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 ...

AN APPENDIX TO THE History of Birds. Containing Such Birds as we suspect for fabulous, or such as are too briefly and unaccurately described to give us a full and sufficient knowledge of them, taken out of Franc. Hernandez especially.

Of the foolish Sparrow.

THis Bird is deservedly famous for its notable folly. It is not afraid of them that go to catch it, but sits still with a great deal of con∣fidence till they lay their hands upon it, not offering to fly away, but only seeming to wonder what they intend to do. It is a Sea∣fowl, and feeds upon fish. It hath the cry of a Jay; is of the big∣ness of a Mag-pie, of the shape and colour of the Gull, excepting that part of the forehead next the Bill, which is cinereous; whole∣footed. Its Bill is three inches long, slender, round, and streight, only a little crooked near the tip: Its Legs and Feet (which are like those of other whole-footed Birds) black: Its Pupil is also black, but the membrane about the Pu∣pil grey.

The tameness of the Birds of the Island Cerne is well known and celebrated. They alight upon the heads and shoulders of the Mariners that go ashore there, as it were upon trees, and suffer themselves without difficulty to be caught, coming readily to hand.

Of the Bird called Daie laying great Eggs.

THe Bird called Daie is remarkable for the extraordinary and unusual nature or manner of its Eggs and Young. It is not bigger than a Pigeon, and tolerable good meat. For its Nest it scrapes a hole with its Feet and Tail in sandy grounds four spans deep; where when the rains fall it lays its Eggs, (which are bigger than Goose∣eggs, almost as broad as ones fist, called by the Natives Tapun) fifty or more in num∣ber, being of a gross and fat substance, without any Yolk in them, which roasted or boiled are good wholsom food, but fried * 1.1 tough, bad, and of hard concoction.

It is very strange [more strange I dare say than true] that so little a Bird should lay so great Eggs, and so many together, and in such deep vaults under ground, and that being there hidden they should be hatched without being ever sitten upon or che∣rished by the old ones, and that the Young once hatched should of themselves pre∣sently fly away.

I dare boldly say that this History is altogether false and fabulous. For though some Birds lay very great Eggs (as for example, Puffins, Guillemots, Razor-bills, &c.) some also build in holes under ground. Yet such lay but one Egg, not a great many before they sit. Neither do I think that there is any Bird in the world whose Eggs want the white.

Of the Guitguit that sets upon Ravens.

A Little body contains a great spirit and courage. There is a very small Bird (Guitguit the Indians call it) like the Wren, of a green colour, and sweet-tasted flesh. Such is the wonderful force of nature, that this Bird, as little as it is, and

next to nothing, dares set upon and pursue whole flocks of Ravens, and forces them to hide themselves from it, and to take shelter among the Reeds.

I suppose that this story is feigned in imitation of what the Ancients have delivered con∣cerning the Wren, viz. that with great courage [indeed fool-hardiness] she dares enter combat with the Eagle.

Of the Bird called Maia.

THere is another sort of small Birds, especially in the Island Cuba, that fly in flocks, and waste the fields or plantations of Rice, (which grain grows abun∣dantly, and is of much use in those Countries) called Maia, of a fulvous colour, its flesh pleasant, of easie concoction, and yielding a plentiful nourishment: Whose Stomach, (or rather Craw) and first receptacle of nourishment, is on the back side of the Neck: A wonderful and singular thing, of which there is not another instance in nature.

Of the Yayauhquitotl or long-tail'd Bird.

THere proceed from the end of the Tail [or Rump] of this Bird two feathers longer than the rest, below naked, without any lateral hair-like bodies, adorn∣ed at the tips with blue and black Vanes. The body of the Bird is as big as a Stares, particoloured of blue, green, fulvous, and grey. Perchance this may be the same Bird which Marggrave hath accurately described under the title of Guira-guainumbi.

Of another sort of Xochitenacatl, that is the Toucan or Brasilian Pie.

THis Bird breeds and feeds on the shores of the Southern America, being of the bigness of a Pigeon, with a thick, sharp-pointed, black Bill, black Eyes, and a yellow Iris. The Wings and Tail are particoloured of black and white, a black list reaching from the Bill to the very end of the Breast, yet is there some yellow about the forepart of the Wings. The rest of the body generally is of a pale colour, ex∣cepting the Feet and Legs, which are brown, and the Claws, which from white in∣cline somewhat to a pale yellow. It lives about flowring trees, feeding upon the honey it sucks out of their flowers. It breeds its Young in the Spring, and is much esteemed by the Tototepecenses, in whose Country it is very frequent.

Of the Bird called Momot.

THis abides and delights in hot Countries. It is of the bigness of a Dove; hath scarlet-coloured Eyes, with a black Pupil: A crooked, blackish Bill, almost three inches long, sharp-pointed, the nether Chap shorter, the upper serrate: A blue Head, like a Peacocks; brown Feet, the rest of the body green. What is rare and extraordinary in this Bird is, that it hath in its Tail one quil longer than the rest, and which is feathered only at the end, [This is, I dare say, more strange than true: For the Tails of all Birds I ever yet saw have their feathers growing by pairs, that is, two of a sort, on each side one,] and that so beautiful a Bird should be of no use, but for its feathers.

