BOOK X. Lxi. r26-Lxni. 129 



they hoUow out trenches with their beaks and then 

 roof them over with lattice and cover this with the 

 earth that they have previously dug fromthe trenches, 

 and in these they hatch thcir eggs ; that the trenches 

 of all of them have two doors, that by which they go 

 out to forage facing east and that by which they 

 return west ; and that when about to relieve them- 

 selves they always fly upwards and against the wind, 

 These bii'ds are commonly seen in only one place in 

 the whole world, in the island which we spoke of " 

 as famous for the tomb and shrine of Diomede, ofF 

 the coast of ApuHa, and they resemble coots. Bar- 

 barian visitors they beset with loud screaming, and 

 they pay deference only to Greeks, a remarkable 

 distinction, as if paying this tribute to the race of 

 Diomede ; and every day they wash and purify the 

 temple mentioned by fiUing their throats with water 

 and wetting their wings, which is the source of the 

 legend that the comrades of Diomede were trans- 

 formed into the Hkeness of these birds. 



LXII. In a discussion of mental faculties it must VocUe and 

 not be omitted that among birds swallows and among ^Jp^cilst 

 land animals mice are unteachable, whereas elephants 

 execute orders and hons are yoked to chariots, and 

 in the sea seals and ever so many kinds of fish can 

 be tamed. 



LXIII. Birds of the kinds that liave long necks ^irds' 

 drink by suction, stopping now and then and so to ^dHnHng. 

 speak pouring the water into themselves by bending 

 their head back. Only the porphyrio drinks by beak- 

 fuls ; it also eats in a pecuUar way of its own, con- 

 tinually dipping all its food in water and then using 

 its foot as a hand with which to bi*ing it to its beak. 

 The most admired variety of sultana-hen is in Com- 

 magene; this has a red beak and very long red legs. 



375 



