218 History of Nature. [BooK X. 



a very little Stop of the Tongue interposed could imitate the 

 Note so perfectly, that the Difference could not be distin- 

 guished. But these Mistresses of Song, so great and clever 

 as they are, after fifteen Days, by Degrees abate their 

 Music ; yet so, as a Man cannot say they are either weary, 

 or satisfied with Singing. Soon after, when the Weather 

 groweth hotter, their Voice is entirely altered ; being neither 

 musical nor various. Their Colour, also, is changed : and 

 finally, in Winter she is not seen. Their Tongues are not 

 like other Birds', with a thin Tip before. They breed in the 

 prime of the Spring, and commonly lay six Eggs. 



The Ficedula 1 observes another Course, for it changeth 

 both Colour and Form at the same Time. They have not 

 that Name except in the Autumn ; for afterwards they are 

 called Melancoryphi. 



So also the Bird named Erithacus in Winter, is the same 

 as the Phoenicurus in Summer. 



The Upupa, 2 as JEschylus the Poet saith, also changeth. 

 This is an unclean Bird otherwise in the manner of feeding ; 

 with a handsome Crest, that can be folded up : for some- 

 times she will draw it in, and at others erect it along the 

 length of the Head. 



The (Enanthe 3 also has certain Days in which to lie close, 

 being hidden when the Dog-star ariseth: but after its set- 

 ting she cometh abroad : a strange Thing, that in those 

 Days it should do both. Also the Chlorion, 4 which is all 

 over yellow, and not seen in the Winter, but appeareth 

 about the Solstices. 



1 Sylvia hortensts, Great Pettychaps. It is not improbable that the 

 author confounded this Bird with S. atricapilla, or Blackcap. A 

 similar error has led him to regard the Erithacus : Sylvia rubecula, or 

 Redbreast, with the Phoenicurus (S. P.), or Redstart." Wern. Club. 



2 Upupa epops, LINN. Hoopoe. Wern. Club. 



3 Saxicola, O. Wheatear. Wern. Club. 



4 Supposed to be Picus viridis, or common Woodpecker. Wern. 

 Club. 



