BOOK X.] History of Nature. 235 



(Bird) Porphyrio 1 alone seemeth to bite the Water as he 

 drinketh. And this Bird hath the Property hy himself to dip 

 all his Meat at Times in Water, and then with his Foot in 

 the Place of a Hand, to reach it to his Bill. The best of his 

 kind are in Comagene. Their Bills and very long Thighs 

 are red. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 



Of the Himantopos^ the Onocrotalis, and other 

 foreign Birds. 



LIKE in that respect to the Porphyrio, is the Himan- 

 topos ; which is far less, but full as long-legged. They are 

 bred in Egypt, and stand upon three Toes. Their chief 

 feeding is upon Flies. In Italy they will not live many 

 Days. All the heavier Fowls live on Fruits. They that fly 

 high prey only upon Flesh. Among Water-fowls the Mergi 

 are accustomed to devour what other Birds disgorge. The 

 Onocrotali 3 much resemble Swans, and they might be 

 thought to be not altogether different, but that they have 

 within their Throat another kind of Receptacle, into which 

 these insatiable Fowls gather all they can get, so wonderful 

 is its Capacity. Now when they have accomplished their 

 Ravening, they return it from thence by little and little into 

 their Mouth, from whence it is conveyed to the true Belly, 

 after the manner of a ruminating Creature. These Fowls are 

 sent from the parts of Gallia lying nearest the North Ocean. 

 In Hercinia, a thick Forest of Germany, we have heard that 

 there are unaccustomed kinds of Birds, with Feathers shin- 

 ing like Fire 4 by Night. In other respects, I have nothing to 

 say of them worth the Writing, except that they are of some 

 Excellency for being brought from far. 



1 Fulica porphyrio, LINN. A species of Coot. Wern. Club. 



2 Himantopus melanopterw, Cuv. Stilt Plover. Wern. Club. 



3 Pelicanus onocrotolus, Cuv. Pelican. Wern. Club. 



4 Gesner makes a supposition that these birds may be Garrulus 

 Bohemicus, LINN. The Bohemian Chatterer. Wern. Club. 



