on the body. This hath that extreme short feather in each Wing, which some birds want. The Tail is about two inches long, made up of twelve feathers, all dusky, without any variety of colours. The nether part of the body is cinercous, yet the lower belly whitish, but in some birds darker, and of a lead-colour. The Legs and Feet are of a yellowish flesh-colour; the Claws dusky; the hind-claw greater and longer than any of the rest. The out∣most Toe, as in other small birds, at bottom grows to the middlemost.

The Cock had large Testicles: The blind Guts seemed to us in this to be more round and tumid than in other small birds. The stomach was not very fleshy. It builds in hedges, and lays commonly five Eggs; is foolish bird, and easily taken. Its Eggs are of a fine pale blue or Sea-green colour.

A late English Writer saith, that they are a very pleasant Song-bird, singing early in the Spring, and having great variety of notes: Old or young become tame very swiftly, and will sing in a short space after they are taken, if you take them in the latter end of January, or beginning of February.

Its weight was three quarters of an Ounce: Its measures were from the Bill to the Claws six inches; to the Tail end seven; from Tip to tip of the Wings spread eight and an half. Perchance this may be the Bird which Gesner makes his first Curruca, whose figure you have in Aldrovands Ornithology, lib. 17. cap. 34.

In the Nest of this bird the Cuckow is said to lay her Egg, which the foolish bird sits upon, hatches, and brings up the young one till it be fledg'd, and can shift for it self: Whence the word Curruca signifies as much in Latine as Cuckold with us in English, i. e. one that brings up another mans Child for his own. I suppose our word Cuckold came from Cuckow, but a man abused in that manner is very improperly so called, he that abuses him being indeed the Cuckow, that lays an Egg in his Nest. Whether or no this Bird doth hatch and bring up the young Cuckow I cannot say of my own experi∣ence, but I am sure this is not the only Cuckows-nurse, for I have known the Water∣wagtail, and other birds perform that office.

Aldrovandus describes his Magnanina in these words. It is a bird of the bigness of a * 1.662 Sparrow, having a slender, sharp, black Bill: On the nether side down to the Belly of a pale ash-colour, the belly being white. Behind the Eyes it hath a notable spot of almost a Chesnut colour, of which colour is also the crown of the head. The greater Wing-feathers are black; the Tail of a spadiceous, but paler than the Back. The Legs and Feet yellow, the Claws black. Some of our Fowlers call it Magnanina, as much to say, as a Smith or Carpenter-bird, perchance because it makes a loud knock∣ing or snapping with its Bill as it catches flies: Other call it, Passere matto, that is a foolish Sparrow, perhaps from its colour, which approaches to spadiceous, or rather because it easily yields it self to be taken.

CHAP. V. The Beccafigo or Fig-eater, perchance the fourth, or seventh Ficedula of Aldrovandus, to which are subjoyned the descriptions of other small Birds akin to this out of Aldrovand.

THis is a very small bird, scarce so big as the common Linnet, short bodied. The colour of its Head, Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail from ash-colour inclines to green, in some dusky, with a Tincture of green. It hath the same number of Wing and Tail-feathers with all other small birds. But the quills of the Wing are of a Mouse-dun, with black shafts, and green edges. The lesser rows of feathers that cover the underside of the Wings are yellow. The Tail is about two inches long, not forked, and all its feathers of a dusky colour.

The Belly of a white or silver colour: The Breast something darker, with a tin∣cture of yellow.

The Bill is short, the upper Mandible black, the lower bluish: The Mouth within∣side of a red or flesh-colour: The Legs short, the Feet bluish, and in some of a lead colour.

This bird is not remarkable for any variety of colours, so that it is very hard so to describe it, as by certain and characteristic notes to distinguish it from all others.

In its stomach dissected we found grape-stones, and other seeds.

Mr. Jessop shot this bird in Yorkshire, and sent it us by the name of Pettychaps.

The seventh Ficedula of Aldrovand, which he saith his Country-men the Bolognese * 1.663 call Scatarello, but the Genoese Beccafigo, is almost all over of a dusky ash-colour, especially on the back and upper-side, for the Breast is yellow: The Feet are black. Saving in the colour of the Feet it agrees with the Bird by us described in this Chapter.

Neither is the second Muscicapa of Aldrovand, or Chiuin of the Bolognese, called by the Genoese, Borin, much unlike to this. It is a little bigger than a Wren; its Bill * 1.664 slender, sharp, and very fit to strike flies. The upper part of its Head, as also its Neck and Back are of a pale ash-colour: its Head beneath, its Throat, Breast, and Belly are of a white, tending to yellow; but the Breast and Belly more dilute. The

Wings above dun, underneath also of the same colour, but paler. The Rump white. The Tail (which consists of twelve feathers) is three inches long, and of the same colour with the Wings. The Legs and Feet * 1.665 Spadiceous: The Claws long and slender.

Moreover, the Salicaria of Gesner is either the same with this, or certainly near akin to it. It is, saith he, a very small bird, of colour partly dusky, as on the upper side; partly yellowish, as on the nether; and partly whitish, as on the sides, and near the Neck, having reddish Legs. It feeds upon Flies, Spiders, and other Insects that it finds among Willows, which that it may enjoy alone, it drives away other small Birds. It hath a slender, streight Bill.

Aldrovandus describes another bird by the name of his first Muscicapa, or Flie∣catcher, * 1.666 which he saith from following and frequenting Kine, the Bolognese call Boa∣rola, or Boarina. It is is a long-bodied bird, and hath a pretty long Bill, of a dusky reddish colour. The Head and whole Back are of a colour mixt of * 1.667 plumbeous, cinereous, and yellowish. The Breast and all the belly white; but the Breast spotted with black. The Wings are particoloured, of black, yellowish, and white: The Tail long, black, and white on the sides: The Legs and Feet black.

CHAP. VI. A small bird without name like to the Stopparola of Aldrovand, perchance the Moucherolle of Bellonius.

FOr bigness and colour it is very like to a Hen-Sparrow, but of a longer and slen∣derer body. The Head, Neck, Back, and generally the whole upper side is of a dark cinereous or Mouse-dun: Yet the Wings and Tail darker than the mid∣dle of the Back: And on the top of the Head, to one who heedfully views it, appear certain black spots. All the nether side is white: But the shafts of the feathers in the Breast are black, and the Throat and Sides somewhat red. The Tail is two inches and a quarter long, all dusky, as are also the greater quil-feathers of the Wings, for the edges of the interiour are of a yellowish white. The outmost feather of the Wing is very short and little. [In some birds of this kind the tips of the interiour fea∣thers of the second row, as also of the bastard-wing feathers are of a yellowish white.]

The Bill is streight, black, broad, and depressed, or flat near the Head. The up∣per Chap rises up in an angle or ridge all along the middle, (whence the Bill seems to be triangular) and is a little longer than the nether, and sharp-pointed. The mouth gapes wide; and is yellow withinside. The Tongue cloven with a deep incision, rough on the sides. The Legs short and black: The Feet also small and short. The outer toe below sticks fast to the middle one, as in the rest of this kind.

The Gall is yellow: The Testicles small and black. In the Gizzard we found Bees, Flies, and other Insects. In summer-time it frequents gardens with us in England. In the young birds of this kind the Back is spotted with black and white.

This bird differs from the White-throat, in that its Tail is all of one colour; from the Beccafigo in the colour of its body, being of a dusky cinereous or Mouse-dun, whereas that is paler coloured, and tinctured with green; from both, in magnitude and in the figure of its Bill, which (as we said before) is broad, depressed, and triangular.

We have before in the Chapter of Larks presented the Reader with the descripti∣ons of the Stopparola and Stopparolae similis of Aldrovand. As for the Moucherolle, Bellonius describes it thus:

It is of the bigness of the * 1.668 Curruca, lives in woods, and feeds chiefly upon flies, whence also it is called * Moucherolle (Mouche in French signifying a fly.) It is so like a Sparrow, that unless by its conditions while it is living, and its Bill when dead, it can hardly be distinguished from it. It hath strong legs and feet: The feet also black. The Bill is slender and oblong, like a Robin-red-breasts: The Tail also long. In brief it is in all points like to the small Field-Sparrow that haunts Oaks, excepting the Bill, and its pleasant note. It lies much in Woods and Thickets, flying and hiding it self there. This description of Bellonius seems rather to agree to our Hedg-Sparrow than to the bird described in this Chapter.

* The Brasilian Tijeguacu of Marrgrave.

For the figure of its Bill alike depressed and triangular we have subjoyned this bird to the precedent, though otherwise not much resembling it. It is (saith Marg∣grave) of the bigness of a Sparrow, or a little bigger; hath a short, triangular, and somewhat broad, black Bill: Its Eyes of a Sapphire colour; its Legs and Feet of a waxen, with duskish Claws. Its Toes are disposed after the ordinary manner. The whole bird is as black as a Raven: But on the top of the Head it hath a shining san∣guine spot of the figure of a buckler. The feathers covering the whole back almost, and part of each Wing above, from black incline to blue. The Tail is short and black.

CHAP. VII. The Redstart, Ruticilla, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

THe Breast, Rump, and sides under the Wings are red: The lower Belly white: The Head, Neck, and Back of a lead-colour. The forehead marked with a white spot, separated from the Eyes and Bill by a black line, although it seems to be produced beyond the Eyes to the hinder part of the Head, and to en∣compass the crown of the head (which is, as we said, of a lead colour.) The Throat and Cheeks under the Eyes black, with a mixture of grey in the ends of the feathers. In the Female the Back is of a dusky ash-colour: The Throat of a paler cinereous: The Breast red; the Belly white.

The quill-feathers in each Wing eighteen, as in other small birds, all dusky: The upper covert-feathers black, the nether red. The Tail is made up of the usual num∣ber of twelve feathers, of which the five outmost on each side are red, the two mid∣dlemost dusky, two inches and an half long.

The Bill is black: The Legs also are black in the Cock; in the Hen both Bill and feet are paler. The lowest bone of the outer Toe is joyned to that of the middle Toe. The Tongue is cloven: The mouth within yellow: The Irides of the Eyes of a hazel colour. The Eyes are furnished with nictating membranes.

It feeds upon Beetles, and other Insects, and comes to us in Summer-time.

It weighs half an ounce, is five inches long, and nine broad.

This bird, saith a late English Writer, is of a very dogged sullen temper: For if taken old, and ordered as formerly directed in the Nightingale, he will be sometimes so dogged as in ten days time never to look toward the meat, and when he feeds him∣self to continue a whole month without singing. This is also the shiest of all birds, for if she perceive you to mind her when she is building, she will forsake what she hath begun, and if you touch an Egg she never comes to her Nest more: And if you touch her young ones, she will either starve them, or throw them out of the Nest and break their necks, as I found by experience more than once. The Young are to be taken at ten days old, and to be fed and ordered as the Nightingales. Keep them warm in Winter, and they will sing as well in the night as the day, and will learn to whistle and imitate other birds. Taken young, and brought up, they become gentle and very tame.

Besides this common Redstart, Gesner and Aldrovand describe several other kinds, as 1. That which Aldrovandus makes his third, which Gesner describes thus: Its fore∣head is marked with a white spot: The feathers under the Bill are black. The Head and Back are of a cinereous or dusky colour. The Wing-feathers are dusky, mo∣derately inclining to red. The Breast, Belly, and Tail are red; but the lower Belly whitish. The Tail consists of * 1.669 eight feathers. For bigness this bird is inferiour to the great Titmouse or Ox-eye, equal to the Robin-red-breast. Its Bill is black, slender, long and streight.

The fourth of Aldrovand is in all points like this, save that the white spot on the forehead is changed into a long line: The Breast also seems to be more cinereous, and the lower belly not white.

2. The Rotschwentzel of Gesner, so called from the redness of the Tail, the descripti∣on whereof he took from a Picture sent him from Strasburgh: Therefore we shall

add no more concerning it, esteeming such Pictures less exact, and not much to be relied upon, who will may see the description in Gesner, or Aldrovand out of him.

3. The Bird called Wegflecklin about Strasburgh, Gesn. Its Breast was blue, the part between the Breast and Belly of a pale or yellowish red; which colour also the up∣per side of the Tail feathers, but not to the end, and those about the Rump, were of. The Bill is short, the Belly cinereous, not white, as the Strasburgh Picture represents it; the Legs dusky, not red, as in that Picture; and the feathers under the Bill not blue, but dusky and particoloured. The German name is imposed upon it partly from the ways; for it is much conversant about high ways, roads, and fields, and thence (as we guess) picks up worms and seeds that it finds on the ground; partly from the blue spot on its Breast, as I conjecture.

The Redstart (saith Aldrovandus) abides with us all the Summer, but in the end of the Autumn it either flies away, or hides it self, and in the Spring-time returns to us again. It feeds upon the same things the Robin-red-breast doth, to wit, flies, crums of bread, Ants Eggs, and if I be not deceived, Spiders too. It builds its Nest in hol∣low trees.

CHAP. VIII. The Robin-red-breast or Ruddock, Rubecula sive Erithacus, Aldrov. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Christ.

THis bird denominated from its red breast, is so well known in almost all Coun∣tries, that it needs no long description. It weighs about half an ounce, being from Bill to Tail half a foot long; and between the tips of the Wings spread about nine inches broad. The Breast is of a red or deep Orange colour: which colour compasses also the Eyes and upper part of the Bill. The Belly is white; the Head, Neck, Back, and Tail of a dirty green or yellow, as in Thrushes [rather cinereous, with a tincture of green.] A line of blue divides between the red colour and the cinereous on the Head and Neck. Under the Wings is also seen something of Orange∣tawny.

The exteriour borders of the Wings are almost of the same colour with the back: the interiour are something yellow. The Tail is two inches and an half long, and made up of twelve feathers.

The Bill is slender, of a dusky colour, more than half an inch long: The Tongue cloven and jagged: The Irides of the Eyes of a hazel colour. The Legs, Feet, and Claws of a dusky or blackish. The outer foretoe joyned to the middlemost at bot∣tom, as in the rest of this kind.

In Winter-time to seek food it enters into houses with much confidence, being a very bold bird, sociable and familiar with man. In the Summer-time (as Turner saith) when there is plenty of food in the Woods, and it is not pinched with cold, it with∣draws it self with its Brood into the most desert places. It is a solitary bird, and feeds singly, whence the Proverb took its rise, Unum arbustum non alit duos Erithacos. Of the manner of building its Nest thus Turner from ocular inspection. It makes its Nest among the thickest thorns and shrubs in Spineys, where it finds many Oaken leaves, and when it is built covereth it with leaves, not leaving it open every way, but only one passage to it. On that side also where the entrance is, it builds a long porch of leaves before the aperture, the outmost end whereof when it goes forth to seek meat, it shuts or stops up with leaves. What I now write I observed when I was very young; howbeit I will not deny but it may build also after another manner. If any have observed another manner of building let them declare it, and they will very much gratifie such as are studious of these things, and my self especially. What I have seen I have candidly imparted. The Male (saith Olina) may be known and di∣stinguished from the Female, by the colour of his Legs, which are blacker, and by certain hairs or beards which grow on each side his Bill. It feeds upon Worms and other Insects, Ants Eggs, Crums of bread, &c. For a Song-bird it is by some esteemed little inferiour to the Nightingale.

They build commonly three times a year, in April, May, and June: Seldom have above five young ones, and not under four. You may take them at ten days old; if

you let them lie too long, they will be sullen. Feed them with sheeps heart and Egg minced small, in all points like the Nightingale; give them but little at once, and pretty often, for if you give them too much, they are apt to throw it up again. Be sure they lie warm, for they are tender birds. When they begin to be strong, cage them in a Cage, like the Nightingales, lined with bays, and having Moss at the bottom: And give them sheeps heart and Egg, or the Nightingales Paste, or Woodlarks meat. In a Trap-cage with a meal-worm you may take a dozen in a day. The Cock may be known by his Breast being of a deeper red, and the red going up further upon the Head. He is subject to the Cramp, and dizziness. For the first give him three or four Meal-worms and Spiders: For the latter six or seven Earwigs a week.

CHAP. IX. The Nightingale, Luscinia seu Philomela, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Graecis.

THe Nightingale, being the chief of all singing birds, is about the bigness of a Goldfinch or Redstard, long-bodied, of an ounce weight, from Bill-point to Tail-end seven inches long, and between the extremities of the Wings ex∣tended ten and an half broad. Its colour on the upper part, viz. Head, and back is a pale * 1.670 fulvous, with a certain mixture of green, like that of a Redwing. Its Tail is of a deeper fulvous or red, like a Redstarts. From its red colour it took its name Rossignuolo in Italian. Its Belly is white. The parts under the Wings, the Breast and Throat are of a darker colour, with a tincture of green. In each Wing it hath eigh∣teen quil-feathers, besides the outmost small one, the interiour Webs whereof are livid, the exteriour fulvous. The Tail, as we said, is red, not forked, two inches and an half long, compounded of twelve feathers. The Bill slender, streight, in∣different long, viz. measuring from the tip to the angles of the mouth, near an inch, of a dusky colour: The upper Chap a little longer and blacker than the nether, the nether paler, and flesh-coloured at the root or rise. The Bill for its figure resembles a Thrushes or Blackbirds. The Tongue is not very short, the mouth yellow within: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured: The Ears great: The colour of the Feet and Claws a deep flesh. [Olina attributes to the Feet a pale flesh-colour approaching to white.] But the colour varies according to the age, for in young birds it is fainter, in old ones fuller. The outmost foretoes are very near of equal length one to ano∣ther, which the middlemost doth much exceed both in thickness and length. The Heel or Spur is strong, but not long as in Larks. The outmost Toe beneath is joyned to the middle one. The Guts are about ten inches long. The blind Guts very small.

This bird is not remarkable for any variety or beauty of colours, but well known from its singing by night. And now that mention hath been made of singing, I can∣not forbear to produce and insert the elegant words of that grave Naturalist Pliny, concerning the Nightingales admirable skill in singing, her study and contention, the sweetness of her accents, the great variety of her notes, the harmonious modulation and inflection of her voice; which because I cannot so render in English but that they must needs lose much of their native Emphasis and Elegancy, I shall put down in the Language the Author wrote them. Lusciniis (saith he) diebus ac noctibus continuis quindecim garrulus sine intermissu cantus, densante se frondium germine, non in novissi∣mum digna miratu ave. Primùm tanta vox tam parvo in corpusculo, tam pertinax spiritus. Deinde in una perfecta musicae scientia modulatus editur sonus: Et nunc continuo spiritu trahitur in longum, nunc variatur inflexo, nunc distinguitur conciso, copulatur intorto, promittitur revocato, infuscatur ex inopinato: Interdum & secum ipse murmurat; plenus, gravis, acutus, creber, extensus, ubi visum est vibrans, summus, medius, imus, breviterque omnia tam parvulis in faucibus, quae tot exquisitis tibiarum tormentis ars hominum excogi∣tavit: Ut non sit dubium hanc suavitatem praemonstratam. Ac nè quis dubitet artis esse, plures singulis sunt cantus, nec iidem omnibus, sed sui cuique. Certant inter se, palámque animosa contentio est. Victa morte finit saepe vitam, spiritu priùs deficiente quàm cantu. Meditantur aliae juniores, versúsque quos imitentur accipiunt. Audit discipula intentione magna & reddit, vicibúsque reticent. Intelligitur emendatae correctio, & in docente quae∣dam reprehensio. Thus Pliny.

The Rhetorical Harangues of Modern Writers in commendation of the Nightingale I studiously omit, sith almost all they have concerning it is owing to Pliny, being either repeated in the same words, or a few only changed; or else composed in imitation of what we have delivered out of him. These things, though with me they scarce ob∣tain belief, yet will they seem very credible, if compared with what Gesner, from the relation of a certain friend of his, delivers concerning the admirable faculty of these birds in imitating of humane speech. To these things (saith he) let me add a story which a friend of mine, a very learned and credible person, wrote to me.

Because you are writing of Birds, I will tell you something concerning Nightingales imitating mens voice, and repeating their discourses, which is indeed wonderful, and almost incredible, but yet most true, and which I my self heard with these Ears, and had experience of, this last Diet at Ratisbone in the year 1546. whilst I lodged there in a common Inn at the sign of the Golden Crown. Our Host had three Nightingales, placed separately, so that each was shut up singly by it self in a dark Cage. It hap∣ned that at that time, being the Spring of the year, when those birds are wont to sing indefatigably, and almost incessantly; I was so afflicted with the Stone, that I could sleep but very little all night. Then about and after Midnight, when there was no noise in the house, but all still, you might have heard strange janglings and emulati∣ons of two Nightingales, talking one with another, and plainly imitating mens dis∣courses. For my part I was almost astonished with wonder. For they in the night∣season, when all was whist and quiet, in conference together produced and repeated whatever they had heard in the day time from the Guests talking together, and had thought upon. Those two of them which were most notable, and masters of this Art, were scarce ten foot distant one from the other: The third hung more remote, so that I could not so well hear it as I lay in bed. But those two it is wonderful to tell, how they provoked one another, and by answering invited and drew one another to speak. Yet did they not confound their words, talking both together, but rather utter them alternately, or by course. But besides the daily discourse, which they had lately heard of the Guests, they did chant out especially two stories one to the other for a long time, even from Midnight till Morning, so long as there was no noise of men stirring, and that with that native modulation and various inflection of their notes, that no man, unless he were very attentive and heedful, would either have expected from those little Creatures, or easily observed. When I asked the Host, whether their Tongues had been slit, or they taught to speak any thing? He answered no; whether he had observed or did understand what they sung in the night? He likewise denied that. The same said the whole Family. But I who could not sleep whole nights together, did greedily and attentively hearken to the birds, great∣ly indeed admiring their industry and contention. One of the stories was concern∣ing the Tapster, or * 1.671 House-knight (as they call them) and his Wife, who refused to follow him going into the Wars, as he desired her. For the Husband endea∣voured to persuade his wife, as far as I understand by those birds, in hope of prey, that she would leave her service in that Inn, and go along with him into the Wars. But she, refusing to follow him, did resolve either to stay at Ratisbone, or go away to Nurenberg. For there had been an earnest and long contention between them about this matter, but (as far as I understood) no body being present besides, and without the privity of the Master of the House; and all this Dialogue the birds repeated. And if by chance in their wrangling they cast forth any unseemly words, and that ought rather to have been suppressed and kept secret, the Birds, as not knowing the diffe∣rence between modest and immodest, honest and filthy words, did out with them. This dispute and wrangling the Birds did often repeat in the night time, as which (as I guessed) did most firmly stick in their memories, and which they had well conned and thought upon. The other was a History or Prediction of the War of the Empe∣rour against the Protestants, which was then imminent. For as it were presaging or prophecying they seemed to chant forth the whole business as it afterwards fell out. They did also with that story mingle what had been done before against the Duke of Brunswick. But I suppose those Birds had all from the secret conferences of some Noblemen and Captains, which as being in a public Inn, might frequently have been had in that place where the Birds were kept. These things (as I said) they did in the night, especially after twelve of the clock, when there was a deep silence, repeat. But in the day-time for the most part they were silent, and seemed to do nothing but meditate upon, and revolve with themselves what the Guests conferred together about either at Table, or else as they walked. I verily had never believed our Pliny

writing so many wonderful things concerning these little Creatures, had I not my self seen with my Eyes, and heard them with my ears uttering such things as I have re∣lated. Neither yet can I of a sudden write all, or call to remembrance every parti∣cular that I have heard.

The Nightingale is very impatient of cold, and therefore in Winter-time either hides it self in some lurking place, or flies away into hot Countries. Ireland (as Bo∣terus relates) is altogether destitute of Nightingales; which whether it be true or not I cannot tell. In the South part of England in Summer time they are very frequent, but in the North more rare. Some build upon the ground at hedg-bottoms, others in thick green bushes and shrubs. They lay four or five Eggs.

It is called in Italian, Rossingnuolo, from its red or fulvous colour; or (as Aldrovan∣dus rather thinks) from the diminutive Latine word, Lusciniola.

In Italy among those little birds, which growing fat in the Autumn are sold in∣discriminately for Beccafico's, the Nightingale is one.

It breeds in the Spring-time about the month of May, building its Nest of the leaves of trees, straws and moss. It seldom sings near its Nest for fear of discovering it, but for the most part about a stones cast distant.

It is proper to this Bird at his first coming (saith Olina) to occupy or seize upon one place as its Freehold, into which it will not admit any other Nightingale but its Mate.

It haunts for the most part in cool or shady places, where are little Rivulets of wa∣ter, such as are Quick-set hedges, small groves, and bushes, where are no very high trees, for it delights in no high trees except the Oak.

Additions to the History of the Nightingale out of Olina, and others.

§. 1. The choice of the Nestlings, and how to take and order them for singing.

MAke choice of such to bring up for singing as are bred earliest in the Spring; because, 1. They prove the best singers, as having more time to con and practise their notes before Winter. 2. They are easiest rear'd, and be∣come strong to endure the cold, having mued their feathers before Autumn, whereas the second brood, muing them later, are subject to be over-run with Vermine, and often surprized and killed by the cold, while they are bare of feathers. 3. Such con∣sequently prove more healthful and long-lived.

The young Nightingales (saith Olina) must be taken when they are well feathered; [saith a late English Author, when they are indifferently well feathered, not too little, nor too much: if too much, they will be sullen; and if too little, if you keep them not very warm, they will die with cold, and then also they will be much longer in bringing up;] and together with the Nest put in the bottom of a little basket made of straw, covering the Nest so that they cannot get out, not tangle or double their Legs; keeping them at first in a quiet place where few people resort, feeding them eight or ten times a day with heart of a Veal or Weather raw, well cleansed and freed from skin, films, sinews, and fat, cut into small pieces of the bigness of a writing Pen. [Our English Author mingles a like quantity of white bread, soaked in water, and a little squeezed, with the flesh, chopping both small as if it were for minc'd meat,] giving to each bird upon a sticks end two or three small pieces [of the quanti∣ty of a grey Pease] at a time. Make them drink two or three times a day, by put∣ting to them a little Cotton-wool dipt in water, on the end of a stick: Keeping them in this manner covered, till they begin to find their feet, and leap out of the Nest: Then put them in a Cage with fresh straw, fine moss or hay at the bottom, [lining the Pearches with green bays, for they are very subject to the cramp at the first] feeding and ordering them as before, till you see they begin to feed themselves, which you shall perceive by observing them pick the meat from the stick; then take of the heart some pieces of the bigness of a nut, and fasten them to the Cage sides. When they are come to feed themselves, give them four or five times a day a gobbet or two. Let them have a cup of water very clean and bright, changing the water in Summer-time twice a day, doing the same by the flesh, that it grow not sower nor stink. When they

are fully grown, put into little boxes with stone bottoms, on one side of the Cage crums of Paste, such as we shall anon describe, and on the other side Sheeps heart, such as was before mentioned. When they begin to moult (saith our English Author) give them half an Egg hard boiled, and the other half sheeps heart, with a little Saffron mixt in the water, for you must not make it too stiff, nor too limber. Give them no Duck-eggs: For I had six Nightingales killed one night with a Duck-egg.

Among these Nestlings the Cock may be known from the Hen by this token: * 1.672 After he hath eaten he will get up the Perch, and begin to tune or record to himself, which you shall perceive by the motion of his Throat, whereas the Hen at first re∣cords little, or not at all. Moreover, the Cock is wont to stand sometimes for a good space upon one foot; otherwhiles to leap or run furiously to and fro in the Cage, and to draw out his warbling Notes with a long continuance. Some are of opinion that these Nestlings sing not comparably to the wild Nightingales, because they want the teaching of their Dams. Wherefore to make them prove good, it is convenient to place them near one that hath the right wild note. But experience confutes this observation, these proving as well as those: Nature without any other teacher instructing them to utter the notes proper to their own kind. Herein I must crave leave to dissent from Olina, for Authors generally agree, and experience confirms it, that old Nightingales do teach their Young their Airs and that of all birds Nightingales emulate one another, and other birds, yea, and men too, in singing most.

