i8a Gleanings from the 



word humilis probably points to the ftraight, low- 

 flying advance of a cormorant over the waters. 

 Mercury is depicted as plunging into the fea, juft 

 as Homer had fung in the "OdyfTey" (v. 57): 



" Headlong the god dived quick into the waves, 

 Like the low-flying bird which round the fhores 

 And round fifh-haunted rocks flies near the fea." 



The poet had certainly obferved with care the 

 haunts of the cormorant, and in another paflage 

 accurately draws them ("jEneid," v. 128): 



" Far out at fea againft the foam-white cliffs 

 Glooms a dark rock oft fmit by fwelling waves, 

 When winter's ftorm-winds blind the ftars ; but raifed 

 In calm-flowing feas above their level tides, 

 It forms a ftation much of cormorants loved, 

 Where grateful funfhine laves them." 



Pigeons, again, are birds for which Virgil had 

 a fpecial liking. He fpeaks of the Chaonian 

 pigeons fluttered at the approach of an eagle. 

 And his Damon fays : 



" To the dear miftrefs of my love-fick mind, 

 Her fwain a pretty prefent has deflgned ; 

 I faw two ftock-doves billing, and ere long 

 Will take the neft, and hers {hall be the young." 1 



And again : 



'* Stock-doves and turtles tell their amorous pain, 

 And from the lofty elms of love complain." 2 



Though the reader of the original fcarcely re- 

 cognifes this for the tranflation of words fo true 

 to Nature as, " Not in the meantime mall the 

 wood-pigeons, fo dear to thee, hoarfe with cooing, 

 and the turtle, ceafe to moan from their lofty 



i Dryden, "Eel.," iii. 69. 2 Ibid., i. 58. 



