B. IX.] THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 233 



are foes, for the eagle has crooked claws and attacks it, 

 and the other dies in defending itself. The sesalon is a foe 

 to the vulture, and the crex to the coleus, blackbird, and 

 chlorion, which some persons fabulously say derives its 

 origin from a funeral pile, for it destroys both themselves and 

 their young. The sitta and trochilus are foes to the eagle, 

 and the eagle, as well for this reason, as because it is carni- 

 vorous, is a foe to them all. 



7. The anthus is the enemy of the horse, for it drives the 

 horse from its pasture, for the anthus also feeds on grass ; 

 it is dim-sighted and not quick ; it imitates the voice of the 

 horse, which it frightens by flying at it, and drives it from 

 its pasture ; if the horse can seize upon it, he will kill it. The 

 anthus lives near rivers and marshes ; it is of a fine colour, 

 and lives well. The ass attacks the colota, a creature which 

 lives in the manger, and prevents it from eating, by making 

 its way into its nostrils. 



8. There are three kinds of heron, the black, the white 

 sort, and the one called asterias ; of these, the black rests 

 and copulates with difficulty, for it utters a cry, and, as they 

 say, bleeds from the eyes during coition, and the process of 

 parturition is severe and painful ; it attacks creatures which 

 injure it, as the eagle, for it seizes upon it, and the fox, for 

 this creature attacks it during the night, and the lark, 

 which steals its eggs. 



9. The serpent is an enemy to the weasel and the hog, 

 for if the weasel and serpent live in the same house they 

 both require the same kind of food ; and swine eat serpents. 

 The sesalon is a foe to the fox, for it strikes and pecks it, and 

 destroys its young, for it has crooked claws. The raven and 

 the fox are friendly, for the raven also attacks the sesalon, 

 and so they help each other in the attack. The little owl 

 and the sesalon are mutual foes, for both have crooked claws. 

 The little owl and the swan attack the eagle, and the swan 

 often comes off victorious. Of all birds the swans are most 

 disposed to devour l each other. 



10. Some animals are always ready to attack each other, 

 and others, as mankind, only at particular times. The ass 

 and the acanthis are foes, for the latter feeds entirely on 

 thorns, but the former only when they are tender. The an- 



1 To fight with each other. See Liddell and Scott's Lexicon, s. v 



