440 PREFACE. 



the turtle^ the blackbird^ and the lark^ as CeN 

 tainly hiding themfelves ; which fhews how little 

 was known of their real flate in his days •, nay, 

 fo much was he puzzled about this fubje6l, that 

 in another place he llippofes fome of the birds to 

 be chang-ed in their form and voice at different 

 fealbns. Thus he fays, that the redjiart changes 

 into the robin redhreaft ; and Gefner gives this 

 reafon for Ariftotle's falling into this opinion, that 

 during the fummer the robin redbreaft lives in 

 defert places, and comes towards towns and 

 houfes in the autumn, when the redjiart difap- 

 pears. Again Ariftotle fays, that the black cap 

 changes into a beccafigo^ which lail appears, as 

 Gefner obferves, about autumn, when the figs 

 are ripe, and the former after the autumn. It is 

 true Ariilotle mentions fome kinds of birds which 

 go to warmer climates when they difappear, 

 which is a proof that their migrations were not 

 wholly unknown in thofe days •, and indeed the 

 poems of Homer prove that they were in part 

 known much earlier. Nor could it happen other- 

 wife, when the inquifitive genius of Greece be- 

 gan to work, and carry men into Phoenicia and 

 ^gypt, with a view of improving themfelves in 

 all parts of learning -, where they could not avoid 

 obferving, that fome birds which left Greece in 

 the winter were found at that time in thofe 

 warmer climates. But the fuperftition v/as al- 

 ready confirmed before this happened. Dodona 

 was eflablifhed on a foundation not to be ihaken 

 by the weak attempt of reafon and experience. 

 The birds had given good advice time out of 

 mind, and brought many a general and a magi- 

 strate, as v/cll as private ni^n without number, 



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