Of the Verminous Bird or Tuputa.

THis Bird seems to be of a strange nature, as we gather from its note, from which it took its name Tuputa; but it is, and deservedly, more famous for its singular putrefaction. For while it is living it is wholly stuft with worms instead of flesh, all its members and muscles being full of them. Nothing of flesh besides these and the skin. Yet they do not eat or make their way through the skin, which is ador∣ned with thick-set feathers. It abides among Sedge, and in grassie places. For shape of body it is like a Pheasant, but lesser.

What is here delivered concerning this Bird, if understood generally of all the indivi∣duals of this sort we are so confident to be false, that we think it needless to spend time in the confuting of it. This however we thought fit to signifie to the Reader, lest he should ima∣gine we gave any credit to the story.

Of the Mozambick Hens.

THe feathers, flesh and bones of these Hens are so black that being boil'd one would think they had been sodden in ink; yet are they thought to be very savoury, and far better than those of other Hens. This history is as true as the pre∣cedent.

Of the laughing Bird or Quapachtototl.

MIrth is often unsecure. Quapachtototl or the fulvous Bird imitates humane laughter, and yet is dreaded and hated by the Indians as inauspicious and omi∣nous, fore-boding some evil or mischief. The body [from Bill to Tail] is eight inches long; and the Tail as much. The Bill from blue inclines to black, being pretty long and crooked. The circle about the Pupil of the Eye is white: The Breast ci∣nereous: The Belly from thence to the Tail black. The Tail of a dark fulvous: But the Wings, Neck, and Head fulvous, whence it got its name among the Indians. They say it is pleasant and wholsom meat.

Of the Water-Quail or Acolin.

A Certain brown Bird of the Lake of Mexico is called Acolin, because it is of the bigness of a Quail. It hath a long Bill, bending downward; and long Legs. It runs very swiftly near the top of the water: And seldom or never flies. It feeds upon fish: And it self is made food by man.

Of the Cornet Ducks.

THere is a certain sort of Ducks in Asia, which one may not underservedly reckon among Cornets or Horn-winders: Their voice doth so nearly resemble the sound of a horn such as Post-boys use. This same Bird though it be feeble and weak, yet is it bold and stout, and the Turks have a perswasion that it frightens and drives away evil spirits. Certes it is so constantly desirous of liberty, that though it be kept up and fed three whole years in a Cage, if it get an opportunity of escaping, it will pre∣fer its liberty before its ease, and fly away to its natural and usual haunts and manner of living.

Of Birds that cannot stand.

THe Indians call a sort of Duck with a black Bill, indifferently broad; tho whole body almost being white, black, and grey, but about the Head and Neck pur∣ple, white, blue, green, and changeable according as it variously reflects the Sun∣beams, like the Heliotrope stone, or a Peacocks head, Yztactzon Yayauhqui, or the Bird of a particoloured Head. Its Legs and Feet are red: Its food like that of other marsh∣birds. It is a Bird of passage, coming to the Lake of Mexico at a certain season. We must not omit to tell you, that this Bird like the Acitli or Water-Hare cannot walk but only swim; the Legs of both growing in like manner at the very end of their bodies.

Of the broad-bill'd Bird or Tempatlahoac.

THere is a certain sort of wild Duck among the Indians, called by them Tem∣patlahoac, [the Spaniards, Natives of America, call it a Swallow] of the big∣ness of a tame Duck, and therefore called among the Indians by the same name. It hath a broad, long Bill, all over black; A white Tongue: Pale-red Legs and Feet: Its Head and Neck shine with green, purple and black colours, like those of a Pea∣cock, or the heliotrope stone. Its Eyes are black, and Iris pale: Its Breast white: But the rest of the body beneath fulvous, and adorned with two white spots on both sides near the Tail; above beautified with certain semicircles, the circumference of which from white tended to brown, the middle or inner part from black to a shining green. The Wings at the setting on [or beginning] are blue, next white, and then lastly of a shining green. Yet their extremes are on one side fulvous, on the other side

shining and green. The circumference of the Tail both above and beneath is white, else it is black underneath, and of a Peacock colour above. This also is a stranger coming from some other Country to the Lake of Mexico, and its flesh is such kind of meat as that of other marsh Birds.

Of the crested Eagle.

THis is a beautiful kind of Eagle, and as it were crowned like a Kingly Bird; the Indians call it Yzquauhtli. Its Bill is yellow at the root, then black; Its Talons black: Its Feet of a pale colour: Its Legs and Belly mingled of black and white: Its Neck fulvous; its Back and Tail black and brown: Its crest or crown black. It is about as big as a common Ram; and is as stout and hardy as the fiercest creatures, so that being reclaimed and kept tame upon a sleight provocation, it will assault and fly upon even men themselves. Yet is it very tame and gentle, and becomes as fit and ser∣viceable for hawking as other Hawks, of which it is a kind.

Of the Bird having three tunes, or notes.

A Small Bird that sings very sweetly is found in Hispaniola. It sings in three several voices or notes, varying its tune with almost indivisible modulations: from a sharp note presently falling down to others, that it seems to utter them all together, and with one breath to form several notes, as if they proceeded from three throats. An anonymous manuscript Author, who affirms that himself hath heard, thinks that there is no bird in the World sings more pleasantly, yea, that it clearly excels the Nightingale in the almost inexplicable sweetness of its accents. This Bird he saith he saw not, only heard it: But from the testimony of others he declares that it is very beautiful, and adorned with wonderful variety of lovely colours.

