Book in. o^3^irHOLogr. . ?? p 



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§. III. 



The Berttack orClakis : Bernicla feu Bernacla. 



IT is leffer than a tame Goofe. Its length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the; 

 Claws or Tail ( for they are equally extended ) is thirty one inches. Its Bill 

 black, muchleffer and (hotter than a.GooJes, from the tip to the angles of the Mouth 

 fcarce an inch and half. The Chin, Cheeks, and what of the forehead touches the 

 Bill is white, excepting only a line or bed of black between the Eyes and Bill. The 

 Neck and fore-part or* the Breaft to the *fternumboth above and beneath is black. * Brealt 

 The under-fide of the body is white, with fome mixture of cinereous, yet the lower 

 feathers on the Thighs a little above the Knees are black. The feathers next the Tail 

 are white, thofe above them black, elfe the Back is particoloured of black and cine- 

 reous. The Tail black : The quil-feathers of the Wings brown t The leffer rows of 

 covert-feathers of the Wings have white edges, then they are black for a good way, 

 the remaining part of the feather being afh-coloured : which colours fo fucceeding 

 oneanother make a very fair (hew. The hind-toe is very fmall. 



It frequents the Sea-coafts of Lancashire in the Winter-time. This is the Bird 

 which Bellonius defcribes under the title of Cravant or Oye Nonnctte, which he thinks 

 to be the Chenalopex of the Ancients. See Bellonius his defcription in * Aldrovand, * ^^ 

 which agrees exactly to this bird. We have fomdtimes thought the Bemacle and Brent- 

 Coofe to differ only in Sex, not in i Species, but afterwards more diligently confi-t ^ 

 dering and comparing both their cafes we changed our opinion, for there are re- 

 markable notes by which they may be diftinguiihed, as will eafily appear to whofo- 

 ever will take the pains to compare their defcriptions. For in this the Chin and 

 Cheeks are white, in that the whole Head and Neck black, fave only a black line on 

 each fide the Neck j which in the Bemacle are wanting. Befides, the Bemacle fecmed 

 to us bigger, and much fairer, for thofe cinereous and black colours alternately difpo- 

 fed in the feathers of the Back and Wings make a very lovely (hew. 



This alfo ieems to be the fame with the Brenfa or Bernicla of Gefner, although his 

 defcription be not very exaft. Perchance alfp the Bawngmfc, or tree-goofe of Gefner 

 may be the fame, although he make them different birds : For the defcriptiorf of this 

 he took from a Pi&ure, as it feems, not exactly drawn : Unlefs his Banmganfc be the 

 fame with Buhners, i. e. the Brenta, nexttobedefcribed. 



What is reported concerning the rife and original of thefe birds, to wit, that they 

 are bred of rotten wood, for inftance, of the Mafts, Ribs, and Planks of broken 

 Ships half putrified and corrupted, or of certain Palms of trees falling into the Sea, 

 orlaftly, of a kind of Sea-fhels, the figures whereof Lobel, Gerard, and others have 

 4et forth, may befeenin Aldrovand, Sennertus in his Hypomnemata, Michael Meyer its, 

 who hath written an entire book concerning the Tree-fowl, and many others. But 

 that all thefe ftories are falfe and fabulous I am confidently perfwaded. Neither do 

 there want iufficient arguments to induce the lovers of truth to be of our opinion, and 

 to convince the gainfay ers. For in the whole Genus of Birds ( excepting the Ph^nix 

 whofe reputed original is without doubt fabulous^ there is not any one example of 

 equivocal or fpontaneous generation. Among other Animals indeed the IelTer and 

 more imperfect, as for example many Infects and Frogs, are commonly thought either 

 to be of fpontaneous original, or to come of different feeds and principles. But the 

 greater Animals and perfect in their kind, fuch as is among Birds the Goofe, no Philo-* 

 fbpher would ever admit to be in this manner produced. Secondly, thofe fhells in 

 which they affirm thefe Birds to be bred, and to come forth by a ftrange metamorphop^ 

 do moft certainly contain an Animal of their own kind, and not tranfmutable into 

 any other thing: Concerning which the Reader may pleafe to confult that curious 

 Naturalift Fabtm Columna. Thefe (hells we our (elves have feen, once at Venice 

 growing in great abundance to the Keel of an old Ship i afecond time in the Medi- 

 terranean Sea, growing to the back of a Tortcife we took between Sicily and Malta. 

 Columna makes this fhell-fiui to be a kind of Balanus marinus. Thirdly, that thefe 

 Geefe do lay Eggs after the manner of other Birds, (it on them, and hatch their Young,- 

 the Hollanders in their Northern Voyages affirm themfelves to have found by ex* 

 perience. 



§. IV. 



