RAY AND WILLUGHBY 111 



turn its breast to that quarter of the heaven whence the 

 wind blows. They that doubt of it may try it." ^ 



Blackbird 

 " The blackbird builds her nest very artificially with- 

 outside of moss, slender twigs, bents and fibres of roots, 

 cemented and joined together with clay instead of glue, 

 daubing it also all over withinside with clay. Yet doth 

 she not lay her eggs upon the bare clay, like the mavis, 

 but lines it with a covering of small straws, bents, hair, 

 or other soft matter, upon which she lays her eggs, both 

 that they might be more secure and in less danger of 

 breaking, and also that her young might lie softer and 



warmer." 



Kites 

 "They are very noisome to tame birds, especially 

 chickens, ducklings and goslings, among which espying 

 one far from shelter, or that is carelessly separated a 

 good distance from the rest, or by any other means 

 lies fit and exposed to rapine, they single it out, and 

 fly round and round for a while, marking it ; then 

 of a sudden dart down as swift as lightning, and catch 

 it up before it is aware, the dam in vain crying out, 

 and men with hooting and stones scaring them away. 

 Yea, so bold are they that they aff'ect to prey in cities 

 and places frequented by men, so that the very gardens 

 and courts or yards of houses are not secure from their 

 ravine. For which cause our good housewives are very 

 angry with them, and of all birds hate and curse them 

 the most." ^ 



WILLUGHBY'S HISTORY OF FISHES 



Beyond the statement on the title-page that the first 

 and second books, which treat of fishes in general and of 



ip. 146. »P. 191. 



'P. 75. For an earlier account of kites in London see p. 78. 