Of the Water-Sparrow.

A Cototloquichitl or the Water-Sparrow, the Cock sings pertinaciously without in∣termission. From Sun-rising to Sun-setting it chirps and cries stiffly with a noise like the squeaking of Mice. It gratifies the Palate more than the Ear. It sits upon Rushes and Seggs, and among them it builds. For bigness and shape it resembles a Sparrow, yet its Bill is black; its Legs and Feet fulvous. The lower or underside of the body is for the most part white: The rest fulvous, varied with a kind of white and black. It is found in the coasts of Mexico.

This Bird is not much unlike that we have intitled the Reed-Sparrow.

Of the hoarse Bird.

THe ludicrous motion and contraction of its Neck at pleasure hath ennobled the Acaca cahucactli, or water bird that cries hoarsly: For the hoarseness of its voice hath given it its name, It is of that kind of Halcyons [King-fishers] which our Country-men [Spaniards] are wont to call Martinet Pescador, which naturally fre∣quents Rivers and Streams of water to get its food. It is a little less than a wild Duck, having its Bill and Neck of a spanlong: Its Bill is about three fingers breadth long, of a moderate thickness, ending in a sharp point, and very fit to strike and peck withall, black above, white underneath, and pale about the sides. The Pupil of the Eye is black, the Iris next the Pupil red, then pale, and at last white. From the Eyes to the rise of the Bill proceeds a * 1.2 line [fascia] of a pale green. Its Legs and Feet (which are cloven into toes, are green on the out-side, on the inside incline to paleness. The colour of the whole body is for the most part white, with fulvous feathers intermixt: But the upper side inclines more to brown, the underside is whiter. The Wings un∣derneath are grey; above about the extremes black, next from fulvous inclining to red, then from fulvous declining to pale, and lastly near the Back fulvous. It feeds and lives upon fishes, very easily becomes tame, and sings not unpleasantly; but must be carefully and tenderly fed with worms, and water-insects. You may also for want of other more natural food give its flesh to eat. It yields a gross nourishment, not unlike to that which wild Ducks afford. It is native of the Country of Mexico, and breeds in the Spring among the Rushes. Whereas the Neck, in comparison with the rest of its body, is very long, it is wonderful strange into what a shortness it can

contract it; which it is commonly wont to do. Its Tail is little and black, shewing something of splendour, and widening into a greater breadth. * 1.3 They call it by its Country-name Tolcomoctli. This Bird would be altogether like its fellow, were not its Bill black above; and red underneath, as also its Legs and Feet: And the colour of its whole body fulvous and black promiscuously.

Of the Hoactzin.

ITs use in Physic recommends the bird Hoactzin, that utters a sound like its name. It is almost as big as a Turkey; hath a crooked Bill, a white Breast inclining to yel∣low: Wings and Tail spotted at intervals of an inch distance: Of a white and pale colour; the Back and upper part of the Neck fulvous, but both inclining to brown; as do also the temples of the Head as far as the Bill and Eyes. It hath black Claws, and dusky Legs. It hath a crest made up of feathers from white inclining to a pale colour, but their back-side black. It feeds upon Snakes. It hath a great voice, re∣presenting a kind of howling. It appears in the Autumn, and is by the Natives ac∣counted an unlucky bird. Its bones asswage the pain of any part of mans body by launcing. The smoak or suffumigation of its feathers brings them to their right mind who grew distracted by any sickness. The ashes of its feathers taken inwardly cure the French Pox, giving marvellous help. It lives in hot Countries, as is Yautepec, and very often is found sitting upon trees near Rivers.

Of the dry Bird or Hoactli.

NEither is the Hoactli or Tobactli, that is, the dry bird, feeding about the Lake of Mexico, a contemptible spectacle. From the point of the Bill to the end of the Tail it is three spans long, and of the bigness of a common Hen. Its Legs are a foot long: Its Bill is five inches long, [perchance he may mean 1 ⅓ of an inch, the words are, Cum uncia trientem,] and an inch thick, black above, pale on the sides, and underneath black and brown. Its Eyes are great; its Iris yellow, and Eye-lids red. The crown of the Head is covered with black feathers, and adorned with a crest in like manner black. Its Neck, Breast, Belly, and whole body are white, but its Tail ash-coloured, as are also its Wings above, for underneath they are whiter. The up∣per parts of its Wings shine with a kind of greenness. The Back though it be cove∣red with white Plumage [or down] yet is wont to be invested with black feathers, inclining to a shining green. The Feet which are cloven into Toes, and also the Legs are pale. Its Head is compassed with a white wreath or ring proceeding from the rise of the Bill to the Eyes. It is a stranger to the Lake of Mexico, coming from some other place; and is called by Spaniards Natives Martinete pescador, from its catching of fish, upon which it feeds. It breeds among the Reeds; it bites shrewdly; and hath a great flat voice.

Of the Wind-bird, Heatototl.

