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The Hi/lory of Life and Death. 



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The Motion of Birds, in their Flying , 'is a mixt Motion : Confifting , of a moving 

 of the Limbs , and of a kinde of Carnage ■ w hich is, a moft wholefome kinde of Ex- 

 ercife. 



z/iriftotle notod well, touching the Generation of Birds : (But he transferred it ill 

 to other living Creatures : ) That the feed of the Male , confers lefle to Generation, 

 than the Female : But that it rather affords Activity , than Matter : fo that Fiuitfull 

 Egges,md unfruitfull Egges,zxc hardly diftingmfhed. 



Birds, (almoft all of them,) come to their full Growth, the fiift year, or a little after: 

 It is true,that their Feathers,in fome kindes,and their bills, in others, fhew their yeares: 

 but for their Growth of their bodies,it is not fo. 



The Eagle is accounted a long Livei ; yet his yeares are not let downe. And it is al- 

 ledged, as a figne of his long life : That he carts his bill : whereby he growes young a- 

 gaine. From whence comes that Proverb : The Old age of an Eagle. Notwithstanding, 

 perchance, the matter may be thus : That the renewing of the Eagle doth not caft his 

 bill : but the calling of his bill, is the renewing of the Eagle : For after that his bill is 

 grown,to a great crookedncffe,the Ea^le feeds,with much difficulty. 



Vultures alio are affirmed to be long Livers : Infomuch that, they extend their Life, 

 well-neare to an hundred yeares : Kites like wile, and fo all Birds that feed upon Flefla, 

 and Birds of prey live long. As tor Hawkes, becaufe they lead a degenerate , and fer- 

 vilehfe , for the Delight of Men; TheTermeof their Natural Life is not certainly 

 known: Notwithff anding,amongft Mewed Hawkes , fome Wave been found, to have 

 lived thirty years. And amongft Wild Hawkes, forty years. 



The Raven likewife,is reported to live long i Sometimes, to an hundred yeares. He 

 feeds on Carrion : And flies noe often, but rather is a fedentarie, and Melancholy bird: 

 and hath very black flefh. But the Crow like unto him in molt things} (Except in 

 Greatneffe,and voice;) lives not altogether fo long : And yet is reckoned amongft the 

 long Livers. 



The Swan, is certainly found, to be a long Liver; and exceeds not unfrequently an 

 hundred yeares. He is a Bird excellently plumed; A Feeder upon Fifti; and is alwayes 

 carried, And that in Running Waters. 



The Goofe alfo may paffe amongft the Long-livers; Though his food be commonly 

 Graffe, and fuch kind of Nourifhment : . Efpecially , the fVi/d-Goofe; Whereupon, this 

 Proverb grew amongft the Germans; Magts fenex quam Anfer NivnluiOlder than a 

 Wild-Cjoofe. 



Storks muft needi be Long-livers; If that be true , which was anciently obfervedof 

 them;That they never came to Thebes , becaufe that City was often facked. This if it 

 werefo; then either, they mult have the knowledge of more ages than one; Orelfe 

 the old Ones,muft tell their young, the Hiltory. But there is Nothing more frequent 

 than Fables. 



For Fables doe fo abound , touching the Thcenix; That the tiuthis utterly loft, if 

 any fuch Bird there be. As for that, which was fo much admired ; That fhe was ever 

 feen abroad, with a great Troope of Birds about her, it is no fuch wonder: For 

 the fame is ufually feen , about an Owle flying in the Day time, or a Barret let out of a 

 Cage. 



The Pdrm,hath been certainly knowr, to have lived thteefcore yeares in England 

 How old foever he was, before he was brought over. A Bird, eating almoft all kinde 

 of meats,chewing his meat , and renewing his Bill; Likewife, curlt, and mifchievous 

 and of a black Flefh. 



The Peaeockjives twenty years;But he eomes not forth with his Argut Eyes, before 

 he be three yeares old: A 'Bird How of pace,having whitifh Flefh. 



The Dung-hill Ce<-K, is venereous, Martial,and but of a fhoit life; A cranke Beha- 

 ving alfo white flefh. ^ 



The Indian-Cockjcommonly called, The Turkey-Cockj lives not much longer, than, 

 the Dxng-hill Cocl^: An angry B/W.and hath exceeding white flefh. 



The Ring-Doves,^ of the longeft foi t of Livers ; Infomuch, that they attainedome- 

 times, to fifty yeares of Age: An Aery Bird; And both builds, and fits, on high : But 

 Dive* t zi\d Turtles,^? but fhort liv'd,!iot exceedirg eight yeares. 



But Pheafxnts, and Par tridges, may live to fixteen yeares : They are great breeders; 

 b'jtnotfo white ot Flefh,asrhe oidmary Pullen* 



The 



