Cinclus — Chalets 57 



Aristotle. 



The Cinclus seeks its food from the sea and from 

 rivers. It is cunning and is hard to catch, but grows 

 the gentlest of all birds when caught. It is more- 

 over maimed, being without control over its hinder 

 parts. 



The little bird which I believe to be the Cinclus^ is 

 a little bigger than the Galerita, with black colour on the 

 back, and a white belly ; while it has long shanks and a bill 

 by no means short : in spring it is exceeding clamorous 

 and querulous about the banks of rivers, where it takes 

 short and incessant flights. 



Of the Chalcis. 

 Aristotle. ' 



The Chalcis is not often seen, for it haunts moun- 

 tains. It is of a black colour, and of the size of the 

 Accipiter which they name Palumbarius. Its form is 

 long and slender ; the lonians call it Cymindis. Of 

 it furthermore Homer makes mention in the Iliad, 

 wherein he says : — 



The Gods know it as Chalcis, men say Cymindis. 



Some there are who would make this very bird 

 none other than the Ptynx. By day it shews itself 

 but httle, since it does not see clearly, although it 

 hunts by night, after the manner of the Aquila ; yet 

 with the Aquila so keenly does it strive, that frequently 

 both birds fall to the ground clutching each other, 

 and are caught alive by shepherds. It lays two eggs, 

 and nests in cliffs and caves ^ 



1 Turner evidently means the Common Sandpiper {Actitis hypo- 

 leucus). 



2 Sundevall says that Kiilb thought that this bird was the Hawk Owl, 

 but himself refers it doubtfully to the Glossy Ibis {Plegadis falcinellus), 

 which however is not a night bird and does not live on hills. Belon and 

 Gaza thought that it was an owl of some kind. 



