THE SWALLOW'S STONE. 285 



nests have been so long known, and to whom credit is 

 now given for having been acquainted centuries ago with 

 inventions which N until recently were believed to be 

 modern. Not being conversant, however, with Chinese, 

 we are unable to say whether there is in that language 

 any equivalent for "swallow-stone," or " swallow's-herb," 

 or whether ancient Chinese authors in any way throw light 

 upon the subject.* 



Pliny's mention of the stone found in the stomach of 

 the swallow brings to mind the stones found in the 

 stomach of the ostrich, and so leads to the consideration 

 of another bird noticed by Shakespeare. The food of 

 the ostrich is said to consist of the tops of shrubby 



plants, seeds, and grain ; strange to say, however, it will 







swallow, with indiscriminating voracity, stones, sticks, 

 pieces of metal, cord, leather, and other substances, which 

 often occasion its destruction. The extraordinary diges- 

 tion of the bird is thus alluded to in the threat of the 

 rebel Cade, when confronted by Alexander Iden : 



"" Ah ! villain, thou wilt betray me, and get a thousand 

 crowns of the king by carrying my head to him ! but I'll 

 make thee eat iron like an ostrich, and swallow my sword 

 like a great pin, ere thou and I part." Henry VI. Part II. 

 Act iv. Sc. 10. 



This curious habit is not peculiar to the ostriches. The 

 same thing has been observed in the bustards. Dr. 



* The substance of the above remarks was contributed by the author in an 

 article published in The Zoologist for 1867, p. 744. 