HEatototl or the Wind-bird is also worthy to be beheld. It is adorned with a great orbicular crest, standing up like a crown, and a little whitish. Its Breast from brown inclines to cinereous: Its Belly is white, and Feet flat: Its Legs and the feathers growing about them fulvous. Its Tail is round underneath varied with white and a sooty colour, but above brown: Its Wings underneath are white, ash-coloured and sooty, above black, yet with some white feathers interspersed. In other respects it is of the same nature with other Water-fowl, and like to the other Heatototle, which is something less then a tame Duck, with a black, slender round Bill, and near the end wreathen: Its feathers underneath white, but above near the Thighs fulvous. Its Wings underneath are ash-colour, but above brown, black, and white. Its Head is black and crested; but from the hinder part of the Head black stroaks proceed on both sides to the Eyes, which are black, with a yellow Iris. In other things they are like to birds frequenting Fens and Marshes.

Of Achalalactli and Amalozque, birds with rings about their necks.

ITs silver-coloured ring adorns the Neck of Achalalactli, or the Bird that tosses and throws fishes about. Some call it Michalalactli. It is of the bigness and shape of a Dove, hath a black, sharp Bill, three inches long, and thick for the proportion of its body. Its Head is adorned with a long crest, from blue inclining to black. Its Belly is covered with white feathers, and its Neck beautified with a white ring. Its Wings underneath are white, but their ends brown, spotted with white: Above, like the rest of the body, blue, but their extreme parts black, and spotted every where with white specks. Its Tail is partly black, partly blue, but at intervals also varied with white spots. Its Legs are red; its Feet divided into Toes, ending in black Claws: Its Eyes black, and Irides white. It is a * 1.4 stranger to this Country of Mexico, and frequents Rivers and Fountains, feeding upon little fish and water Insects. It is edible, but of like taste and nourishment with other Fen and Marsh birds.

Nor is the Amalozque or red-neckt bird of less beauty. It is also a Marsh-bird, of the bigness of our common Turtle-dove: Its Legs and Feet (which are divided into Toes) being of a delayed red, [or white dashed with red:] Its Claws black: Its Bill of a mo∣derate length, slender, and black: Its Eyes black, and Irides red. The lower parts of the Breast, Belly, and Wings are white: But its Tail, which is of a moderate big∣ness, is sprinkled with fulvous and black: But, what is most remarkable, two black collars, distant by the breadth of ones little finger, encompass the Neck and Breast; the foremost whereof incircles it round, the hindmost fails and disappears in the upper part, [or above the Neck.] On both sides are two white spots of equal big∣ness, above the Eye toward the Neck, and reaching almost to it. The upper part of the body and also the tail are of a white, black, and fulvous colour. But the Wings above fulvous and brown. This Bird is native of the Lake of Mexico, breeding and bringing up its young there in the Spring-time. Its flesh is eaten, and affords like nou∣rishment with that of other Water-fowl. It feeds upon little fishes, Gnats, and other Water-Insects. It hath a louder and stronger cry than sutes to the proportion of its body: yet is it not to be numbred among the clamorous birds.

The healing Wood-pecker, or Tleuquecholtototl.

THis Tleuquecholtototl or Bird with a Head like the Spoon-bill [Platea.] It is big∣ger than a Blackbird, hath a long black Bill, but the nether Chap much the shorter. The crown of the Head, and almost the whole Neck above is red, the lower parts being altogether cinereous. The Wings and Back are black, varied with transverse white lines. It lives in the fields of Pavatlan, in the Province of Totona∣capae. It is a kind of Wood-pecker, that perforates trees, the red feathers of whose Head being applied and glued to the Head are reported to cure the Head-ach: Whe∣ther they came to be of that opinion, because they grow on the birds Head, or found it to be so by some experiment.

Of the Wood-pecker that breeds in the time when the rains fall.

QUatotoni is a kind of Woodpecker of the bigness of a Hoopoo, varied with a black and brown colour. Its Bill, wherewith it perforates trees, is three inches long, strong and white, the nether Chap the shorter. Its Head is small, covered with a red plumage, adorned also with a red crest, three inches long, and black at top. On each side the Neck goes down a white stroke [fascia] as low as the breast. Its Legs and feet are of a livid or lead-colour. It lives not far from the South Sea: Builds upon high trees: Feeds upon Cicadae, or Tlaolli, Worms, and other Insects. It breeds in the time that the rains fall, that is from the month of May to September. It is neither good to eat, nor useful for any thing else that I have heard of.

Of the Queen of the Aurae.

