44 MEMOIR OF 



to upwards of 2600 folio pages, of the largest size, 

 beautifully executed, adorned with some elegant 

 engravings, and with almost innumerable wood 

 cuts, all of them creditable, and many of them of 

 superior merit. It is concerning this work that 

 Haller remarks, " he devoted himself most assi- 

 duously to anatomical details." 



The first volume appeared in the year 1599? when 

 the author had attained the venerable age of 77. 

 We have room for nothing more than the shortest 

 epitome of its contents, which we give chiefly as a 

 sample of the whole work. And, first, let us again hear 

 the author : " I could wish you to judge how much 

 toil and trouble has been given to this work. I 

 have supplied the names of birds not only in Greek 

 and Latin, but also in Hebrew, Arabic, and Italian, 

 and, in short, in all known languages. I have de- 

 scribed the birds, and figured those I have had an 

 opportunity of drawing. I have illustrated their 

 nature and habits, have dwelt upon their food, the 

 manner in which they are captured, and how they 

 may be best preserved ; likewise the nourishment 

 they afford, their use in medicine, their employment 

 upon emblems, symbols, and images, in sacred and 

 profane mythology, and on coins, in proverbs, and 

 hieroglyphics. Whatever can be usefully said upon 

 bfrds may be found here."* The treatise is divided 

 into twelve books. The author begins with the ra- 

 pacious birds, and after a short introduction, he 



Opera, t. i. Dedicat 



I 



