第9章
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  21

  Toturntoquadrupeds,thepigsuffersfromthreediseases,oneofwhichiscalledbranchos,adiseaseattendedwithswellingsaboutthewindpipeandthejaws。Itmaybreakoutinanypartofthebody;

  veryoftenitattacksthefoot,andoccasionallytheear;theneighbouringpartsalsosoonrot,andthedecaygoesonuntilitreachesthelungs,whentheanimalsuccumbs。Thediseasedevelopswithgreatrapidity,andthemomentitsetsintheanimalgivesupeating。Theswineherdsknowbutonewaytocureit,namely,bycompleteexcision,whentheydetectthefirstsignsofthedisease。

  Therearetwootherdiseases,whicharebothaliketermedcraurus。Theoneisattendedwithpainandheavinessinthehead,andthisisthecommonerofthetwo,theotherwithdiarrhoea。Thelatterisincurable,theformeristreatedbyapplyingwinefomentationstothesnoutandrinsingthenostrilswithwine。Eventhisdiseaseisveryhardtocure;ithasbeenknowntokillwithinthreeorfourdays。Theanimalischieflysubjecttobranchoswhenitgetsextremelyfat,andwhentheheathasbroughtagoodsupplyoffigs。Thetreatmentistofeedonmashedmulberries,togiverepeatedwarmbaths,andtolancetheunderpartofthetongue。

  Pigswithflabbyflesharesubjecttomeaslesaboutthelegs,neck,andshoulders,forthepimplesdevelopchieflyintheseparts。

  Ifthepimplesarefewinnumberthefleshiscomparativelysweet,butiftheybenumerousitgetswateryandflaccid。Thesymptomsofmeaslesareobvious,forthepimplesshowchieflyontheundersideofthetongue,andifyoupluckthebristlesoffthechinetheskinwillappearsuffusedwithblood,andfurthertheanimalwillbeunabletokeepitshind-feetatrest。Pigsnevertakethisdiseasewhiletheyaremeresucklings。Thepimplesmaybegotridofbyfeedingonthiskindofspeltcalledtiphe;andthisspelt,bytheway,isverygoodforordinaryfood。Thebestfoodforrearingandfatteningpigsischickpeasandfigs,buttheonethingessentialistovarythefoodasmuchaspossible,forthisanimal,likeanimalsingenerallightsinachangeofdiet;anditissaidthatonekindoffoodblowstheanimalout,thatanothersuperinducesflesh,andthatanotherputsonfat,andthatacorns,thoughlikedbytheanimal,renderthefleshflaccid。Besides,ifasoweatsacornsingreatquantities,itwillmiscarry,asisalsothecasewiththeewe;and,indeed,themiscarriageismorecertaininthecaseoftheewethaninthecaseofthesow。Thepigistheonlyanimalknowntobesubjecttomeasles。

  22

  Dogssufferfromthreediseases;rabies,quinsy,andsorefeet。

  Rabiesdrivestheanimalmad,andaryanimalwhatever,exceptingman,willtakethediseaseifbittenbyadogsoafflicted;thediseaseisfataltothedogitself,andtoanyanimalitmaybite,manexcepted。Quinsyalsoisfataltodogs;andonlyafewrecoverfromdiseaseofthefeet。Thecamel,likethedog,issubjecttorabies。

  Theelephant,whichisreputedtoenjoyimmunityfromallotherillnesses,isoccasionallysubjecttoflatulency。

  23

  Cattleinherdsareliabletotwodiseases,foot,sicknessandcraurus。Intheformertheirfeetsufferfromeruptions,buttheanimalrecoversfromthediseasewithouteventhelossofthehoof。Itisfoundofservicetosmearthehornypartswithwarmpitch。Incraurus,thebreathcomeswarmatshortintervals;infact,craurusincattleanswerstofeverinman。Thesymptomsofthediseasearedroopingoftheearsanddisinclinationforfood。Theanimalsoonsuccumbs,andwhenthecarcaseisopenedthelungsarefoundtoberotten。

  24

  Horsesoutatpasturearefreefromalldiseasesexceptingdiseaseofthefeet。Fromthisdiseasetheysometimeslosetheirhooves:butafterlosingthemtheygrowthemsoonagain,forasonehoofisdecayingitisbeingreplacedbyanother。Symptomsofthemaladyareasinkinginandwrinklingofthelipinthemiddleunderthenostrils,andinthecaseofthemale,atwitchingoftherighttesticle。

