238 History of Nature. [BooK X. 



kind of Birds called Scopes : l but I cannot readily conceive 

 in my Mind those satyrical Gesticulations of theirs when 

 they are perched, which so many talk of: neither are these 

 Birds known at the present Time. And therefore it is better 

 to write of those we certainly know. 



CHAPTER L. 



Who first invented to cram Hens. Of Aviaries, and who first 

 invented them. 



THE Inhabitants of Delos began the cramming of Hens. 

 And from thence arose that Plague of eating the Birds so 

 fat, as to be larded with their own Body. Among the old 

 Statutes ordained to repress inordinate Suppers, I find in 

 one Law made by C. Fannius, the Consul, eleven Years be- 

 fore the third Punic War, That no Man should place (on his 

 Table) more than one Hen, which should not be fattened ; 

 which Head or Injunction was afterwards taken from this 

 and inserted in all the other Laws. But a Bye-path was 

 found out to deceive the Meaning, by feeding the Barn-door 

 Fowls also with a Paste soaked in Milk, by which their 

 Flesh was rendered much more tender. It is not always 

 that Hens only are selected for fattening ; but they are only 

 thought well crammed when they are fat in the Skin about 

 the Neck. Afterwards the Skill of the Cooks began to look 

 to their Haunches ; and that they may be divided along the 

 Chine, and be extended from one Leg, so as to take up the 

 whole Sideboard. The Parthians also have taught our 

 Cooks their Fashions. And yet for all this fine dressing 

 out of Meat, there is nothing that wholly pleaseth ; for one 

 praises nothing but the Haunch, and in another Place the 

 Breast only is commended. The first that invented an 

 Aviary in which to shut up all kinds of Fowls, was M. Lenius 



1 The Scops is described by ^Elian (B. xv. ch. xxviii.) as a very small- 

 eared owl, of a lead colour, with white spots. The ridiculous gesticu- 

 lations which were doubted by Pliny, are affirmed by ^Elian ; who says 

 that fowlers imitated them, and by so doing attracted its attention, and 

 succeeded in catching it. -Wern. Club. 