For finding the Nest where the Cock sings, and if so be he sings long in a place; * 1.673 then the Hen sits not far off; but if he hath young ones he will now and then be mis∣sing, and then the Hen when you come near her Nest will sweet and cur: And if you have searched long and cannot find it, stick a meal-worm or two upon a thorn, and observe which way the Cock carries them, and stand still, or lie down, and you will hear the Young when the old one feeds them, (for they make a great noise for so small a bird.) When you have found the Nest if they be not fledg'd enough, touch them not, for if you do they will never tarry in the Nest.

These Nestlings sing for the most part in the Autumn, and sometimes in the Win∣ter, if they be kept in a warm Chamber, or in a place where the air is temperate. Olina.

§. II. How to take Branchers, and old Nightingales, and to order them when taken.

WHen you have found the birds haunts, they may be taken by a Trap-cage, or Net-trap; described in Olina, and in the forementioned English Author; baited with a meal-worm, or other worms or Maggots. So soon as you have taken the Nightingale, tie the tips of his wings with some brown thread, not straining it too hard, that he may not have strength to beat himself against the top and wires of the Cage, for by this order he will grow tame sooner, and be more apt to eat his meat. You shall shut him up in a Cage covered above half with green Bays, or brown paper, [Olina saith, covered with paper, and for a while without Perches] or else turn the Cage from the light in some private place, that at first he be not disturbed, to make him wilder than he would be. * 1.674 Feed him five or six times at the least every day with sheeps heart and Egg shred small and fine, mingling amongst the same some red Ants, and three or four red Earth-worms. And because no Nightingale will at first eat any sheeps heart or Paste, or hard Egg, but live meat, as Worms, Ants, Caterpillars, or Flies; therefore taking him out in your hand, you must open his Bill with a stick made thin at one end, and holding it open, give him a gobbet about the bigness of a grey pease: Then when he hath swallowed that, open his Bill and give him ano∣ther, till he hath had four or five such bits: Then set him some meat mingled with store of Ants, that when he goes to pick up the Ants he may eat some of the sheeps heart and Eggs with it. At the first you may shred three or four meal-worms in his meat, the better to entice him, that so he may therewith eat some of the sheeps heart by little and little; at last when you perceive him to eat, give him the less Ants in his meat, and at last nothing but sheeps heart and Eggs. [Olina makes no mention of forcing meat down his throat, but only laying it by him in the Cage, and advises to tie or fasten some of heart to Maggots and Caterpillars, to inure the bird to eat flesh.] Our Author also, if the bird besullen, advises to get some Gentles or Maggots, and take your paste and roll it up in pieces like to little worms about half an inch long,

and put amongst them some Ants, and put your Maggots at the bottom of your pan, then put your paste rolled like worms upon the Maggots, and they stirring at the bot∣tom will make the paste move as if it were alive; which will cause the Nightingale to eat it more readily; and when he hath tasted the meat made of sheeps heart, and paste two or three times, he then is not apt to forsake it. But whereas he saith, that Nightin∣gales feeding only upon live meat do not know that any thing is for food but what stirs, he is surely therein mistaken, for (as Olina observes) they feed upon Figs, and some sorts of berries, when wild, as well as upon Insects. Such birds as you take in April our Author advises when you go a taking to carry a bottom bag with you, and some meat in a Gally-pot to feed them abroad, for if they be over-fasted they seldom live, they re∣quiring to be fed every hour: Also to put or cut their feathers from their vent, other∣wise they will be subject to clog and bake up their vent, which is sudden death. Birds, that are long a feeding, and make no curring or sweeting for eight or ten days, seldom prove good; but on the contrary, they give great hopes of proving well when they take their meat kindly, and are familiar, and not buckish, and sing quickly, and learn to eat of themselves without much trouble. This is a sure token of their pro∣ving excellent birds: For I have had some birds feed in twelve hours after taking of them, and sing in two or three days, and those never proved bad. When you shall find that the Nightingale eats well by himself, and sings often without seeming to be disturbed at every little noise, you shall by little and little put back the green Bays or Paper wherewith the Cage was covered, putting some Greens in the opened part.

Now to know the Cocks from the Hens among the wild ones, Olina gives us these * 1.675 marks of the Cock, That it hath a bigger Eye, and rounder and greater Head, a lon∣ger Bill, thicker Legs, a longer Tail, and of something a brighter red. Our English Author will not allow these for sufficient notes of distinction; and yet afterward he dare not deny but all taken together may be sufficient. He adds, that Nightingales taken in August are most certainly to be discerned by the singing: And as for those that are taken in April, your knowledge, saith he, resteth in these observations: First, when you think you have taken the bird you heard sing, call again, and if the Cock answers and sings again, then you have taken the Hen, and not the Cock; but if you find the Cock not to sing, then be assured you have taken him. Also you may know him by the lower parts of the Sex, which the Cock puts forth, but the Hen doth not. If you take a bird about the middle of May, or beginning of June, the Breast of the Hen will be bare with sitting, and all full of scurf, whereas the Cocks Breast is all well∣feathered, without any bareness or scurf.

This Author saith, that he hath often proved, that old Nightingales are far per∣fecter, and far excellenter in their songs than any Nestling or Brancher whatsoever, and will come to sing as lavish and as often, and with care and a little trouble will know you, and be as familiar also.

Branchers (saith Olina) are better than Nestlings, and will come to be as familiar, and very often sing all Winter. [Understand it in Italy where their Winters are short and mild.]

§. III. What Cages are best for Nightingales.

THe most convenient Cages for Nightingales are those which have the Wires only afore, and all the other parts made up, and the top lined with Bays, [the sides also against Winter] partly for warmth, the Nightingale being a very tender bird, and partly also because being buckish he is apt to mount up and strike his head against the top-wires or wood, and endanger the dashing out his brains.

§. IV. How to make a Paste to feed Nightingales, being also good for the Wren, Robin-red-breast, Woodlark, Skie-lark, Throstle, and other birds.

TAke of the flower of Chiches [or horse-beans] finely sifted two or three pounds, according to the number of birds you keep: Of sweet Almonds blanch'd and beaten fine half a pound, of fresh Butter [without any salt in it] four ounces, three or four Yolks of Eggs boiled hard and pounded. Put these ingredients

in a Pan of the fashion of that they make Confects in. Set the Pan on a Trevet over a fire of Charcoal, taking care that it be not smoaked, and stirring it con∣stantly with a wooden stick or Spathule, that it burn not to the bottom till it be sufficiently boiled. Then take a pound of Honey, and three ounces of Butter, and melt it in any little Vessel, still scumming of it; and when it is well melted and boiled, let your assistant, with a Ladle having a hole or two in the bottom, take it up, and pour it upon the Paste, gently moving his Ladle up and down, you in the mean while continuing to stir your Paste till it be well incorporated and grained. This Paste serves for the Summer: For the Winter, take a pretty quantity of Saffron and mingle with the Paste, for it is hot and opening, and will maintain the bird more chearful and lively. Then take it from the fire, and pass it through a Sieve or Co∣lander with round holes of the bigness of an ordinary Tare. That which will not pass through of it self force through with your hand. Then spread it upon a Table, covered with a white clean cloth, to dry; and when it is sufficiently dry, put it up in a Pot. If it be too dry, you may moisten and mollifie it with a little honey. This Paste will last three or four, and sometimes six months, and serves for all sorts of small soft∣beaked birds.

Many other sorts of Paste may be made like this of less charge; as instead of Al∣monds to use Walnuts, &c. These Pastes are best kept in earthen Vessels of white ware, covered close with Parchment, and set in a place rather moist than dry.

§. V. The Nightingales diseases, and their cures.

FIrst, note that the principal thing which causes most diseases, not only in Nightin∣gales, but in other birds kept for singing, is want of keeping them clean and neat, whereby they clog their feet, which causes the Claws of several to rot off, and breeds the Cramp and Gout in others, and makes them never thrive, nor delight in themselves. No birds can be kept too clean and neat. Therefore be sure to let them have twice a week gravel at the bottom of the Cage, and let it be very dry when you put it in, for then it will not be subject to clog.

The Nightingale in Autumn is apt to grow extraordinary fat and foggy; [I have had several when fat to be three weeks and not eat one bit of meat] to remedy which during that time give him two or three times in a week worms taken out of a Pigeon∣house, two or three at a time, or two or three field-Spiders a day, which will purge and cleanse them extraordinarily. Upon the falling of his fat he must be kept warm, and have some Saffron given him in his meat or water. To raise them when they are very lean and poor, give them new figs chopt small among their meat, continuing no longer than till they have recovered their flesh.

Nightingales that have been kept two or three years in a Cage are very subject to the Gout: Which when you shall perceive, take them out of their Cage, and anoint their feet with fresh Butter or Capons grease: Do so three or four days together and it is a certain cure for them.

Another thing that Nightingales are subject to, is breakings out about their Eyes and Neb; for which likewise use your fresh Butter or Capons grease.

There also hapneth unto the Nightingale a straitness or strangling of the breast; which comes very often for want of care in making of their meat, by mincing fat therewith; and you may perceive it by the beating pain not afore accustomed that he abideth in this place, and also by his often gaping: Other whiles this disease hapneth by reason of some sinew or thread of the sheeps heart (for want of well shredding) hang∣ing in his throat, or clasping about his Tongue, which causeth him to forsake his meat, and grow very poor in a short time, especially if it be in the Spring time, or when he is in song. When you shall perceive it by his gaping, &c. take him gently out of his Cage, and open his bill with a quill or pin, and unloosen any string or piece of flesh that may hang about his tongue or throat: After you have taken it a way, give him some white Sugar-candy in his water, or else dissolve it, and moisten his meat, which is a present remedy to any thing that is amiss.

If they grow melancholy, put into their water some white Sugar-candy; and if that will not do, about six or eight Chives of Saffron, continuing withal to give them the Paste and sheeps heart shred very fine, and also three or four meal-worms a day, and a few Ants and Ants Eggs: Also boil a new-laid Egg, and chop it small, and strew it among the Ants and their Eggs.

§. VI. How to provoke a Nightingale to sing.

TO make Nightingales sing more than ordinarily, or at such times as they are not wont, give them in Winter-time Paste of Pine kernels pounded, and in their drinking-cup a chive or two of Saffron: For those two things by heating them, render them chearful and brisk, without inducing any noxious alteration, and so excite them to sing. That sympathy also which this bird hath with Music both vocal and instru∣mental is of exceeding force to this purpose. And therefore if in the Chamber where she is kept there be a consort of sweet sounds or voices, she is marvelously pro∣voked to sing. Many stories we have of Nightingales emulating and striving to out∣vie one another, and other birds, yea, and men too in singing: Nay, that sometimes a bird will strain her note so to exceed that of her Antagonist, that she will fall down dead upon the spot with contending and over-straining her self.

Olina hath the receit of an odoriferous unguent to stir up a Nightingale to sing.

Take of Civet not sophisticate twenty grains, Benjamin and Storax calamitae, of each three grains, mingle these together in a Mortar in the form of a soft ointment; Then diligently observe the bush and particular branch, on which the Nightingale is wont to sit and sing, and there making as it were a little shelf of the leaves and boughs, lay thereon some meal-worms, and anoint the branch next to your shelf with this Un∣guent. The Nightingale when he returns from feeding, will presently fly up to his bough, and finding there the meal-worms will fall a eating of them, and senting the odour of the Ointment will begin to sing, and being as it were intoxicated with the perfume, will not give over, nor stir from the place though you take the boughs from about him. For as the Nightingale exceeds all other birds in singing, so doth he also in the exquisiteness of his sent: Wherefore also when wild he doth most willingly haunt where sweet herbs grow: And is particularly delighted in Musk, so that a grain or two of true Musk put in Cotton, and that in a small Reed serving for him to pearch on in his Cage, will provoke him to sing.

CHAP. X. The Black-cap: Atricapilla seu Ficedula, Aldrov. called by the Greeks, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by the Italians, Capo Negro.

THis is a very small bird, not weighing above half an ounce: Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is six inches; its breadth between the ends of the Wings stretcht out nine. The top of the Head is black, whence it took its name: The Neck cinereous; the whole back of a dark green. The quill-feathers in each Wing eighteen in number, of a dusky colour, save that their edges are a little green. The Tail hath twelve feathers, two inches and an half long, and almost equal, sharp-pointed, of a dusky colour, with a little tincture of green. The nether part of the Neck, the Throat, and upper part of the Breast are of a pale ash-colour: The lower Belly white, tinctured with yellow. The Bill streight, slen∣der, black, longer, and lesser than in the Titmice: The Tongue cloven and rough: The Feet of a lead colour, the Claws black. The outmost Toe below is fastned to the middlemost. The head of the Female is of a brown or chesnut colour rather than black.

This bird is frequent in Italy, it is also found in England, but more rarely, Turner in vain contradicting.

Gesner saith, that the first Summer the head of these birds is red, and afterward grows black, and that in the Cocks only, for in the Hens it continues always red. The Ancients report, that the Black-caps [Atricapillae] in the beginning of Autumn are changed into Ficedulae, or Beccafigos by the mutation of their voice and colour; from whom, till I be assured by experience, I must crave leave to dissent.

* The fourth Beccafigo of Aldrovand.

The Beccafico described by Aldrovand in the fourth and fifth place in his Chapter of Ficedulae may perchance differ specifically from our Black-cap. On the upper side, Head, Back, Wings, and Tail it is of a brown colour, inclining to a chesnut. The Fe∣male on the nether side is all white; the Male from white declines to cinereous. The quil-feathers of the Wings in the Male are black, with some white ones intermixt: In the Female they incline to a chesnut colour, as doth also the Tail, which in the Cock is black. Contrariwise, the Feet in the Cock incline to a chesnut colour, in the Hen are black.

Beccasigo's abound in Candy, as Bellonius witnesses, and also in the Island of Cyprus, where they are salted up in great numbers, and transported into other Countries. With us in England they are called by a general name, Cyprus-birds, and are in no less esteem with our Merchants for the delicacy of their taste, than they were of old with the Italians: And that deservedly, (saith Aldrovandus) for feeding upon two of the choicest fruits, viz. Figs and Grapes, they must needs become a more wholsom food than other birds, yielding a better nourishment, and of more easie concoction. Bec∣cafigo's are accounted best and most in season in the Autumn, as being then fattest by reason of the plenty of meat that season affords them. At which time they are highly prized and coveted by the Italians even now adays.

CHAP. XI. The gloden-crown'd Wren: Regulus cristatus, Aldrov. lib. 17. cap. 1. The Trochilus of Pliny and * 1.676 Aristotle, who also calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Others call it by a diminutive word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In Tuscany it is called Fior Rancio, that is, the Marigold Flower, from the colour of its Crest.

THis is the least of all birds found with us in England, weighing not more than one single drachm. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Claws is four inches and an half, to the end of the Tail four and a quarter. The breadth of the Wings extended six and three quarters. The top of the Head is adorned with a most beautiful bright spot, (which they call a crest) of a deep Saffron or pale Scarlet colour. Hence it got those ambitious titles of * 1.677 Regulus and Tyrannus. This Crest or Crown (if you please so to call it) it can when it lists, by corrugating its forehead, and drawing the sides of the spot together, wholly conceal and render invisible. It is of an oblong figure, and extended directly through the middle of the Head from the Bill towards the Neck. The edges of it on both sides are yellow; the whole is environed with a black line. The sides of the Neck are of a lovely shining yellowish green colour. The Eyes are encompassed with white. The Neck and all the Back from a dark green incline to yellow. The Breast is of a sordid white. [In the bird that I J. R. described the Breast and Belly were dashed with a faint green.] The Wings were concave, not much unlike to a Chassinches Wings. The quil-fea∣thers of the Wings, as in almost all small birds, were eighteen, all of a dusky colour, only their exteriour edges yellowish, and their interiour whitish. The tips also of the three next to the body were white. But what was most especially notable in the Wings of this bird was, that the middle quill-feathers, or indeed all excluding the five outmost, and the three inmost, had their exteriour Webs, as far as they appear above the covert feathers, to a considerable breadth black, so that when the Wings are shut they make a black spot of a good bigness about the middle of each Wing. The outmost quil-feather was very short and little. The covert-feathers of the first row have white tips, all together making a white line across the Wing. Above also to∣wards the ridge of the Wing is a white spot.

The Tail is made up of twelve sharp-pointed feathers, an inch and half long, not forcipate, of a dusky colour, only the exteriour borders of the feathers are of a yel∣lowish green.

The Bill is slender, streight, black, half an inch long. The feet yellowish, and the Claws of a not much different colour. The Tongue long, sharp, and cloven. The Irides of the Eyes of a hazel colour.

The stomach small, musculous, and full of Insects; whence it is manifest (as Ari∣stotle rightly saith) that it is a vermivorousbird. The Female, as in most other birds, hath not so fair colours.

We saw of these birds first to be sold in the Market at Nurenberg: Afterwards our worthy Friend Mr. Fr. Jessop of Broomhall in Sheffield Parish, whom we have occasion often to mention in this Work, sent us of them, which he had found and caught in the Mountainous Woods about Highloe, near Hathersedge in the Peak of Derbyshire. The same also found them here in Middleton Park in Warwickshire, where he shot them and brought them to us. They abide and haunt for the most part on the tops of trees, especially Oaks.

What is spoken of the antipathy and feud between this bird and the Eagle we look upon as an Old Wives Fable. Aldrovandus writes, that she lays six or seven Eggs to∣gether before she sits, not bigger than Pease.

CHAP. XII. A little yellowish Bird without name, called by Aldrovandus Regulus non cristatus, perchance the Asilus of Bellonius, or the Luteola of Turner.

THis is equal to, or somewhat bigger than the crested Wren, weighs two drachms, being in length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail, or, which is all one, the end of the Claws five inches, in breadth between the extremities of the Wings extended seven.

All its upper side, save the Wings and Tail, is of a dusky or cinereous colour, tin∣ctured with green. The Rump is greener than the rest of the Back. A yellowish line is produced from the Nosthrils above the Eyes almost to the hinder part of the Head. The nether side, viz. the Throat, Breast, and Belly is white with a dash of green, and sometimes yellow. The Wing and Tail-feathers are dusky, having their outer edges green. The feathers under the bastard-wing, and the coverts of the underside of the Wings, from green decline to a lovely yellow. Each Wing hath eighteen prime fea∣thers, the outmost of which is very short and small. The Tail is two inches long, not forked, made up of twelve sharp-pointed feathers.

Its Bill is slender, streight, sharp, half an inch long, the upper Mandible being dusky on the outside; but the angles of the Mouth are yellowish: The mouth with∣in yellow. The Nosthrils are large: The Legs and Feet small, of a dusky Amber co∣lour. The outmost fore-toe at bottom grows to the middle one. Its Gizzard is small. It sings like a Grashopper, and doth much frequent Willow-trees. It is much in motion, continually creeping up and down trees and shrubs, and sings with a que∣rulous note. It builds its Nest of moss, and straws, and a few feathers and hairs with∣in. It lays five Eggs all over besprinkled with red specks.

The birds of this kind vary in colour, some being of a paler, some of a deeper green or yellow: in some the Belly is white, without any tincture of green.

Mr. Jessop set us a bird in all points exactly like that here described, and whose note * 1.678 also resembled the noise of a Grashopper, but twice as big.

Now that the Reader may judge whether the Asilus of Bellonius be the same with this bird, as we suppose, we will subjoyn Bellonius his description thereof.

The Asilus, * 1.679 saith he, is of all birds the least, except the Regulus and Tyrannus (that is, according to him, the common Wren, and the crested Wren) at least there is none less than it. It is almost always singing. It would be like to the crested Wren, were not the crest on its Head yellow. And yet it is yellow in the folds of its Wings, and in their extremities, as also upon the Back, and about the Tail. The Legs, Feet, Claws, and Bill are black; but both the extremities of the Bill have something of yellow. It is long, weak, and fit to catch Insects, upon which it feeds, refusing grain, and lives in the shady places of Woods. Aristotle mentions a little bird by the name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gaza renders it Asilus, thought to be so called because it is not much bigger than the Insect Oestrus.

CHAP. XIII. The Wren, Passer troglodites of Aldrovand, by Turner and Bellonius called falsly Regulus.

IT weighs three drachms, being extended from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail four inches and an half: The Wings stretcht out equal to six inches and an half. The Head, Neck, and Back are of a dark spadiceous colour, especial∣ly the Rump and Tail. The Back, Wings, and Tail are varied with cross black lines. The Throat is of a pale yellow, the middle of the Breast whiter: Below it hath black transverse lines, as have also the sides. The lower Belly is of a dusky red. The tips of the second row of Wing-feathers are marked with three or four small white spots. The tips of the covert-feathers of the Tail are alike spotted. The number of quil-feathers in each Wing is eighteen. The Tail, which for the most part it holds erect, is made up of twelve feathers.

The Bill is half an inch long, slender, yellowish beneath, dusky above: the Mouth withinside yellow: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured. The outer Toes are fast∣ned to the middle one as far as the first joynt. It creeps about hedges and holes, whence it is not undeservedly called Troglodites. It makes but short flights, and if it be driven from the hedges, may easily be tired and run down.

It builds its Nest sometimes by the Walls of houses, in the back-sides of Stables, or other Out-houses covered with straw, but more commonly in Woods and Hedges, without, of Moss, within, of hairs and feathers. This Nest is of the figure of an Egg, erect upon one end, and hath in the middle of the side a door or aperture, by which it goes in and out. Being kept tame it sings very sweetly, and with a higher and louder voice than one would think for its strength and bigness; and that especi∣ally in the Month of May, for then it builds and breeds. It lays nine or ten, and some∣times more Eggs at a sitting.

A late English Writer tells us, that he hath had eighteen Eggs out of one Nest, and sixteen young ones out of another. It is strange to admiration that so small a bodied bird should cover so great a number of Eggs, and more strange, that it should feed such a company of young, and not miss one bird, and that in the dark also. They breed twice a year, about the latter end of April, and beginning of June, or middle of it. The Young are to be fed and rear'd like the young Nightingales, giving them often, and but one or two morsels at a time. Give them once in two or three days a Spider or two.

It perfectly cures the Stone of the Kidneys or Bladder (as Aetius writes) being salted and eaten raw; or being burnt in a pot close-covered, and the ashes of one whole bird taken at once, either by it self, or with a little * 1.680 Phyllon and Pepper; or lastly, being roasted whole, only the feathers pluckt off and cast away.

All the Modern Writers of the History of birds before Gesner take this bird to be the Regulus of the Ancients.

CHAP. XIV. The Humming Bird, Guainumbi of Marggrave, and Johnston in his Natural History of Birds: Guaiminibique of Jo. de Laet in his Description of the West Indies, Book 15. Chap. 7. Gonambuch, or Gouambuch of Lerius in the eleventh Chapter of his American History, and of Thevet in his 48. Chapter of the singularities of Antartic France; Tomineio of Josephus à Costa in Book 4. Chap. 37. of his Natural and Moral History of the West Indies, so called perchance because it is so light, that it weighs only one Spanish Tomino, that is, twelve grains. Ourissia, (that is, a Sun-beam) or Tomineio of Clusius in Book 5. of his Exotics, Chap. 7. Passer Mosquitus of Oviedo in his Summary, Chap. 48. Hoitzitzil of Fr. Hernandez in Book 9. Chap. 11. Rerum medicarum Novae Hispaniae. Gomarae in Historia de Mexicanae urbis expugnatione, Vicicilin.

THis kind of bird, whose Synonyma we have given, is the least of all birds. It comprehends under it many Species, or differences of which in general these things are delivered by those who have written of it.

1. That it moves the Wings with that swiftness, as not to be discerned by the Eye, so that it seems rather to want Wings; and that as it flies it makes a humming noise like a Hornet or Bee; insomuch that one who should see it flying by, would take it rather to be a Hornet than a Bee: Hence it took its name in English of humming bird. It will also so poise it self by the help of its Wings for a long space of time, as if it rested and stirred not, and so, being on the Wing, suck the flowers with its Bill, for it lights not upon them. But when it moves from one place to another, it is carried with that ve∣locity like a bullet through the air, that very oft it cannot be seen or discerned as it flies along.

2. That it is fed and nourished with honey, dew, and the juice of flowers, which it sucks out of them with its Bill, or rather its very long Tongue, provided and fitted by nature for that use; so that, being taken alive, they cannot be kept for want of food, but die in a shorttime.

3. That it lies torpid or sleeps in Winter [hanging by the feet on a bough in some open place, according to Franc. Lopez: The Bill being fastned to the trunks of Pines or other trees, according to Hernandes and Recchus] and in the Spring revives or awakens, whence also these birds are called * 1.681 Renati by the Inhabitants of the Caribbce Islands, viz. so long, say they, it continues alive, as the honey-bearing flowers en∣dure, and when they wither and fail it becomes torpid, and continues without sense or motion for full six months space until new flowers come. Neither (saith Her∣nandez) is this an idle tale, or such a thing whereof one may well doubt: For this bird hath been more than once kept in a Chamber fastned to the * 1.682 stock of a tree, and when it had hung as it were dead for six months, at what time Nature had appointed, it revived, and being let go flew away into the neighbouring fields. Believe it who will, I am not wont rashly or hastily to give credit to such relations: Though I know it is taken generally for an undoubted truth, and I find our Mr. Josseline in his New Englands rarities to report it for such. And truly if it lives only upon what it sucks out of flowers, in the Northern parts of America, when flowers fail, it must either lie torpid, or fly into the hotter Countries. But in the more Southern parts of America (as in Bra∣sil) Marggravius writes, that these birds are found all the year long in the Woods in great numbers.

4. Of the feathers of these and other birds of beautiful colours the Indians make the likenesses (for Pictures we must not call them) of Saints, and other things so dextrously, and artificially, and to the life that one would think they were drawn with a Pencil in colours, of which we have seen many in the Cabinets of the Vir∣tuosi.

5. Although almost all the Spaniards who have written of the West India matters, have made mention of this bird, yet (which is strange) do they take no notice at all of its singing: Only Lerius and Thevetus, both Frenchmen, do attribute to it so high and sweet a note, that it gives not place to our Nightingale, which no man, who

should not hear and see it, could easily be perswaded, could possibly proceed from so small a body. Marggravius affirms, that they do not sing, but cry, Screp, screp, screp, with one tone, and that almost continually, like Sparrows.

Marggravius describes nine sorts of this bird in the fifth Book of his Natural History of Brasil, Chap. 4.

1. The length of the whole body of this first kind from the beginning of the Head (where the Bill is inserted) to the rise of the Tail is two inches. The Head, toge∣ther with the feathers, is of the bigness of a mean-sized sweet Cherry: The Neck is three quarters of an inch long; the body an inch and a quarter. The body, toge∣ther with the feathers, is scarce equal in bigness to a Spanish Olive. It hath a slender, and very sharp, round, even, streight Bill, yet toward the end a little inclining downward, an inch and half long. The colour of this Bill is black, excepting the lower Chap toward the rise, where it is reddish. It hath a double or cloven Tongue, very small or slender, like a fine silken thread, white, long, so that it can thrust it forth far beyond the Bill: Small black Eyes; very small and short Legs and Feet, of a black colour: Four Toes in each foot, three standing forward, and one backward, armed with long semilunar, very sharp, black Claws. It hath a streight Tail, an inch long, consisting for the most part of four feathers. The Wings, which are of two inches length, reach almost to the end of the Tail. Nature hath shewn a singular Art in the composure of the Wing-feathers. From the rise of the Wings for about three quarters of an inch there is a double row of feathers one longer than the other, and the feathers are put one upon another, as it were short wings upon long ones. Then after these feathers come the Wing-feathers (which are about ten) the subsequent interiour being still longer than the precedent exteriour, so that the in∣most, determining the end of the Wing, is the longest of all. These Wings being spread it can fly a long time, and rest in the same place, as it were hanging in the air. As it flies it makes a noise like a Bruchus, or more truly, like a linnen Spinning-wheel, Hur, hur, hur. The feathers of the Wings spread appear very thin and transparent. The colour of the feathers of the whole Head, the upper side of the Neck, the sides, the whole Back, and the beginning of the Wings is wonderfully resplendent, so that it cannot be well represented by any Painter, for with a green, such as is seen in the Necks of Peacocks and Mallards, a golden, flame-colour, and yellow are strangely mixt, so that being exposed to the Sun-beams it shines admirably. In the Throat, the lower side of the Neck, the breast, and all the lower Belly, and the upper Legs are white feathers, wherewith underneath the Neck are feathers of an excellent colour, dispersedly intermixt. In the Belly beneath the white feathers lie black ones. The beginning of the Wings was, as I said, of an admirable rare colour, all the rest of the Wing brown, and of a shining spadiceous. The Tail consists of feathers of a blue colour, like polished Steel. They make their Nests in the boughs of trees, of the bigness of a Holland Schilling. They lay very white Eggs, two for the most part, of an oval figure, not bigger than a Pease.

