198 History of Nature. [BooK X. 



strong, drive them away far off. Therefore about little Vil- 

 lages there are commonly not above two Pair of them. And 

 about Cranon in Thessaly, there is not above one Pair of 

 them : for the Parents yield the Place to the Offspring. 

 There are some different Properties in this Bird, and that 

 before-mentioned. The Corvi breed before the Solstice, and 

 for sixty Days they are sick, chiefly with Thirst, until the Figs 

 are ripe in Autumn : and from that Time the Cornix is dis- 

 eased. The Corvus for the most part layeth five Eggs, and 

 the Vulgar are of opinion that they conceive and lay Eggs at 

 the Bill ; and therefore if Women with Child eat a Raven's 

 Egg, they shall be delivered of their Children at the Mouth: 

 and generally they have difficult Labour if such an Egg be 

 brought into the House. Aristotle denieth this : no more, by 

 Hercules, than the Egyptian Ibis : but that the kissing which 

 we see them do often, is like what Pigeons also do. The 

 Corvi alone seem to have a Knowledge of their own 

 Significations in Presages; for when the Guests of Media 

 were all slain, they all flew away out of Peloponnesus 

 and the Region of Attica. The worst Signification they 

 afford is when they swallow their Voice as if they were 

 choked. 



The Night-birds have also crooked Talons ; as the Noctua 

 Bubo and Ulula. 1 All these see but badly in the Day-time. 

 The Bubo betokeneth Mourning, and is most execrable, 

 especially in the Presages of public Affairs : it keepeth in 

 solitary Places ; and not desolate only, but also such as are 

 horrible, and hard of access. It is the Monster of the Night, 

 not uttering a clear Sound, but muttering a Groan; and 

 therefore, if seen in Cities, or otherwise abroad in the Light, 

 it is a dreadful Portent. I myself know, however, that it 

 hath perched upon many Houses of private Men, and yet 

 no deadly Accident followed. It never flieth directly whi- 

 ther it would itself go, but is carried away across. One of 

 them entered the very Sanctuary of the Capitol, in the Year 



1 Noctua, Strix otus, LINN.; Otus vulgaris, YARRELL Eared Owl. 

 Bubo, strix bubo, LINN. ; see Ch. xvi. Noctua, strix flammea, LIKN. 

 Barn Owl. Wern. Club. 



