E II.] THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 35 



eyes, and the parts above the heart, and the veins that ex- 

 tend from these : and even in these there is very little blood. 

 5. The brain lies a little above the eyes, and is continuous 

 with them ; and when the outside skin of the eye is taken 

 away, a bright object shines through it, like a bright 

 ring of brass. Through the whole of its body many strong 

 membranes are extended, which are much stronger than in 

 other animals. It breathes strongly for some time after it 

 has been dissected, and there are some slight movements of 

 the heart ; it also continues to contract its sides, but not the 

 other parts of the body. It has no distinct spleen ; and it 

 hides itself in rocks like the lizard. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



1. BIRDS also have many parts like the animals described 

 above. For all these have a head, neck, back, and under 

 parts of the body, and something resembling a breast. They 

 have two legs, and thus resemble men more than other ani- 

 mals, except that the joints bend backwards like those of quad- 

 rupeds, as I said before. They have neither hands, nor fore- 

 feet, but wings ; herein they differ from all other animals. 

 Again, the hip is like a thigh, large and united as far as 

 the middle of the abdomen, so as to look like a thigh, 

 when it is separated from the rest of the body ; and the thigh 

 where it is joined to the leg is another part. The class of 

 birds with crooked claws have the largest thigh, and 

 stronger breasts than others. 



2. All birds have claws and many divisions of the foot ; 

 in most of them the toes are quite separate ; but the swim- 

 mers have their feet covered with a web, but even these have 

 distinct and jointed toes. All birds that fly high in the air 

 have four toes ; and, generally, these are placed three for* 

 wards, and one backward, like a heel ; a few birds have two 

 toes turned forwards and two backwards, as the bird called 

 jynx. 1 This bird is somewhat larger than the spize, 2 and is 

 variegated in appearance. The formation of its toes is pecu- 

 liar, and so is that of its tongue, which is like a serpent's. 

 This it can project from its mouth, as much as the width of 

 four fingers, and draw it in again. Like a snake it can turn 

 its neck quite round, whilst the rest of its body is perfectly 

 1 Jynx torquilla, wry-neck. ~ Fringilla, finch. 



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