2. The second sort is more beautiful than the first, of the same bigness and figure. Yet is its Bill shorter, viz. ⅔ of an inch long, of the same colour and figure with that of the former. The Tongue is the same, as also the Eyes, Legs, Feet, and figure of the Wings and Tail. The colour of the feathers in the Head, upper side of the Neck, Back, Wings, and Tail like to that of the former: But in the Throat or underside of the Neck, the whole Breast, and lower Belly, to the very end of the body of so ele∣gant and shining a green, with a golden colour, enterchangeably mixt, that they gli∣ster wonderfully. Near the Vent is a spot of a good bigness, in respect of the bulk of the bird, consisting of pure white feathers.

3. The third is lesser than all the rest. From the beginning of the Head, or inser∣tion of the Bill to the rise of the Tail two inches and an half long: The Neck is almost one inch long: The Head not great: The Body an inch and half long. The Bill a little more than an inch long, black, round, sharp, and almost streight. The Legs and Feet like those of the rest. The feathers also of the Body and Wings are alike disposed, but differently coloured. It hath a Tail longer than any of the rest, some∣what more than three inches, consisting of feathers, of which that which is nearer to its rise is shorter, the second always longer: The Tail also is forked, and the bird flying spreads it into two large horns, so that the tips of the horns are an inch and half distant one from the other. The whole Head and Neck of this bird is of a shining silken black colour, inclining to, or interchanging with blue, as in the Necks of Mal∣lards. The whole Back and Breast are green, shining enterchangeably with golden

and Sea-green, as in the second kind; and near the vent is also the like spot of white feathers. The Wings are of a liver-colour. The Tail is of a blackish blue, shining like polished Steel blued over.

4. The fourth is a little lesser than the third. The shape of the body and dispo∣sition of the feathers the same, but it is of another colour, and differs also in the Bill and colour of the Legs. The Bill is an inch and half long, bowed downward like a Polonian Sword, round, every where of equal thickness, and sharp-pointed. The upper part thereof is black, the under yellow, excepting the tip, which is also black. The top of the Head, the upper side of the Neck, as also the Wings, are of like co∣lour with those of the first kind. The Throat, the lower side of the Neck, the whole Breast, and lower Belly, from white incline to a red colour. It hath a Tail an inch long, ending with the Wings, consisting of feathers which from black incline to green, having white tips: The Toes so disposed as the other Species, yet not black, but white or yellowish, with like semilunar, sharp, and black Claws.

5. The fifth is in bigness equal to the third kind; having a black Bill, a little more than an inch long, and a little bending downward, black Eyes, as also Legs and Feet. The Throat, lower side of the Neck, and all the Belly are covered with black Vel∣vet feathers, having as it were a gloss of shining blue. Near the Vent is a spot of white feathers. But the black ends of the feathers on the sides of the Neck, Breast, and Belly shine wonderfully with a rare mixture of Sea-water colour, golden and green. All the upper side of the Head and Neck, and the whole Back are adorned with feathers mixt with golden, fire-colour, and green, as is also the beginning of the Wings. The rest of the Wings is of an iron or dusky colour. The Tail is a little more than an inch long, consisting of feathers of an elegant brown, with a gloss of blue. About the edges these feathers are of the colour of polished Steel blued.

6. The sixth is in bigness equal to the fifth; hath a Bill of an inch long, a little bending, white underneath, black above. The whole Head, Neck, Back, and Belly, and the beginning of the Wings are covered with feathers of an excellent shining co∣lour, consisting as it were of a mixture of much gold, half fire-colour, and a little green: In brief, shining like the Sun. In the Belly are a few white feathers mixt. The Legs are black: The Wings blackish: The Tail almost an inch and half long, handsom and broad, consisting of some feathers of the same rare colour with the rest of the body, some of a mixt colour of green and golden, and white about the edges, some half white, half green, shining with golden, that is, on one side the shaft white, on the other green.

7. The seventh is a little less than the fifth and sixth kind; hath a Bill not altoge∣ther an inch long, being of an ash-colour all over the body, almost like a Sparrow, which here and there shineth rarely with a mixture of red like a Rubine.

8. The eighth is the most elegant of all, hath a streight, black Bill half an inch long; a long, double [or cloven] Tongue. Its bigness and shape agrees with that of the second kind. The whole Head above and upper part of the Neck shine with an ad∣mirable Rubine-colour, as if a Rubine were illustrated by the Sun-beams: But the Throat and under-side of the Neck do resemble pure, polished, Hungarian gold, shone upon by the Sun-beams: So that it is impossible in words perfectly to set forth the likeness of these colours, much less for a Painter to represent or imitate them. The be∣ginning of the Back is covered with a Velvet black, the rest with dusky feathers, with which is mixt something of a dark green. The whole lower Belly is invested with feathers of the same colour with the back, the Wings with a dusky, as in other kinds. Near the Vent it hath a white spot. The Legs are slender and black: The Tail little more than an inch long, consisting of feathers of a * 1.683 feuillemort colour, which at the ends are dusky about the edges. The Tail is broad, which it spreads very wide in flying. The Wings end with the Tail.

9. The ninth is for figure and bigness like the first. Its Bill is black above, and red underneath. Its whole body shines with that bright green colour mixt with golden, that the Belly of the second sort is of. The Wings are dusky: The Tail an inch long, pretty broad, consisting of feathers of the colour of polished blue steel.

This Bird is by the Brasilians called by many other names besides Guainumbi, as Aratica, and Aratarataguacu, as Marggrave tells us, and Guaracyaba, that is, A Sun∣beam, and Guaracigaba, that is, the hair of the Sun, according to de Laet. It is com∣mon in almost all the hotter Countries of America. It is reported (saith Nierember∣gius) that the powder of this Bird, taken inwardly, cures the Falling sickness. What I find in Marggravius concerning the Tail of the first Species, viz. that it consists

of four feathers, I vehemently suspect to be a mistake either of the Printer, or of the Author; for in the Tail of one that I examined I found the usual number of twelve feathers.

CHAP. XV. Slender-billed Birds, whose Tail is particoloured.

§. I. The Fallow-Smich, in Sussex the Wheat-ear, because the time of Wheat-harvest they wax very fat; called by the Italians, Culo Bianco, and by us also in some places, White-tail, from the colour of its Rump. Oenanthe sive Vitiflora of Aldrovandus.

IN bigness it exceeds the House-Sparrow. The colour of its Head and Back is cine∣reous, with a certain mixture of red, like to that which is seen in the Back of the * 1.684 Hawsinch. [The Back of a Female Bird which I described at Florence was cine∣reous, with a certain mixture of green and red.] The Rump in most is white, whence also it took its name; in some it is of the same colour with the Back, or more red. The whole Belly is white, lightly dashed with red. The Breast and Throat have a deeper tincture of red. The Belly in the Cocks is sometimes yellowish. Above the Eyes is a white line continued to the hinder part of the Head. Below the Eyes a black stroak is extended from the corners of the mouth to the ears. [I found not this black line in the Females.]

Both the quil-feathers and covert-feathers of the Wings are all black besides the fringes or extreme edges, which are white, tinctured with a sordid red. The Tail is two inches and a quarter long, made up of twelve feathers, of which the two mid∣dlemost have their upper half white, the rest their lower, the other half being black. Moreover, the tips and edges of them all are white. [In the Hen the white takes up but a quarter of the feathers.]

The Bill is slender, streight, black, more than half an inch long: The mouth is black within, the Tongue black and cloven: The aperture of the Mouth great: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured. The back-toe is armed with a great Claw.

The Stomach is not very musculous; out of which dissected we took Beetles, and other Insects. It breeds in forsaken Coney-burroughs.

The Sussex Shepherds, to catch these Birds, use this Art. They dig long turves of earth, and lay them across the holes whereout they were digged, and about the mid∣dle of them hang snares made of horse-hair. The Birds, being naturally very timo∣rous, if a Hawk happen to appear, or but a cloud pass over and intercept the Sun∣beams, hastily run to hide themselves in the holes under the Turves, and so are caught by the Neck in the snares.

Upon the Downs of Sussex, which are a ridge of Mountains running all along by the Sea-coast for thirty or forty miles in length, they are taken yearly in great numbers, in Harvest-time, or the beginning of Autumn, where for their fatness and delicate relish they are highly prized.

Aldrovandus hath another Oenanthe, which is a little less than the former, but yet bigger than a Sparrow, on the Head, Neck, Back, and lesser Wing-feathers of a reddish yellow, deeper on the Back, lighter on the Breast, having black Eyes, behind which * 1.685 is also a long black spot, of a semilunar figure: A long, slender, black Bill; black Wing-feathers, whose ends are yellow, as are also those of the Tail-feathers.

There is also a Bird called Strapazino by our Fowlers (saith Aldrovand) in the Bo∣nonian Territory, whose Rump underneath, and almost the whole Tail are likewise white: The Head and Back of a rusty yellow: The Wing-feathers half black and half * 1.686 yellow; the Bill indifferent long, of a dusky colour. The Throat, Breast, and Belly are white, lightly dashed with yellow. The Tail toward the Rump is yellow, else black.

§. II. The Whin-chat, under which also we treat of the Anthus or Florus of Aldrovand.

IN bigness it scarce exceeds a Wagtail. The upper side of the body, viz. The Back, Head, and covert-feathers of the Wings are of a pale feuille-mort colour, varie∣gated with black spots, placed in rows. If you heed each single feather, the middle part of it about the shaft is black, the sides of a feuille-mort, or dusky yellow. The Belly is white, with a tincture of red. The sides and upper part of the Breast from red incline to yellow. The Breast in some is variegated with black spots. From the Nosthrils above the Eyes to the hinder part of the Head is drawn a pale whitish line: Under the Bill also on each side is a white line. The intermediate space between these lines in some birds is black. [In one Bird of this kind I observed a white spot behind each Eye.] The quil-feathers of the Wings are brown, with yellowish edges [or of a feuille-mort colour.] From the ninth the tips of the eight following are white. The covert-feathers next above the quils are black, with red edges. In which two white spots do mark or characterize each Wing, one under the bastard Wing, the other at the first joynt, by which note this Bird may be easily distinguished from all others of its kind. The middle quil-feathers towards the bottom are white. The Tail is two inches and an half long, consisting of twelve feathers, of all which, ex∣cepting the two middlemost, the lower half is white, the upper black, the utmost edges being red. The two middlemost in some birds are wholly black, in all for the greater part; having red or feuille-mort edges. They all end in sharp points. The feathers next to the incumbent on the Tail both above and beneath reach further than its middle, so that they wholly hide its white part.

Its Bill is slender, streight, short, black, not only without, but also within: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured. The Legs slender: The Feet, Toes, and Claws black: The lower joynt of the outmost Toe sticks fast to that of the middle one.

In the Female those white spots of the Wing scarce appear, and the whole body is of a duller colour. It frequents banks and ditches, feeding upon Beetles, and other Insects.

Nature sometimes sports her self in the colours of this Bird: For in some birds the two middle feathers of the Tail are wholly black excepting the edges, which are red∣dish; in others their bottoms are white, &c.

It differs from the following bird chiefly by these notes, 1. That the upper side of the body is more beautifully coloured, the feathers having their middle parts about the shaft black, and their borders red. 2. That in each Wing they have two white spots. 3. That the lower part of their Tails is white. 4. That the feathers imme∣diately incumbent on the Tail both above and beneath run out as far and further than the middle of the tail, so that they wholly hide the white part thereof. 5. In the white lines reaching from the Bill to the back of the Head.

The Bird which Aldrovand saith is called commonly Spipola, which perchance may be the Anthus or Florus of Aristotle, is near of kin to, if not the same with this. It is * 1.687 of near the same bigness: Lives about Rivers and Fens, especially in moist meadows; and if it be driven away by Horses feeding there, it flies away with a certain chat∣tering, wherein it seems after a fashion to imitate the neighing of a horse. Whether it be dim-sighted or no I know not, but I hear that it flies with difficulty. As for its colour, that is rather to be called beautiful than otherwise; on the upper side through∣out the Neck, Back, and Wings being of a dusky red, and varied with semilunar spots. The Head above is of the same colour, but hath not those spots. The prime-fea∣thers of the Wings, and those that cover them are black, having their sides and tips yellowish. The Bill is sit to catch Insects, being neither slender, nor thick, of a white colour tinctured with yellow. The nether side from the Bill to the Tail is of the same colour, but variegated with spots, some long, some round, and some of another fi∣gure. Its Feet are black. This differs from our Whin-chat in the colour of its Bill, and in the place where it lives; sith our Chat abides especially in heaths, and among Furze-bushes.

§. III. The Stone-smich, or Stone-chatter, or Moor-titling. Oenanthus nostra tertia: Muscicapa tertia, Aldrov. The Rubetra of Bellonius as we judge, which Gesner makes the same with his Todtenvogel, or Flugenstecherlin.

IT is of the bigness of a Linnet, or thereabouts: Of half an ounce weight: From Bill-point to Tail-end five inches long. Its Bill is slender, streight, black as well within as without. The upper Chap a thought longer than the nether, and a little crooked: The Tongue cloven: the Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured: The Legs, Feet, and Claws black; the outer Toe grows to the middle one below, as in other small birds. The Head is great, in the Cock almost wholly black, as is also the Throat under the Bill: In the Hen it is particoloured of black and a dirty red. The upper part of the Neck is black; on each side it is marked with a white spot, so that the bird seems to have a ring of white about its Neck. The middle of the Back is black, on∣ly the outmost edges of the feathers fulvous. Above the Rump is a white spot. The Breast is fulvous, or of a yellowish red colour: The Belly white, with a dash of red.

[In the Female the feathers of the Head, Neck, and Back from red inclining to green, having their middle parts black; the Rump is red; the Chin of a pale ash∣colour. It hath a whitish spot on each side the Neck: The Breast is of a deeper, but the belly of like colour with the Cocks.]

The prime feathers of the Wings are all dusky, excepting the two next to the body, which have a white spot at bottom. The edges of all are red. All the covert fea∣thers of the Wings have also red edges. The Wings in both Sexes are adorned with a white spot in the feathers next the Back. The Tail is near two inches long, and con∣sists of twelve feathers, not forked, and black. [The tip and exteriour Web of the outmost feather on each side are white.]

It hath a Gall-bladder; a Stomach not very fleshy, in which dissected we found Beetles, and other Insects; short, round, tumid blind Guts.

That which I [J. R.] described at Florence differed somewhat in colours, and other accidents; thus: It was of the bigness of a lesser Titmouse: Its Body short and round: Its Head, for the proportion of its body, great. The top of the Head, the Neck, and Back particoloured of black and a dirty red, the middle part of each fea∣ther being black, and the edges red. The quil-feathers are eighteen, all dusky, their exteriour edges being of a feuille-mort colour. Of the feathers of the second row those five on the middle joynt are black, with feuille-mort edges, the rest are of the same colour with the quil-feathers. The lesser rows are of like colour with the foresaid five middle feathers, The Tail-feathers are all black, only their edges are paler. The Cock is black about both Eyes, and under the Throat, the tips of the feathers being white. The Breast and parts under the Wings in both Sexes are ful∣vous or red; the middle of the Belly being whiter. The feathers of this bird are soft, and stand ruffling out, as in a Jay. In all other points it agrees with the above described, so that I doubt not but it is the same.

The third and fourth Muscicapae of Aldrovand differ not, I think, from this, nor from one another otherwise than in colour.

It is found for the most part in Heaths, and is very querulous.

§. IV. * The Brasilian Guiraru Nheengeta of Marggrave, which may be called, The American Chat.

IT is as big, or a little bigger than a Water-Blackbird, or Crake; hath a streight, com∣pressed, black Bill, more than half an inch long: Sapphire-coloured Eyes, with a black Pupil. The * 1.688 upper Legs are covered with ash-coloured feathers: The lower with a black skin, as are also the Feet, which have four Toes standing after the usual manner, with sharp, black Claws. The whole Head, Neck, Breast, and lower Belly are cloathed with white feathers approaching to a dilute grey; but the Back with cinereous. From the Bill on each side through the Eyes to the end of the sides of the Head is a long black spot extended. The Wings are black, but not of a deep colour.

The Tail hath very black feathers, which yet have white tips; and above also are covered with white ones. This for its bigness ought rather to have been referred to the Thrush-kind.

§. V. A Bird called Coldfinch by the Germans.

THis Bird was shot by Mr. Jessop in the Mountains of the Peak in Derbyshire, and sent us by him. Its Belly is white; its Breast of a dusky yellow: The Head and Back of a dusky or greenish ash-colour: The covert-feathers of the Tail black. The quil-feathers of the Wings likewise black; but from the fifth they are all white toward the bottoms, whence arises a whitespot or stroak cross the Wing, from a nar∣row beginning widening by degrees, so that in the last feathers it takes up all the ex∣teriour Vanes; but where it is broader, it is gradually tinctured with yellow. The second row of Wing-feathers is black, with whitish tips: The edges of the rest of the coverts are green. The Tail is two inches and a quarter long. Its outmost feathers have their exteriour Webs almost wholly white; in the next to them the white part is narrower: All the rest are black, but the middlemost deeper.

Its Bill is black, compressed, and almost triangular. The Tongue cloven and rough: The Irides of the Eyes of a hazel-colour. The Feet black; The outmost Toe joyned to the middlemost, as in other small birds. The Testicles small and round. In the Stomach we found Insects.

This excellent person sent us also out of the Peak of Derbyshire the third Beccafigo * 1.689 of Aldrovand, which I suppose differs only in age or Sex from the precedent. The Throat, Breast, and Belly are much whiter than in that. All the exteriour Webs of the outmost feathers of the Tail are white, of those next to them the lower half. This hath a great white spot in each Wing, altogether like the precedent: Above the Bill also it hath a white spot: The Back else is cole-black. In its fashion, bigness, Bill, and Tail it agrees with the Coldfinch.

CHAP. XVI. The White-throat. An Spipola prima Aldrov?

THe body of this Bird seems to be something longer than that of the Beccafigo before described; but of almost the same magnitude. From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail, or of the Feet, (for they are equally extended) it hath six inches and a quarter of length: Between the extreme points of the Wings spread eight and an half of breadth. The upper Bill is black, the lower white. The Tongue slit with a deep incision. The Mouth within yellow: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured. The Feet are of a dusky yellow or Amber-colour: The back∣toe great; the exteriour foretoes equal, and less than in other small birds, joyned at bottom to the middlemost, the interiour by an intervening membrane, which we have not observed in other Birds of this kind. The upper surface of the body from red inclines to an ash-colour. The Head more cinereous: The Chin white, the rest of the Throat white, with a tincture of red. The Breast also and lower Belly are something red. [In the Hen the Breast is white, without any mixture of red.]

The outmost edge of the first or outmost quil-feather is white: The exteriour edges of those next the body are red. The extreme feathers of the Tail on each side have all their exteriour Webs, and half their interiour white: Of the next to these the tips only are white. All the rest are black, only the extreme borders or edges, espe∣cially of the two middlemost, incline to cinereous.

It frequents Gardens, and feeds upon Beetles, Flies, and other Insects: Creeping and hopping up and down in bushes, like the Hedg-Sparrow. It builds also in bushes not far from the ground. The outer part of the Nest is made of the tender stalks of herbs and dry straws; the middlemost of fine bents and soft grass; the inner, on which the Eggs lie, of horse-hair, or other long hair. It lays about five Eggs, ob∣long, of a dusky colour, mingled of white and green, besprinkled over with black specks.

This Bird is very like the Ficedula above described, yet differs in some particulars, especially that the outmost feathers of the Tail in this are white; whereas in that the Tail is all of one colour.

Among the doubtful birds of this kind, at least to us not sufficiently known, we reckon, 1. The small Nightingale, Lusciniola or Roussette of Bellonius, which you may find in Aldrovand, tom. 2. pag. 767. perchance the same with the Giarola of Al∣drovand, having a red Bill, and the colour of the body like a Quail. 2. Oenanthe congener, Aldrov. tom. 2. p. 764. 3. The other Spipola of Aldrovand. tom. 2. p. 731. the description whereof we have already set down, * 1.690 p. 153. which perchance may be the same with our Spipoletta, or with our Whin-chat, p. 168. 4. Spipola tertia or Boarina of Aldrovand, p. 732. which we have already entred the description of, p. 153. 5. The Stoparola of Aldrovand, p. 732, which you may find also in pag. 153. of this work. 6. Boarina of Aldrovand, p. 733. whose description we have subjoyned to the Ficedula, p. 158. 7. Grisola, which we have annexed to our Spipoletta, pag. 153. 8. Anthos or Florus, which we have remembred in our Chapter of Oenanthe, pag. 169.

These, and some other birds, comprehended by Aldrovandus in three Chapters, viz. twenty sixth, twenty seventh, and twenty eighth of the seventeenth Book, under the titles of Spipolae, Stoparolae, and Muscicapae, seem to us reducible to three or four Species, viz. to the White-throat, or Moucherolle or Passer rubi, (for Bellonius his Mou∣cherolle is perchance another sort of bird) and the Beccasigo or Black-cap.

CHAP. XVII. The Water-Wagtail; Motacilla, in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

§. I. The white Wagtail: Motacilla alba.

THis Bird is every where so well known, that it may seem enough to name it, not needing any description. It weighs six drachms, being in length from the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail seven inches three quarters; in breadth between the extremities of the Wings stretcht out eleven. The Bill is slen∣der, not an inch long, sharp-pointed, and black. The Tongue cloven, and as it were torn: The Mouth within black: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured: The Feet, Toes, and Claws long, and of a dark blackish colour. The back-claw very long, as in Larks. The outer Toe at its rise sticks fast to the middle one. White feathers encompass the upper Chap of the Bill, then the Eyes, being produced on both sides almost to the Wings. The Crown of the Head, upper and lower side of the Neck, as far as the Breast, and the Back are black: The Breast and Belly white. The middle of the Back from black inclines to cinereous: The Rump is black. [In another Bird, below the Throat I observed a semicircular black spot like a Crescent, the horns being produced almost as far as the Jaws.] The Wings spread are of a se∣micircular figure; the quil-feathers in each eighteen in number, of which the three outmost end in sharp points: The tips of the middle ones are blunt and indented; the inmost are adorned with white lines. The covert feathers of the first row are black, having their tips and edges white: Those of the second row have only white tips. Its Tail is very long, of about three inches and an half, which it almost continually wags up and down, whence also it took its name. The Tail hath twelve feathers, of which the two middlemost are longer than the rest, and sharp-pointed; the others all of equal length: The outmost are almost wholly white, the rest black. The co∣lour of the Plumage in this kind in several birds varies not a little, being in some more cinereous, in some blacker. The Liver is of a pale colour.

It is much conversant about the brinks of Rivers, and Pools, and other watry places, where it catches Flies, and water Insects: Moreover it follows the Plough, to gather up the Worms, which together with the earth it turns up: As I find in Aldro∣vandus, and our Husbandmen have told me of their own observation; who therefore call it the Seed-bird, as Mr. Johnson informed me.

In the Northern part of England it appears not in the Winter, and is also then more

rare in the Sòuthern: Either because it is impatient of cold, or for want of meat; Flies, and other winged Insects, on which it chiefly feeds, being not to be found in Winter-time. In the Gizzard of one dissected we found Insects like to Meal-worms. Gesner writes, that the Fowlers in his Country have observed the Cuckow-chicken hatch'd and brought up by this bird: The same, Albertus, and our experience also con∣firms, as we have * 1.691 elsewhere shewn.

One or two ounces of the powder of this Bird put in a Pot close-stopt and bak'd in an Oven together with the feathers, taken in Saxisrage water, or strong White∣wine is said to be good against the Stone, especially that of the Kidneys. But Alex∣ander Benedictus thinks, that the modern Physicians, who commend this Medicine through mistake, mean the Wren when they name the Wagtail: As if the Wagtail were of no force in breaking the Stone. Gesner (to whom also we readily assent) thinks that it matters not much what bird be burnt, sith the vertue of the ashes of almost all birds seem to be the same. Yet (saith he) if there be any difference, I would prefer those sorts of birds which feed upon Insects, as Flies, Ants, and the like.

§. II. The yellow Water-Wagtail: Motacilla flava.

IN bigness and shape of body it agrees with the white. It weighs five drachms; from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail being almost seven inches long; to the end of the Claws six. The under part of the Body is yellow, the Breast being darker than the rest. The upper part is of a dark green, the middle of the Back be∣ing black. The crown of the Head is of a yellowish green. Above the Eyes is a yel∣low line reaching to the hinder part of the Head.

The Tail is two inches three quarters long, consisting of twelve feathers, the mid∣dle two whereof are sharper than the rest. The outmost on each side are above half white, the intermediate eight black: All of equal length. The figure of the Wings is the same with that of the precedent. The quil-feathers in number eighteen; of which the sixteenth is longer than those next it, and hath the outward limb white. The tips of the middle covert-feathers are of a greenish white; else the Wings are all over dusky. The Bill is black: The Tongue cloven, but not hairy. The Irides of the Eyes from cinereous incline to a hazel-colour. The Feet are black: The outer fore∣toe is joyned to the middle one at bottom. The Spur or Claw of the back-toe is long as in a Larks: The blind guts short. Some birds in this kind are much yellower or greener than others.

It builds upon the ground among the Corn; making its Nest of bents and the stalks of herbs, spreading hairs within under the Eggs. It lays at one time four or five Eggs, varied with dusky spots and lines drawn without any order.

§. III. The grey Wagtail. Motacilla cinerea, an flava altera Aldrov?

IT is of the bigness of the common or white Wagtail. Its note is shriller and louder: Its Bill black, streight, slender, and sharp-pointed: Its Eyes grey: Both upper and lower Eye-lid white. Moreover, above the Eyes a whitish line is all along ex∣tended. The upper surface of the body is * 1.692 grey. The Head (which in proporti∣on to the body is small and compressed) is something dusky. The Wings are blackish, crossed in the middle by a whitish, yet not very conspicuous line. The Chin and Throat are particoloured of white and grey: The Breast and Belly white, dashed with yellow: The Rump round about of a deeper yellow. The Tail made up of twelve feathers, longer than the whole body; its outmost feather on each side is all over white; the two next white on the inside, blackish on the out; the six middle∣most all over blackish. The Legs (which are long) and the Feet (which are rugged or rough) are of a pale colour, but duskish. The Claws crooked, and the back∣claw longer than the rest.

The bird here described was a Hen, as we learned by its Vitellary or bunch of Eggs, wherein more than forty Eggs were very conspicuous and easie to be discerned. The Cock differs little, save that under his Chin he hath a black spot. They frequent stony Rivers, and feed upon water-Insects.

The description of this Bird was communicated to us by Mr. Johnson of Brignal near Greta Bridge in Yorkshire.

