Plinies Natural! Hiftohe, 183 



A tbcin lip: and befides, their ftrength is but fmall. And hereupon it is, that as they flle, they 

 fecme by their manner of crie to complainejas though they flew with painc. Commonly there- 

 fore they chufe a Northerne wind to flie with : and they have one mightie great Qj^aile called 

 Of tygometra, to lead the way and condud them^as their captaine.T he formoft of them^as hee 

 approcheth neere toland^paieth toll for theicft unto the hawkc, whoprefenily for his v^'clcome 

 prcieth upon him* Whenibever at any time they are upon their remoove and departure oiit of 

 thcfe ^artSjthey perfuade other birds to beare them companie : and by their inducements,there 

 goe in their traine the Glottisj^^Otis^and theCychramus. As for the Glortis^he putteth forth a <f xhc Bifnrd 

 long tongue^whereupon he hath that name. This bird is very forward at the firft letting out (as or Hoia»o-.v]c,' 

 being dehrous to be a travellerjto fee farre countries^and to change the aire : ) and the iirfl: daics 



B journey he undcrtakethwith pleafure:butfoonefinding the tcdioufneife and paines in flyingjie 

 repents that ever he enterprifed the voiage. To go backe agame without companie, he is afha- 

 mcd: and to come lag behind he is as loth: howbeic/orthatdayheholdeth outfofo^and never 

 goeth farther : for at the next refting place that they come unto, hee faiie leaveth the companie 

 and fl:aieth there ^ where lightly he meeteth with fuch another as himfclfe^who the yeare before 

 was left behind.And thus they doc from time totime^yeerebyyeere, AsfortheCychramuSjhe 

 is more ftaied and refolute to endure the travell : he makedi hal^ and hath an earneft longing to 

 come into thofe parts which he fo much defireth: and therfore in the night feafon he is as good 

 as a trumpet to awake the reftj^ put them in mind oi their journey .The Otis is a bird lefle than 

 the Like-Owle^bigger than theHowlet^having two plumed eares Handing up aloft, whereupon 



Q he tooke that name Ocis in Greeke. But in Latinc fome have called him Alio.This bird befides, 

 hath certain qualities by herfelfcjand is skilfull to counterfetand make geftures like a flattering 

 parafice : fhecanfoot itjturne and trip^mount and capre^asif fhe were a profeflfed dauncer.Eafie 

 fheistobee takcnlikeastheHowlet, tor whiles (be is amuled and looking wiftly upon one that 

 goeth a;bout her, an other commeth behind and foone catchethhcr. Buttoreturneimto our 

 Quailesaforefiid. [f a contrarie wind fboiild chaunce to arife and begin to drive againft them, 

 and hinder their flighrcropreventthisinconveniencejthey be well provided. For they file well 

 ballaifed cither with fmall weightie ftones within their feet^or elfe with fand fluffed in their craw. 

 The feed or graine of the white Ekbore(a very poyfon)they love palTing welljand it is their beft" 

 meat. But hereupon it is, that they are not fcrved up as a difh to the table . Moreover, they are 



D wonr to fonie and ilaver at the mouth^by reafon of tjiefalling fickneffe, unto which they only of 

 all other ereaturesjbut man againe^are^lubjecJ:* • ? - . v - 

 CriAp. xxiiil, 



OfSivdlcmf^ Oufcs or Mtrks^ Thrujhes^ Stares or Sitrlwgs^ Turtles^ 

 AndSmkdovts, 



. . ' . >t5-? • 



THe Swallows Iikcwife(ihe birds, alone of all thofe that have^crooked claws,which feed upon 

 flefh).arG gone from us aH Winter time. Howbeitjthey depart notfar off, but feckeonely 

 the Sunne-fbine nowkesj betwcene hils neere at hand, andtallow the warmth. Where raa- 

 E ny times they are found naked, and without feathers altogether, as if they had moulted. It is 

 faid,that they will never build their neafts under any houTe in Thebes: becaufe tliatcittie had 

 beene many times forced and taken by the enemici Neither in Bizia,a cittie of Thrace, by rea- 

 fonof thofe detefhble parts pradifed by r^rm there. C^£tv>4 of Volatern-e, a gentleman of 

 Rome by calling (Governourmd maifter of thecoaches and cosch-horfcs. that ufed to run foe 

 the prifeand beft game) waswoonttobring with him into the citie, a number of thefeSwal- 

 !owes, which he-bad gotten in diverfe places where hee came,out of his friends houlea wher- 

 in they were bred. And whenthe horfes which he had in charge obtained at any time vidorie iii 

 the race, hee. would take the birds, and paint thcm with that colour which betokeDed.vi(SidriC:, 

 and fo with that liverie (as it were) let them flie to his friends, for to carrie tidings unto them of 

 p' the good fucceffe which hee had obtained ; knowing right well,that every one would home to 

 the fame neafl: from whence they came. And thus in fmall fpace could heccnforme bis con- 

 forts and well- willers of his good fpeed. Alfo V'abm TiBor reporteth in his Annales,That when 

 a fort (which the Romane garifon held) was befieged by the Liguftines , there was a fhee Swal- 

 low newly cakeaout of her neaftvvithin that fort, trom her little ones as (he fat over tbem,ahd 

 . - _ _ brought 



