400 
pliny's natueal history. 
[Book X. 
appearance, and is quite surprised that she has become the 
mother of so handsome an offspring. In comparison with him, 
she discards her own young as so many strangers, until at last, 
when the young cuckoo is now able to take the wing, he 
finishes by devouring her. For sweetness of the flesh, there 
is not a bird in existence to be compared to the cuckoo at this 
season. 
CHAP. 12. (10.) THE KITE. 
The kite, which belongs to the same genus, is distinguished 
from the rest of the hawks by its larger size. It has been re- 
marked of this bird, extremely ravenous as it is, and always 
craving, that it has never been known to seize any food either 
from among funereal oblations or from the altar of Jupiter at 
Olympia ; nor yet, in fact, does it ever seize any of the conse- 
crated viands from the hands of those who are carrying them ; 
except where some misfortune is presaged for the town that is 
offering the sacrifice. These birds seem to have taught man 
the art of steering, from the motion of the tail, Nature pointing 
out by their movements in the air the method required for 
navigating the deep. Kites also disappear during the winter 
months, but do not take their departure before the swallow. 
It is said, also, that after the summer solstice they are troubled 
with the gout. 
CHAP. 13. (11.) — THE CLASSIFICATIOI?- OF BIEDS. 
The first distinctive characteristic among birds is that which 
bears reference more especially to their feet : they have either 
hooked talons, or else toes, or else, again, they belong to the 
web-footed class, geese for instance, and most of the aquatic 
birds. Those which have hooked talons feed, for the most 
part, upon nothing but flesh. 
CHAP. 14. (12.) CEOWS. BIEDS OF ILL OMEN. AT WHAT SEASONS 
THEY AEE NOT INAUSPICIOUS. 
Crows, again, have another kind of food. Nuts being too 
hard for their beak to break, the crow flies to a great height, 
55 Cuvier denies this story, but says, that when the foster-mother is a 
very small bird, the young cuckoo will take the whole of her head in his 
beak when receiving food. 
