oOO pliny's natueal history. [BookX. 



the men can think of lying down without the aid of the goose's 

 feathers, by way of pillow. 



CHAP. 28. OF THE COMMAGEIflAN MEDICAMEin:. 



The part of Syria which is called Commagene, has discovered 

 another invention also ; the fat of the goose *^ is enclosed with 

 some cinnamon in a brazen vessel, and then covered with a 

 thick layer of snow. Under the influence of the excessive 

 cold, it becomes macerated, and fit for use as a medicament, 

 remarkable for its properties : from the country which produces 

 it, it is known to us as " Commagenum."^ 



CHAP, 29. THE CHENALOPEX, THE CHENEEOS, THE TETRAO, AND 



THE OTIS. 



To the goose genus belong also the chenalopex,^^ and the 

 cheneros,^- a little smaller than the common goose, and which 

 forms the most exquisite of all the dainties that Britannia pro- 

 vides for the table. The tetrao^' is remarkable for the lustre 

 of its plumage, and its extreme darkness, while the eyelids are 

 of a scarlet colour. Another species^* of this last bird exceeds 

 the vulture in size, and is of a similar colour to it ; and, indeed, 

 there is no bird, with the exception of the ostrich, the body of 

 which is of a greater weight ; for to such a size does it grow, 

 that it becomes incapable of moving, and allows itself to be 

 taken on the ground. The Alps and the regions of the North 

 produce these birds ; but when kept in aviaries, they lose their 

 tine flavour, and by retaining their breath, will die of mere 

 vexation. Next to these in size are the birds which in 

 Spain they call the '' tarda," ^^ and in Greece the " otis :'* they 



®3 This medicament is further treated of in B. xxix. c. 13. 



^ "The Commagenian mixture," For Commagene, see B, v. cc. 13 

 and 20. 



^^ The " goose-fox," so called, according to ^lian, for its cunning and 

 mischievous qualities ; and worshipped by the Egyptians for its affection 

 for its young. It is supposed by Cuvier to be the Anas ,^g)'ptiaca of 

 Buffon, 



3- The Anas clypeata of Buffon, according to Cuvier. 



53 The Tetrao tetrix of Linnaeus, or heathcock. 



5* The Tetrao urogallus of Linnaeus, according to Cuvier. 



5' The Otis tarda of Linnsus. Cuvier says, that it is not the case that 

 they are bad eating, and remarks that birds have no marrow in the larger 

 bones. 



