Psitacus — Platea 1 5 1 



Or THE Psitacus. 

 Psitacus, in English a popinjay, in German eyn papegay. 



Aristotle. 

 An Indian bird indeed, the Psitace by name, which 

 people say can speak, is such a one as this, and is 

 reported as more talkative after it has drunk wine. 



Pliny. 



Beyond all Psitaci repeat men's words, and even 

 talk connectedly. India sends this bird, which they 

 call Psitace, with the whole body green marked only 

 by a scarlet ring upon the nape. It will pronounce 

 " Hail Emperor," and any words it hears ; it is 

 especially sportive after wine. The hardness of the 

 head is the same as of the beak. And when the 

 bird is being taught to speak, it is beaten with an 

 iron rod, else it feels not the strokes. When it flies 

 down it receives its weight upon its beak, and 

 supports itself thereon ; and thus lightens itself to 

 remedy the weakness of its feet. 



Of the Platea. 



XVeKeKav, platea, platelea, pelecanus, in English, a shove- 

 lard, in German eyn lefler or eyn loffel ganss. 



Aristotle. 



The Platea, a river bird, devours biggish shell- 

 fish, if they be but smooth, and, after it has seethed 

 them in its crop, it casts them up again, that stripping 

 them off from their gaping shells, it so may pick and 

 eat them. 



Pliny. 



The Platea, as it is called, flies at those birds which 

 dive below the sea, and seizes their heads with a bite 



