Chap 56.] 
FOOD OF BIEDS. 
521 
escape from the pitfalls which we employ for the capture of 
wild beasts. 
The vulture and the heavier wild birds can only fly after taking 
a run, or else by commencing their flight from an elevated spot. 
They use the tail by way of rudder. There are some birds that 
are able to see all around them ; others, again, have to turn the 
neck to do so. Some of them eat what they have seized, holding 
it in their feet. Many, as they fly, utter some cry ; while on 
the other hand, many, in their flight, are silent. Some fly with 
the breast half upright, others with it held downwards, others 
fly obliquely, or else side-ways, and others following the di- 
rection of the bill. Some, again, are borne along with the head 
upwards ; indeed the fact is, that if we were to see several kinds 
at the same moment, we should not suppose that they have to 
make their way in the same element. 
CHAP. 55. (39.) — THE BIEDS CALLED APODES, OE CYPSELI. 
Those birds which are known as apodes"^^ fly the most of 
all, because they are deprived of the use of their feet. By 
some persons they are called " cypseli.^' They are a species of 
swallow which build their nests in the rocks, and are the same 
birds that are to be seen everywhere at sea ; indeed, however 
far a ship may go, however long its voyage, and however great 
the distance from land, the apodes never cease to hover around 
it. Other birds settle and come to a stand, whereas these know 
no repose but in the nest ; they are always either on the wing 
or else asleep. 
CHAP. 56. (40.) EESPECTIlSra THE FOOD OF BIEDS THE CAPEI- 
MULGUS, THE PLATEA. 
The instincts, also, of birds are no less varied, and more es- 
pecially in relation to their food. " Caprimulgus " is the 
name of a bird, which is to all appearance a large ' blackbird ; 
it thieves by night, as it cannot see during the day. It enters 
the folds of the shepherds, and makes straight for the udder 
of the she-goat, to suck the milk. Through the injury thus 
inflicted the udder shrivels away, and the goat that has been 
thus deprived of its milk, is afflicted with incipient blindness. 
59 n Without feet." This was supposed to be the case with the martinet, 
the Hirundo apus of Linnaeus. 
60 Or goat-sucker." The Caprimulgus Europseus of Linnseus. 
