240 
PREFACE. 
the turtle^ the blackbird i and the lark , as cer- 
tainly hiding themfelves ; which fhews how little 
was known of their real ftate in his days nay* 
fo much was he puzzled about this fubjedt, that 
in another place he fuppofes fome of the birds to 
be changed in their form and voice at different 
feafons. Thus he fays, that the redftarf changes 
into the robin redbreaft ^ and Gefner gives this 
reafon for Ariflotle’s falling into this opinion, that 
during the fummer the robin redbreaft lives in 
defert places, and comes towards towns and 
houfes in the autumn, when the redftart disap- 
pears. Again Ariftotle fays, that the black cap 
changes into a beccafigo , which laft appears, as 
Gefner obferves, about autumn, when the figs 
are ripe, and the former after the autumn. It is 
true Ariftotle mentions fome kinds of birds which 
go to warmer climates when they difappear, 
which is a proof that their migrations were not 
wholly unknown in thofe days ; and indeed the 
poems of Homer prove that they were in part 
Known much earlier. Nor could it happen other- 
wife, when the inquifitive genius of Greece be- 
gan to work, and carry men into Phoenicia and 
./Egypt, with a view of improving themfelves in, 
all parts of learning ; where they could not avoid 
obferving, that fome birds which left Greece in 
the winter were found at that time in thofe 
warmer climates. But the fuperftition was al- 
ready confirmed before this happened. Dodona 
was eflablifhed on a foundation not to be Shaken 
by the weak attempt of reafon and experience. 
The birds had given good advice time out of 
mind, and brought many a general and a magi- 
strate, as well as private men without number* 
out 