CHAP. XVIII. * The Brasilian Jamacaii of Marggrave.

IT is a small Bird, of the bigness of a Lark. Its Body is three inches long, its Neck more than an inch, its Legs two inches: Its Tail almost four. It hath a small Head; a Bill an inch long, streight, only a little bending downward, sharp∣pointed, black, but below near its rise a little bluish. The Head is covered with black feathers, as is also the Neck below, but above with yellow: The whole Back, Breast, and lower Belly likewise with yellow. The Wings are black, having in their middle some white feathers, which make white spots, in each Wing one. At the rise of the Wings is a black spot crossing the back. The Tail is also black: The Legs and Feet dusky. It is an elegant bird.

For the length of the Tail and colours of the feathers not much different, we have subjoyned this to the Wagtails, although Marggrave makes no mention of the man∣ner of its feeding, or the places it frequents: Or whether it moves its Tail or not.

CHAP. XIX. * The Brasilian Guira guacuberaba of Marggrave

IS a Bird of the bigness of a Goldfinch. The lower part of the Neck, the Back, and end of the Belly are of a yellow or gold colour. The upper part of the Head and Neck, the fore-half of the Back, the Wings, and Tail are of a pale green. In the ends of the Wings are some dusky feathers intermixed. Under the Throat up to the Eyes it hath a great black spot. It hath a streight, sharp, yellow Bill, a little black on the upper part. The Legs and Feet are of a dusky colour.

CHAP. XX. * The Brasilian Guira coereba of Marggrave

IS a Bird of the bigness of a Chaffinch. It hath a black Bill, three quarters of an inch long, sharp, and a little bending downward: Black Eyes: A Tongue slit into many filaments, on the top of the Head a cop or tuft of Sea-green feathers. The rest of the Head, the Throat, and all the lower Neck, the Breast, and whole Belly, with the hinder half of the Back are covered with blue, but pale feathers: And from the Breast through the beginnings of the Wings to the Back, where the blue colour begins, passes a broad blue line cross through the rise of the Wings. All the upper side of the Neck, with the fore-half of the Back is covered with fine Velvet feathers of a deep black. The Tail is an inch and half long, and black. The Wings are great, and yellow about the middle. But the yellow part is covered, and cannot be seen when the Wings are closed, and the Bird sits still, but when she flies the Wings appear elegantly straked with black and yellow: Within side the Wings are almost wholly yellow. The upper Legs or Thighs are feathered with black, and in a man∣ner blue feathers: The lower are naked, and of a Vermilion colour, together with the Feet; the Claws black. The Feet have four Toes disposed after the usual manner.

CHAP. XXI. * The Brasilian Japacani of Marggrave,

IS a Bird of the bigness of the Bemtere or Schanepue: Hath a black, oblong, sharp∣pointed Bill, bending a little downward: Golden Eyes, with a black Pupil. The Head is covered with black feathers. The Neck above, the Back and Wings with feathers of a colour mixt of black and Umber. The Tail above is black, under∣neath spotted with white. The Breast, all the lower Belly and Thighs have their Plumage mixt of white and yellow, interwoven with transverse black lines or strakes. The Legs are dusky. Four Toes in each placed after the usual manner, furnished with sharp, black Claws.

CHAP. XXII. Of Titmice: De Paris.

§. I. Of Titmice in general.

TItmice are a sort of small birds, that are found for the most part about trees, and live chiefly upon Insects which they find there. Turner writes, that they feed not only upon Worms, but also Hemp-seed and Nuts, which they per∣forate with their sharp Bills. Some of these build in holes of trees: Others make Nests of an Oval figure, with a hole left open in the side to go in and out at. They are restless birds, never sitting long still in a place, but flitting from bough to bough, and from tree to tree. They have short Bills, but bigger for the bulk of their bodies than the precedent small birds: Small bodies; and long Tails. The most of them are ca∣norous: But all of them multiparous, laying many Eggs ere they sit. Titmice are called by Aristotle, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Germans, as well as we English, call them Mice, either because like Mice they creep into the holes of trees, or because (as Gesner writes) they will feed upon flaid Mice offered them: Which to us seems not likely. Of these we have observed in England five kinds, viz. 1. The great Titmouse, or Oxe-eye. 2. The Colemouse. 3. The Marsh-Titmouse or Black-cap. 4. The blue Titmouse or Nun. 5. The long-tail'd-Titmouse. The crested Titmouse and Wood Titmouse of Gesner, we have not yet found in England.

§. II. The great Titmouse or Ox-eye: Fringillago seu parus major: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Aristotle.

IT is well nigh as big as a Chaffinch: Of scarce an ounce weight: From tip of Bill to end of Tail half a foot long; from tip to tip of the Wings expanded nine inches broad. Its Bill is streight, black, half an inch long, and of a moderate thickness. Both Mandibles of equal length. The Tongue broad, ending in four filaments. The Feet of a lead or blue colour. The outmost Toes below for some space joyned to the middlemost.

The Head and Chin are black. From the corner of the mouth on each side below the Eyes a broad white line or spot passing backward takes up the cheeks. This white is encompassed with black. In the hinder part of the Head is another white spot, terminated on one side with the black of the Head, on the other with the yellow of the Neck. [In the Bird that I (J. R.) described I observed not this spot, and perchance in several birds the colours may vary somewhat.] The Neck, Shoulders, and middle of the Back are of a yellowish green. The Rump is blue: The Breast, Belly, and Thighs are yellow: Yet the lower or hindmost part of the Belly white. A broad, black line reaching from the Throat to the Vent divides the Breast and Belly in

twain. The quil-feathers of the Wings, in number eighteen, beside the outmost little one, are dusky, with white tips, or tips partly white, partly blue. The outer edges of those three next the body are green. Of the covert feathers of the first row, those that are about the middle of the Wing, with their white tips make a transverse white line. The smaller covert-feathers of the Wings are blue. The Tail is about two inches and an half long, compounded of twelve feathers: The exteriour Vanes of all which, except the outmost, are blue or ash-coloured, the interiour black. The outmost have their exteriour Vanes and their tips white. The Tail appears not forked, no not when it is closed.

§. III. * The Brasilian Guiraienoia, akin to the Fringillago.

THis small bird is of the bigness of a Chaffinch: Hath a Bill scarce half an inch long, and blackish; black Eyes. The whole head, lower side of the Neck, Breast, and lower Belly, and utmost half of the Back are cloathed with blue fea∣thers: The upper side of the Neck, and fore-half of the Back are covered with black. The Wings also are black, but in their beginning have some blue feathers interspersed: The rest of the feathers are black, yet have blue edges. The Tail is almost an inch and half long, and also black, and the Wings end a little beyond the beginning of the Tail. The Legs are dusky, and each foot hath four toes placed after the usual manner.

§. IV. The Cole-mouse: Parus ater Gesneri, pag. 616.

THe Head is by Gesner rightly described to be black, with a white spot in the hinder part. The Back is of a greenish ash-colour: The Rump greener: The Wings and Tail dusky. The exteriour edges of the prime Wing-feathers green. The interiour covert-feathers of the Wings have white tips. The Tail, when shut, appears something forked, from dusky inclining to green. The Bill is streight, round, black. The Legs, Feet, and Claws bluish, or of a lead-co∣lour. This is the least of all this kind. By its smalness were other notes wanting, it is abundantly distinguished from the great Titmouse.

It weighs two drachms, being from Bill-point to Tail-end four inches three quar∣ters long, and between the extremities of the Wings extended seven inches broad. The number of quil-feathers in each Wing is eighteen. The Tail is an inch and three quarters long, and composed of twelve feathers.

§. V. The Marsh Titmouse or Black-cap: Parus palustris Gesneri.

THe Head of this is black: The cheeks white; the back greenish: The Feet of a Lead-colour. It differs from that next above described, 1. In that it is bigger. 2. That it hath a larger Tail. 3. That it wants the white spot on the back of the Head. 4. That its under side is whiter. 5. That it hath less black under the Chin. 6. That it wants those white spots in the tips of the covert-feathers of the Wings.

It weighs more than three drachms. From the point of the Bill to the end of the Claws it is by measure four inches and an half long. The distance between the ex∣treme tips of the Wings extended is eight inches. The number of Wing and Tail∣feathers is the same as in other small birds. The Tail is more than two inches long, composed of feathers of equal length.

Gesner makes the Back of this bird dusky inclining to cinereous.

§. VI. The blue Titmouse or Nun: Parus caeruleus.

THe Bill of this Bird is pretty short, thick, sharp, and of a dusky blackish co∣lour: The Tongue broad, ending in four filaments: The Legs of a lead-co∣lour: The outmost Toes at bottom are fastned to the middle ones.

The Head being of an azure colour is encompassed with a circle of white as it were a Wreath or Coronet. To the white circle succeeds another particoloured, encom∣passing the Throat and hinder part of the Head, above being almost of the same co∣lour with the Head, towards the Throat and under the Throat black. Below this circle on the Neck is a white spot. From the Bill a black line passes through the Eyes to the hinder part of the Head. The Cheeks are white: The Back is of a yellowish green. The sides, Breast, and Belly yellow; save that a whitish line produced as far as the Vent divides the Breast in two. In the Cock-bird the Head is more blue, in the Hen and young ones less.

The tips of the quil-feathers next the body are white, as also the outer edges of the foremost from the middle part upward. The covert-feathers of the Wings are blue, the innermost of which with their white tips make a white line cross the Wing. The Tail is two inches long, of a blue colour, only the edges of the outmost feathers are a little white.

Its weight is three drachms: Its length from Bill-point to Tail-end four inches and an half, to the Claws four: Its breadth, the Wings extended, eight inches. The quil-feathers in each Wing eighteen, besides the outmost short one: The Tail-fea∣thers twelve.

§. VII. The crested Titmouse; Parus cristatus Aldrov.

THis hath a pretty short big Bill, of a blackish colour. Its Tongue is broad, and divided into four filaments. Its Feet of a lead-colour. The outer Toes for some space from their divarication joyned to the middle one. The crown of the Head black, the edges of the feathers being white. At the hinder part of the Head begins a black line, which like a Wreath or Collar encompasses the Neck. From the lower Mandible of the Bill to this Collar is a black line produced. To the Collar and Chin is another bed or border of white contiguous. But beyond the Ears is a spot of black. The middle of the Breast is white; the sides something red. The Wings and Tail are dusky, only the exteriour edges of the feathers somewhat green. The Back from red inclining to green.

It weighs two drachms and an half: Is from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail five inches long: From tip to tip of the Wings extended eight inches and a quar∣ter broad. The quil-feathers of the Wings are eighteen in number, the Tail-fea∣thers twelve. The Tail two inches long. The Bill from the tip to the corners of the mouth half an inch.

§. VIII. The long-tail'd Titmouse. Parus caudatus.

THe crown of this Bird is white: The Neck black. From the Bill above the Eyes on each side to the hinder-part of the Head is a broad black line pro∣duced. The Jaws and Throat are white. The Breast white, varied with small dusky spots. The Belly and sides of a dilute Chesnut colour: Of which, but mixt with black, both the Back and also the Rump partake.

The quil-feathers of the Wings are of an obscure dusky colour, the outer edges of the interiour of these are white. The singular structure or conformation of the feathers of the Tail difference this Bird from all other small birds of what kind so∣ever. For the outmost feathers are the shortest, the rest in order longer to the mid∣dlemost, which are the longest, and that by a notable difference or excess, as in the Magpie. Of the outmost feather on each side the top and outer half from the shaft is

white: The next hath less white; of the third, only the outer part of the tip is white. All the rest are wholly black. [In respect of these colours there may possibly be some variety in several birds.]

The Bill is short, strong, black: The Tongue broad, cloven, and divided into sila∣ments: The Eyes bigger than in other small birds; their Irides hazel-coloured: The edges of the eye-lids yellow: The Nosthrils covered with small feathers. The Feet black, as are also the Claws, but deeper. The Claw of the back-toe biggest of all, as is usual in most birds both great and small. With us it frequents gardens rather than mountainous places. It builds like the Wren, or more artificially, making an arch over the Nest of the same matter and contexture with the rest of the Nest; so that the Nest resembles an Egg erected upon one end, a small hole being left in the side, whereat the bird goes in and out. By this means both Eggs and Young are secured from all injuries of the Air, Wind, Rain, Cold, &c. And that they may lie soft she lines the Nest within with store of feathers and down. Without she builds the sides and roof of it of Moss and Wool curiously interwoven.

Aldrovand in the seventeenth Book, and sixteenth Chapter of his Ornithology doth accurately describe the Nest of this bird, such as we have more than once seen, in these words. It was of an oblong figure like a Pine-apple, of two Palms length, and one broad, round, built of sundry materials, viz. both tree and earth-moss, Cater∣pillars Webs, and other like woolly matter, and Hens feathers, with that order and art, that the chief and middle strength of the work, or texture of the Walls was of that yellowish green Moss, the common hairy Moss, that silk-like matter, and tough threads resembling those filaments suspended in the Air, and flying up and down like Spiders Webs, which are accounted signs of fair weather, connected and interwoven, or rather entangled so firmly together, that they can hardly be plucked asunder. Of the interiour capacity all the sides, it seemed, as well as the bottom, were covered and lined with feathers, for the more soft and warm lying of the Young. The out∣most superficies round about was fenced and strengthened with fragments of that lea∣vy Moss, which every where grows on trees, firmly bound together. In the forepart respecting the Sun-rise, and that above (where an arched roof of the same uniform matter and texture with the sides and bottom covered the Nest) was seen a little hole, scarce big enough one would think to admit the old one. We found in it nine Young, &c.

§. IX. The Wood Titmouse of Gesner. Parus Sylvaticus, Aldrov. t. 2. p. 724.

THis Titmouse is also very little, remarkable for a red spot through the midst of its Crown; the parts on each side being black; the Legs dusky; the Wings black, and also the end of the Tail: The rest of the body green; the Belly paler. Our people from the Woods, in which it lives, especially about Fir-trees and Junipers, call it, Waldmeiszle and Thannenmeiszle, others from its note Zilzilperle, for it sings Zul, zil, zalp.

Mr. Willughby was apt to think that the bird described by Gesner is no other than the Regulus cristatus.

CHAP. XXIII.

§. I. * The Brasilian Tangara of Marggrave.

IT is an elegant bird, of the bigness of a Chaffinch. It hath a streight, pretty thick, black Bill: Black Eyes: Legs and Feet from cinereous inclining to dusky. On the forehead above the rise of the Bill it hath a spot of black feathers. The whole Head and Neck are covered with feathers of a shining Sea-green. A circle or border of black feathers encompasles the beginning of the back like a Collar. But * 1.693 below the Wings to the rise of the Tail the Back is covered with yellow feathers. The whole lower Belly is of a rare blue. The Wings are black, and their lateral ex∣tremities blue, so that when closed they appear wholly blue, and their whole ends, outsides, or borders [tota extremitas] seem black. The beginning of the Wings

also * 1.694 externally shines with Sea-green feathers; and in the ridge or upper lateral extremity of each Wing are yellow feathers intermixt. It hath a Tail about an inch and half long, of black feathers, but whose lateral extremities or borders are blue: The end of the Tail is black. It is kept shut up in Cages, and cries, Zip, zip, like the Rubrica, called by the Germans Gympel. It is fed with meal and bread.

This description is conceived in such obscure words, that I do not well understand the meaning of the Author; and therefore the learned Reader would do well to consult the Latine.

§. II. The second kind of Tangara.

IT is of the shape and bigness of our common Sparrow: Hath a Bill from * 1.695 yellow inclining to dusky, somewhat broad, sharp-pointed, the nether Chap much shor∣ter than the upper: Black Eyes: The whole Head is covered with feathers of a rare † 1.696 scarlet colour: All the rest of the body, with the Wings and Tail, of a shining black. The Thighs are covered with white feathers, and in their exteriour sides have an ob∣long scarlet spot, as if they were stained with bloud. The Legs and Feet are ash∣coloured; and have four Toes disposed after the usual manner. The Tail is short, of an inch length, and the Wings end near its rise; i. e. when withdrawn or closed reach no further than the rise of the Tail.

BOOK II. PART II. SECT. II. MEMB. II. Small Birds with thick short strong Bills, commonly called Hard-bill'd Birds.

CHAP. I. Of the Gros-beak or Haw-finch, called by Gesner, Coccothraustes.

§. 1. The common Gros-beak: Coccothraustes vulgaris.

THis Bird for the bigness of its body, but especially of its Bill, in which it exceeds all others of this kind, doth justly challenge the first and chief place among thick-billed birds. The French from the bigness of its Bill do fitly call it Grosbec; the Italians, Frisone or Frosone. Hesychius and Varinus of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 write only, that it is the name of a bird, but what manner of bird they do not explain. Gesner observing that name exactly to fit this bird, imposed it upon it.

It is bigger than a Chaffinch by about one third part; short-bodied: Its Head bigger than for the proportion of the body. Its Bill very great, hard, from a broad base ending in a sharp point, of the figure of a Cone or Funnel, half an inch long, having a large cavity within, of a whitish flesh-colour, almost like that of the interiour sur∣face of the mother of Pearl shell, only the tip blackish. The Eyes are grey or ash∣coloured, as in Jackdaws. The Tongue seems as it were cut off, as in the Chaffinch. The Feet are of a pale red: The Claws great, especially those of the middle and back-toes. The middle Toe is the longest; the outer fore-toe and the back-toe are equal one to the other.

At the base of the Bill grow Orange-coloured feathers, between the Bill and the Eyes black. The lower Chap in the Males is compassed with a border of black fea∣thers. The head is of a yellowish red, or rusty colour: The Neck cinereous. The Back red, the middle parts of the feathers being whitish. The Rump from yellow

inclines to cinereous. The sides and Breast, but especially the sides, are of a mixt colour of red and cinereous. Under the Tail, and in the middle of the Belly the Plumage is whiter. [In another bird the Back was of a grey or ash-colour, tinctured with red: The Head and Throat greenish: The sides and Breast painted with trans∣verse black lines.]

The quil-feathers in each Wing are eighteen in number, of which the nine or ten foremost for half way from the shaft inward are white. The white part from the first inward being dilated. Of the subsequent one half is white, but not so far as the shaft: The three inmost or next the body are red. The tips of all from the second to the tenth shine with a changeable colour of purplish and blue, like the Necks of Pigeons. From the tenth the exteriour borders of the sixth or seventh succeeding are grey, else they are all dusky. The Tail is but short, of about two inches length, composed of twelve feathers, spotted at the top on their interiour Vanes with white, on their exteriour in the middle feathers with red, in the outer with black. [In ano∣ther bird the middle feathers of the Tail were greenish]

About Frankefort on the Main, and elsewhere in Germany, and in Italy, it is com∣mon. In Summer time it lives in the Woods and Mountains; in the Winter it comes down into the Plains. It seldom comes over to us in England, viz. only in hard Win∣ters. It breaks the stones of Cherries, and even of Olives with expedition, the Ker∣nels whereof it is very greedy of. The Stomach of one we dissected in the Month of December was full of the stones of Holly-berries. It feeds also upon Hemp-seed, Pa∣nic, &c. and moreover upon the buds of trees, like the Bulfinch.

It is said to build in the holes of trees, and to lay five or six Eggs. It weighs an ounce and three quarters: Is in length from Bill to Claws seven inches and an half; in breadth between the tips of the Wings extended twelve and an half.

§. II. The Virginian Nightingale: Coccothraustes Indica cristata.

IT is as big as a Blackbird, or something less. A black border compasses the Eyes and Bill; which is like to that of the common Hawfinch, or a little shorter. The Head is adorned with a towring crest, which it often moves as well toward the Bill, as toward the Tail. The colour of the whole is a lovely Scarlet, in the Head and Tail more dilute. It is brought into England out of Virginia; whence, and from its rare singing, it is called, The Virginian Nightingale.

Of this Bird Aldrovandus writes thus: In its native Soil, viz. in the Islands of Capo Verde, it is commonly called Fruso, a name very like to our Italian Frisone, [i. e. Coc∣cothrausti vulgari] to which also it is very like in the Bill. Moreover, a black line or border encompasses its Bill; and it is (as Hieronymus Mercurialis witnesses) of the bigness of a Thrush. Wherefore also we thought fit to call it Coccothraustes Indica. It greedily devours Almonds, in which also it agrees with the Grosbeak, which with its Bill cracks such kind of fruits, and other Grains or stones; whence it is called Nuci∣sraga or Nut-cracker. And that this Bird doth the like it is very probable, seeing it is likewise armed with a very thick and strong Bill. Mercurialis affirms, that by the Portugues it is commonly called, The Cardinal bird, because it is of a scarlet [purpu∣rei] colour, and seems to wear on its Head a red hat. Of the nature and qualities of this Bird Fr. Malochius, Praefect of the Physic-garden at Pisa, gave me this account. It imitates the notes of birds, especially the Nightingale: it is greedy of Panic and Almonds, devours Chickweed; seeing its Image in a glass it hath many strange gesticu∣lations, making a hissing noise, lowring its crest, setting up its Tail after the manner of the Peacock, shaking its Wings, in fine striking at the Looking-glass with its Bill. The temper of its body is very hot, which thence appears that it often immerses it self in water. It is of a very gentle nature, and will take meat out of ones hand. Its shape is as followeth. It hath a tuft on its Head of a triangular figure, and scarlet co∣lour, with which colour also the Neck, Breast, and Belly are adorned. The ends of the Wings are not of so deep a scarlet, as neither the Tail, which for the proportion of the body is pretty long, of about a Palm, something erected, as broad as ones little singer. The Legs are short and whitish: The Claws strong, and something crooked. The whole bird measured from Head to Tail is full two Palms long.

CHAP. II. The Green-finch: Chloris, Aldrov. Ornithol. lib. 18. cap. 18.

IT is bigger than a House-Sparrow; of an ounce and ⅛ weight; of six inches and an half length, measuring from Bill-point to the Feet or Tails end: of ten inches and an half breadth between the extreme terms of the Wings expanded. It is called by some the Green Linnet.

Its Bill is like that of the Grosbeak, but much less, of half an inch length, sharp∣pointed, and not crooked: The upper Mandible dusky, the nether all whitish. The Tongue is sharp, and as it were cut off, ending in filaments: The Eyes furnished with nictating membranes: The Nosthrils round, situate in the upper part of the Bill next the Head: The Feet of a flesh-colour; the Claws dusky. The outer Toe at bottom sticks fast to the middle one.

The Head and Back are green, the edges of the feathers being grey. The middle of the Back hath something of a Chesnut colour intermingled. The Rump is of a deeper green or yellow: The Belly white: The Breast of a yellowish green: The Throat of the same colour with the Neck: The feathers contiguous to the Bill are of a deep yellowish green.

The borders of the outmost quil-feathers of the Wings are yellow, of the middle∣most green, of the inmost grey. The inner feathers of the second row are grey, the outer green. All the rest of the covert-feathers of the Wings are green. The fea∣thers along the base or (if you please) ridge of the Wing are of a lovely yellow. The coverts also of the undersides of the Wings are yellow. The Tail is two inches and a quarter long, made up of twelve feathers; of which the two middlemost are all over black, those next have their outer edges yellow: The remaining four on each side from the middle outwardly are black, but all their inner Webs from top to bot∣tom yellow.

The Liver is divided into two Lobes, and hath a Gall-bladder annexed. The bird we dissected had a large Craw, a musculous stomach, filled with seeds of Plants.

It builds in hedges: The outmost part of its Nest is made of hay, grass, or stubble; the middle of Moss; the inmost, on which the Eggs lie, of feathers, wool, and hair. In this Nest it lays five or six Eggs, near an inch long, of a pale green colour, sprinkled with sanguine spots, especially at the blunt end.

The colours of the Hen are more languid, not so bright and lively: And on the Breast and Back it hath oblong dusky spots.

The Chloris of Aldrovandus, according to his description, seems to be less green than ours. It feeds upon the seed of Rape, Thistles, Docks, and most willingly Canary∣grass, as do other birds of this kind.

The Anthus or Florus of Bellonius, called in French, Bruant, is of kin to this. He * 1.697 describes it thus: Le Bruant in French hath its name from its voice: For when it sings it expresses the word Bruire. As it flies it makes a noise. Aristotle calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which word the Latines render Florus. The modern Greeks, I know not from what ancient name, call it also Florus. It is a little bigger than a Chaffinch: The Cocks are for the most part yellow: Yet some part of the Wings and Tail inclines to cinereous, but their greater feathers are of a more elegant yellow. The extremities of the Tail-feathers are also altogether yellow; but within of another colour. The Bill is great and sharp, of a pale colour: The Legs and Feet are something red. They are kept in Cages for the sweetness of their singing. They feed for the most part upon Hemp∣seed, and keep much about tall trees, far remote from Meadows. It hatches at least five young ones.

CHAP. III.

§. I. The Bulfinch, Alp or Nope. Rubicilla seu Pyrrhula.

THis Bird hath a black, short, strong Bill, in figure and structure like that of the Grosbeak, but less. [In the elder birds it is something crooked.] The Tongue is as it were cut off: Its Eyes are hazel-coloured: Its Claws black: Its Legs dusky. The lower joynt of the outmost Toe sticks fast to the middle Toe.

The Head for the proportion of the body is great. In the Male a lovely scarlet or crimson colour illustrates the Breast, Throat, and Jaws, as far as the Eyes. The fea∣thers on the crown of the Head above the Eyes, and those that compass the Bill, are black: The Rump and Belly white: The Neck and Back grey, with a certain tincture of red. [The Neck, Back, and Shoulders seemed to me blue or ash-coloured.] The quil-feathers of the Wings are in number eighteen; the last or inmost of which on the outer half from the shaft is red, on the inner black and glossie. Of the rest the inte∣riour [i. e. those next the body] are black, with a gloss of blue; the exteriour dus∣ky or black. Of the first or outmost five the exteriour edges in the upper half of the feathers are somewhat white. The tips of the lower covert-feathers are cinereous, in the interiour more, in the exteriour less. The next to these are of the same colour with the Back. The Tail is two inches long, black, and shining, made up of twelve feathers.

The Cock is of equal bigness to the Hen, but hath a flatter crown, and excels her in the beauty of his colours.

They feed most willingly upon those buds of trees which break forth before, in∣deed are pregnant with, the leaves and flowers, especially those of the Apple-tree, Pear-tree, Peach-tree, and other Garden-trees; and by that means bring no small de∣triment to the Gardeners, who therefore hate and destroy them as a great Pest of their Gardens, intercepting their hopes of Fruit.

Turner writes, that they are very docile birds, and will nearly imitate the sound of a Pipe [or the Whistle of a man] with their voice. They are much esteemed for their singing with us in England, and deservedly in my judgment. For therein they excel all small birds, if perchance you except the Linnet. I hear (saith Aldrovandus) that the Hen in this kind sings as well as the Cock, contrary to what is usual in most other sorts of birds.

§. II. * The American Bulfinch or Guiratirica of Marggrave.

IT is of the bigness of a Lark: Hath a thick, streight Bill, dusky above, under∣neath white, and a little incarnate. Its Legs are cinereous, with four toes stand∣ing after the usual manner. The whole Head, with the Throat, and the lower and middle part of the Neck are of a rare sanguine colour. The Eyes blue: The Ear∣holes large. The sides of the Neck, the whole Breast and lower Belly are covered with white feathers. The upper side of the Neck hath black ones, with which a few white are mixt. The Back is grey (with a few black feathers interspersed) as are also the beginnings of the Wings: The rest of the Wings is black, as is the Tail, which is about three inches long. The lateral borders of the Wings are white.

CHAP. IV. The Shell-apple or Cross-bill, called by the Germans Krutzvogel. Loxia, Gesn. Aldrov. An Tragon Plinii?

IN shape of body it is not much unlike the Green-finch: It weighs an ounce and half, and from tip of Bill to Tail end is six inches three quarters long.