COzcacoauhtli the Indians call a Bird, which they say is the Queen of those fowl the Mexicans call Aurae. It doth not less deserve that name from its constancy or firmness against all the force of blasts, and impulse of winds. It approaches in

bigness to the Gnossian Eagles. its whole body besides the Neck and those parts which are near the Breast is from a black purple, fulvous and dark or sad-coloured. Its Wings underneath about their rise black, else cinereous; but above mixed of fulvous and black, and something inclining to purple. Its Legs are red, and Claws hooked. The extremes of the Bill (which one would think were those of a Parrot, they are so undiscernably like) are white, the rest of the Bill of a sanguine tincture. The No∣sthrils are large; the Eyes black, but Iris fulvous; the eye-lids red: The forehead died with a sanguine colour, and frowning or wrinkling, which wrinkles it doth sometimes explicate and smooth. In which particular, and also in some thin, scattered hairs, frisled, not unlike Blackmores hairs, it seems to resemble the Turkey. It hath a Tail like an Eagle, grey beneath but black above. It feeds upon Snakes, Mice, and Lizzards that it catcheth; but especially upon Carrion, or dead beasts, and mans dung. It soars aloft, flying high with its Wings spread, and almost without inter∣mission. It is native of the Province of Mexico, and breeds in the Spring. With an incredible force it resists the Winds, bearing up stiffly against them, and persisting in the same place immovable, let them blow never so boisterously. Its flesh is unuseful for food, not being tasted of by any man, that I have yet known of, but only for Physic. I hear that the Indians do heal Ulcers by applying to them the feathers of this bird outwardly, and giving the Patient its flesh boiled to take inwardly for his food during the distemper: Which they say also is a present remedy for the French Pox.

Of the Garagay.

GAragay is said to be a Bird of prey, of the bigness of a Kite: Having its Head and the ends of its Wings white: Being of short flight, a great destroyer of Crocodiles and Tortoises Eggs. It smells them out though hidden under the sand in the banks of Rivers, scrapes them up and devours them. It is a solitary bird, save that the Aurae follow it that they may partake of its prey: For they cannot scrape in the ground to dig up Eggs.

Of the Hoacton.

THe Female of this Bird, called Hoacton, is a little bigger than the Male called Hoactli, akin to, or like the common Heron; white on the Neck and Belly, with brown feathers intermixt. The rest of the body is brown, set here and there with white feathers. Its Eyes great, and black, with a pale Iris.

Of the Scarlet-feathered Indian Bird.

THe Iustre of its Wings commends the Acolchichi or red-shouldered bird, and ob∣tained for it of the Spaniards an honourable name, who call these Birds Com∣mendadores, because they resemble the badge or cognizance of those Knights, who wear on their side the like shining red. They seem to be a sort of Stares, which the Spaniards call Tordos, agreeing with them in bigness, colour, and shape, and every where companying with them; although their shoulders at first appear fulvous, in∣clining to red, and as they grow older are wholly changed into a * 1.5 fulvous colour. Being kept in Cages they learn to imitate humane speech, and prattle very pleasantly. They eat any thing you offer them, but especially Bread and Indian Wheat. You may find these Birds both in hot and cold Countries: By their numerous flocks they are very troublesome to people living in Towns, especially in hot and maritime Coun∣tries. They yield a bad and unpleasant juice; and build in trees not far from Towns and the commerce of men, wasting and destroying the corn-fields where they light. They sing and play whether they be shut up in Cages, or suffered to walk freely up and down the house.

Of fair-feathered Birds.

ITs feathers have made the Quetzaltototl more precious than gold, and therefore it is called the bird of feathers. It hath a crest, and is in good part adorned with Pea∣cocks feathers, of the bigness of a Pie or Pigeon, having a crooked yellow Bill, and Feet something yellow. The Tail is composed of very long feathers, of a shining

green, and of a Peacock colour, like for shape to the leaves of Flower-de-luce; and covered above with other black ones, but beneath and where they touch the Pea∣cock-coloured or purple ones, (which are in the middle) inclining to green, as if nature took care of the beauty of the middle feathers. The Crest consists of shining and very beautiful feathers. The Breast and Neck underneath are covered with a red and shining Plumage; and with a purple [pavoninâ] as is also the Back and the sides under the Wings, and the Belly between the Legs; but the feathers in this last place are of a fainter colour, slender, and soft. The feathers of the Wings are very long, tinctured with a dilute green, and ending in sharp points. The feathers grow∣ing on the shoulders are green, but black underneath; but those between the Wings are something crooked, and of the colour of the * 1.6 Claws. The feathers of this Bird are highly esteemed among the Indians, and preferred even before Gold it self; the longer ones for crests, and other ornaments both of the head and whole body, both for War and Peace: But the rest for setting in feather-works, and composing the fi∣gures of Saints and other things; which they are so skilful in doing, as not to fall short of the most artificial Pictures drawn in colours. For this purpose they also make use of, and mingle and weave in together with these the feathers of the humming bird. These Birds live in the Province of Tecolotlan beyond Quauhtemallam towards Hon∣duras, where great care is taken that no man kill them: Only it is lawful to pluck off their feathers, and so let them go naked; yet not for all men indifferently, but only for the Lords and Proprietors of them; for they descend to the Heirs as rich posses∣sions. Fr. Hernandez in some pretermitted annotations adds concerning the manner of taking these Birds some things worth the knowing. The Fowlers (saith he) be∣take themselves to the Mountains, and there hiding themselves in small Cottages, scatter up and down boil'd Indian Wheat, and prick down in the ground many rods besmeared with Birdlime, wherewith the Birds intangled become their prey. They fly in flocks among trees, on which they are wont to sit, making no unpleasant noise with their whistling and singing in consort. They have by the instinct of nature such knowledge of their riches, that once sticking to the Birdlime, they remain still and quiet, not strugling at all, that they may not mar or injure their feathers. The beauty whereof they are so in love with, that they chuse rather to be taken and killed, than by endeavouring to get their liberty do any thing that may deface or prejudice them. They are said to pick holes in trees, and therein to build and breed up their Young. They feed upon Worms, and certain wild * 1.7 Pinnae, of that sort which the Mexicans are wont to call Matzatli. They love the open air, nor hath it been yet found, that ever they would be kept tame, or brought up in houses. They make a noise not much unlike Parrots: But they have a chearful and pleasant whistle, and they sing thrice a day, to wit, in the Morning, at Noon, and about Sun-set.

