448 
AN ARISTOTELIAN ROMANCE. 
Aristotle avers that 
the nest resembles a 
ball composed of flowers 
and algse ; that it is of 
a clear red, and resem- 
bles a long-necked glass, 
provided with air-holes. 
It is like a large sponge, 
but much larger. At one part 
it is full, at another empty; 
and so solid that it is with diffi- 
culty broken. If he were asked, 
says the Stagyrite, of what it was com- 
posed, he must answer, according to 
the general belief, of the bones of the 
fish on which the bird feeds. When 
- completed, the female lays in it her eggs. 
Some persons pretend, however, that she lays 
them on the sand of the sea-shore, and there 
broods over them until mid-winter. They are 
five in number. The alcyons construct their nests 
in seven days, and in the following seven days 
deposit and hatch their eggs, and bring up their 
young. They begin to breed at the age of four 
months, and continue todosothroughouttheirlives. 
The female loves her mate, and remains always 
faithful to him; in his days of decrepitude and de- 
cay watching and feeding him, consoling and supporting him, never for- 
saking him, carrying him on her back, and rendering him loyal and affec- 
tionate service until he dies. And then she ceased to eat or drink ; mourns 
THE BLACK-AND-WHITE 
KINGFISHEK. 
