ziz O^yClTHOLOgr. Book II. 



5. The Nefi, outwardly applied gives relief in the Squinancy : Heals the redneft 

 of the Eyes, and is good for the biting of an Adder, or Viper. 



6. The Dung heats very much, difcuffes, and is acrimonious. Its chief ufe is againft 

 the bitings of a mad dog, taken outwardly and inwardly 5 in Colic and Nephritic pains 

 taken inwardly, put up it provokes excretion. Schrod. 



An approved Medicine for the 'Falling ficknefs. 



Take one hundred Swallows, [ I fuppofe here is fome miftake, and that one quar- 

 ter of this number may (uffice J one ounce of Cajioreum, one ounce of Peiony roots •, 

 fo much White-Wine as fhall fuffice. Diftill all together,and give the Patient to drink 

 three drachms fading every Morning. This will lefien every fit, and perfectly cure 

 them. Purge often, as the ftrength of the Patient will bear, with Stibium. 



Chap. III. 

 Of Swallows in particular, 



*. 1. 



The common or Houfe-SwaSow. Hirundo domeftica. 



THe Female weighed fcarce an ounce : From the Bill to the end of the Tail be- 

 ing (even inches long, and meafuring from tip to tip of the Wings extended, 

 twelve and an half broad. Its Bill was (hort, black, flat, anddeprefled, very 

 broad at the Head, but {harp-pointed j black alfo on the infide : But the Tongue and 

 roof of the mouth yellow. The aperture of the mouth gaping very wide, for the 

 conveniency of catching Flies and Gnats as (he flies. The Tongue fhort, broad, and 

 cloven : The Eyes great, and furnifhed with ni&ating membranes : The hides hazel- 

 coloured. The Feet ihort and black 5 the outmoft toe growing to the middlemoft at 

 bottom. 



The Head, Neck, Back, and Rump are of a very lovely (hining, but dark purplifh 

 blue colour. As well above as underneath the Bill, that is to fay, in the Forehead and 

 under the chin,is a deep fanguine Ipot : But that underneath is much the bigger. The 

 Throat is of the fame colour with the Neck. The Breaft and belly white, with a dafh 

 of red 5 as are alfo theinteriour covert-feathers of the Wings. The Tail is forked 

 confiftingof twelve feathers 5 the outmoft of which are an inch longer than the next, 

 and end in (harp points : Of the reft the interiour are alfo fhorter in order than the 

 exteriour, but the difference much lefs. All thefe feathers of the Tail,except the two 

 middlemoft, are black, and each adorned with a white fpot : Which fpots crofs the 

 Tail in a (height line. [The two middlemoft want the White fpot.] The Wings 

 have eighteen quill-feathers, alike black : But all the covert feathers are of a deep 

 fhining blue. 



In the Stomach of an old bird we found Beetles 3 in the ftomachsof the young ma- 

 ny finall, pellucid, unequal ftones, tinctured with a fair Claret colour 3 not far from 

 the Eggs finall worms fpirally rolled up, of three inches length. Thefe birds build in 

 Chimneys. About the end ©f September wefaw great numbers of them to be fold 

 in the Market at Valentia in Spain, when we travelled through that Country, 

 Anno 1664. 



What becomes of Swallows m Wintertime, whether they fly into other Countries, 

 or lie torpid in hollow trees, and the like places, neither are natural Hiftorians agreed, 

 nor indeed can we certainly determine. To us it feems more probable that they fly 

 away into hot Countries, viz, Egypt, JEthiopia, &c. then that either they lurk in hol- 

 low trees, or holes of Rocks and ancient buildings, or lie in water under the Ice in 

 Northern Countries, as Olaus Magnus reports. For as Herodotus witnefleth, they 

 abide all the year in Egypt, underftand it of thofe that are bred there ( faith Aldrovan- 

 dm") for thofe that are bred with us only fly thither to winter. I am allured of my 

 own knowledge ( faith Peter Martyr ) that Swallows, Kites, and other Fowl flyover 

 Sea out of Europe to Alexandria to winter. 



Swallows 



