68^' EX VIRIBUS VIVIMUS. 



and exceeds not unfrequently a hundred years. He 

 is a bird excellently plumed, a feeder upon fish, and 

 is always carried, and that in running waters. 



27. The goose also may pass amongst the long 

 livers, though his food be commonly grass, and such 

 kind of nourishment, especially the wild goose ; 

 whereupon this proverb grew amongst the Germans, 

 Magis senex quam ansernivalis ; older than a wild 

 goose. 



28. Storks must needs be long livers, if that be true 

 which was anciently observed of them, that they 

 never came to Thebes, because that city was often 

 sacked. This, if it were so, then either they must 

 have the knowledge of more ages than one, or else 



'the old ones must tell their yoyng the history. But 

 there is nothing more frequent than fables. 



29. For fables do so abound touching the phoenix, 

 that the truth is utterly lost, if any such bird there be. 

 As for that which was so much admired, that she 

 was ever seen abroad with' a great troop of birds 

 about her, it is no such wonder ; for the same is 

 usually seen about an owl flying in the daytime, or a 

 parrot let out of a cage. 



30. The parrot hath been certainly known to have 

 lived threescore years in England, how old soever he 

 was before he was brought over ; a bird eating almost 

 all kind of meats, chewing his meat, and renewing 

 his bill : likewise curst and mischievous, and of a black 

 flesh. 



