BOOK X, Lxxiii. 143-LXXIV. 145 



LXXIII. The reproductive system of birds appears Matingoj 

 to be simple, although even this possesses marvels 

 of its own, since even four-footed creatures produce 

 eggs — chamaeleons and Hzards and those we have • 

 specified" among aquatic species, and also snakes. 

 But amonff feathered creatures those that have hooked 

 talons are unfertile. Of these only the lesser kestrel 

 produces more than four eggs at a time. Nature 

 has bestowed on the bird kind the attribute that the 

 species among them that are shy are more proHfic 

 than the brave ones ; only ostriches, hens and par- 

 tridges bear very numerous broods. Birds have two 

 methods of coupling, the hen sitting on the ground 

 as in the case of the domestic fowl or standing up as 

 in the case of the crane. 



LXXIV. The eggs are in some cases white, as Coioursand 

 with the dove and partridge, in others pale-coloured, Iggf.''^" 

 as with waterfowl, in others spotted, as those of the 

 guinea-hen, in others of a red colour, as in the case of 

 the pheasant and the lesser kestrel. The inside of 

 every bird's egg is of two colours ; in that of the 

 aquatic birds there is more yellow than vvhite, and 

 that yellow is brighter than with the other species. 

 Fishes' effffs are of one colour, which contains no 

 bright white. Birds' eggs are made easily breakable 

 by heat, snakes' eggs are made flexible by cold, and 

 fishes' eggs are softened by hquid. Aquatic species 

 have round eggs, but ahnost all others oval-shaped 

 ones. They are laid with their roundest part in 

 front, the shell of whatever portions they emerge 

 with being soft but becoming hard immediately 

 after the process. Long-s>haped eggs are thought 

 by Horace ^* to have a more agreeable flavour. Eggs 

 of a rounder formation produce a hen chicken and 



385 



