Molliceps — Noctua — Olor 1 2 1 



For it impales and hangs the bigger flies and insects on the 

 thorns and spines of shrubs, so soon as they are caught : 

 of all birds it is tamed most easily, and when accustomed 

 to the hand is fed on meat, and, should this happen to be 

 somewhat dry or altogether bloodless, it requires drink. 

 In England I have never seen it oftener than twice, although 

 most frequently in Germany. Among our people I have 

 found no one who knew its name, except Sir Francis Lovell, 

 that most noble knight, endowed with equal gifts of mind 

 and body. Now if Aristotle's description of the Molliceps 

 does not appear to any one in all points to agree with this 

 let him ascribe it to the list of the Tyranni, or shew us a bird, 

 which the description fits better than this. 



Of the Noctua. 



VXav^, noctua, in English an owl or an howlet, in German 

 eyn eul, and in Saxon eyn ule. 



Aristotle. 



The Noctuse, Cicumse and the rest, which cannot 

 see by day, obtain their food by seeking it at night '. 

 and yet they do not do this all night long, only at 

 eventide and dawn. They hunt moreover mice, Hzards, 

 and scorpions, and small beasts of the like kind. 

 All other birds flock round the Noctua, or, as men 

 say " admire," and flying at it buffet it. Wherefore 

 this being its nature \ fowlers catch with it many and 

 different kinds of little birds. 



Of the Olor. 

 KuKi/o?, olor, in English a swan, in German eyn swan. 



Aristotle. 

 Olores are web-footed, and they live on lakes and 

 marshes ; they get food with ease, are peaceable, 

 prolific and attain to a great age. They repulse the 



1 Or, possibly, ' the bird being set down on the ground.' 