Its Bill is thick, hard, strong, black, and contrary to the manner of all other birds, crooked both ways, the Mandibles near their tips crossing one another: For the lower, being drawn out into a sharp point, turns upward, the upper bends down∣ward. Neither do they always observe the same side; for in some birds the upper Chap hangs down on the right side, the nether rises up on the left; in others contra∣riwise, the lower takes the right side, the upper the left. The lower Chap is like the Chafinches, neither is the Tongue different. The Nosthrils are round: The Ears great and wide: The Irides of the Eyes from grey tend to a hazel-colour: The Feet dusky, the Claws black. The lowest joynt of the outmost toe sticks to that of the middlemost.

The middle parts of the Back and Head feathers are black, the edges green. In the Head there is something of cinereous mixt with the other colours. The Rump is green: The Chin ash-coloured: The Breast green: The Belly white, only under the Tail the middle parts of the feathers are black or dusky.

Each Wing hath eighteen quil-feathers, all blackish, only the outer edges of the foremost are green. The Tail consists of twelve feathers, two inches and a quarter long, and black, with green edges. The Guts have many spiral convolutions. The blind guts are very short.

This bird was described in the Autumn: He that sold it told us that it changed co∣lours thrice in a year, being green in the Autumn, yellow in the Winter, and red in the Spring. Gesner also saith, that they are first of all red on the Breast, Neck, and Belly; that then they grow yellow: And that they change colour especially in Win∣ter. Some affirm, that it changes colour every year, so that it sometimes declines more to yellow, sometimes to green, red, or ash-colour. That it changes its colour with age, or according to the different seasons of the year, we cannot but think probable, be∣ing so well attested. Perchance also in the same age and season of the year the colour in divers birds may be different. For we saw and bought at Nurenberg in Germany two of this sort of birds brought up together in one Cage, of which one was green, the other red, when the Summer was almost spent, and Autumn coming on. But however the colours may differ, this bird is sufficiently characterized by the make of it Bill. Kept in Cages they climb up and down the sides with the Bills and Feet, after the manner of Parrots.

It is a most voracious bird; much delighted and feeding very fat with Hemp-seed. It also loves Fir-kernels, and in the Months of January and February builds its Nest in those, or the like trees. They say, that with one stroak of its bill, it will in a trice divide an Apple in halves, that it may feed upon the Kernels, by that means doing a great deal of mischief in Orchards.

In some parts of Germany, Bavaria, Suevia, Noricum, they are found in great num∣bers all the year round. Sometimes they come over to us, and in the Western part of England, especially Worcestershire, make bad work, spoiling a great deal of fruit in our Orchards.

One thing also more (saith Aldrovandus) seemeth to me strange and unusual in the Cross-bill; that in the Winter-time, when all things shrink with cold, and other birds are mute, she sings; and in Summer, when other birds sing, she is silent. Which whe∣ther it be true or no let those observe among whom such birds are common. It sings, they say, very sweetly.

CHAP. V. Of Sparrows.

THese Birds feed upon grains of Corn, Crums of bread, worms, and divers Seeds. Their Bills are short, thick, and something crooked: Their co∣lour testaceous or earthy. They are very salacious, and therefore held to be short-lived.

§. I. The House-Sparrow. Passer domesticus, Aldrov.

THe weight of this well known, and every where obvious bird is 1⅛ ounce: Its length from the beginning of the Bill to the end of the Tail six inches and an half.

The Bill is thick, in the Cock black, at the corners of the Mouth between the Eyes yellowish, in the Hen dusky, scarce half an inch long: The Eyes hazel-colou∣red: The Legs and Feet of a dusky flesh-colour: The Claws black. The lower joynt of the outmost Toe, as in other small birds, grows to that of the middle Toe.

The Head is of a dusky blue, or ash-colour; the Chin black. Above the Eyes are two small white spots. From the Eyes a broad line of a spadiceous colour. The fea∣thers growing about the Ears are ash-coloured. The Throat [below the black spot] of a white ash-colour. Under the Ears on each side is a great white spot. The lower Breast and Belly are white. The feathers dividing between the Back and Neck, on the outside the shaft are red, on the inside black, but toward their bottoms some∣thing of white terminates the red. The rest of the Back and Rump are of the same colour with Thrushes. made up as it were of a mixture of green, dusky, and ash-colour.

The Hen-bird wants that black spot under the Throat, as also the white spots on the Neck, and above the Eyes: Its Head and Neck being also of the same colour with the Rump: The nether side of the body of a sordid white. Instead of a white line cross the Wings it hath black feathers with pale reddish tips. In general the co∣lours all the body over are not so fair and lively.

Each Wing hath eighteen quil-feathers, dusky, with reddish edges. From the ba∣stard Wing a broad white line is extended to the next joynt. Above this line the co∣vert-feathers of the Wings are of a * 1.698 spadiceous colour; beneath they have their middle parts black, their exteriour edges red. The Tail hath twelve feathers, and is two inches and a quarter long, the middlemost feathers being something shorter than the rest: All of a dusky blackish colour, with reddish edges.

Its Testicles are great, as being a very salacious bird. Its Guts nine inches long: The blind Guts very short. Its Stomach musculous, it feeding upon Wheat, Barley, and other Grain. The Womb of the Female is great. It hath a Gall-bladder.

Whether or no it be so short-lived as is reported, I think there is some reason to doubt.

This kind of bird doth sometimes vary in colour: Aldrovandus setting forth a white and a yellow Sparrow: The figures and descriptions whereof may be seen in the fif∣teenth Book of his Ornithology, Chap. 11, 12.

§. II. * The foolish Bononian Sparrow of Aldrovand.

IT is in bigness equal to the common Sparrow. The colour of its whole body is yellowish, spotted every where with oblong rusty, or rather red spots, which on the Back are longer and bigger than elsewhere, all over tending downwards. The Bill is red, thick, and short: The Eyes great, their Pupils encompassed with a yellow circle, The Tail and Wings incline to black; but the ends of the lesser feathers in the Wings are white.

§. III. * A small bird akin to the Sparrow: Aldrov. Book 15. Chap. 17.

THis small bird, although it have not a black Chin, nor any footstep of it, (as we have observed in some Hen-Sparrows) yet by the whole fashion and make of its body it discovers and warrants it self to be of the Sparrow-kind. Its Bill is whitish, as in the House-Sparrow. It is painted all over the body with oblong reddish spots tending downward: But those on the underside of the Neck, and on the Breast are more manifest, because those parts are white, whereas the upper, viz. the Back, the upper side of the Neck, and the crown of the Head are red; as are also the whole Tail and the Wings: but most of the feathers of these have white ends: The Belly also and the Thighs are white: The Legs and Feet yellowish: The Claws long and black.

§. IV. * The spotted, or three-coloured Sparrow of Aldrovand. Book 15. Chap. 13.

HE calls it three-coloured, for that whereas it consists only of three colours, viz. white, black, and yellowish, no one of them can be said to excell an∣other. The whole Head and Neck are white, varied with yellowish spots. The Wings are adorned with the three forenamed colours, but the white and black are in them predominant. The Bill, as in Sparrows, thick, sharp pointed, the upper Chap yellowish, the nether altogether yellow. The Iris of the Eye is white; the Pupil black. The Chin, Breast and Belly, Thighs, Legs, Feet, and Tail underneath are of a yellowish white; else the Tail is almost yellow.

§. V. * The white-tail'd Sparrow of Aldrovand. Book 15. Chap. 14.

THe Tail of this, although it be not altogether white, yet is of a pale, whitish ash-colour, whereas otherwise for colour it is almost like the House-Sparrow, but hath not that black spot under the Chin. The Bill, as in that, is white: The Eyes black: The Head, and all the lower parts from white incline to yellow. Large spots of almost a ferrugineous colour, beautified with very small milk-white lines, are dispersed all over the Back. All the feathers of the Wings are of a chesnut-colour, round about yellow. The Legs and Feet are dusky.

§. VI. * The Dalmatic Sparrow of Aldrovand. Lib. 15. Cap. 21.

THis bird Aldrovand saw only the Picture of at Tartaglinus's a Citizen of Venice. It is (saith he) bigger than our common Sparrow, but for colour almost like it. * 1.699 Underneath also it is absolutely white, but above of a pale red, no other colour in∣terceding. The Eyes and Bill for the proportion of the body are great; and this last whitish. The Tail is forked; the Feet yellowish, adorned with transverse lines al∣most of a flesh-colour. The Claws black, pretty long and sharp.

§. VII. * The Ring-Sparrow of Bellonius, and the small Sparrow living about Walnut-trees of the same Author.

THe first of these differs from the common Sparrow, as well in that it is of a di∣verse colour, as because the spot, which in that is black, in this is yellow. He calls it * 1.700 Torquatus, because a white ring or wreath encompasses the Eyes under the Eye-brows. Moreover, it is more cinereous than the common Sparrow, hath a greater voice, and exceeds it in the bigness of the Body and Bill. It abides in Woods, building in the hollows of trees.

The other, called Friguet by the French, is least of all, having a very short, thick, black Bill; its Feet, Legs, Head, and Wings, like those of the Wall-Sparrow. It builds in Trees.

§. VIII. * The tailed purple and black Indian Sparrow of Aldrov. Book 15. Chap. 28.

IT hath a Tail five inches long, made up of ten very black feathers. The quil-fea∣thers of the Wings are also cole-black. The Head, Neck, and Rump are of a deep purple colour, yet the roots or bottoms of the feathers yellow. The Bill is pretty thick, somewhat hooked and sharp, something resembling that of the Butcher∣bird, black above, beneath where it grows to the Head white. The colour of the Legs I know not, for they were wanting in the case communicated to me, but it is likely that it hath black ones.

§. IX. * The Tijepiranga of Brasil or American Sparrow, Marggrave.

IT is a little bigger than a Lark, and sings like our common Sparrow. Its whole Body, Neck, and Head are of a delicate red or sanguine colour: But the Wings and Tail of a shining black, saving that in the beginning of the Wings there is some∣thing of red mixt therewith. The Legs are black, below the Knees bare of feathers, above covered with black feathers. The Bill like a Sparrows, the upper Chap black, the nether black also toward the point, but white toward the Head. The feathers on the Head black, which she is sometimes wont to ruffle up after the manner of Spar∣rows. All the feathers of the whole body are black within, red without, yet so com∣plicated, that outwardly they appear wholly red. The Tail is almost three inches long. Each foot hath four Toes, and so disposed as in most other birds.

There is found another sort of this bird, of the bigness of a Sparrow, whose whole body is covered with bluish ash-coloured feathers: But the Wings approach some∣thing to a Sea-green. In the Belly and lower part of the Neck or Throat it is white, or rather of a shining silver colour. The Legs are ash-coloured, as is also the Bill, which is like a Chaffinches. Each foot divided into four Toes, and those situate as is usual in birds.

§. X. * The long-tail'd Indian Sparrow with a scarlet Bill of Aldrovand.

IT is of equal bigness to our House-Sparrows, if you except the longer feathers of the Tail. It hath a short thick Bill of a scarlet colour. Its Head is flat, elevated near the Neck, blackish, with a mixture of a greenish colour inclining to blue; which also is seen running downward through the Back and upper part of the Wings. The Wings are of three colours chiefly; first, that now mentioned; secondly, a white, as appears in the figure; thirdly, a black: To which succeeds fourthly, a yellowish co∣lour, next which are the quil-feathers again black, but cinereous within. The Throat, lower side of the Neck, the Breast and Belly are white. The Tail is double, as in the Peacock, and also of two colours: The lesser which sustains the greater, being as it were its prop, is white; the greater, consisting of four very narrow feathers of nine inches long, is of a deep black. The Legs and Feet are spotted of black and white; the Talons black, and as in birds of prey very sharp and hooked.

§. XI. * Another Indian long-tail'd Sparrow of Aldrovand, Book 15. Chap. 23.

THis is an exceeding beautiful bird, even fairer than the former: Of the same bigness. Its Bill is blue: Its Head also, as in that, flat; but more elevated in the Neck; all black; its Eyes also black, encompassed with a white circle, and having a yellow Iris: Its Neck and Breast are of a scarlet colour; its Belly and Thighs

white: Its Wings, Back, and Tail black: But a certain paleness is mingled with the quil-feathers of the Wings. The longer feathers of the Tail, (which are two exceed∣ing long ones, viz. five Palms, and very broad; and a third first also broad, but end∣ing in very slender filaments) are supported by other smaller ones. The Legs and Feet are white: The Claws black, and, as in the precedent, notably sharp and hooked.

§. XII. * A short-tail'd Indian Sparrow of Aldrovand, Book 15. Chap. 24.

THis Bird is lesser than the two former, all over black: Which colour yet hath I know not what kind of blue and violet gloss; as is usually seen to happen in deep blacks. The Bill and Feet are of a flesh-colour; the Claws black. The Eyes also black, but encompassed with a white circle.

§. XIII. * The short-tail'd Italian Sparrow of Aldrovand.

THe Bird (saith he) which you see here delineated, having a very short Tail, cal∣led Passerino, that is a little Sparrow, is sometimes taken in the Country about Bologna. Its whole body is of one colour, viz. yellowish: Yet its Breast and Belly are whiter than the other parts. Its Bill is of a deeper yellow.

§. XIV. * The rumpless black and red Indian Sparrow of Aldrovand.

THe whole body, both above and underneath, as also the beginnings of the Wings are of a most lovely shining scarlet colour: The rest of the Wings is black: But yet, if their feathers are spread out, something of white appears in their sides. The Feet also are black: Moreover, it hath along the Back two oblong, black spots, almost contiguous. The Bill for the proportion of the body small, (for it is a thick-bodied bird for its bigness) and less also than in the common Sparrow, white where it is joyned to the head, else black, sharp, and slender. It altogether wants a Rump.

§. XV. * The rumpless blue, red, and black Indian Sparrow of Aldrovand.

THis Bird is longer than the former, but less corpulent, and of three colours, espe∣cially, viz. red, blue, and black. The Head, Neck, and Breast, and all the lower parts are of a deep red colour. On the sides of the Neck are two large contigu∣ous spots of a semilunar figure and scarlet colour. The Wings are very long, black and blue about the sides. The Legs short and black. The Bill a little crooked, black, but white near the forehead.

All these Indian Sparrows are to us unknown: Aldrovandus also himself saw only the pictures of them, not the birds themselves. But Pictures of them (as Pliny rightly saith) fallacious, these descriptions cannot be thought to come near the exactness of such as are taken from the birds themselves.

§. XVI. The Mountain Sparrow, frequent in Stiria and Carinthia.

FRom the tip of the Bill to the end of the Claws it was by measure six inches long. Its Tongue was something cloven: The Irides of its Eyes between grey and ha∣zel-coloured. Its Chin was black: It had also on both sides a black spot about the Ears. A border of white compasses the Neck almost half way, and the spots about the ears. The Head of a dusky red. The outer Webs of the feathers on the middle of the Back are red, the inner black. The Rump is of a yellowish ash-colour. The

Breast and Belly of a sordid white. Of the second and third row of Wing-feathers all but the eighth or tenth outmost have white tips. The small feathers on the base or ridge of the Wing are red, as are also the outmost edges of the rest. The number of quil-feathers is eighteen. The Tail is two inches and a quarter long, made up of twelve feathers, of almost equal length. The Bill is black, more than half an inch long; at the corners of the Mouth and lower Chap yellow. It had a large Craw, full of seeds: The muscles of the Gizzard were not very thick. The Testicles great and white.

The description of the Mountain Sparrow in Aldrovand agrees indifferently well with ours, save that he attributes to it two black spots beside the Eyes; one of which is wanting in our bird; at least Mr. Willughby mentions only one.

We saw abundance of these birds in the mountainous Countries of Stiria and Carin∣thia, as we travelled from Vienna to Venice.

§. XVII. * The Wood-Sparrow of Aldrovand, Book 15. Chap. 16.

IN bigness it exactly corresponds with the common Sparrows. Its Bill from yellow inclines to white; and is (as I may so say) exactly Sparrow-like. The crown of its head, as in the precedent Mountain Sparrow, is of a rusty colour, inclining to Ver∣milion. The circumference of the Eyes white, the Iris yellowish, the Pupil black. From Chin to Tail it is of an ash-colour, but the * 1.701 extremities of the feathers incline to red. The Chin and underside of the Neck are crossed with continuous, transverse, blackish lines; whereas in all other Cock-Sparrows we suspect, nay, we positively affirm, that they are wholly black. The Back, Tail, and Feet are of a dusky ferru∣gineous, save that the tips or ends of the feathers are altogether yellow. The Wings are of the same colour, but the first feathers, which cover their * 1.702 ridges end in a nota∣ble white.

§. XVIII. * The Brasilian Sparrow, called Guiranheemgatu by Marggrave.

IT is of the bigness of a Sparrow. The Head above is of a pale yellow, as is the Throat: The Neck, Breast, and lower Belly of a deeper yellow. The Wings are mixt of green and yellow, and distinguished with dusky, as is also the Tail. The Eyes and Bill black: The Legs dusky. The Cock of this kind sings rarely well, like a Finch. The Hen is of the same bigness, covered with Sparrow-like feathers, sings not, but cries Tschrip, tschrip like a Sparrow.

CHAP. VI.

§. I. The Chaffinch: Fringilla, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aristotelis.

IT is something less than a House-Sparrow, weighing not a full ounce. Its Bill is sharp, strong, white underneath, above and toward the tip dusky: The lower Chap * 1.703 equal to the upper: The Tongue cloven and rough: The Irides of the Eyes hazel-coloured: The Ears great.

The Head in the Cock is blue, but the feathers contiguous to the Nosthrils black. The Back is reddish with a mixture of ash-colour or green: The Breast red; the Belly under the Tail white.

The colours of the Hen are not so bright and lively. But its Rump is green: Its Back not so red: The Belly from red inclines to a dirty kind of green. The Breast also is of a duller colour.

The Quil-feathers in each Wing, in number eighteen, all but the three first, or out∣most have their bottoms and interiour Webs white; their exteriour edges yellowish, or rather green. In the Cock the small feathers investing the ridge or basis of the Wing are blue. Above in each Wing is a remarkable white spot: Then after an in∣terstice of black succeeds a long white fillet, beginning from the fourth quill, and

after the tenth continued through the tops of the covert-feathers. That part of this white fillet which passes through the tips of the coverts is tinctured with yellow.

The Tail is two inches and an half long, and made up of twelve feathers, of which the outmost on each side have their bottoms, and also their tops on the outside the shaft black, their middle part white. The next to these have less white, viz. only near the top, and on the outside the shaft: The three subsequent on both sides are black: the two middlemost cinereous with greenish edges.

The Liver is divided into two Lobes, the right being the biggest. The Stomach not very fleshy. The outmost Toe in each foot, as in other small birds, grows to the middlemost at bottom.

This bird sometimes varies in the colour of its feathers. For Gesner affirms, that himself had seen a Chaffinch all over white: And Aldrovandus describes two others, one whose whole body from white declined to yellow: Another that was partly yel∣lowish, and partly blackish.

They are (saith Aldrovandus) birds of passage: They love moderate cold, but are offended by immoderate. But with us in England they fear no cold, abiding here all Winter, be the weather never so sharp: Neither is there any Bird more frequent in all parts of this Land, excepting perchance the Lark, the Sparrow, and the Yellow∣hammer.

§. II. The Bramble or Brambling: Fringilla montana seu Montifringilla, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Arist.

IN weight and bigness it agrees with the precedent. Its Bill is thick, strong, streigt, from a broad base diminishing into a sharp point, almost like a Cone or Funnel; in some birds wholly black, in others black at point, and yellow at bottom. Its Tongue like the Chaffinches; the upper Chap of equal length with the lower, its sides strong and thin'd into sharp edges. [The Bill of the Female hath no part yellow.] Its Feet of a pale dusky colour: The outer Toe joyned to the middle below, as in other small birds. From the head to the middle of the Back the colour in the Cock is like that of a Starling, a shining black, the edges of the feathers being of a reddish ash-colour. The lower part of the Back is white. The Throat is of a yellowish red; the Breast white; the feathers behind the Vent reddish.

In the Female the Head from red or dusky inclines to cinereous: The Neck is ash-coloured: The feathers of the Back have their middle parts black, their borders of that same reddish ash-colour. The Throat is not so red as in the Cock. Within the ridge of the Wing it hath less yellow, and without no Orange colour. In brief it is every where more discoloured.

The interiour quil-feathers of the Wings are red, the inmost of all black, with red edges. Beginning from the fourth, seventh, or eighth of the subsequent feathers have a white spot on the outside their shafts, by the tips of the feathers of the second row. Underneath also their exteriour edges are whitish; else the quil-feathers are all black. The Plumage near the base of the Wing underneath is of a lovely yellow, above of an Orange colour.

The Tail is four inches ⅛ long, compounded of twelve feathers, of a black colour, but the exteriour Web of the outmost feather on both sides is white, and sometimes also the interiour. The tips and edges of the two middle feathers are of a reddish ash-colour.

At Venice we found great numbers of these birds in the Poulterers shops in Winter time; whence we infer that they are common in the Country thereabouts at least in that season of the year. They are found also in England, but more rarely.

These birds also sometimes vary in their colours. Hence in Aldrovandus we have three figures and descriptions of Montifringillae: Of which that in the second place is of a paler colour, and hath its head wholly white. The third is altogether like the first, save that under the Bill it hath no black: And besides that second yellow stroak which is in others, in this was far more conspicuous.

§. III. The great pied Mountain-Finch or Bramlin: Montifringilla calcaribus Alaudae seu major.

IT is equal in bigness to the common Lark, from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail being five inches and a quarter long; and between the extremes of the Wings stretched out twelve and three quarters broad. Its Bill is half an inch long, of a yellow colour, with a black tip. The end of the Tongue is divided into filaments. The top of the Head of a fulvous red, darker toward the Bill. [Mr. Johnson attri∣butes to the Head and upper part of the Neck a dusky red or chesnut colour.] The upper side of the Neck, the Rump and sides are also red: So is the Breast, but paler, the rest of the under side, Throat, Belly, Wings, &c. is white. The underside of the Neck, the Back and scapular feathers are elegantly variegated with black and a reddish ash-colour; the middle part of each feather being black, and the outsides red. The black spots appear of a triangular figure. In the upper part of the Wings and bottom of the Back there is more of red.

Each wing hath eighteen prime feathers, of which the eight outmost or longest are black; yet their bottoms, as far as they are hidden by the second row, except the outer edge of the outmost feather are white: Moreover, the very tips, or rather edges of the tips of all excepting the two outmost, are white. The seven next, which take up the middle part of the Wing, are wholly white, save that near the tip on the outside each feather hath an oblong black spot. The remaining three or four next the body are black, having their uppermost edges red. All the covert-feathers of the Wings, excepting those next the body, and two or three, which make up the bastard Wing, are white; those excepted being black. But Nature (as I see) observes not an exact rule in the colours of this birds Wings: For in the bird described by Mr. Wil∣lughby the covert-feathers of the black quils were for the most part black, of the white ones white: Yet in general in all birds that we have seen there were large white spaces in each Wing. The Tail is somewhat forked, two inches and an half long, made up of twelve feathers, the two outmost whereof on each side being wholly white, save a very little of the outer edge toward the tip, which is black, more in the outmost, less in the next. The outward Web of the third on each side almost from the top quite down to the bottom is white: The remaining six are black, having only their edges about their tips white. The Legs, Feet, and Claws are cole-black. The back-Claw or Spur is longer than the rest, as in Larks, of about half an inch. The outmost Toe for a good space from the divarication is joyned to the middle one, as in most small birds.

This Bird Mr. Willughby found and killed in Lincolnshire. Mr. Johnson sent us the Bird it self, and the description of it out of the Northern part of Yorkshire.

The same Mr. Johnson sent also the description of another bird of this kind by the name of The lesser Mountain-Finch or Bramlin, together with the case of the Bird; which by the case I took to be only the Female of the precedent, he from its difference in bigness, place, and other accidents rather judges it a distinct species. I shall therefore present the Reader with his description of it.

It is of the bigness of a yellow Finch, hath a thick, short, strong Neb, black at the very point, and the rest yellow. All the forehead of a dark chesnut, almost black, growing lighter backwards, about and under either Eye lighter chesnut: The back of the Neck ash-coloured, which goes down the Back to the Tail, but there more spot∣ted with black. Under the Throat white, but Breast and Belly dasht or waved with flame-colour; at the setting on of the Wing grey. The first five feathers blackish brown, all the rest white, save a little dash of brown near the point of each feather. The Tail consists of twelve feathers, the three outmost on either side white, save a little small dash of dark brown: The rest dark brown. The Feet perfectly black. The hind-claw as long again as any of the rest.

CHAP. VII. * The Brasilian Sayacu of Marggrave.

TO what tribe of small birds this is to be referred we do not certainly know: But because the Author saith it is of the bigness of a Chaffinch, we have placed it here. The whole body is covered with feathers of a colour mingled of cinereous and Sea-green: But in the Wings and Back the Sea-green is so mixt that, exposed to the Sun, they shine marvellously. The Bill is black; The Eyes also wholly black.

CHAP. VIII. * The Brasilian Tijeguacuparoara of Marggrave.

IT is of the bigness of a Lark; hath a short, thick Neb, dusky above, white un∣derneath. The top and sides of the Head, the Throat, and lower side of the Neck are covered with yellow feathers, spotted with sanguine. [This Bird was a Female, for in the Male the Plumage of these parts is wholly sanguine.] The upper side of the Neck and whole Back with ash-coloured ones, * 1.704 somewhat shaded: The Wing-feathers are dusky, with white borders: As also the Tail: But the covert-fea∣thers of the Wings are cineous. The Back for the most part, excepting the ends of the feathers, the sides of the Neck, the Breast, and whole Belly, with the Thighs are covered with white feathers. The Legs and Feet are dusky: Four Toes in each placed after the usual manner. It hath black Eyes.

CHAP. IX. * The Brasilian Guiraperea of Marggrave.

THis is also of the bigness of a Lark: Hath a short, thick, black Bill. The up∣per part of the Head and Neck, the whole Back, and lower Belly have fea∣thers of a dark yellow colour, like yellow Wax: The lower side of the Head and Neck, the Throat and Breast black ones: Of which colour there are also a few in the Belly intermingled with the yellow. The Tail is two inches long, and reaches further than the Wings. Both Tail and Wings are made up of dusky and blackish feathers, every one of which hath its side-edges of a Sea-green, so that the Wings appear brown, straked with green: And in like manner the Tail. The Thighs are of a Wax-colour: The Legs and Feet of a dark grey or ash-colour. It hath four Toes disposed according to the usual manner, armed with black Claws.

CHAP. X.

§. I. The Goldfinch, or Thistle-finch; Carduelis.

THis Bird, in the opinion of Aldrovandus and Bellonius is the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Ari∣stotle, by the later Greeks called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It is less than the House-Sparrow; of an ounce and half weight; five inches and an half length from Bill-point to Tail end; nine and a quarter breadth between the utmost tips of the Wings spread out. Its Head for the bulk of the body is of the biggest: Its Neck short; Bill white, but in some birds black at the very point, little more than half an inch long, thick at the head, ending in a sharp point, of a Conical figure: Its Tongue sharp: Eyes ha∣zel-coloured. A ring of scarlet-coloured feathers encompasses the basis of the Bill. From the Eyes to the Bill on each side is drawn a black line. The Jaws are white:

The top of the Head black, from which a broad black line, produced on both sides almost to the Neck, terminates the white. The hinder part of the Head is white. The Neck and forepart of the Back are of a fulvous or reddish ash-colour. The Rump, Breast, and sides are of the same colour, but paler. The Belly white. The Wings and Tail black; Yet the tips of the principal feathers in both are white. Be∣sides, the Wings are adorned with a most beautiful transverse stroak of yellow. If you exactly view each quil-feather, you will find the first or outmost wholly black; all the rest tipt with white; and besides the lower half of the outward Web of eve∣ry feather from the second to the eleventh inclusively of an elegant yellow, which to∣gether make that yellow bed across the Wing we now mentioned; whence this bird is supposed to be called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The interiour covert-feathers of the Wings are also yellow. The Tail is two inches long, composed of twelve black feathers, of which the two outmost have a great white spot on their tips; the next a lesser; The third none; the fourth again a little one, and the fifth a greater.

