382 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of ruined castles in Switzerland. He carefully details the 

 breeding stations, including one situated on the promontory of 

 Pola, on the Adriatic, explaining how a man was lowered over 

 the edge of the precipice with a rope, in order to take the young 

 birds, which were esteemed great delicacies by epicures. He 

 supplies precise particulars of the life-history of this little-known 

 Ibis, and furnishes its provincial names. Young Ibises were 

 taken from their nests before they could fly, in order that they 

 might become tame and attractive pets. A dead Ibis, which 

 Gesner had an opportunity of dissecting, proved to have been 

 feeding upon certain insects that affect the roots of standing corn. 

 Notwithstanding the heavy strain of his general literary labours, 

 Gesner sustained his lively interest in ornithology to the close 

 of his life. He tells us that " in the past year we first heard 

 Cranes migrating on the 11th of September, one hour before 

 nightfall; but in the year 1561 we heard Cranes passing through 

 the air at four in the afternoon, and at nine at night, on the 

 17th of October, the weather being very mild." 



It was the introduction of the plague into Europe which 

 brought a great public sorrow to the Zurichers in the year 1565. 

 The fatal carbuncle appeared on the left side of the victim, near 

 the heart. It was in a dangerous position, but was not accom- 

 panied by fever. As many of those who were attacked by this 

 terrible malady had already succumbed to its ravages, Gesner 

 took leave of his acquaintances, confided his personal wishes to 

 his most intimate friend, Henry Bullinger, and prepared for the 

 worst. His chief anxiety was to give as little trouble as possible. 

 " Sic qui in vita multis commodus, molestus fuit nemini." About 

 eleven at night, when he felt that the end was near, he summoned 

 his wife, and expressed a wish to be carried into his museum. 

 His desire was gratified, and a little later he gently passed away — 

 " atque paulo post illic in manibus uxoris, inter pias preces, 

 leniter die decima tertia Decembris exspiravit." 



Aldrovandi was a man of active habits, fond of field-work, and 

 a careful observer. He was also the centre of a large circle of 

 friends, who admired his enormous learning, and delighted to 

 present him with rare or unexpected specimens. It is charming 

 to read of the gifts which poured in on him — now a beautiful 

 Greenland Falcon, which had died at Rome, and was considered 



