500 
pliny's natueal histoby. 
[Book X. 
the men can think of lying down without the aid of the goose's 
feathers, by way of pillow. 
CHAP. 28. OF THE COMMAGENIAN MEDICAMENT. 
The part of Syria which is called Commagene, has discovered 
another invention also ; the fat of the goose is enclosed with 
some cinnamon in a brazen vessel, and then covered with a 
thick layer of snow. Under the influence of the excessive 
cold, it becomes macerated, and fit for use as a medicament, 
remarkable for its properties : from the country which produces 
it, it is known to us as " Commagenum."^^ 
CHAP. 29. THE CHENALOPEX, THE CHENEKOS, THE TETEAO, AND 
THE OTIS. 
To the goose genus belong also the chenalopex,^^ and the 
cheneros,^^ a little smaller than the common goose, and which 
forms the most exquisite of all the dainties that Britannia pro- 
vides for the table. The tetrao^^ is remarkable for the lustre 
of its plumage, and its extreme darkness, while the eyelids are 
of a scarlet colour. Another species of this last bird exceeds 
the vulture in size, and is of a similar colour to it ; and, indeed, 
there is no bird, with the exception of the ostrich, the body of 
which is of a greater weight ; for to such a size does it grow, 
that it becomes incapable of moving, and allows itself to be 
taken on the ground. The Alps and the regions of the ISTorth 
produce these birds ; but when kept in aviaries, they lose their 
fine flavour, and by retaining their breath, will die of mere 
vexation. iN'ext to these in size are the birds which in 
Spain they call the tarda,'' and in Greece the otis they 
S9 This medicament is further treated of in B. xxix. c. 13. 
^ "The Commagenian mixture." For Commagene, see B. v. cc. 13 
and 20. 
91 The " goose-fox," so called, according to ^lian, for its cunning and 
mischievous qualities ; and worshipped by the Egyptians for its affection 
for its young. It is supposed by Cuvier to be the Anas -3Egyptiaca of 
Buffon. 
92 The Anas clypeata of Buffon, according to Cuvier. 
93 The Tetrao tetrix of Linnaeus, or heatncock. 
9* The Tetrao urogallus of Linnaeus, according to Cuvier. 
9» The Otis tarda of Linnaeus. Cuvier says, that it is not the case that 
they are bad eating, and remarks that birds have no marrow in the larger 
bones. 
