5< 5 O^^lTHOLOgr. Book II. 



colours, jironger, more fierce and generous than the Males. For this caufe fome will have 

 the Males called Tar eels, that is, Thirds:, becaufe they are leffer by one third part than 

 the Females. The reafon of this inequality and excefsof magnitude in the Females 

 fome do affign, becaufe it lies upon the Females to prey not only for themfelves, but 

 for their Young, therefore it is requisite they be more ftrong and generous. . More- 

 over ( that we may note that by the by ) among the Females themfelvesthe tokens of 

 goodnefs are taken from their greatnefs 3 for by how much a Haw^k bigger and 

 more weighty, fo much better is it accounted. So that ( as Tardivus witnefieth ) in 

 Syria Birds employed for Fowling are all bought by weight 5 and fo much the dearer 

 by how much they weigh more. Howbeit the Afiures [ Gofiawks ~] ( if we may be- 

 lieve the Italian Proverb) \_Aftore piccolo & Terzuolo grande"] by how much the lefs 

 they are, by fo much the more are they efteemed. Here again Vultures are to be ex- 

 cepted, of which the Males are faid to equal or exceed the Females in bignefs. The 

 Bafis of the BeaJ^ is covered with a nah$d skjn or membrane, which our Falconers call 

 the Sear. This note is proper to Rapacious Birds that prey by day 5 for the night-birds 

 have no fuch Membrane. The outmofi toe is connected with the middlemoji by an inter- 

 vening Membrane, as far as the firjijoynt. This note is common to all Rapacious Diurnal 

 Birds, but not proper to them alone, agreeing to many other birds befides. The breafi 

 in moji Rapacious birds is party-coloured or jotted: In moll: I fay, not in all 5 for, the 

 Vultur BcBticus, Milvus RLruginofus, and fome few others are to be excepted. Some 

 others alio of the forementioned notes are not proper and peculiar to this kind, as 

 for example, To have twelve feathers in the tail, and to have very jhort Appendices or blind 

 guts, which are common alio to the Crow-kind, and molt (mall birds. 



Add to thefe, that in Birds of prey the Hook of the upper chap is produced by Age 

 to that length fometimes, that it hinders their feeding : That the Claw of the outmoft 

 Toe is the lead : That the flelhof carnivorous birds doth (boner corrupt and putrefie 

 than of any other.: That the interior (ides of their Claws are (harp-edged: That 

 their Excrements are for the moil: part fluid like milk : That the interior Vanes of 

 the prime feathers of their Wings and Tails have white or pale-coloured crofs bars,.: 

 That the colour of the back and upper partis for themoft part brown. 



Chap. II. 



Of the Eagle in general. 



* He Eagle in general may be thus defined, A diurnal Rapacious Bird of the biggeft 

 fort, the mofi generous of all, having its Beak^ hookgd almofi from the very root. 

 By its bignefs it is diftinguifhed from the Haw^,by its courage and (pirit and 

 by the kookednefs of its Bill from the Vulture. 



There are many things delivered by the Ancients and Moderns concerning the na- 

 ture and conditions of the Eagle in general 5 which are partly falle oruncertain,partly 

 common to other Birds of prey. 



Of the firft fort I take the following to be. 



1. That its feet are not equal, but the right bigger than the left. 



2 . That its feathers being mixt with the feathers of other birds, eipecially Geefeand 

 Pigeons, do wafte and confume them. 



3. That whereas (he excels in quick-fightednefs, in trying her Young whether they 

 be genuine or fpurious, die makes ufe of an argument taken from the fight. For hang- 

 ing them up by the Claw, (he expofes them to the Sun-beams, and thofe that (he fees 

 look ftedfaftly on the Sun, (he keeps and brings up as right-bred, and her genuine Off- 

 fpring, but fuch as turn away their eyes, as not being able to behold it, (he cafts away 

 as degenerous. 



4. That the Eagle as long as (he lives changes not her Nell: or Haunt, but returns 

 yearly to the fame. 



5. That after Noon (lie fliesabroad and preys, but all the Forenoon before dinner 

 (he fits idle. 



6. That (he touches not Carrion or dead CarcafTes 3 feeding only upon the flelh of 

 fuch Animals as (he kills her felf. 



7. That whereas for the moftpart (he hatches two young ones, (he brings up but 

 one, calling out the other, toeafe her felf of the toil of nurfing and feeding it. 



8. That 



