THE ATTAGEN. 95 



Various remarks of authors. 



jsh-colour, and diversified with white and black 

 spots. The foremost claws of the feet are pretty 

 Jong, but the hindermost are shorter, and all of 

 them are provided with sharp crooked talons. 



What was the true attagen of the ancients is 

 not very well agreed among authors. Alexander 

 Myndius describes it to be a little larger than a 

 partridge, to be full of spots of different colours 

 down the back ; of a reddish brown with short 

 wings, and a plump heavy body. But Gessner 

 takes it to have been the gallina corylorum, or 

 mountain partridge. Bellonius thinks it was of 

 the quail kind ; and Julius Alexandrinus relates, 

 that he saw one that was brought from Spain, 

 that had a longer neck and legs, and was not 

 spotted in the same manner. One was seen at 

 Florence, with black bill, but reddish at the 

 end ; black eyes, with an ash-coloured circle ; 

 spotted with white on the beliy ; of a reddish 

 brown colour on the back, chequered with black 

 spots ; and with dark brown feet. Aldrovandus 

 says, that a bird was brought from the moun- 

 tains in Sicily, and affirmed to be the true atta- 

 gen, which in bigness, and almost every other 

 particular, exactly resembled a pheasant ; their 

 flesh is of a delicious taste. 



These birds are reported to purge themselves 

 with henbane ; for which reason, it is said, none 

 are to be seen in countries which want that plant. 

 They are found in some parts of Crete, and in 

 Cyprus they are bred tame. But none can com- 