Next to the Quetzaltototl the Tzinitzian is most esteemed. It is a small bird, almost as big as a Dove, clothed with feathers of many colours, with which the Natives com∣pose Images and Figures of wonderful subtilty and curiosity: For from this artifice they are become known and famous all the world over. These they use and make shew of on Feast days, in War, in their Temples, and public Merriments and Dancings. Its Bill is short, crooked, and pale; its Head and Neck like a Doves, but covered with green and shining feathers. Its Breast and Belly are red, excepting that part which is next the Tail: For that is died with blue and white promiscuously. Its Tail green above, and black underneath: Its Wings partly white, and partly black. The Iris of its Eye is yellow, but inclining to scarlet: The Legs and Feet cinereous. It lives in hot Coun∣tries near the Southern Ocean. It is nourished up in Cages, and fed with fruits. It is as beautiful and lovely a Bird as any is, but neither doth it sing, nor is its flesh (that I know of) good.

Totoquestal also (as Antonius Herrera writes) is a lesser-sized bird than a Pigeon, all over green. The feathers of its Tail are very long, highly prized, and a special commodity used in commerce. It was a capital crime to kill this bird; wherefore they only pluckt it, and let it go.

Of the Thrushes of Chiappa and Artisicer-Sparrows.

THere is a sort of Thrushes found in Chiappa, which they call Artisicer-Sparrows. They are black only on the Breast, and red on the Head. They feed only upon Acorns. With their Bill they perforate the barks of Pine-trees; and in each hole fitly ac∣commodate or stick in an acorn, so that by the hand it cannot be pluckt out; and so very

elegantly set the Pine-tree round with Acorns. Then sticking to the bark with their Feet, they strike the A corn with their Bill, and devour the kernel.

Of the long bird or Hoitlallotl.

HOitlallotl or the long bird is more taken notice of for its running than for its feathers. From the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail (which also is a span long) it is extended nine inches. Its Bill is black above, cinereous underneath, three inches long, and moderately thick. Its Tail is green, but with a purplish splendour. The feathers of the whole body from white tend to fulvous, but toward the Tail from black to the same colour. Yet the feathers on the upper side of the body are black, sprinkled with white spots. It flies near the ground, and makes but short slights; but runs so swiftly that it far exceeds the speed of the fleetest horses. It lives in hot Countries, and yields no very desirable nourishment.

Of Indian Quails.

THose of New Spain call Quails Colin. These are like our Country Quails, though they be without doubt to be referred to the kind of Partridges. There are found many sorts of them in New Spain: Some brown and crested, which they call Quauhtzonecolim; of a moderate bigness, and a remarkable, but mournful cry: Others brown in like manner, but without crests, and a little less: Others, the big∣gest of all, of a fulvous colour, but their Heads varied with white and black, the ends [extremis] of their Wings and Back white, their Bill and Feet black. They are all (as I said) like to the Spanish Quails, very good and pleasant meat, provided you kill them two or three days before they be rosted and served up. Physicians allow sick persons to eat of their flesh: Neither is there any Fowl among the Indi∣ans, next to tame Poultry, whose flesh is to be preferred before it, either for whol∣somness or taste. They have a tune like our Quails, and some a more pleasant one than others. They are kept in Coops, and fed either with common or Indian Wheat; and are common in many parts of this Country.

The same Author [Fr. Hernandez] of the Coyolcozgue or sounding Quail in ano∣ther place writes thus. It is one among many other sorts of Colin or Mexican Quails, of which we shall speak singly: like to our Quails for bigness, note, feeding, flight, and conditions, but of a different colour; above mingled of fulvous and white, un∣derneath only fulvous; yet the crown of the Head and the Neck are set with black and white feathers; which make seams or strakes on each side from the Neck to both Eyes. The Eyes are black, and the Legs fulvous. It is native of this Country, and frequent in the open fields, as is the common Quail, and yields a like nourishment, coming next to the Spanish Partridge, of which it is a sort.

Colcuicuiltic or the Quails Image is also a sort of Quail varied with white, black, and scarlet Plumes; above rather produced in lines than round spots, underneath dis∣posed rather into thick-set spots than lines. Its Feet and Legs are blue: But for its note, bigness, conditions, and all other qualities, it is altogether like the prece∣dent.

Acolin is of the bigness of a Stare, hath pale-green Legs and Feet, divided into four pretty long Toes. Its Bill is yellow, and of the longest for the proportion of its body, slender also, and sharp-pointed: Its Eyes black, its Irides fulvous, and Head small, The under side of the body is white, the sides spotted with brown: The upper sur∣face of the body and the Tail (which is short) are fulvous, but spotted with black; lines of white encircling all the feathers, sprinkled or powdered sometimes with specks of the same colour. It frequents Lakes, and hath a fishy taste, yet is it no un∣pleasant meat. It feeds usually upon Worms, Flies, and other Insects flying about the Fens. It breeds in the Lake of Mexico. Its Head glisters with a wonderful variety of colours, a black line dividing it in the middle, and others of a grey or ash-colour distinguishing the sides: The exteriour corners being pointed with small white spots. The Neck and Breast are grey [cinerea,] the rest of the Plumage from fulvous rather incline to green.

