BOOK X.] History of Nature. 197 



out of the Hands of those that served, unless as a mournful 

 Portent of the Town's-people that sacrificed. These Birds 

 seem, by the turning of their Tails to and fro, to have taught 

 the Art of Steering ; Nature showing that in the Air which 

 is necessary in the Deep beneath ! The Milvus also, is not 

 seen in the Winter Months ; but they do not go away before 

 the Swallows. Moreover, it is said that after the Solstices 

 they are troubled with the Gout. 



CHAPTER XI. 

 Arrangement of Birds into Genera. 



THE first Distinction in Birds is chiefly taken from their 

 Feet, for they have either hooked Talons or Toes ; or else 

 they are in some sort broad arid flat, as Geese, and almost 

 all the Water-birds. Those which have hooked Talons for 

 the most part feed only upon Flesh. 



CHAPTER XII. 

 Of unlucky Birds : the Comix, Corvus, and Bubo. 



THE Comix 1 liveth also on other Food : for when they 

 meet with a hard Nut which resists their Bill, they will fly 

 aloft and fling it against the Rocks or Tiles many Times 

 together, until it is so bruised that they can easily break it. 

 This Bird's Chattering is inauspicious, although by some it 

 is praised. It is observed, that from the (going down) of the 

 Star Arcturus to the coining of the Swallow, it is not seen 

 elsewhere but in the Groves and Temples of Minerva, and 

 that but seldom, as at Athens. Moreover, this Bird only 

 feedeth her Young for a good while after they are able to 

 fly. She is most unlucky at the Time of Young, that is, 

 after the Solstice. All other Birds of the same Race drive 

 their young ones out of the Nest, and force them to fly; as 

 the Corvus also, which likewise feed not on Flesh only ; and 

 they likewise, when they perceive their young ones to be 



1 Comix : Corvus corone, the Crow. Corvus, C. corax, the Kaven. 

 Wern. Club. 