The Legs are short; the Back Toe strong, armed, with a Claw longer than the rest. The lower of the outer foretoe grows fast to that of the middle toe. The blind Guts, as in other small birds, are very short and little. It hath also a Gall-bladder.

The Hen-bird hath a smaller note than the Cock, and sings not so much, and the feathers on the ridge of the Wing are dusky or cinereous, whereas in the Cocks they are cole-black: and these (saith Aldrovandus) are constant and infallible marks by which the Sexes may be distinguished.

Goldfinches are gregarious birds, for the elegancy of their colours and sweetness of their singing every where well known and highly esteemed. They are of a mild and gentle nature, as may even thence appear, that presently after they are caught, with∣out using any art or care, they will fall to their meat and drink; nor are they so sca∣red and affrighted at the presence of a man, as to strike their Bills and Wings against the sides of the Cage, as most other birds are wont to do. Nor are they very much troubled at their captivity and imprisonment in a Cage: Nay, if they have continued there a good while, they like it so well, that though you let them loose, they will not fly away, as (saith Aldrovand) I my self have observed, to whom I refer the Reader. They feed upon the seeds of Thistles in Winter times, from whence they took their name, and not of Thistles only, but of Teasel, and Hemp, and Dock, and Poppy, as Albertus tells us. The Goldfinch kept in a Cage will with its Bill draw up a little pot of water hanging upon a string, and putting its foot sometimes under the string when it can reach the Pot, will drink out of it, and quench its thirst, which other small birds also will learn to do. Besides that little Thistle-finch (saith Turner) adorned with a golden fillet, I know another spinivorous bird of a green colour, which, in like manner as the Goldfinch, out of two pots, one going up, the other mean time go∣ing down, will take meat out of the one, and drink out of the other. The same doth also the Millet-bird, which our Country men call a Linnet. The same likewise will imi∣tate any tune you whistle to it. So then not only that bird which is in Greek called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and in Latine by Gaza rendred Carduelis, will do what you bid it, and use its Bill and Feet for a hand, but many others also. All which things (saith Aldrovan∣dus) daily experience proves to be most true. It builds its Nest in thorns, and trees. Gesner affirms, that it lays seven Eggs, Bellonius, eight: The difference is not great, and it may lay sometimes the one, sometimes the other number.

The Goldfinch, by reason of age, sex, or other accidents, varies sometimes in its colours. Aldrovandus sets forth four varieties: 1. One not full grown, which had no red at all on its Head: 2. One with white Eye-lids: 3. A white one with a red head: 4. A whitish one, which yet on the forepart of the Head and under the Chin had something of red. Besides which he describes also a bird of kin to the Gold∣finch, (which perchance was a bastard kind) in these words.

In bulk of body it exceeds a Goldfinch, being equal to a Chaffinch. A circle of a lively * 1.705 Saffron colour encompasses the Bill. Its Eyes are like a Goldfinches, but bigger. Its Head, except the Saffron ring now mentioned, and its Back are of the same colour, viz. blackish. The Breast is of a black green, as are also the small feathers, covering the ridges of the Wings: Whose quil-feathers are black, and much more varied or distinguished with white, than in other birds of this kind. That part which in other Thistle-finches is yellow, in this is of a pale colour. The Tail of as deep a black as in others; but in the two outmost Tail-feathers on each side when extended appeared something of white; which otherwise, when the Tail was closed, was hidden, and not exposed to view. The whole Belly from cinereous inclined to dusky.

§. II. * The Brasilian Jacarini of Marggrave.

IT is of the bigness of our Goldfinch: Hath a thick, ash-coloured Bill: Ash-co∣loured Legs and Feet, with four Toes situate after the usual manner. The whole Body is covered with black feathers, but shining with a gloss like polished steel. The Wings withinside are white. The Eyes are blue, and behind each a large hole in∣stead of Ears. This Bird being of the bigness of a Goldfinch, and having a Bill not unlike it, not knowing better to dispose of it, I have inserted in this Chapter, although it agrees not in colour either with the Goldfinch, or any other European Bird, that I know, of this bigness.

CHAP. XI. Of the Linnet.

§. I. Of the Linnet in general.

THe Characteristic notes of this kind are, 1. A size of body something less than a Chaffinch: 2. A testaceous or earthy colour, mixt of cinereous and dusky or brown: 3. A Tail a little forked: 4. A peculiar colour of the outmost feathers of the Tail, viz. brown, with white borders or edges: 5. A sweet note. Of Linnets we have observed four sorts in England: 1. The common: 2. The greater red: 3. The lesser red. 4. The Mountain Linnet.

§. II. The common Linnet: Linaria vulgaris.

IT weighs about an ounce: From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail being half a foot long; between the tips of the Wings spread forth ten inches broad. Its Bill is half an inch long, thick, strong, black above, white underneath. The Tongue is as it were cut off: The Nosthrils round: The Head particoloured of cinereous and black; the Back of black and reddish, the middle part of each feather being black, the edges or outsides in the Head cinereous, in the Back reddish. The Breast is white: The lower Belly about the Vent yellowish. The region of the Craw or bottom of the Gullet is of a lovely red, the edges of the feathers being yellowish. Each Wing hath eighteen quil-feathers, all black but the edges, which in the exteriour are whi∣tish, in the interiour red. The foremost feathers of the second row are black, the edges of the interiour, or those next the rise of the Wing red. The lesser covert∣feathers about the ridge or base of the Wing are red. The Tail is somewhat forked, its two outmost feathers being two inches and a quarter long; the middle only two: Of the middle two the borders or edges are red, of the rest white. The Tail consists of the usual number of twelve feathers. It delights to feed upon Line-seed, whence Gesner, in imitation of the French, (who call it Linote) imposed on it the name of Linaria. It seems not to have been described or mentioned by the Ancients: How∣beit, Bellonius makes it to be the Aegithus of Aristotle. It is kept in Cages with us for the sweetness of its singing; wherein, in my judgment, it excels all other small birds. It feeds upon Canary seed, Panic, Millet (whence also it is by some called Miliaria) Rape-seed, Cole-seed, and Hemp-seed. But whatever seed it eats it first * 1.706 decorticates it with its Bill, that it may feed only on the pulp. But Hemp-seed (that we may note that by the by) makes birds that feed upon it so fat that it either kills them, or takes from them all courage and list to sing. Olina saith, that the Linnet builds in trees that are not very tall, and lays three or four Eggs. We have observed it to build in black or white thorn bushes, or Furze-bushes. Mr. Willughby ascribes to the Feet of this bird an obscure dusky or blarkish colour; Olina a middle colour between flesh∣colour

and white. Perchance the Feet of the younger birds are paler, of the old darker coloured: Or those of the Cock blacker, the Hen-birds white. Mr. Jessop sent us a Linnet of the common sort with Feet perfectly black, but that was extra∣ordinary.

An Addition to the History of the Linnet out of our English Writer of Singing Birds.

YOu may take the young ones out at four days old, if you intend they shall learn to whistle or hear any other birds song: For then being so young they have not the old birds song, and are more apt to take any thing than if you suffer them to be in the Nest till they are almost quite fledg'd. You must be sure when you take them out so young, to keep them very warm, and to feed them but a little at a time. Your meat must be Rape-seed soaked, and then bruised, mingled with full as much soaked white-bread. You must make fresh every day; for if it be sour, it immediately makes them scour, and not long after die. You must not give them their meat too dry, for if you do it will make them Vent-burned; and that is as bad as if they scoured. If you intend to whistle to them, do it when you feed them. For they will learn very much before they can crack hard seeds. So hang them under any bird you intend they shall learn his Song. I have known several that have been taught to speak.

You may know the Cock-Linnet by these two marks: 1. The Cock is much browner on the Back and pinion of the Wing than the Hen. 2. By the white of the Wing. Take your young Linnet when the Wing-feathers are grown, and stretch out his Wing, holding his body fast with the other hand (otherwise I have known them by a sudden jerk to break their Wings) and then observe the white upon the fourth, fifth, and sixth feather, if it be glossie and glistering, and the white goes close to the quill, this is a certain sign of a Cock.

The Linnets diseases and their cures.

1. This Bird is sometimes troubled with melancholy, and then you will find the end of his Rump to be very much swelled; which you must prick with a Needle, and let out all the corruption, squeezing it out very well with the point of the Needle; then anoint him with the ointment made of fresh butter and Capons grease, and feed him for two or three days with Lettice, or Beet seeds, and the leaves also: And you may give him the seeds of Melons chopt in pieces, which he will eat very greedily; and when you find him to mend take the Melon seeds away, and give him his old diet again: Put into his water two or three blades of Saffron and white Sugar-candy for a Week or more, till you perceive the bird to be wholly recovered.

2. The disease this Bird is most troubled withal is a scouring; of which there are three sorts: The first very thin, and with a black substance in the middle, which is not very dangerous; for I have known many sing very strong and lavish when they have had this scouring in a very violent manner. The second is between a black and a white, but not so thin as the other, but very clammy and sticking. This is worse than the former. It is recovered by giving your bird some Melon-seed shred, and Lettuce seeds and Beet seeds bruised, and in his water some Liquorice and white Su∣gar-candy, with a little flour of Oatmeal. You must be diligent at the first to ob∣serve him when he is sick, that so he may have a stomach to eat: For in two or three days his stomach will be quite gone, and then it will be hard recovering him again. The third and worst sort of scouring is the white clammy scouring, which is dange∣rous and mortal, if not well looked after at the first. This is occasioned by bad seeds, and many times for want of water. If it be not taken at the first appearance it imme∣diately causeth him to droop, and fall from his meat, and then all medicines are use∣less. First, give him Flax-seeds, taking away all other seeds; then give him Plantain∣seeds, if green, otherwise they will do him no good: For want of Plantain-seeds give him some of the Leaves shred small, and some Oatmeal bruised, with a few crums of bread: And in his water give him some white Sugar-candy and Liquorice, with a blade or two of Saffron.

To avoid the peril of scouring Olina advises to let him have always a piece of chalk in his Cage.

§. III. The greater red-headed Linnet: Linaria rubra major.

THis is something less than the common Linnet: Its Bill short, thick, of a Coni∣cal figure like the Chaffinches, the upper Chap black, the lower at the base white: The Tongue sharp, and as it were cut off, as in the Chaffinch: The Nosthrils round: The Eyes hazel-coloured. The crown of the head adorned with a red or sanguine colour, but not very bright and shining. The rest of the Head and Neck round about are cinereous. The Shoulders, Back, and covert feathers of the Wings are red. The Breast is tinctured with red. The sides under the Wings are of a yel∣lowish red or spadiceous colour. The outmost quil-feathers of the Wings are black, the inner dusky. The exteriour edges of the eight outmost, excluding the first, are white, the white from the bottom towards the top extending it self in breadth in eve∣ry feather more and more in order, till in the ninth feather it reaches almost to the tip. These white edges in the Wing complicated concur to make up a white spot externally conspicuous. From the ninth the tips of the sixth or seventh succeeding are blunt and indented. The interiour margins of all the quil-feathers are white, and the tips also of those toward the body, or setting on of the Wing. The Tail is some∣thing forked, two inches and an half long, made up of the usual number of twelve feathers; all sharp-pointed, and of two colours, both edges, as well inner as outer, being white, but the outer more; which colour in the extreme or outmost feathers takes up almost half the breadth of the exteriour Web: In the rest it grows narrower and narrower by degrees to the middlemost, which are almost wholly black, the very extreme edges only remaining white. The feathers incumbent on the Tail in the middle along the shaft are dusky, their outsides being white. It hath small Legs and Feet of a reddish dusky colour, but not perfectly black; black Claws, the hinder the biggest, the two outer Claws equal one to the other: There is also the like cohesion between the outmost and middle toes, as in other birds.

In the Female neither is the Back bay, nor the crown or Breast red; but the Back dusky, with a tincture of green, the Breast of a dirty yellow, varied with dusky spots. The other notes agree in both Sexes.

It weighs five drachms, from tip of Bill to end of Tail is five inches and an half long; to the end of the Claws but five. A line of nine inches and a quarter mea∣sures the Wings stretcht out. It is common on the Sea-coasts.

§. IV. The lesser red-headed Linnet: Linaria rubra minor.

THis is lesser than the precedent. The Back coloured like the common Linnet: The forehead adorned with a remarkable shining red spot: The Bill like that of the greater red Linnet, but less: The Breast red; the lower Belly white. The prime feathers of the Wings and Tail dusky: The Tail about two inches long, and something forked. The outmost borders or edges of the Wing and Tail-feathers round are white.

The Legs and Feet are dusky; the Claws black, and long for the bigness of the bird; but the Legs very short. The like cohesion or adnascency of the outmost and middle toe at bottom, as in other small birds.

In this kind the Female also hath a spot on her head, but more dilute than that of the Cock, and of a Saffron colour.

This Bird differs from the precedent red Linnet in many particulars. 1. In that it is less: 2. That it hath a lesser and sharper Bill: 3. That the Hen agrees with the Cock in the spot on its head, though it be paler: 4. That the Legs and Feet in this are blacker: 5. That the border of white about the tail-feathers is narrower: 6. That the tips of the second row of Wing-feathers being white make a transverse white line cross the Wing. Lastly, that this Bird is gregarious, flying in flocks, not that.

Aldrovandus describes two sorts of red Linnets, neither of which agrees with either of ours in all points. See their description in his Ornithology.

§. V. The Mountain Linnet: Linaria Montana.

THis was found by Mr. Fr. Jessop in the Mountains of the Peak of Derbyshire, and sent to us. It is twice as big as the precedent. The colour of its Head and Back is the same with that of the common Linnet; for the middle parts of the fea∣thers of both are black, but the outsides or edges of those on the Back red, on the Head cinereous. The middle parts of the feathers on the Throat and Breast are also black, but the edges whitish. Only the Rump is of a very fair shining scarlet or Orange-tawny colour. The edges of the middle quil feathers of the Wings are white, as are also the tips of those of the second row. The Tail is two inches and an half long, consisting of twelve feathers, of which the two middle are all over of one uniform brown or dusky colour. Of the rest, as well the outer as inner edges, are white: These white edges in the outmost feathers are broader than in the rest. Its Bill is like that of the precedent, viz. less for the proportion of its body than that of the second species. The whole bird from Bill to Tail was six inches and an half long; to the Claws five and an half.

CHAP. XII. The Siskin: Spinus sive Ligurinus.

ITs Head is black. The upper side of its body, viz. Neck and Back are green. Yet the * 1.707 shafts of the feathers on the Back are black; and the Neck being darker than the Back seems to partake something of the colour of the Head. The Rump is of a greenish yellow: The Throat and Breast of a yellowish green: The Belly white: The feathers under the Tail yellowish, with oblong dusky spots in the middledown the shaft. The feathers also investing the sides are spotted in the middle with brown. The Hen is paler and more discoloured. Her Throat and sides under her Wings are white, the middle parts of the feathers being spotted with brown. The Head and Back are of a greenish ash-colour, with brown spots in the middle. The Throat and Breast have less of green.

The Wings are crossed by a broad line or bed of yellow. The Pinion-quill of the Wing is all over dusky, only the edges green. Of the nine following the outer Webs are green; the green part is widened by degrees in every feather, till in the last it take up half the length. From the tenth almost the lower half of each feather is yellow, the upper black. The exteriour covert-feathers of the Wings are black, the edges of the interiour green. The Tail consists of twelve feathers, the two middle∣most black: The rest above half way of a most lovely yellow, with black tips. The uppermost tips of the feathers, as well in the Wings as in the Tail, are grey. The lower Mandible of the Bill hath an eminency or angle on each side, received in the upper. The Tongue is sharp, horny at the tip, and channelled: The Eyes hazel∣coloured. The outer and middle Toe have the like cohesion at bottom as in other birds.

It is kept in Cages for its singing: It is common in Germany and England. At Vi∣enna in Austria they called it Seisel, a name not much different from our English Siskin. In Sussex it is known by the name of Barley-bird, so called because it comes to them in Barley-seed time. All the Winter, and in the beginning of the Spring, it flies in flocks. Its differs from the two following birds, 1. In that it is a little bigger: 2. It hath a longer Bill: 3. A black Head: 4. A shorter Tail, more than half yellow: 5. A strake or bed of yellow cross its Wings.

Aldrovandus writes, that it seldom or never appears in cold Countries, as France and England, as Bellonius and others report: But we have by experience learnt the contrary. It is of a very mild nature, and not at all crafty, so that it is easily taken by any kind of engine or deceit.

This bird is called by Aristotle and the ancient Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Aldrovandus is of opinion. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 also is the name of a bird, supposed to be this, as well with the Greeks as with the Latines.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Canary-bird, out of Gesner, Aldrovandus, and Olina.

CAnaria is an Island of the Atlantic Sea, on the left side of Mauritania, one of those which the Ancients for the excellent temperature of the Air called For∣tunate, so denominated from the multitude of great Mastive Dogs, as Pliny out of Juba delivers. All those Islands, which the Ancients called Fortunate, are now adays called the Canaries. Out of which in our Age are wont to be brought cer∣tain singing birds, which from the place where they are bred they commonly call Ca∣nary-birds: Others call them Sugar-birds, because the best Sugar is brought thence. Of this bird we have thought fit to treat next after the Siskin, because some have judged it to be a sort of Siskin, as Turner: And in truth to look upon for colour and shape it is very like it. This bird Gesner from the relation of a friend of his thus de∣scribes. It is of the bigness of the common Titmouse, hath a small white Bill, thick at base, and contracted into a sharp point: All the feathers of the Wings and Tail being of a green colour: So that it differs little from those small birds, which our Country men call * 1.708 Citrils, or those they call Zisels, and the Italians, Ligurini, save that it is a little bigger than either of those, liker in shew or outward appearance to this, some∣thing greener than that. So far Gesner. Between the Cock and Hen-bird I have ob∣served this difference, that the Breast, Belly, and upper part of the Head, adjoyning to be Bill, are more yellow in the Cock than in the Hen. This is common to both Sexes to be fleshy, and not fat. Of its singing the same Gesner hath recorded as fol∣loweth. It hath a very sweet and shrill note, which at one breath continued for a long time without intermission, it can draw out sometimes in length, sometimes raise very high, by a various and almost musical inflexion of its voice, making very plea∣sant and artificial melody. The sound it makes is very sharp, and so quavering, that sometimes when it stretches and exercises its little throat and Chaps, whistling with all its force, it vehemently strikes, and even deafens the Ears of the hearers with its shrilness. Many are delighted with this kind of its singing, many also are offended, saying, that they are astonied and deafned by it. It is sold every where very dear, both for the sweetness of its singing, and also because it is brought from far remote places with great care and diligence, and but * 1.709 rarely; so that it is wont to be kept only by Nobles and great men. But if any one be taken with the melody of these Birds, let him buy those which have long Tails and small Bodies. For it is found by experience that by how much less they are, by so much are they more canorous. But the great ones shut up in Cages turn their heads round about and backward, and are not to be esteemed genuine or right bred Canary Birds. Of this sort there are brought from the Islands Palma and C. Verde, which they call fools, from that motion of their head, which is proper to fools. They are fed with Canary-seed, wherein they take great pleasure, which therefore is wont to be brought together with them out of the same Islands. Gesner from the relation of his friend writes, that they are fed with the same food with the Siskin and Citril; viz. Line seed, and Poppy seed, and some∣times also Millet: But particularly, that they delight in Sugar and the Sugar-cane, as also in that sort of Chickweed or Mouse-ear, which they commonly call Henbit. For he affirms, that by this they are presently provoked to sing. This sort of birds is wont to be infested with certain tumours or kernels in its head; which I take to be a kind of Atheromata: They are to be anointed with Butter or the fat of Hens till they ripen, then they are to be opened, and the matter dexterously pressed out, and again anointed till they be perfectly whole. Sometimes also they happen to be troubled with Lice: In which case it will be of advantage to sprinkle them often with Wine. For so those Vermine will be killed, and they become stronger to overcome that trouble. Thus far Aldrovandus.

There are also found (saith Olina) of this sort of birds in the Island Ilva a degene∣nerate kind, descended originally from true Canary-birds, which were brought over from the Canary Islands in a certain Ship bound for Ligorn, that was cast away near this Island, and after the shipwrack escaped, and saved themselves in this Island; and afterwards propagated their kind here, breeding and multiplying greatly. But the difference of place hath wrought some change in the external figure of this Bird. For these spurious Birds have black Feet, and are more yellow under the Chin than the genuine Canary-Birds.

Additions to the History of the Canary bird out of a late English Writer concerning singing Birds.

CAnary birds (he saith) of late years have been brought abundantly out of Ger∣many, and are therefore now called German birds: And these German birds in handsomness and song excel those brought out of the Canaries.

The Cock of this kind is never subject to be fat: For his high mettle, and lavish singing will hardly suffer him to maintain flesh on his back, much less fat.

How to chuse a Canary-bird.

Let him be a long bird, standing streight and not crouching, but sprightly, like un∣to a Sparrow-hawk: standing with life and boldness, and not subject to be scareful. Before you buy him, hear him sing in a single Cage; so you may be sure not to be cheated with a Hen for a Cock, and may please your fancy in his singing. He that hath most variety of notes, and is the longest song-bird is by most accounted the best.

How to know if he be in health when you buy him.

If he stands up boldly, without crouching or shrinking his feathers, if his Eyes look chearful, and not drowsie; and he be not apt to clap his head under his Wing, these are good signs of a healthful bird: But the surest is to observe his dung; which when he is in perfect health lies round and hard, with a fine white on the outside, and dark within, and will quickly be dry. The larger the birds dung is, I hold it the better, so it be long, round, and hard. A Seed-bird very seldom dungs too hard, except it be very young. If he bolts his tail like a Nightingale after he hath dunged; or if his dung be very thin, or if it have only a slimy white, with no blackness in it, the bird is not healthful.

Of the ordering of Canary-birds, which you intend for breeding, in building and breeding.

First, make a convenient Cage, or prepare a room fit for that purpose: You must be sure to let it have an out-let toward the rising of the Sun, where you must have a piece of wire, that they may have egress and regress at their pleasure. When you have prepared a convenient Room, then set up in the corners of it some Besoms, either Heath or Frail, opening them in the middle: If the Room be pretty high you may set two or three brooms, one under another; but then you must set partitions with boards over every broom; otherwise the birds will dung upon one anothers heads; and also they will not endure to see one another so near each others Nest, for the Cock or Hen will be apt to fly upon a Hen that is not matcht to them, when they see them just under their Nest, which many times causes the spoiling of their Eggs and young ones.

2. You must cause something to be made so convenient, and of such bigness as may hold meat for some considerable time, that you may not be disturbing of them con∣tinually, and a convenient Vessel for water also. Let your place where you intend to put your seeds be so ordered that it may hang out of the reach of the Mice, for they will destroy all the Canary seeds, and so consequently way starve your birds.

3. You must prepare some stuff to build withall of several sorts of things, as Cot∣ton-wool, small dead grass, Elks hair [this is hard to get in England] and earth-moss. You must dry it before you put them together: Then mingle them all, and put them up in a little Net like a Cabbage-net, hanging of it so that they may with conveni∣ency pull it out. You must set Pearches all about the Room, and, if big enough, set a tree in the middle, that so they may take the more pleasure. You must proportion your birds according to the bigness of your Room: Rather let it be under-stocked than over: for they are birds that love liberty.

4. When you perceive them begin to build and carry stuff, give them once a day, or in two days at least, a little greens and some Loaf-sugar, for that will cause a slip∣periness in the body, that so the Eggs may come forth without injuring the birds; for many times the Hen dies in laying her first Egg: Which will be a great loss, both in losing the first brood, and unpairing the Cock. If this happens, and you have but

few pairs in your breeding place, take out the single Cock, and match him, and put him in again: If many, it is advisable to let your Cock alone, till you draw all your birds out to part them; because it will be hard to find out the single Cock, and as hard to take him when found.

5. When you find that they have built, take away the Nets that have the breeding∣stuff in them. They breed most usually three times in a year, begin in April, and breed in May and June, and sometimes in August, which is not very usual, neither here, nor in Germany.

How they breed them in Germany.

First, they prepare a large Room, and build it in the likeness of a Barn, being much longer than broad, with a square place at each end, and several holes at each end, to go into those square places. In those out-lets they plant several sorts of trees, which grow pretty thick, for they will take much delight both to sing and breed in them: And the bottom of the place they strow with a fine sort of sand, and upon it cast seeds of Rape, Chickweed, and Groundsil; which the old bird doth eat, both at time of laying, and al∣so when they have young ones. They put in the house all sorts of stuff for the building of their Nests; and Brooms up and down the corners, one under another, and to the height of the place that is built for the purpose; and make partitions between every Nest, to make them breed the quieter, without disturbing one another: And in the middle of the Room they will set a board edge-ways to darken the light on each side; for no bird almost doth naturally love to have much light come to his Nest. They plant a tree or two, if the house be big enough, one at each end, with many Pearches also along each side of the house, and all along where they make their Nests: The place also that is in the air is full of Pearches. They hang their stuff for building all up and down the house, that the rain come not at it, and strow some on the ground also. Some have fine fountains in those places that are out-lets for the birds to go at pleasure into the air; in which the birds take very much delight to wash and prune themselves.

They seldom take their Nests away to bring them up by hand, as we do here, but they let the old ones always bring them up; and when they are pretty stout, and can crack hard seeds, they have small places for the young to come and feed in; and they give them of all sorts of green seeds to feed upon; and have a kind of trap-door to take them. They say, that if they do not soak seeds for the young ones, very few will live, by reason the Hen is apt to forsake them, and go to Nest again; and the seeds being very hard, they pine away and die.

How to breed and order the young ones taken out of the Nest.

These Birds must not be left too long in the Nest; for if they are, they will be very apt to grow sullen, and will not feed kindly: Therefore take them out about nine or ten days old, and put them in a little basket, and cover them with a Net, else they will be very subject to jump out upon the first opening of the Basket, and if they fall to the ground they will be bruised and die. You must keep them warm for the first week, for they are very tender, and if they take cold will be subject to the cramp, and not digest their meat.

Take them in the Evening, and if you can possibly when the old ones are out of sight; otherwise they will be apt to take distaste when they sit again, and have young ones; and will be apt at every fright to forsake both their Young and Eggs.

Make their meat after this manner. Take some of your largest Rape-seeds, and soak them in water twenty four hours or less, if the water be a little warm I think twelve hours will serve the turn. Drain the water from the seeds, and put a third part of white bread to the seeds, and a little Canary seed in flour, and so mix them all together: Then having a small stick, take up a little at the end, and give every bird some two or three times over; give them but a little at first at a time and often; for if you over-charge their stomachs they will cast up their meat, and seldom thrive after it. For the old ones give them but little at a time, and besides, all the seeds huld and warmed in their stomachs; which lie nothing so hard on their stomachs as seeds that have their skins on. You must not make their meat too dry, for then they will be apt to be Vent-burnt, by reason all the seeds are hot. For I have observed, that the old ones do constantly drink after they have eaten seeds, and a little before they feed their young ones; and they commonly after feeding of them sit a quarter of an

hour or more to keep them warm, that the meat may the better nourish them; there∣fore do you also when you have fed them cover them up warm. I approve best of the nestling bird by reason of his tameness and familiarity with his Keeper; which is the chief pleasure of a bird. For if a bird be not tame, but extraordinarily wild and buckish, there is no pleasure in feeding or hearing of him sing, being apt upon all occasions to bruise himself, and to forsake his singing when most desired.

CHAP. XIII. The Bird called Citril at Vienna; Verzellino at Rome; in Latine, Thraupis & Citrinella.

