222 History of Nature. [BooK X. 



Body. These do not build Nests ; but if they perceive that 

 the River is going to increase, and will rise as high as their 

 Holes, they go away many Days before. 



There are Birds of the kind of Parrse, 1 which with dry 

 Moss make a Nest, resembling so perfectly a round Bali 

 that the Entrance cannot be discovered. Another, called 

 Argatilis, 2 makes her Nest of the same form, but it is woven 

 of Flax. 



A kind of Picus 3 maketh a Nest in the manner of a Gob- 

 let, and hangeth it at a Twig, on the uppermost Branches, 

 that no Quadruped may be able to reach it. It is established 

 that Galguli (Orioles) take their Sleep hanging by their 

 Legs, hoping by that means to be in more Safety. It is, in- 

 deed, commonly known, that all these Birds, with good 

 Providence, choose some cross Boughs for Rafters, to sup- 

 port their Nests ; and then cover them from the Rain with 

 an arched Roof, or else enclose them among the thick 

 Leaves. 



In Arabia there is a Bird called Cinnamologos, 4 which 

 builds her Nest with Twigs of the Cinnamon-tree. The 

 Inhabitants of that Country shake them down with Arrows 

 headed with Lead, for the sake of Profit. In Scythia, there 

 is a Bird of the bigness of an Otis, which layeth two Eggs; 

 and she always wraps them in a Hare's Skin ; and hangeth 

 them upon the top Branches of Trees. The Picae, when 

 they perceive with their watching Eye that a Man hath dis- 

 covered their Nest, presently remove their Eggs to another. 



1 In this place Gaza reads, Ripariarum ; that is, of bank birds ; and 

 Gesner, Parorum, or Tomtits ; Gelenius reads Perrarum. Dalechampius' 

 reading is "In genere paratum est, cui Nidus;" which leaves the species 

 still more uncertain. Wern. Club. 



2 An uncertain species. Wern. Club. 



3 It is certain that no species of Woodpecker suspends its nest in this 

 way. Aldrovandus, therefore, supposed it to be the Galbula, or Oriole ; 

 which he, on that account, denominated Picus nidum suspendcns. It is 

 just as probable that it is the Parus caudatus, or Long-tailed Tit. 



Wern. Club. 



4 An unrecognised species. Dalechampius remarks, that the cinna- 

 mon does not grow in Arabia. Wern. Club. 