Of the Snow-bird or Ceoan.

IT is a little bigger than a Thrush: Esteemed of for imitation of humane speech: About the Breast, Belly, and setting on of the Wings fulvous; near the Tail are grey feathers mingled with the fulvous. The ends of the Wings and the Tail it self un∣derneath are cinereous: But above, all the body is of a dark brown. The Bill, (which is small and slender) and the Legs are fulvous: The Chin is white, yet having some black feathers intermixt. It imitates humane speech, mocking, and as it were deriding those that pass by: Whom yet if it may it will follow.

Of the Cenotzqui or Snow-calling bird.

IT deserves its name, because before it snows it cries, afterwards is silent. It is re∣markable for variety of colours: Having a fulvous Breast, pale Legs, black Claws, a Belly spotted with black and white. Under the Wings it is white and ash-coloured; above fulvous, black, and then cinereous spotted with black, and near the ends or tips speckled with white. Its Tail underneath is black and white, above fulvous, spotted with black. Its Head is black, encircled with a wreath of grey: Its Bill small, grey both above and beneath, but above near its rise encompassed with a yellow line. Its Eyes are black, and Eye-lids pale. It endures any kind of air or weather, but abides in mountainous places, and in the Spring-time breeds and brings up its Young. It so turns its Head up and down, winding its Neck every way, that abiding immova∣ble in the same site it can look round about it.

There is also another sort of this Bird differing in some varieties of colour, having its Head fulvous and grey, its Neck partly black, and partly white, which some call Loceto.

Of the Bird called Pauxi.

I Take this to be the same with the Mitu of Marggravius, and with the Mountain Bird or Tepetototl above described. The whole difference is in the Crest, instead whereof this Bird hath a certain tumour at the root of its Beak, of the figure of a Pear, and the hardness of a stone; of a blue colour like that of the Turcois stone. In another place he saith, that this tumour called a stone, though it be not over-hard, is like an Egg or bigger, of a rusty colour.

Of Picicitli.

THe small Bird called Picicitli appears after showers: It is noted for the obscurity of its original. The Tetzcoquenses do not yet know where it breeds. It is a mute Bird, brought up in the house it soon dies and decays. It gratifies both the Pa∣late and Stomach. It is all over ash-coloured, except the Head and Neck, which are both black: Only a white spot encompasses its black Eyes.

Of the * 1.8 Polyglott Bird.

I Saw, heard, and admired a small Bird brought to Madrid, the Queen of all singing Birds, that could command any voice or tune. The Indians from its multiplicity of notes call it Cencontlatolli or four hundred tongues. It is not bigger than a Star∣ling, white underneath, brown above, with some black and white feathers inter∣mixt; especially next the Tail, and about the Head which is encircled with the like∣ness of a silver crown. It is kept in Cages to delight the ear, and for a natural rarity or rather wonder. It excells all Birds in sweetness and variety of Song, and perfect command of its voice; imitating the note of any sort of Bird whatsoever, and ex∣celling its exemplar. It goes far beyond the Nightingale. I my self kept it a long time, It is content with any meat; it loves hot Countries, but can abide temperate.

Tzaupan is like to this. Some suspect that it is only the Hen of the same sort, they being equal in bigness, singing alike, and agreeing in shape, saving that the feathers underneath are white, cinereous, and black, those above sad-coloured, black and white.

Of the singing Night-bird.

CHicuatli or the Night-bird is of the bigness of our Woodcock, hath a long, slen∣der, black Bill, and crooked yellow seams near each Eye. The lower parts of the body are of a pale colour, with a few black feathers intermixt about the Neck. The Eyes are black, with yellow Irides. The rest of the body is of a mingled colour of fulvous, brown, and grey. It lives in the Mountains, and flies low: Being kept in a Cage it prattles or chatters prettily. It is easily brought up, for it is wont to feed upon bread made of Tlaolli, Worms, Gnats, and other Insects. It is taken both in hot and cold Countries; it feeds fat, and affords no contemptible nourishment. Some there are that call it Chiquatototl from the Owl, being a Bird not less Augural and omi∣nous than that.

Of the Xomotl.

WE owe the protection and coverture of our nakedness not to Sheep and Qua∣drupeds only; for the Indians weave the feathers of this Bird into their Gar∣ments. It is whole-footed, hath its Back and Wings above black, its Breast brown. When it is angry it ruffles up the feathers upon its Head like a Crest.

Of the Rabihorcado.

THis Bird divides its forked Tail into two parts, sometimes opening, sometimes shutting or drawing them together like a Tailors Sheers: Therefore it is called Rabihorcado, and by the Portughese, Raboforcado.

An account of some Birds of the Ferroe or Ferroyer Islands, out of Hoiers Epistle to Clus.