IN the shape of the Head and whole body it is very like to a Linnet. The Head and Back green: The Rump of a yellowish green: The hinder part of the Head and Neck ash-coloured. [In a bird that I described at Rome, the top of the Head, the upper side of the Neck and the Shoulders were particoloured, of a yellowish green and dark brown.] The nether surface of the body is green, but about the Vent it is whitish. The upper part of the Breast and the Belly in the Male birds is of a lovely yellow. The Tail is 2 ⅛ inches long, and black, but the extreme edges of the feathers are green. The quil-feathers of the Wings are of the same colour with the Tail: The lesser rows of Wing-feathers green. [In those birds I described at Rome the tips both of the quil-feathers, and also of the secondary feathers of the Wings were white.]

The Bill is hard, of a dusky or livid colour, having sharp edges, thicker and shorter than the Siskins [yea, in proportion to its body shorter and thicker than the Linnets or Greenfinches Bill:] The upper Chap equal to the lower. The Tongue as in Chaffinches: The Feet whitish or flesh-coloured, with blackish Claws. The Guts long, slender, and rolled up together.

It is mursed up in Cages for the sake of its singing. At Vienna in Austria we saw of these birds to be sold, brought out of Stiria. It is frequent about Rome.

It differs from the Siskin and Serin, 1. In its ash-coloured Neck: 2. In that the whole nether side of its body is green. 3. That it hath no spots in the sides. Olina attributes to it a Tail a little forked; which we also observed in a bird we described at Rome.

Bellonius esteems this bird to be the Thraupis of Aristotle, called in French, Tarin. It hatches seven or eight Eggs at one sitting.

CHAP. XIV. The bird called Hirngryll at Vienna, Serinus Gesner. Aldrov. lib. 18. cap. 20.

THe Back of this is something red, the middle parts of the feathers being spot∣ted with black, as in the Yellow-hammer. The Head is yellow, of a deeper colour in the Males, and paler in the Females. The Rump from green in∣clines to a lovely yellow. The Breast is of a yellowish green: The Belly white: The sides variegated with oblong, black spots.

The Tail is black, the outmost edges of the feathers being green, consisting of the usual number of twelve feathers. The prime feathers of the Wings are of the same colour with the Tail. The tips of the interiour feathers of the second row of the Wing are white; of the other lesser Wing-feathers green.

The Bill is shorter and stronger than in the Citrinella, sharp-pointed. The upper Chap something prominent: The Tongue like the Chaffinches: The Feet dusky; the Claws black. The like cohesion of the outer and middle toe at bottom as in other small birds. The Guts are small, and have many convolutions.

These Birds also are kept in Cages for their singing: We saw of them to be sold at Vi∣enna in Austria, brought out of Stiria. This little bird (saith Gesner) for its rare musical singing is preferred before all others of this kind, even the Citrinella.

The Siskin, Citrinella, and Serinus agree, 1. In having yellow Rumps: 2. That they are canorous: 3. That they have greenish yellow Breasts, and 4. Long, slender Guts.

The Serinus and Citrinella agree in the colour of the Tail and Wings. The Siskin and Serinus in their spotted sides and white bellies: The Siskin and Citrinella in having a green back; but in the Siskin the shafts of the feathers are black.

This Bird grows very tame and gentle (as Gesner reports) and will live many years [thirteen or fourteen] shut up in a Cage.

* The Brasilian Teitei, which they call also Guiranhemgeta and Guraundi, Marggrave.

It is a small bird, of the bigness of a Robin-red-breast. It is kept in Cages for a singing bird, but it only chirps like a Redstart, [Rubrica] called by the Germans, Gimpel. It feeds upon Paco and Mamao. It hath a short, thick, black Bill. The Head, upper side of the Neck, Wings, whole Back and Tail are invested with black feathers, with which something of blue is mixt, so that they shine like polished Steel. The Throat, lower side of the Neck, the Breast, the whole lower Belly and Thighs are yellow. At the rise of the upper Bill behind the Nosthrils it hath a spot of yellow feathers. The Legs and Feet are of a dusky colour. And this is the Cock.

The Hen in proportion of body and magnitude agrees exactly with the Cock; hath the same Bill and Legs: But differs much in colour. For it is green like the Acanthis, called by the Germans, Zyschen. The Wings and Head with the upper side of the Neck are somewhat dusky, with blue mingled. These birds delight to live to∣gether five or six in a Cage.

CHAP. XV. The Anadavad Bird, brought from the East Indies, having a Finches Bill and Larks Claws.

IN bigness it scarce exceeds the Golden-crown'd Wren. Its Bill is for shape like a Goldfinch or Chaffinches; for colour red, the upper Mandible above being black. The upper side of the body is of a dusky colour, in some birds lighter, in others darker; only the feathers growing about the Rump are of a scarlet or deep Orange. The quil-feathers of the Wings and those of the Tail are black. The Tail it self is an inch and half long, made up of twelve feathers; the middlemost being the lon∣gest, and the exteriour in order shorter. The quils and covert-feathers of the Wings are spotted with small round white spots, scattered up and down in no order, in some birds more, in some fewer. In some birds the upper part of the Breast is of a scarlet red, in others it is wholly black, as is the rest of the Breast and Belly in all. In one Bird, which was paler than the rest that we saw, and almost of the colour of a Robin-red-breast on the Back, not only the Wings, but also the side-feathers, and those scarlet ones incumbent on the Tail were marked with white spots. The Legs and Feet are white: The Claws very long, like those of Larks, but more crooked. The figure of the body is rather long than round.

In the year of our Lord, 1673. I saw many of these birds (in the house of a certain Citizen of London) that had been brought out of the East Indies, kept all together in the same Cage: Being introduced by my worthy friend Thomas Allen, Doctor of Physic, who also gave me the first notice and information of them.

CHAP. XVI. A Bird called by the Bolognese, Petronia Marina, by * 1.710 Aldrovand, Oenanthae congener.

THe length of this Bird, taken from the tip of the Bill to the end of its Claws, was little less than seven inches: Its breadth between the extremes of the Wings distended twelve and a quarter. Its Bill strong, sharp-pointed, like that of a Chaffinch, from the tip to the angles of the Mouth somewhat more than half an inch long: The upper Chap black, the lower about the angle yellow. The angle itself is round: The sides of the Bill sharp-edged. The Head is of a dusky ash-co∣lour, but for the most part through the middle of the crown is a line drawn of a whiter colour. The Neck is ash-coloured. Below, between the Shoulders the fea∣thers have their outer edges of a pale ash-colour, their inner black. The Rump from dusky inclines to green, but the tips of the feathers next the Tail are white. The prime feathers in each Wing are in number eighteen, of which the first or out∣most is shorter than the second, the second equal to the third, and longest of all. These three feathers are of a dark brown or blackish, only their outmost edges of a pale green. The second, third, and fourth rows of Wing-feathers have white tips, but else are black. The Plumage on the base or ridge of the Wing is of a sordid green. The feathers covering the underside of the Wing are white. The Breast is of a sordid white. The feathers next the Tail have pale yellow tips, else they are brown. The Tail is two inches and an half long, and made up of twelve feathers.

This sort is distinguished from all other small Birds, 1. That it hath a very fair, lovely, yellow spot about the middle of its Throat. 2. That all the feathers of the Tail on the interiour Web near the tip are marked with one great round white spot, being else all black, save the edges, which are greenish. The outer half of the out∣most feather on each side is also white. 3. It is distinguished from the Hortulane by a most certain note, that its Bill is far bigger, and stronger, and equal to a Green∣finches Bill.

We saw many of these Birds at Bologna in Italy to be sold. The Bird which Aldro∣vandus saith is called Petrone at Bologna, and Petronello at Genua, and describes un∣der the title of * 1.711 Alaudae congener, seems to be no other bird than the Emberiza alba of Gesner, or our Bunting, as will appear to him that shall take pains to compare the descriptions.

CHAP. XVII. The Hortulane kind, whose characteristic is a hard knob in the upper Chap of the Bill.

§. I. The Bunting called by Gesner Emberiza alba. I take it also to be the Calandra of Aldrov. and Bellonius, moreover the Alaudae congener of Aldrovand, and the Cenchramus of Bellonius: The Strillozo of Olina.

IT weighs about an ounce and half: Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was seven inches and a quarter, and so much to the end of the Claws. Its breadth between the tips of the Wings spread eleven inches and an half. Its Bill is great and thick, having a hard knob or eminency in the upper Mandible or Palate, wherewith it is thought to bruise Wheat, Oats, and other Grain. The sides of the lower Chap rise up in an angle on each side, [as may be better represented by a fi∣gure than expressed in words] and incline to one another under the Tubercle of the Palate. The Tongue is sharp, and slit in two. The Claws are of a pale dusky co∣lour. The back-toe is great, armed with a lesser and more crooked Claw than in Larks. The outmost fore-toe is equal to the inmost, and grows fast to the middle∣most

at bottom, as in other birds. This birds Head somewhat resembles a Rails. The colour of the whole body testaceous or earth-like. The Chin, Breast, Belly are of a yellowish white. The Throat hath oblong, black spots. The quil and covert∣feathers of the Wings are dusky, having their outer edges cinereous. The Back (as we said) of a testaceous colour, the middle parts of the feathers being blacker. The Neck beneath the Head behind is ash-coloured. The shafts of the Head-feathers are of a dark brown; the outsides or edges being of a reddish ash-colour. The Tail is more than three inches long, of a dusky red colour, without any whiteness, save that a kind of dark shadow or appearance of white may be discerned in the out∣most feathers. It sings sitting upon the highest twigs of trees and shrubs. It feeds upon Corn.

Both the figure and description of the Bird called Strillozo in Olina agree exactly in all points to our Bunting, save only that he attributes to it the bigness of the common Lark, than which our Bunting is something bigger. I my self also, when I was at Rome, saw and described a small bird called Strillozo, somewhat less (as it then seemed to me) than the common Lark. Seeing therefore Olina besides the Strillozo describes also the Calandra, making it somewhat bigger than the common Lark, and not much less than a Thrush, I do suspect that the Calandra is the same with our Bunting, and the Strillozo a different kind of bird, described by none besides him, at least clearly and exactly.

The description of the Alaudae congener of Aldrovand agrees exactly to this Bird, so doth also that of the Cenchramus of Bellonius, so that of one bird Aldrovandus makes four, giving us the Bunting under the title of 1. Emberiza alba: 2. Of Alaudae conge∣ner: 3. Of Cenchramus Bellonii: 4. Also (if we be not much mistaken) of Calandra; all which he exhibits for distinct Species.

§. II. The Yellow-hammer, Emberiza flava of Gesner; Hortulanus of Bellonius; Luteae alterum genus of Aldrovand; Chloreus seu Lutea Aristotelis of Turner.

IT is equal to a Chaffinch, or a little bigger; weighs 1⅛ ounce: From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail is six inches and an half long; to the end of the Feet but six. Its Bill is of a dark dusky colour, half an inch long, having a hard knob in the upper Chap to break the grains of corn, and the sides of the nether Chap turned inwards, and bent together, like the Buntings. The Tongue shorter than is usual in other birds, not reaching beyond the knob, its tip horny and sharp, slit into filaments. The Eyes hazel-coloured: The Feet of a horn colour; the Claws black. The like cohesion between the outmost and middle toe at the bottom, as in other birds.

The Throat and Belly are yellow: The Breast hath something of red mingled with it, as also the sides under the Wings. The Head is of a greenish yellow, spot∣ted with brown. Above the Shoulders in the lower part of the Neck is a certain co∣lour between green and cinereous, or compounded of both. The middle parts of the covert-feathers of the Back and Shoulders are black, the edges from green incline to red. The Rump is reddish.

The Female is all over paler, less yellow on the Head, less red on the Breast and un∣der the Wings.

The quil-feathers of the Wings are dusky, having their exteriour edges from green inclining to a sordid white. The Tail is three inches long, composed of twelve feathers, something forked, of a brown colour; the middle two having their edges on both sides, the rest only their outside-edges green. The two outmost on the inside the shaft near the tip are marked with a white spot cutting the feather ob∣liquely.

It hath a Craw and a musculous Stomach or Gizzard like the granivorous birds. It hath also a Gall-bladder. The blind guts, as in almost all small birds, are very little and short. These birds build upon the ground, being every where in England most common.

§. III. Aldrovandus his first sort of Yellow-hammer, which he calls Cirlus: Zivolo of Olina.

IT is of the bigness of a Sparrow; hath a short thick Bill. The Breast and Belly are yellowish, sprinkled with brown spots. The Head, Back, Wings, and Tail from testaceous inclining to a brown or dusky colour: but in the Tail there are two feathers on each side partly white, and partly of the same colour with the rest. Be∣tween the Male and the Female there is this difference, that the Male hath more yel∣low about him than the Female, especially in the upper part about the Eyes, and in the Throat, and under the Neck on the sides, where are seen good large spots of yellow, which are wanting in the Female. It abides for the most part on the ground, seeking its food there of Seeds, and other things, and therefore when it is new taken it is wont almost always to have its Bill dirty. Whether this Bird be specifically distinct or no from the precedent I am not fully satisfied; but because both Aldrovandus and Olina make it distinct, I would not omit it.

Olina calls it Zivolo, from its note Zi zi, which it often ingeminates.

§. IV. The Reed-Sparrow. Passer torquatus in arundinetis nidisicans. Perchance the Passer arundinaceus of Turner.

IT is bigger than the Linnet, equal to the Chaffinch. The Cock weighed three quar∣ters of an ounce: Was from Bill-point to Tail-end six inches and an half long: Broad between the extremes of the Wings spread ten inches. The Bill short, black [Mr. Willughby makes the upper Mandible black, the nether whitish] like the Bill of the Hortulane, [Mr. Willughby compares it to the Chaffinches Bill,] the lower Chap having its edges on both sides bent inwards, is hollow in fashion of a Funnel, and contains the Tongue within it. Besides, near its base it rises up into a dent or angle on each side, to which there is a notch or furrow correspondent in the upper Chap to receive it, as in the Buntings Bill. The Head is black: The Cheeks about the Eyes red. A ring of white encompasses the Neck, which on each side is stretched forth to the corners of the Mouth. The Chin and Throat are black: The Breast and middle of the Belly white. The Back and covert-feathers of the Wings are partico∣loured of red and black; viz. the middle part of each feather black, the outsides red. The Rump red, with a mixture of ash-colour. The quil-feathers of the Wings are dusky, having their exteriour edges red. The tips of the seven first or outmost are sharp, of the rest blunt, indented, and of an ash-colour. The lesser rows of Wing∣feathers have their outer edges and tips red, being else of an ash-colour. The Plumage on the base or ridge of the Wing bluish, underneath the Wing white: The Tail is two inches and an half long, and made up of twelve feathers, of which the two middlemost are something shorter than the rest, and black, their outward edges red: The three next on each side were dark coloured, and almost black. The ex∣teriour edge of the fifth is white: The interiour also not far from the tip is spotted with white. The outmost feather is wholly white. All end in sharp points.

The Feet from flesh colour decline to black. The Claws are black: The outmost and middle Toe joyned at bottom. The back-toe great and strong. The blind guts short and thick. It hath a Gall-bladder. The Stomach is musculous: In it opened we found seeds, &c.

The Hen, as in most Birds, is not so fair-coloured. The ring about her Neck is darker, and scarce appearing. The Head, Back, Shoulders, and covert-feathers of the Wings are particoloured of black and dirty red; viz. the middle parts of the feathers are black, and the outsides red. At the base of the Wing are red feathers. The Throat is particoloured, of red, black, and cinereous.

§. V. The Hortulane of the Italians. Hortulanus Aldrov. Tordino Berluccio at Venice.

IT is equal and very like to the Yellow-hammer [That which I J. R. saw and de∣scribed at Florence seemed to me somewhat less, and longer-bodied.] The Hen measured from Bill to Tail exceeded seven inches length; being in our usual way of measuring ten and an half broad. Its Bill was short, viz. from the tip to the corners of the Mouth scarce half an inch long, thick at base, sharp at point; of a red or flesh colour in the Cock. In the Hen the upper Chap is black, the lower blue. The knob on the upper Chap is much less than in the Yellow-hammer. The sides of the Bill are sharp. The upper Mandible hath on each side an angle or furrow impressed, to which answereth a tough or angular eminency in the lower, as in the Bunting, the figure whereof for the clearer apprehension and understanding of what we say is to be viewed. The Feet are of a pale dusky: The Claws black. [In the Cock the Legs are reddish.] The back-toe is great. The inner and outer fore-toes are of equal length. The outmost from the bottom to the first joynt sticks fast to the mid∣dlemost without any membrane intervening, as in most small birds. The Throat and Breast are ash-coloured, the rest of the underside to the very Tail is red. The Rump of a deeper red. The Head of a brown or dusky ash-colour, the middle parts of the feathers being black: As they are likewise on the Back, having their edges of a red∣dish ash-colour. [In the Cocks the Breasts are more red.] Under the Bill is a yellow spot. The Head is of a colour mingled of green and cinereous: The middle parts of the Back-feathers are black, the edges of a colour mingled of red and cinereous, or red and green; the Rump is green.

The quil-feathers of the Wings, as in almost all small birds, are eighteen in num∣ber, of which the greater have their edges of a greenish white, the lesser or interi∣our of a red. The tips of all the feathers of the second row have their tips white, and exteriour edges red. The tips of the third row are also white. The edges of the lesser coverts are cinereous. The Tail is almost three inches long, and made up of twelve feathers: Of which the middle and outmost are something shorter than the rest. For colour the two middlemost are of a dark brown, with red edges: The three next on both sides black: The outmost but one have the upper half of their interiour Webs white. The outmost have more white on the interiour Web, and some also on the exteriour. The Gall-bladder is little, and the Gall within yellow.

It is very like our Reed-Sparrow, with a white ring about its Neck, yet differs ma∣nifestly from it in some marks, so that there is no doubt but it is a distinct kind. 1. In its place, this abiding chiefly among Reeds: Whereas the Hortulane frequents Gar∣dens especially, as the name imports. 2. In colour: The Hortulane being more red, and wanting the ring about the Neck, which this hath: And besides, having a yellow spot under the Throat, which this wants.

* 1.712 Aldrovand sets forth six kinds or varieties of this bird. 1. The first was all yel∣low, almost of a straw-colour, excepting the ridges of the Wings, and tips of the quil-feathers, which were white. 2. The second was all over white. 3. The third, called also by the Fowlers a Hortulane, is indeed a bird wholly of the shape of a Hortulane, but something different in colour. Its Head from cinereous inclined to yellow: Its Neck was cinereous, but speckled with black: Its Belly, Legs, and Feet yellow. The ridges of the Wings and the quil-feathers white; the other parts part∣ly black, and partly cinereous. The whole Tail brown, but yellow on the sides. 4. The fourth had a green Head and Neck; a red Bill; ash-coloured Legs; else it was black. Yet hath it on the crown of the head, and also in two of the quil-feathers only an oblong white spot. 5. The fifth I may call a white-tail'd Hortulane: For its Tail was white, else it was like the common Hortulanes, but in all parts paler. 6. The last some of our Fowlers reckoned a kind of Spipola, others a kind of Hortulane; and indeed I should make it congenerous rather to the Spipolae than the Hortulanes. For its Bill is longer, and its Legs and Feet dusky, which in the Hortulanes are wont to be yellow. Its whole body also is dusky, the Breast only and ends of the Wings be∣ing white.

§. VI. * A Bird called by * 1.713 Aldrovand, Cirlus stultus.

IT is equal in bigness to the Yellow-hammers above described of the same make and habit of body, the very same figure and shape (though it differs in colour.) It will also willingly fly to, and company with them shut up in Cages, as to birds of its own feather: And besides, it constantly no less than they, as well flying as resting, ingeminates this word Ci, Ci. Whence also in some places, as at Genoa, it is not unde∣servedly called Cia, or for distinction sake, Cia selvatica, or Cia montanina; and by our Bolognese, Cirlomatto. The upper part of the Head behind, and all the Back are adorned with a * 1.714 ferrugineous colour, distinguished with pretty large black spots. From the Bill over the Eyes to the end of the Neck is extended an ash-coloured line tending to white. The Breast and all the Belly are wholly taken up with a ferrugineous colour. The prime feathers of the Wings and Tail are blackish, yet their outmost borders terminate in a ferrugineous colour. Besides, the Wings have some white spots. In the Tail are one or two feathers on each side, partly blackish, and partly white.

We have subjoyned this Bird to the Yellow-hammers and Hortulanes, to which it is of kin; though whether or no it properly pertain to this Family, the figure of the Bill being omitted in Aldrovands description we cannot certainly determine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Its Weight. Its Length. Breadth. The Beak.
• * 1.2

  The Mouth. The Tongue.
• * 1.3

  The Palate.
• * 1.4

  The Sear.
• * 1.5

  The neck∣feathers.
• * 1.6

  Of a rasty colour.
• * 1.7

  The Eye-lids.
• * 1.8

  The Eye-brows.
• * 1.9

  The Eyes.
• * 1.10

  The Wings. The Train. The colour of the whole body. The Flag-Feathers. The Legs.
• * 1.11

  Lib. 2. cap 4. •••• Avibus.
• * 1.12

  The Feet. The Talons.
• * 1.13

  Rings or annular Scales
• * 1.14

  The fierce∣ness of the Golden Eagle.
• * 1.15

  The Bigness. The Beak.
• * 1.16

  The Tail.
• * 1.17

  The feathers.
• * 1.18

  The bald Buzzard de∣scribed for the Sea-Eagle.
• * 1.19

  That the Ossi∣frage of Al∣drovandus is the Sea-Eagle.
• * 1.20

  The descripti∣on of the Ossifrage.
• * 1.21

  Its length. Breadth. Weight. Beak.
• * 1.22

  Tongue.
• * 1.23

  The Palate.
• * 1.24

  The head and neck.
• * 1.25

  The Beard.
• * 1.26

  The colour of the Feathers. The Flags. The Train.
• * 1.27

  The Legs.
• * 1.28

  The body co∣vered with Down.
• * 1.29

  The Toes. The Talon.
• * 1.30

  Golden Ea∣gle. Clusius takes this for the Sea-Eagle.
• * 1.31

  This is the English Osprey.
• * 1.32

  That it hath not one foot webbed, the other cloven.
• * 1.33

  The Oyl of Osprey.
• * 1.34

  The Town Hall. Its Bigness, Colour.
• * 1.35

  The Beak,
• * 1.36

  Eyes,
• * 1.37

  Legs.
• * 1.38

  The Black Eagles of Al∣drov. the same with ours.
• * 1.39

  Its Name,
• * 1.40

  Bigness,
• * 1.41

  Weight,
• * 1.42

  Length,
• * 1.43

  Breadth.
• * 1.44

  The Beak.
• * 1.45

  The Nares.
• * 1.46

  Colour of the Beak.
• * 1.47

  The Palate, Tongue. Eyes.
• * 1.48

  The Feet,
• * 1.49

  Talons.
• * 1.50

  Colour of the Head, Neck, Rump, Body.
• * 1.51

  The prime wing-feathers,
• * 1.52

  The Wings.
• * 1.53

  The Train.
• * 1.54

  The Entrails, and Guts.
• * 1.55

  Lib. 2. Cap. 4. Ornithol. Its bigness, Beak,
• * 1.56

  The Pygarg of Aldrovand.
• * 1.57

  Pupil. Colour of the Head and Neck, Back, Belly. The Train.
• * 1.58

  The Legs and Talons.
• * 1.59

  Its Bigness and length. Its Beak.
• * 1.60

  Colour.
• * 1.61

  The Legs.
• * 1.62

  Feet, Toes.
• * 1.63

  Its Food.
• * 1.64

  The Etymo∣logy of the names.
• * 1.65

  Its Bill,
• * 1.66

  Eyes,
• * 1.67

  The head.
• * 1.68

  Crest.
• * 1.69

  The Wings,
• * 1.70

  Tail. Colour.
• * 1.71

  The Feet.
• * 1.72

  Its Voice,
• * 1.73

  Food.
• * 1.74

  Its bigness. Beak,
• * 1.75

  Mouth, Eyes, Head.
• * 1.76

  The Neck bare of fea∣thers. Staring hair∣like feathers.
• * 1.77

  The back,
• * 1.78

  Colour of the body, Tail, Feet.
• * 1.79

  Its length. The Bill.
• * 1.80

  The Head.
• * 1.81

  The Colour.
• * 1.82

  It is hard to understand clearly the Authors meaning in these words. The Tail, Feet, Talons.
• * 1.83

  Its Beak. Colour.
• * 1.84

  Its Food.
• * 1.85

  Temperature.
• * 1.86

  Nature and qualities.
• * 1.87

  Its bigness, Head and Neck bare, of feathers.
• * 1.88

  Colour.
• * 1.89

  Beak.
• * 1.90

  Eyes, Its nose drop∣ped.
• * 1.91

  Its Feet and Claws.
• * 1.92

  The Craw.
• * 1.93

  Manner of standing.
• * 1.94

  The cinereous Vulture. The blac Vulture.
• * 1.95

  The Boetic or Chesnut co∣loured Vul∣ture descri∣bed.
• * 1.96

  The Hare-Vulture.
• * 1.97

  A deep Gol∣den or Lion-colour.
• * 1.98

  The Golden Vulture de∣scribed.
• * 1.99

  The white Vulture.
• * 1.100

  Our fulvous Vulture, like Bellonius his Chesnut one.
• * 1.101

  Ravi.
• * 1.102

  I suppose he means one common hole for both Nosthrils: or a hole through the Bill from side to side.
• * 1.103

