240 History of Nature. [BooK X . 



and Sali, 1 are great layers. Their Embrace is performed two 

 Ways: for either the Female croucheth to the Ground, as do 

 the Hens ; or they stand up, as the Cranes. Of Eggs, some 

 are white, as those of Doves and Partridges; others are pale, 

 as those of Water-fowl : some spotted, as in the Turkey- 

 hens (Meleager), others, again, reddish ; as those of Phea- 

 sants (Phasiani), and Cenchrides. 



All Birds' Eggs within the Shell are of two Colours. In 

 Water-fowls, the Yolk is more than the White, and the same 

 is more duskish than in others. The Eggs of Fishes are of 

 one Colour, and in them there is no White. Birds' Eggs are 

 brittle, by reason of the Heat : Serpents' Eggs are more 

 tough, because of the Cold : but those of Fishes are soft, 

 from the Liquid. Those of such Creatures as live in Water 

 are round : others are, for the most part, pointed at the top. 

 Birds lay their Eggs with the roundest End foremost : the 

 Shell being soft; but presently they harden according as the 

 Portions protrude. Horatius Flaccus is of opinion, that the 

 longer the Egg is, the better they taste. The rounder Eggs 

 produce Hens, the others yield Cocks. The Navel of the Egg 

 is beneath the top ; or it is a prominent Drop in the Shell. 



CHAPTER LIII. 



The Propagation of Eggs : the Sitting of Birds, and their 

 manner of Embrace. 



SOME Birds associate in breeding at all Times of the 



O 



Year, as the Barn-door Fowls ; and they lay with only the 

 Intermission of two Months in Mid-winter. Of those, Pul- 

 lets lay more than old Hens, but the Eggs are less, espe- 

 cially the first and last. So fruitful are they, that some of 

 them will lay threescore Eggs: some lay every Day; others, 

 twice a Day : and some will so over-lay, that they become 

 worn out, and die. The Hens called Hadrianae are ac- 

 counted best. Doves (Columbse) lay ten Times in the Year, 

 and sometimes eleven : and in Egypt they continue even in 



1 What these are seems uncertain. Holland supposed them Linnets. 

 Wern. Club. 



