B. VJ.IT.1 THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 203 



the phaps. It is generally captured as it is drinking ; it 

 comes to this country when it has young. All the rest 

 come in the summer, and make their nests here, and all, 

 except the pigeon tribe, live upon animal food. 



6. All birds, as far as food is concerned, are either ter- 

 restrial or live in the neighbourhood of rivers and ponds, 

 or near the sea. Those that have webbed feet pass the 

 greater part of their time on the water ; those with divided 

 feet near the water. Some of these dive for their food, 

 such as live upon plants and do not eat flesh ; others, as the 

 heron and white heron, live in ponds and rivers. The latter 

 of these is smaller than the former, and has a flat large bill. 



7. The pelargus also, and the gull, the latter is ash-co- 

 loured, and the schcenilus, cinclos, pygargus, (and tryngas) 

 this last is the largest of these small birds, for it is of the 

 same size as the thrush ; all these birds wag their tails. The 

 calidris also, this bird is variegated and ash-coloured. The 

 kingfisher also lives near the water ; there appear to be two 

 kinds of this bird, one of which utters its cry as it sits 

 upon the reeds, and the other, which is larger, is silent; 

 they both have a blue back. The trochilus also, and the 

 kingfisher and cerylus also live near the sea. The corona 

 also lives upon animals which are cast on shore, for it is 

 omnivorous. The white gull also, the cepphus, sethyia, and 

 charadrius. 



8. The heavier web-footed birds inhabit the neighbour- 

 hood of rivers and ponds, as the swan, duck, phalaris, colum- 

 bis, and the boscas, which is like a duck, but smaller ; and 

 the bird called corax, which is as large as the pelargus, but 

 its legs are shorter, it is web-footed and a swimmer, its 

 colour is black ; this last bird perches upon trees, and is 

 the only one of this class that builds its nest in such places. 

 The great and small goose also, the latter is gregarious, and 

 chenalopex, the aix, and the penelops. The sea eagle also lives 

 near the sea, and fishes in the waters of lakes. Many birds 

 are omnivorous ; those with crooked claws seize upon other 

 animals which they can overcome, and upon birds. They do 

 not, however, devour their own congeners, as fish frequently 

 do ; ail the tribes of birds drink very little, those with 

 crooked claws do not drink at all, or only a few of them, 

 and these but seldom; of these the cenchris drinks tha 



