BOOK X.] History of Nature. 21 1 



the Land, is seized by the Hawk. Whenever they are upon 

 their Departure hence they solicit other Birds to accompany 

 them, and by their Inducements there go with them the 

 Glottis, 1 Otis, 2 and Cychramus. 3 The Glottis putteth forth a 

 long Tongue ; from which it hath its Name. This Bird is 

 very forward at the first setting out on the pleasant Journey; 

 but it findeth Repentance in the Pain of the Flight. To go 

 back again without Company it is ashamed ; and so to lag 

 behind ; neither does it ever persevere for more than one 

 Day; for at the next Resting-place it deserteth the Com- 

 pany ; but it meeteth with others which the Year before were 

 left behind : and thus they do from Time to Time. The 

 Cychramus is of a more persevering Nature, and maketh 

 Haste to reach those Parts which it so much desireth : and 

 therefore in the Night it rouses them, and puts them in 

 mind of the Journey. The Otis is less than the Bubo, and 

 larger than the Noctua, having two Ears, formed of Fea- 

 thers standing aloft ; from which it took its Name. But in 

 Latin some have called it Asio. This Bird, besides, is skilful 

 in Imitation, like a Parasite; and, in a particular Way, a 

 Dancer. It is easily taken as the Noctua, while it looks 

 intently on any one, by another that goes round it. But if a 

 contrary Wind should begin to hinder the Flight of the 

 Troop, they render their Progress steady by grasping small 

 weighty Stones, or stuffing their Throat with Sand. The 

 Seed of the Veratrum is a grateful Food to Quails; for 

 which Reason they are banished from Table. At the same 

 Time they are accustomed to slaver at the Mouth, by Reason 

 of the comitial Disease; 4 which they only are the Creatures, 

 except Man, that are subject to. 



1 Totanus glottis, Cuv. Greenshank. Wern. Club. 



2 Otus brachyotus, Cuv. Small-ear'd Owl. Wern. Club. 



3 Cychramis, or Cynchramus. Belon supposes it the Emberiza mili- 

 aria, Common Bunting; but according to Aldrovandus, E. horlulana, 

 the Ortolan. Wern. Club. 



4 Comitial disease, or Epilepsy. The author forgets what he had said 

 of the Elk being subject to it Wern. Club. 



