328 HISTORY OF 



but that it rather affords activity than matter; so that 

 fruitful eggs and unfruitful eggs are hardly distinguished. 



22. Birds (almost all of them) come to their full growth 

 the first year, or a little after. It is true, that their feathers 

 in some kinds, and their bills in others, show their years; 

 but for the growth of their bodies it is not so. 



23. The eagle is accounted a long liver, yet his years are 

 not set down ; and it is alleged, as a sign of his long life, 

 that he casts his bill, whereby he grows young again ; from 

 whence comes that old proverb, the old age of an eagle. 

 Notwithstanding perchance the matter may be thus, that 

 the renewing of the eagle doth not cast his bill, but the 

 casting of his bill is the renewing of the eagle ; for, after 

 that his bill is grown to a great crookedness, the eagle feeds 

 with much difficulty. 



24. Vultures are also affirmed to be long livers, insomuch 

 that they extend their life well near to a hundred years. 

 Kites likewise, and so all birds that feed upon flesh, and 

 birds of prey, live long. As for hawks, because they lead 

 a degenerate and servile life for the delight of men, the term 

 of their natural life is not certainly known ; notwithstanding 

 amongst mewed hawks some have been found to have lived 

 thirty years, and amongst wild hawks forty years. 



25. The raven likewise is reported to live long, some 

 times to a hundred years. He feeds on carrion, and flies 

 not often, but rather is a sedentary and melanchollic bird, 

 and hath very black flesh. But the crow, like unto him in 

 most things (except in greatness and voice), lives not alto 

 gether so long, and yet is reckoned amongst the long livers. 



26. The swan is certainly found to be a long liver, and 

 exceeds not unfrequently a hundred years. He is a bird 

 excellently plumed, a feeder upon fish, and is always car 

 ried, and that in running waters. 



27. The goose also may pass amongst the long livers, 

 though his food be commonly grass, and such kind of 

 nourishment, especially the wild goose ; whereupon this 

 proverb grew amongst the Germans, Magis senex quamanser 

 nivalis ; older than a wild goose. 



28. Storks must needs be long livers, if that be true 

 which was anciently observed of them, that they never came 

 to Thebes, because that city was often sacked. This, if it 

 were so, then either they must have the knowledge of more 

 acres than one, or else the old ones must tell their young the 

 history. But there is nothing more frequent than fables. 



29. For fables do so abound touching the phrenix, that 



