X Introduction 



Doves (p. 59), Lapwing (p. 'jj'), Nutcracker (p. 95), Reed- 

 Bunting (p. 103), Kites (p. 117), Bullfinch (p. 161) and others. 

 He is most careful to tell us whether he observed the various 

 species in England or abroad and their comparative abund- 

 ance, and to note the breeding of the rarer species, such as 

 the Spoonbill (p. 151), and Crane (p. 97) within our islands — 

 that of the Crane being of special interest ; the whole account 

 of the Cuckoo (p. 69) is also most noticeable, as is that 

 of the curious Walt-rapp (p. 95) of which Gesner writes as 

 follows: 



Gesner De Corvo Sylvatico^ (p. 337). 



AuiS, cuius hie effigies habetur, a nostris nominatur uulgo 

 ein Waldrapp; id est coruus sylvaticus...Sunt qui phalacro- 

 coracem hanc auem interpretentur, quoniam & magnitudine 

 & colore fere coruum refert: & caluescit, ut uidi, cum adultior 

 est. Turnerus Aristotelis coruum aquaticum & Plinij -phala- 

 crocoracem, & coruum syluaticum nostrum auem unam esse 

 arbitratur, tertium genus graculi. Coruus syluaticus Helue- 

 tiorum, inquit, auis est corpore longo et ciconia paulo minore, 

 cruribus breuibus, sed crassis : rostro rutilo, parum adunco 

 (curuo) & sex poUices longo : alba in capite macula, & ea 

 nuda, si bene memini....Sic ille. 



Doubtless Turner's work is not free from errors, as in the 

 case of the very old story of the breeding of the Bernicle-Goose 

 (which, however, he was most loth to credit even when assured 

 of its truth by an Irish Divine), in his confounding of the 

 Onocrotalus with the Ardea stellaris and the Cornish with 

 the Alpine Chough ; yet these are but small blots on a very 

 excellent treatise, which compares most favourably with other 

 writings of his time. 



It is quite evident from various passages that Turner was 

 acquainted with Aristotle's works in the original Greek, and 

 especially with his History of Animals; but he preferred 

 quoting that author from the Latin translation of Theodorus 



1 Gonradi Gesneri Tigurini medici & Philosophias professoris in Schola 

 Tigurina Historise Animalium Liber ill. qui est de Auium natura.- Tiguri 

 apud Christoph. Froschovervm, Anno m.D.lv. 



