Luscinia — Mergus 1 1 1 



sound. It also changes colour, and during that time 

 is known, at least in the land of Italy, by another 

 name ; it is not seen for long, since it conceals itself, 

 and so lies hidden. 



Aristotle provides no special mark, save one, by which 

 the Luscinia differs from the rest of birds, and that is that 

 it lacks the point at the tip of the tongue. Though even this 

 it has in common with the Atricapilla. In colour and in size 

 of body the Luscinia comes nearest to that little bird which 

 Englishmen call Lingett and the Germans Grass-Sparrow. 

 It is a little smaller than a Sparrow and more slender, with 

 a longer shape of body, and the colour of the breast is nearly 

 grey ; the other parts are brownish. 



Of the Mergus. 



AWvta, mergus, in English a cormorant, in German eyn 

 ducher. 



Aristotle. 



The Mergus is a sea-bird, and it lives by hunting 

 fishes, yet it makes its way somewhat far up the 

 rivers. The Mergus and the Gavia lay two or threef 

 eggs each upon rocks in the sea, the Gaviae in summer 

 and the Mergi when the spring arrives after the 

 solstice. They incubate like other birds, but neither 

 of these birds conceals itself. 



The Mergus, a sad-coloured bird, is nearly equal to a 

 Goose in size, with the bill long and hooked at the end ; 

 it is web-footed, heavy in the body, and the attitude is 

 upright in the sitting bird. Pliny writes that it nests on 

 trees, but Aristotle says on sea-rocks. What each man saw 

 or learnt from the reports of bird-catchers he has set down 

 in writing. And I have observed both birds myself, for 

 I have seen Mergi nesting on sea-cliffs about the mouth 

 of the Tyne river, and on lofty trees in Norfolk with the 



