1 94 History of Nature. [ BOOK X . 



that the Sangualis and Ossifraga are the same, and that the 

 Iramussulas is the Yonng of the Eagle, before it comes to 

 have a white Tail. Some have affirmed confidently, that 

 after (the Death of) Mutius the Augur, there was never any 

 of them seen at Rome : but I am rather of Opinion (as being- 

 nearest the Truth) that, through the supine Negligence of 

 Men in all Things, they do not know them. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 Of the Accipiter) or Hawk kind. 



WE find sixteen Kinds of Hawks: 1 of which the Circos, 

 which is lame of one Leg, is held for the most prosperous 

 Augury in Treaties of Weddings and of Cattle. Also the 

 Triorches, so called from the Number of its Testicles, to 

 which Phemonoe hath given the principal Place in Au- 

 gury. The Romans called it Buteo ; and there is still a 

 Family surnamed from it, because it had settled upon the 

 Admiral's Ship, with favourable Auspices. The Greeks 

 name that Kind YEsalo, which alone is seen at all Times ; 

 whereas the rest are gone when Winter cometh. Hawks are 

 divided into distinct Kinds, by their Greediness : for some 

 never seize a Fowl but upon the Ground : others, again, 

 never attempt a Bird except it is flying about Trees : and 

 others when it is sitting on high : and some when they fly in 

 the open Air. Therefore the Pigeons, knowing the Danger 

 of these Things, so soon as they espy them, either alight 

 upon the Ground, or else fly low ; and thus help themselves 

 in a contrary Course to them. There is in the Ocean an 



1 Accipiter is a general name for Hawks ; but when, as at Ch. xvii., it 

 is used for a certain species, it is Fulco nisus, Sparrow Hawk. 



Triorches: JFalco butco, LINN. Buteo vulgaris, the Buzzard. 



Circus: Falco cervginosus^ Moor Buzzard. 



Buteo: Fulco, SubbuteOj Hobby; with the moderns is a different 

 species from the Triorches: and which Belon found to be used as food 

 in Crete. 



JEsalo: Falco asalon, the Merlin. 



Cymindis : Cuvier says, a species not determined. Wern. Club. 