  Its Weight,
• * 1.104

  Breadth,
• * 1.105

  Beak,
• * 1.106

  Nares,
• * 1.107

  Eyes.
• * 1.108

  Colour of the upper side,
• * 1.109

  Lower side.
• * 1.110

  The Flag-Feathers.
• * 1.111

  The covert feathers.
• * 1.112

  The Train.
• * 1.113

  The Feet, Toes, and Talons.
• * 1.114

  Site of the outmost fore∣toe. The entrails and bowels.
• * 1.115

  Its Food.
• * 1.116

  Its Nest.
• * 1.117

  How it differs from the com∣mon Buzzard.
• * 1.118

  Its Bigness, weight and measures. Its Head, Beak,
• * 1.119

  Sear, Nares,
• * 1.120

  Tongue,
• * 1.121

  Palate,
• * 1.122

  Eyes.
• * 1.123

  The Colour of the upper side.
• * 1.124

  Colour of the lower side.
• * 1.125

  The Flag-Feathers of the Wings.
• * 1.126

  The Tail.
• * 1.127

  The Legs, Feet,
• * 1.128

  Toes, and Claws.
• * 1.129

  The entrails.
• * 1.130

  Its Food.
• * 1.131

  Ash-colou∣red. The diffe∣rence in co∣lour.
• * 1.132

  Their Eggs.
• * 1.133

  Reason of the name Trior∣ches.
• * 1.134

  The Bigness, Weight, Dimensions.
• * 1.135

  The Beak.
• * 1.136

  The Mouth. The Eyes.
• * 1.137

  The Head.
• * 1.138

  Colou.
• * 1.139

  The Remiges.
• * 1.140

  The Tail.
• * 1.141

  The colour of the lower part.
• * 1.142

  The Feet and Talons.
• * 1.143

  The Guts and Stomach.
• * 1.144

  Blind Guts.
• * 1.145

  The Nest.
• * 1.146

  Wasp-Mag∣gots or Grubs. Its food. The Young.
• * 1.147

  Food.
• * 1.148

  How it differs from the Buzzard.
• * 1.149

  Its Weight,
• * 1.150

  Length, Beak.
• * 1.151

  A Coronet.
• * 1.152

  Colour of the feathers.
• * 1.153

  The Remges, or prime Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.154

  The Train.
• * 1.155

  The Sea. The Beak.
• * 1.156

  Palate,
• * 1.157

  Tongue.
• * 1.158

  The Feet, Toes and Talons.
• * 1.159

  The entrails.
• * 1.160

  Eggs.
• * 1.161

  The descripti∣on of the Tar∣cel called the Henharrier.
• * 1.162

  Its Weight and measures.
• * 1.163

  The colour of the upper part.
• * 1.164

  The colour of the nether side.
• * 1.165

  The first row of Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.166

  The Tail.
• * 1.167

  The Beak, Tongue.
• * 1.168

  Sear.
• * 1.169

  Eyes.
• * 1.170

  The Feet, Toes and Ta∣lons.
• * 1.171

  The Entrails.
• * 1.172

  Manner of flying.
• * 1.173

  Her Tail serves her for a Rudder, to direct her flight.
• * 1.174

  Kites said to be Birds of passage.
• * 1.175

  Their food. and preying.
• * 1.176

  Its Bignest, and measures.
• * 1.177

  Beak.
• * 1.178

  Nares. Mouth. Tongue. Eyes.
• * 1.179

  Its colour.
• * 1.180

  A S••ndy red.
• * 1.181

  The Wings and their prime fea∣thers.
• * 1.182

  The Train.
• * 1.183

  The Legs,
• * 1.184

  Toes and Talons.
• * 1.185

  The entrails.
• * 1.186

  The More-Buzzard de∣scribed.
• * 1.187

  Sparrow∣hawk.
• * 1.188

  Family or kind.
• * 1.189

  Family or kind.
• * 1.190

  Its Name.
• * 1.191

  Its Shoulders, Wings, Train.
• * 1.192

  The Feet,
• * 1.193

  Toes, Talons,
• * 1.194

  Thighs, Beak, Nares, Eyes, Head.
• * 1.195

  Its Neck, Breast,
• * 1.196

  Brows,
• * 1.197

  Eyes. Head,
• * 1.198

  Back.
• * 1.199

  The black Pe∣regrin Falcon of Aldrovand. Its Length, Head, Beak,
• * 1.200

  Eyes,
• * 1.201

  Colour,
• * 1.202

  The Throat,
• * 1.203

  Wings. Tail,
• * 1.204

  Legs, and Feet,
• * 1.205

  Talons.
• * 1.206

  Fredericks de∣scription of the Sacre.
• * 1.207

  Bellonius his description.
• * 1.208

  Sooty.
• * 1.209

  Carcanus his description. Their bigness,
• * 1.210

  Head, Eyes, Beak, Nares, Figure, Colour, Train, Wings, Legs. How the Sores differ from those that are mewed.
• * 1.211

  The name.
• * 1.212

  Its Bigness,
• * 1.213

  Crown, Beak.
• * 1.214

  Eyes,
• * 1.215

  Colour of the feathers.
• * 1.216

  The Wings. Colour of the Breast. The Train.
• * 1.217

  Legs and Feet.
• * 1.218

  The shape of a good Jer∣falcon. Its Head, Forehead, Eyes, Nares, Beak, Neck, Body, Wings.
• * 1.219

  Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.220

  Train fea∣thers.
• * 1.221

  Craw.
• * 1.222

  Breast.
• * 1.223

  Legs, Feet, Talons.
• * 1.224

  Its Nature and Game.
• * 1.225

  Its figure,
• * 1.226

  Head,
• * 1.227

  Beak, Nares, Eyes,
• * 1.228

  The Throat, Breast,
• * 1.229

  Its Colour,
• * 1.230

  Wings. Tail.
• * 1.231

  Legs, and Feet,
• * 1.232

  Its colours when mewed.
• * 1.233

  Its conditions, and Game, Aldrovands grey Falcon. Its Head, Beak,
• * 1.234

  Nares, Eyes.
• * 1.235

  Colour,
• * 1.236

  Figure of the body.
• * 1.237

  Or Falcon Gentle.
• * 1.238

  How the Fal∣con Gentle differs from the Peregrine.
• * 1.239

  The descripti∣on of the German Fal∣con,
• * 1.240

  The German Falcon differs little or no∣thing from the Peregrine.
• * 1.241

  Its Colour, Wings,
• * 1.242

  Train,
• * 1.243

  Beak,
• * 1.244

  Feet, Eyes.
• * 1.245

  Its Length The Feet. The Colour.
• * 1.246

  The Eyes and Bill.
• * 1.247

  Its Head,
• * 1.248

  Beak,
• * 1.249

  Eyes.
• * 1.250

  Breast.
• * 1.251

  Chin.
• * 1.252

  Wings:
• * 1.253

  Train.
• * 1.254

  The Feet, and Talons,
• * 1.255

  The other red Falcon de∣scribed. Its Colour.
• * 1.256

  Its proper marks. Beak. Chin.
• * 1.257

  Wings.
• * 1.258

  Train.
• * 1.259

  Feet.
• * 1.260

  Its bigness, Head. Crest. Neck.
• * 1.261

  Breast. Beak.
• * 1.262

  Legs and Feet. Wings. Train.
• * 1.263

  The descri∣ption of the French Lan∣ner. The colour of the Beak, and Feet, Breast,
• * 1.264

  Back, Wings, Train.
• * 1.265

  The Male.
• * 1.266

  The Head, Crown, Eyes, Nosthrils, Beak, Breast, Back, Wings, Legs and Feet. The descripti∣on of those that are mewed.
• * 1.267

  Why called Lanarius. Its Nature and Game.
• * 1.268

  Its place.
• * 1.269

  Its Weight, Length,
• * 1.270

  Breadth,
• * 1.271

  Beak,
• * 1.272

  The Tongue.
• * 1.273

  Nosthrils. Eyes.
• * 1.274

  The colour of the feathers.
• * 1.275

  This white on the sides of the head is a Characteri∣stic note of this bird.
• * 1.276

  The prime Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.277

  The Train.
• * 1.278

  The Feet and Talons.
• * 1.279

  The Entrails.
• * 1.280

  Its principal Game.
• * 1.281

  Daring of Larks.
• * 1.282

  To catch Hobbies.
• * 1.283

  An account of the names.
• * 1.284

  Its bigness, Weight, Length, Breadth,
• * 1.285

  Beak,
• * 1.286

  Nosthrils. Tongue. Eyes. Mouth.
• * 1.287

  Head.
• * 1.288

  Colour of the back.
• * 1.289

  Colour of the nether side.
• * 1.290

  Prime Wing-feathers.
• * 1.291

  Its Train.
• * 1.292

  The Legs, and Talons. The Inwards.
• * 1.293

  How the Male differs from the Female.
• * 1.294

  Their Game.
• * 1.295

  Nest and Ge∣neration.
• * 1.296

  The Names.
• * 1.297

  Its Bigness.
• * 1.298

  Length and Breadth.
• * 1.299

  Beak. Eyes. The colour of the upper part, and Wings. The Train.
• * 1.300

  Pale-red or clay coloured. Colour of the lower side. The Legs and Talons,
• * 1.301

  How the Male or Tarcel differs from the Female.
• * 1.302

  The Merlin a mettled bird.
• * 1.303

  Its Bigness,
• * 1.304

  Colour.
• * 1.305

  The Feet, Talons, and Beak.
• * 1.306

  The Wings, Train.
• * 1.307

  Its Game.
• * 1.308

  Its bigness, length, and breadth.
• * 1.309

  Beak,
• * 1.310

  Nares, Tongue, Eyes, Crown.
• * 1.311

  Colour of the upper side,
• * 1.312

  Underside.
• * 1.313

  The Wings,
• * 1.314

  Train,
• * 1.315

  Legs and Toes,
• * 1.316

  Number of Eggs.
• * 1.317

  Its Food.
• * 1.318

  Its Mettle.
• * 1.319

  The manner of catching Sparrow∣hawks near Constantinople.
• * 1.320

  The names,
• * 1.321

  Its weight and measures,
• * 1.322

  Bill.
• * 1.323

  Tongue.
• * 1.324

  The colour.
• * 1.325

  The flag-fea∣thers of the Wings.
• * 1.326

  The Tail.
• * 1.327

  The Legs and Feet.
• * 1.328

  Its Food.
• * 1.329

  Its Place.
• * 1.330

  The greatest Butcher-bird of Gesner.
• * 1.331

  Its measures,
• * 1.332

  Bill,
• * 1.333

  Mouth, Tongue,
• * 1.334

  Bristles,
• * 1.335

  Colour.
• * 1.336

  Quils of the Wing.
• * 1.337

  The Tail.
• * 1.338

  The Feet.
• * 1.339

  The Entrails. and Food.
• * 1.340

  The Nest and Eggs.
• * 1.341

  The Species of lesser Butcher-birds.
• * 1.342

  In his notes upon Marggr. lib. 5. cap. ult.
• * 1.343

  To and fro, or backward and forward.
• * 1.344

  Shafts of feathers.
• * 1.345

  Its bigness, Colour, Head.
• * 1.346

  Its Bill, Wings:
• * 1.347

  Of the co∣lour of gold. Colour of the rest of the body.
• * 1.348

  Colour of the Head,
• * 1.349

  Bill,
• * 1.350

  Tongue,
• * 1.351

  Breast, Wings,
• * 1.352

  Back.
• * 1.353

  The Tail;
• * 1.354

  The great Bird of Para∣dise.
• * 1.355

  Footless.
• * 1.356

  An hand∣breadth.
• * 1.357

  Close toge∣ther.
• * 1.358

  I suppose he means those two long Nerves or na∣ked shafts of feathers.
• * 1.359

  Its length, Bill,
• * 1.360

  Tongue, Eyes,
• * 1.361

  Nosthrils.
• * 1.362

  Colour of the underside,
• * 1.363

  Of the upper side,
• * 1.364

  Of the Wing∣feathers.
• * 1.365

  The Tail,
• * 1.366

  The Feet, Toes, and Claws.
• * 1.367

  Its Food. Its manner of breeding.
• * 1.368

  What be∣comes of the Cuckow in Winter.
• * 1.369

  A piece of money so cal∣led, of the bigness of a two-pence or three-pence.
• * 1.370

  Its weight, length, and breadth.
• * 1.371

  Its Beak, Tongue, Eyes, Hood of fea∣thers.
• * 1.372

  Colour of the feathers.
• * 1.373

  The Horns or Ears.
• * 1.374

  The Tail,
• * 1.375

  The prime Wing-fea∣••••••••
• * 1.376

  The Feet and Claws.
• * 1.377

  The Guts.
• * 1.378

  The place▪
• * 1.379

  The Tongue, Eyes,
• * 1.380

  Ears,
• * 1.381

  Circle of fea∣thers about the face.
• * 1.382

  Colour of the upper side,
• * 1.383

  Underside.
• * 1.384

  The Wing-feathers.
• * 1.385

  The Tail.
• * 1.386

  The Feet, Toes, and Claws.
• * 1.387

  The Guts and Entrails.
• * 1.388

  How it dif∣fers from the white Owl.
• * 1.389

  Its weight, length, and breadth.
• * 1.390

  Its Bill, Tongue, Nosthrils,
• * 1.391

  Eyes,
• * 1.392

  Ears.
• * 1.393

  The hood about the face.
• * 1.394

  The Wing-feathers.
• * 1.395

  The Tail.
• * 1.396

  The Feet.
• * 1.397

  Toes,
• * 1.398

  Claws,
• * 1.399

  Guts.
• * 1.400

  Reason of the name.
• * 1.401

  How it differs from the pre∣cedent.
• * 1.402

  Its bigness and measures.
• * 1.403

  The Bill,
• * 1.404

  Tongue,
• * 1.405

  Hood,
• * 1.406

  Ear-valve.
• * 1.407

  Colour of the feathers of the body.
• * 1.408

  The Wing∣feathers.
• * 1.409

  Hair-like bodies com∣pounding the web of the feather. The Tail.
• * 1.410

  The legs, feet, and toes.
• * 1.411

  The Guts.
• * 1.412

  The strange figure of the Eyes.
• * 1.413

  Its length, Colour,
• * 1.414

  Head,
• * 1.415

  Eyes,
• * 1.416

  Bill,
• * 1.417

  Wings,
• * 1.418

  Legs and Claws.
• * 1.419

  Gesners Ulula.
• * 1.420

  Strix cinerea before de∣scribed.
• * 1.421

  Its bigness and measures,
• * 1.422

  Beak, Tongue, Palate,
• * 1.423

  Nosthrils, Ears, Eyes.
• * 1.424

  Hood,
• * 1.425

  Colour of the upper side.
• * 1.426

  Its Tail.
• * 1.427

  Colour of the under side.
• * 1.428

  Wing-fea∣thers,
• * 1.429

  Legs, Feet, and Talons.
• * 1.430

  Gall and Guts.
• * 1.431

  Its place.
• * 1.432

  Use.
• * 1.433

  Its Length, Head. Bill, Mouth.
• * 1.434

  The colour.
• * 1.435

  The Wings,
• * 1.436

  Tail,
• * 1.437

  Legs, Feet, and Claws.
• * 1.438

  Its food and Eggs.
• * 1.439

  The word in Latine in Arantus.
• * 1.440

  Cuicus or Carthamus.
• * 1.441

  A people of Brasil.
• * 1.442

  The Latine word is Puni∣ceo signifying a light crim∣son or blush colour.
• * 1.443

  Marggravius his Arara∣canga.
• * 1.444

  Perchance he means the point.
• * 1.445

  Flesh-co∣lour.
• * 1.446

  I cannot say whether he means the end, or out∣side.
• * 1.447

  The Latine word is Domi∣na, Lady.
• * 1.448

  Its weight, length and breadth,
• * 1.449

  The Bill, Tongue,
• * 1.450

  Eye.
• * 1.451

  Nosthrils, Colour of the feathers.
• * 1.452

  The Prime Wing-fea∣thers or quils.
• * 1.453

  The Tail.
• * 1.454

  The Claws and Toes,
• * 1.455

  Entrails.
• * 1.456

  Its Food.
• * 1.457

  White Ra∣vens.
• * 1.458

  Ravens re∣claimed for fowling. The place.
• * 1.459

  Their longe∣vity.
• * 1.460

  Its weight, length, and breadth.
• * 1.461

  Bill,
• * 1.462

  Tongue,
• * 1.463

  Eyes,
• * 1.464

  Nosthrils,
• * 1.465

  Colour.
• * 1.466

  The Wing-feathers or Quils.
• * 1.467

  Tail,
• * 1.468

  Feet and Claws.
• * 1.469

  Bowels and entrails.
• * 1.470

  Its Food.
• * 1.471

  Its place.
• * 1.472

  Where it builds.
• * 1.473

  Crows taught to speak.
• * 1.474

  Their man∣ner of incu∣bation. They feed not their young newly hatch∣ed.
• * 1.475

  Its weight and measures.
• * 1.476

  The Bill.
• * 1.477

  How it differs from the Crow.
• * 1.478

  The Wing-feathers or Quils. The Tail,
• * 1.479

  Bill, Nosthrils, Tongue, Toes.
• * 1.480

  The Guts and Entrails. Its Food.
• * 1.481

  Manner of breeding.
• * 1.482

  Eggs.
• * 1.483

  How to fright them away.
• * 1.484

  Its weight and measures.
• * 1.485

  Its Bill, Nostrils,
• * 1.486

  Tongue,
• * 1.487

  Eyes.
• * 1.488

  The colour of its feathers.
• * 1.489

  The quils or prime Wing∣feathers. The Tail.
• * 1.490

  The Toes and Claws.
• * 1.491

  Its Entrails, Food,
• * 1.492

  Place.
• * 1.493

  Its weight, length, and breadth. The Bill.
• * 1.494

  Nosthrils, Tongue, Eyes.
• * 1.495

  Colour of the feathers.
• * 1.496

  Prime Wing-feathers or quils.
• * 1.497

  Notched.
• * 1.498

  The Tail.
• * 1.499

  The Toes and Claws.
• * 1.500

  Its Entrails, Food.
• * 1.501

  Jackdaws ingenious.
• * 1.502

  Where it haunts and breeds.
• * 1.503

  Eggs.
• * 1.504

  The names.
• * 1.505

  The Ring-Jackdaw
• * 1.506

  Its weight and measures.
• * 1.507

  How it differs from the Jackdaw. Its Bill, Nosthrils, Tongue, Palate.
• * 1.508

  The Feet. The colour of the feathers.
• * 1.509

  The prime Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.510

  The Tail.
• * 1.511

  The Entrails.
• * 1.512

  Its place.
• * 1.513

  Pyrrhocorax and Coracias the same.
• * 1.514

  Birds of the Turkey kind.
• * 1.515

  Corvus Indi∣cus cornutus seu Rhinocerot avis Bontii, Aldrov.
• * 1.516

  Rather con∣tinuous.
• * 1.517

  The bill and horn together.
• * 1.518

  The Brasili∣an Pie.
• * 1.519

  Its weight and measures. Its Bill,
• * 1.520

  Tongue,
• * 1.521

  Nosthrils.
• * 1.522

  It is like the Jackdaw.
• * 1.523

  The colour of its feathers.
• * 1.524

  The Wing-feathers.
• * 1.525

  The Tail.
• * 1.526

  Its Feet.
• * 1.527

  Entrails.
• * 1.528

  It varies sometimes in colour.
• * 1.529

  They may be taught to speak.
• * 1.530

  Its Nest.
• * 1.531

  Its Eggs.
• * 1.532

  Its bigness. Bill,
• * 1.533

  It want; No∣sthrils.
• * 1.534

  Its Head.
• * 1.535

  Eyes.
• * 1.536

  Colour.
• * 1.537

  Its food Pep∣per.
• * 1.538

  This story Faber discre∣dits because none of his American friends spake a word of it.
• * 1.539

  Chap 10. of his Voyage into Brasil.
• * 1.540

  Americae de∣script. lib. 15. cap. 7.
• * 1.541

  Hist. rerum naetur. Brasiliae, lib. 5. c. 15.
• * 1.542

  Its weight and measures.
• * 1.543

  Bill,
• * 1.544

  Tongue, Eyes, Feathers, Colour.
• * 1.545

  Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.546

  Its Tail.
• * 1.547

  Feet and Toes.
• * 1.548

  Eggs, Guts.
• * 1.549

  Gizzard.
• * 1.550

  Its Food.
• * 1.551

  How it differs from Aldro∣vands Jay.
• * 1.552

  It learns to speak.
• * 1.553

  Its weight and measures,
• * 1.554

  Bill, Eyes.
• * 1.555

  Bare Wart∣like bunches. Tongue, Palate.
• * 1.556

  Skin about the Eyes bare. Its Colours.
• * 1.557

  Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.558

  Tail.
• * 1.559

  Bastard-Wing.
• * 1.560

  Feet, Toes, and Claws.
• * 1.561

  Gizzard and Guts.
• * 1.562

  Its place,
• * 1.563

  That is, a wild Wood Crow.
• * 1.564

  Mimus sive Picus Garrulus Iudicus.
• * 1.565

  Lib. 12. cap. 17.
• * 1.566

  Coccothran∣stes.
• * 1.567

  A kind of earth called Terra Umbria, used by Pain∣ters.
• * 1.568

  Coccothran∣stles.
• * 1.569

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.570

  Those next the body.
• * 1.571

  Phoenic••o colore. Crimson co∣lour.
• * 1.572

  A great In∣sect with six feet, resem∣bling a Cater∣pillar found in rotten wood.
• * 1.573

  Sea-green we call it.
• * 1.574

  Reliquas ex∣tremitates.
• * 1.575

  Uranici coloris.
• * 1.576

  Head of the Windpipe.
• * 1.577

  Circles en∣compassing the Pupils.
• * 1.578

  Captain∣ship.
• * 1.579

  We obser∣ved five shafts of feathers in each Wing.
• * 1.580

  I suppose he means from the corners of the slit of the mouth.
• * 1.581

  That is the Swan Island.
• * 1.582

  Hist. Natur. & Medic. In∣diae Oriental. lib. 5. cap. 17.
• * 1.583

  The Physical uses of a Hen and its parts.
• * 1.584

  The Oyl thus impregnate.
• * 1.585

  The slit of the mouth he means.
• * 1.586

  Tartareous voice.
• * 1.587

  Worm-like Caruncle.
• * 1.588

  In our ob∣servation they want not spurs, though they have in∣deed but short and blunt ones.
• * 1.589

  If I under∣stand Marg∣grave aright.
• * 1.590

  Under this word he com∣prehends also the thighs.
• * 1.591

  Ornithol. lib. 14. cap. 12.
• * 1.592

  The Mitu.
• * 1.593

  Or per∣chance deep, altum the word is.
• * 1.594

  Lib. 10. cap. 68.
• * 1.595

  Lib. 14. cap. 10.
• * 1.596

  Tabellae he calls them.
• * 1.597

  So Dr. Key called it, who sent him this description.
• * 1.598

  Very steep behind, and much inclin∣ing before.
• * 1.599

  Laciniae.
• * 1.600

  Or the posi∣tion of both observes a like rule.
• * 1.601

  Sublimior.
• * 1.602

  All the up∣per end of the Neck.
• * 1.603

  Cast forth some shew.
• * 1.604

  Here is some mistake for the breadth is double of eighteen inches.
• * 1.605

  I know no particular En∣glish name for this Net.
• * 1.606

  Gothia.
• * 1.607

  Or indiffe∣rent, mean∣sized.
• * 1.608

  Testa signi∣fieth a Pot∣sheard, so a testaceous co∣lour is a red∣dish brown.
• * 1.609

  Understand it of the bird we described.
• * 1.610

  This Bird was exente∣rated, for it was bigger than a Par∣tridge, and equal to a handsom Pul∣let, and would else have weighed more.
• * 1.611

  Lagopus signifies a Hares foot.
• * 1.612

  The Ring Ouzel.
• * 1.613

  Impetu∣ously.
• * 1.614

  Runts.
• * 1.615

  Ornithol. t. 2. pag 360.
• * 1.616

  Belga, it also signifies any Low-Country man.
• * 1.617

  Exesculentur. i. e. kiss them.
• * 1.618

  The life of Pigeons.
• * 1.619

  Or have weak Fyes.
• * 1.620

  Or dizzi∣ness, Vertige.
• * 1.621

  I suppose he means the in∣cisures divi∣ding the scales
• * 1.622

  The Thrush dungs its own destruction or mischief.
• * 1.623

  Tom. 2. p. 585.
• † 1.624

  Ornithol. l. 16. c. 8.
• * 1.625

  Cap. de Cae∣ruleo.
• * 1.626

  Lib. 1. Observ. cap. 11.
• * 1.627

  Lib. 6. de Avibus, cap. 26
• * 1.628

  The blue Ouzel.
• * 1.629

  Ruffa, it may be ren∣dred russet.
• * 1.630

  Ouzel of two colours.
• * 1.631

  Of kin to the Ouzel.
• * 1.632

  Another bird of kin to the Ouzel.
• * 1.633

  This we make the cha∣racteristic note of this kind.
• * 1.634

  i. e. The Rock Ouzel.
• † 1.635

  i. e. The Sea-Thrush.
• * 1.636

  Exteriùs acuminatum, I confess I do not well un∣derstand what our Author means by these words.
• * 1.637

  Of the co∣lour of Soot.
• * 1.638

  Anteriùs acu∣tum.
• * 1.639

  By heel is meant the claw of the back-toe.
• * 1.640

  Brimstone.
• * 1.641

  The lesser field-Lark.
• * 1.642

  Or yellowish white, orwhite dashed with yellow.
• * 1.643

  A certain earth which Painters use of a dusky co∣lour.
• * 1.644

  Across the head.
• * 1.645

  Lib. 18. cap. 14.
• * 1.646

  Ornithol, Book 17. chap. 39.
• * 1.647

  Tom. 2. p. 732.
• † 1.648

  Pa. 738, 731.
• * 1.649

  Ornithol. lib. 17. cap. 26.
• * 1.650

  Ibid.
• * 1.651

  Rustici, that is, Pesants.
• † 1.652

  Fly-catchers
• * 1.653

  Book 17. Chap. 28.
• * 1.654

  Pin of the Mouth.
• * 1.655

  That is, those next the body.
• * 1.656

  That is Mountain But∣terflies.
• * 1.657

  Caprimulgus.
• * 1.658

  Out of Aldro∣vandus.
• * 1.659

  Rictus, which signi∣fies properly the gape of the mouth.
• * 1.660

  Musel. lib. 3. cap. 21.
• * 1.661

  From the tip to the cor∣ners of the mouth above half an inch.
• * 1.662

  The Magnani∣na of Aldrov.
• * 1.663

  The seventh Ficedula or Scatarello of Aldrov.
• * 1.664

  The second Muscicapa of Aldrov. or Bo∣rin of the Genoese.
• * 1.665

  Of the co∣lour of the Palm tree branch. The Salicaria or Willow∣bird of Gesner.
• * 1.666

  The Boarina of Aldrov.
• * 1.667

  A lead-co∣lour.
• * 1.668

  Hedge-Sparrow.
• * 1.669

  Either this place is mis∣printed, or Gesner sure mistaken in the number of feathers: For all the Europaean small birds I ever saw or heard of have twelve feathers in their Tails. Gesners Rotsch∣wentzel Aldr. tom. 3. p. 748.
• * 1.670

  A Lion co∣lour, or deep gold colour.
• * 1.671

  Servant of the house.
• * 1.672

  How to know the Cocks from the Hens.
• * 1.673

  How to find the Nest.
• * 1.674

  Birds taken in April must be fed seven or eight times a day, for then they are apter by half ••o die for want of food than in July or Au∣gust.
• * 1.675

  How to discern the Cocks from the Hens.
• * 1.676

  Hist. Animal. lib. 9. cap. 11.
• * 1.677

  Little King and Tyrant.
• * 1.678

  The greater not crested Regulus.
• * 1.679

  Avium, lib. 7. cap. 6.
• * 1.680

  A kind of Mercury.
• * 1.681

  That is, born again.
• * 1.682

  The word is Stipiti, which also may signifie a stake, or any truncheon of wood.
• * 1.683

  The French word signifies a dead leaf.
• * 1.684

  Coccothran∣stes.
• * 1.685

  The other Oenanthe of Aldrovand.
• * 1.686

  The Strapazi∣no of Aldrov.
• * 1.687

  The Anthus or Florus of Arist. Aldrov.
• * 1.688

  Others call them the Thighs.
• * 1.689

  The Ficedula tertia of Al∣drovand.
• * 1.690

  Of the La∣tine Edition.
• * 1.691

  In the Chapter of the Cuckow.
• * 1.692

  Cinereous, i. e. Ash-co∣loured.
• * 1.693

  The word is sub, which is rather to be rendred un∣der the Wings
• * 1.694

  On the out∣side.
• * 1.695

  Of a dusky yellow.
• † 1.696

  The word is minium, which signifies red lead.
• * 1.697

  The Anthus of Bellonius: Le Bruant.
• * 1.698

  A colour near to ches∣nut, but red∣der.
• * 1.699

  The word Pronè, which as Aldrovand usually accepts it signifies above.
• * 1.700

  Ringed.
• * 1.701

  I suppose he means the ends or tips.
• * 1.702

  Costae.
• * 1.703

  Understand it in length.
• * 1.704

  The words are Umbra ali∣quatenus mix∣tas, by which perchance the Anthor might mean, mixt with a little Umber-colour.
• * 1.705

  A Bird of kin to the Gold∣finch.
• * 1.706

  i. e. hulls or pills it.
• * 1.707

  This word is to be taken largely for the middle part about the shaft.
• * 1.708

  Citrinellae or Citrinae.
• * 1.709

  Now adays there be ma∣ny of them brought over; nor are they sold so dear but that even mean persons can afford to buy and keep them.
• * 1.710

  Lib. 17. cap. 38.
• * 1.711

  i. e. A bird of kin to the Lark.
• * 1.712

  Ornithol. lib. 13. cap. 24.
• * 1.713

  Ornithol. lib. 18. cap. ult.
• * 1.714

  Rusty.