Gain and Gallincs — Gallinago 87 



colouring. Of certain kinds of birds the eggs are 

 white, as those of Columbse and Perdices, others are 

 pale, as those of marsh-birds ; others marked with 

 spots, as those of Meleagrides and Phasiani. 



In those few authors, whose works I have scanned, not 

 a few of the things which they have treated are disputable. 

 First Varro tells us that the wild-bred Gallinae are not like 

 those of country-houses, but the African ; while Columella 

 states that the wild sort is not unlike that of the country- 

 house. Varro makes the Africanse to be the Meleagrides, 

 which Pliny also seems to do. Yet Columella separates the 

 Africanse from the Meleagrides by various characters. And 

 Aristotle makes his Hadrianic fowls of various colours, as 

 does Pliny also, and of little size. But Varro makes the 

 Africanae big and of varied colours, though it is quite clear 

 that they are nothing but the Hadrianic birds. But after 

 all it is not in my power to adjust the mutual differences 

 of authors, when so great ; and yet in a few words I will 

 disclose what I think of these kinds. The wild Gallina is 

 not found with us in any part, if it be not that which they 

 name Morhen, and this I formerly conjectured to be the 

 Attagen for several reasons. The Meleagrides of Columella 

 seem to be those birds which some call Indian peacocks^, 

 for they are admitted to have wattles and blue crests. 



Of the Gallinago. 



'Atr/caXajTrap, gallinago, in English a wod cok, in German 

 eyn holtz snepfF. 



Aristotle. 



The Gallinago is taken among the hedges of our 

 gardens ; it is of the size of a Gallina, but has a long 

 bill, and the colour of the Attagena : it runs with 

 speed, while it is wonderfully fond of man. This bird 

 never sits on a tree and it nests on the ground. 



1 Turner was, of course, wrong in his conjecture. 



2 Turner makes o-KoXdjra^ the same as d(r/caXa)jra|. 



