Plinies Natur^ii Hiftone. 



A anificiallyjand then cover the fame over with the earth that they caft forth before ; iihder which 

 they breed. Every one of thefe trenches hath two dorcs: the one regarding the Eaftj at which 

 they goe forth to their meat : and the other looking into the Wcftjby which they come in again 

 after their returne.Whenfoever thefe birds would meute,they flie ever full into the wind,becaule 

 they would not file themfelves. Found they be in one place of the world, and but in one: namely 

 in a certaine Iflandjennobledjas we have written before/or the tombc and temple of Diomedes^ 

 and it lieth upon the coaft of Apulia.Thefe birds arc like unto the white Seameweswith a black 

 cop^Their manner is to crie with open mouth uncefTantly at any Grangers that come aland, fave 

 onelyGrccianSjUpon whom they will fceme to fawne and makefignesof love and amitie, in all 

 flattering wife. A wond^rfull thing that they fliould difcerne onefrom another, and give fuch 



B friendly welcome to them^as defcended from the race of Bkmedes. Their manner is every day 

 to charge their throat and wings full of water^and all to drench therewith the faid temple of D/- 

 omedes Jin figne of purification. And hereupon arofe the fabulous talCjThatthe companions of 

 Z)/<?;^»f^/^^ were turned into thefe birds. 



Chap. X'tVi 



^ What birds are not dpt to learnej ajidrvill not be taught, 



AKd now that we arc in this dilcourfe of wit and capacitie j muft not omit to note. That of 

 birdsjthe Swallow 5 and of land hearts theMoufe and the Rat, a re very untoward and caii- 

 C not be brought to learne. Whereas we fee great Elephants readie to doe whatfoever they 

 arc commanded : the furious Lions brought to draw under the yoke: the Seales within the fea^ 

 and fo many forts of fiilies grow to be tame and gentle. 



Chap, xlvi* 

 "^T he manner of birds in thek drinkingi 



Birds drinke fuckingjand thofe which have long necksjmake ftaies between, and every while 

 hold up their bill from the watcr,as if they would poure the water do.wne their throat. The 

 D bird Porphyrio alone feemeth to bite the water as he dritiketh. And this bird hath this pro- 

 pertie by himfelfcjto dip and wet all his meat ever and anon in water, and then with his foot irt 

 lieu of an band,to reach it unto his bill. The beft of this kihd'atcin Comagenci Their bils and 

 longtliankesthat they have,be red. 



}^ of the fo0^^^JAntifiis^thcOnocrotali^dnd Other p 



-J^. ^ • r...:.: . ; '■-•u'.; ti/,:: . ■ ■ :. 



Like in that refped unto the Porphyrio, isthcHimantipus: abird farrekffein bodie,but 

 full as long legged,and fta Iking as high. They are bred in jEgypt 2 and goe upon three toes 

 ii to a foot. Their moft feeding is upon flies.In Italic they will not live many daies. All great 

 and heavic foules live offeeds and corne.They that flie on high prey upon flelh.Among waters 

 foulsjthc Cormorants ufe to devour that which other birdseither difgorge or meute.The Qno- 

 crotali much relemble Swans, and furely they might bcethought the very fime and no other, 

 but that they have within their throat another kind ofgizzerbefides their craw.in whichjthefe 

 foules being unfatiabkjbcftow all that ever they can get 5 whereby it is of a wonderfull great ca- 

 pacitie,and will receive very much. Now when they have donetheir ravening,& filled this poke, 

 foone after they conveigh it from thence by little and little into their mouth, and there chew 

 the cud, untiil after it bee well prepared, they fwallow it downe into the veric craw and bellie 

 indeed. Thefe foules are to bee found in the parts of Picardie and Normandie in Fraunce, ly- 

 V ing upon the North Ocean. Iri Hercinia,a forreft of Germanic, wee have heard that there bee 

 ftraunge kinds of birds, with feathers fhining like fire in the night fealbn. In other relpe(iisj I 

 have nothing to fay of them worth the writing, fave onely they are offemc name,, for beeing 

 farre fetched^ : , ••■„ _vi;- 



Chaf. 



