BOOK VIII. VIII. 6-9 



cheerful is the appearance of the bird, and so squeam- 

 ish is it that it often takes a dislike to its own home 

 and abandons it if it is given the oppoi-tunity to fly 

 away. This is wont to happen often in districts 

 where the birds are allowed free egress. For the 7 

 prevention of such an escape, there is an ancient 

 precept of Democritus. There is a kind of hawk 

 which the country-folk call a ttnnunculus (kestrel) and 

 which generally makes its nest in buildings. The 

 young of this bird are enclosed separately in earthen- 

 ware pots, and while they are still breathing, lids are 

 put over the pots which are smeared with plaster and 

 hung up in the corners of the pigeon-houses. This 

 induces in the birds such a love for the place that they 

 never desert it. 



For the rearing of the young chicks female birds 

 must be chosen which are neither old nor too young, 

 but they should be very large, and care must be 

 taken that, if possible, the chicks should never be 

 separated but be kept together as they were hatched ; 

 for if this principle is observed in mating them, they 

 generally rear larger broods. If this is not done, at 8 

 any rate birds of diflPerent breeds, for example the 

 Alexandrine and the Campanian, should not be 

 mated ; for they feel less affection for hen-birds unlike 

 themselves and so have little intercourse with them 

 and do not often produce offspring. The same 

 colour of plumage is not approved always or by 

 everybody ; it is, therefore, not easy to say which 

 is the best. White, which is generally to be seen 9 

 everywhere, is not very highly commended by 

 some people ; it should not, however, be avoided 

 for birds which are kept in confinement, but for 

 those which wander freely it is much to be con- 



365 