THe Birds of the first and second Classis are inserted already into this work in their proper places.

In the third Classis or rank (saith the Author) I place three Species different in shape, but in this quality very near of kin that they presage storms and tempests, and abide only far out at Sea. The biggest of these is much about the bigness of an ordi∣nary Pullet, [or middle-sized Hen,] of the shape of a Falcon. It is commonly, and not improperly, called Haffhert, i. e. The Sea-horse. It is all over of an ash-colour, and every where spotted with white; it hath a crooked Beak like a Falcons, but shorter. At the sight thereof the Fishermen are horribly afraid, as they are also at the appearance of the two following, and make to the Shoar as fast as they can, being sure that there is a dangerous tempest at hand.

The second, called Stormfinck, is a little bigger than a Sparrow. This also is all grey, but without spots, having a very slender Bill. You might with better reason term this Pegasus than the former: For that you shall to admiration see it with incredible velocity run upon the very Waves, crossing of them as swift as the Wind, being car∣ried on like a storm, as its name imports. If flocks of these draw near to any Ves∣sels at Sea; experienced Mariners know they must presently lowr their Sails. This Bird seems to have some affinity with that which Oviedus mentions in his fourteenth Book of the natural and general History of the Indies, about the beginning of the first Chapter, telling us, that the Mariners call it Patines: It being of equal velocity in flying even in a troubled and tempestuous Sea, so that one would think it ran with a swift course over the tops of the Waves.

The third Species named Barnfiard, is equal to a Sparrow, white under the Breast, with the Neck and Back black: Its Beak is also black, and somewhat broad: Its Feet red: This is as swift in swimming as the Stormfinck in running. Where these three kinds breed their Young is not known. Whence, in my opinion, among all that we have enumerated they seem to come nearest to the description of the Halcyon; though in colour they do not altogether agree with Plinies description.

5. In the fifth rank remain to be described two different sorts of wild Geese; the former whereof, called Helsingegnaas, hath a black Head and Neck encompassed with a white ring, a white Breast, grey Wings, a blue Back, and red Feet. In bigness it an∣swers to a Duck: The other sort [Erandgaas] is a little less than a wild Goose. Its Head is grey: Its Neck compassed with a circle of red: Its Breast grey, in like

manner its Wings and Neck: Its Feet red. These kinds of Geese are very rarely seen in the Ferroyer Islands, nor do they breed there. Whence they come, and whither they go no man knows. But the Inhabitants have a superstitious conceit, grounded upon long experience, that when they do appear they portend a change of Magistracy of Government. Beside these here is also plenty of common wild Geese.

Gesners Wood-Crow. Aldrov. lib. 19. cap. 57.

OUr Wood-crow is of the bigness of a Hen, black all the body over, if you behold it at a distance. But if you view it near hand, especially in the Sun, the black seems to be mingled with green. Its Feet are almost like a Hens, but longer: Its Toes divided: Its Tail not long. It hath a Crest hanging down backwards from the Head, which I know not whether it be in all Birds of this sort, and always. Its Bill is red, long, and fit to thrust into the narrow chinks and holes of the Earth, Trees, Walls, and Rocks, to fetch out Grubs and Insects lurking there, upon which it feeds. Its Legs are long, and of a dark red. I hear that it feeds upon Grashoppers, Crickets, little Fishes, and Frogs. It builds for the most part in the high Walls of demolished or ruinous Towers, which are common in the mountainous parts of Switzerland. In the stomach of one dissected, besides other Insects I sometimes found very many of those which eat the roots of corn, especially Millet; the French call them Curtillas, our Coun∣trimen [the Germans] Tuaren, from the site of their Feet, as I conjecture. They eat also those Grubs of which the May-flies are bred. They flie very high: They lay two or three Eggs. The first of all (as far as I know) fly away about the beginning of June, if I be not mistaken. Their Young taken out of the Nest before they can fly may easily be fed, and made so tame, as to fly out into the fields and return of their own accord. The young ones are commended for good meat, and counted a dainty: Their flesh is sweet, and their bones tender. Those that take them out of the Nests are wont to leave one in each, that they may the more willingly return the following year. They are called by our Country-men, Wald-rapp, that is Wood-Crows, because they are wont to live in woody, mountainous, and desert places: Where they build in Rocks, or old forsaken Towers: Wherefore also they are called Steinrapp, and elsewhere [in Bavaria and Stiria] Clauszrapp, from the Rocks, or Crags, and straits between Mountains, which the Germans call Clausen, that is, enclosed places, wherein they build their Nests.

Mr. Willughby suspects this Bird to be no other than the Coracias or Pyrrhocorax: But if it be rightly described its bigness and the crest on its head forbid it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Coarse.
• * 1.2

  Or Swathe.
• * 1.3

  Here seems to be some fault in the Copy, the fol∣lowing sen∣tence arguing the word Tol∣comoctli to be the name of another though like Bird.
• * 1.4

  Not native of it, being a bird of pas∣sage.
• * 1.5

  I suppose here is the the mistake in the Copy or Author, and that it should be red.
• * 1.6

  The word is unguium, it may be the Author may mean humane nails.
• * 1.7

  I suppose this word is mistaken, for what pinnae sylvestres mean I know not.
• * 1.8

  Of many notes.