  Stall-rearedhorsesaresubjecttoverynumerousformsofdisease。

  Theyareliabletodiseasecalled\'eileus\'。Underthisdiseasetheanimaltrailsitshind-legsunderitsbellysofarforwardasalmosttofallbackonitshaunches;ifitgoeswithoutfoodforseveraldaysandturnsrabid,itmaybeofservicetodrawblood,ortocastratethemale。Theanimalissubjectalsototetanus:theveinsgetrigid,asalsotheheadandneck,andtheanimalwalkswithitslegsstretchedoutstraight。Thehorsesuffersalsofromabscesses。Anotherpainfulillnessafflictsthemcalledthe\'barley-surfeit\'。Theareasofteningofthepalateandheatofthebreath;theanimalmayrecoverthroughthestrengthofitsownconstitution,butnoformalremediesareofanyavail。

  Thereisalsoadiseasecallednymphia,inwhichtheanimalissaidtostandstillanddroopitsheadonhearingflute-music;ifduringthisailmentthehorsebemounted,itwillrunoffatagallopuntilitispulled。Evenwiththisrabiesinfullforce,itpreservesadejectedspiritlessappearance;someofthesymptomsareathrowingbackoftheearsfollowedbyaprojectionofthem,greatlanguor,andheavybreathing。Heart-achealsoisincurable,ofwhichthesymptomisadrawinginoftheflanks;andsoisdisplacementofthebladder,whichisaccompaniedbyaretentionofurineandadrawingupofthehoovesandhaunches。Neitheristhereanycureiftheanimalswallowthegrape-beetle,whichisaboutthesizeofthesphondyleorknuckle-beetle。Thebiteoftheshrewmouseisdangeroustohorsesandotherdraughtanimalsaswell;itisfollowedbyboils。Thebiteisallthemoredangerousifthemousebepregnantwhenshebites,fortheboilsthenburst,butdonotburstotherwise。Thecicigna-called\'chalcis\'bysome,and\'zignis\'byothers-eithercausesdeathbyitsbiteor,atallevents,intensepain;itislikeasmalllizard,withthecolouroftheblindsnake。

  Inpointoffact,accordingtoexperts,thehorseandthesheephaveprettywellasmanyailmentsasthehumanspecies。Thedrugknownunderthenameof\'sandarace\'orrealgar,isextremelyinjurioustoahorse,andtoalldraughtanimals;itisgiventotheanimalasamedicineinasolutionofwater,theliquidbeingfilteredthroughacolander。Themarewhenpregnantapttomiscarrywhendisturbedbytheodourofanextinguishedcandle;andasimilaraccidenthappensoccasionallytowomenintheirpregnancy。Somuchforthediseasesofthehorse。

  Theso-calledhippomanesgrows,ashasstated,onthefoal,andthemarenibblesitoffasshelicksandcleansthefoal。Allthecuriousstoriesconnectedwiththehippomanesareduetooldwivesandtothevendersofcharms。Whatiscalledthe\'polium\'orfoal\'smembrane,is,asalltheaccountsstate,deliveredbythemotherbeforethefoalappears。

  Ahorsewillrecognizetheneighingofanyotherhorsewithwhichitmayhavefoughtatanypreviousperiod。Thehorsedelightsinmeadowsandmarshes,andlikestodrinkmuddywater;infact,ifwaterbeclear,thehorsewilltrampleinittomakeitturbid,willthendrinkit,andafterwardswillwallowinit。Theanimalisfondofwaterineveryway,whetherfordrinkingorforbathingpurposes;

  andthisexplainsthepeculiarconstitutionofthehippopotamusorriver-horse。Inregardtowatertheoxistheoppositeofthehorse;

  forifthewaterbeimpureorcold,ormixedupwithalienmatter,itwillrefusetodrinkit。

  25

  Theasssufferschieflyfromoneparticulardiseasewhichtheycall\'melis\'。Itarisesfirstinthehead,andaclammyhumourrunsdownthenostrils,thickandred;ifitstaysintheheadtheanimalmayrecover,butifitdescendsintothelungstheanimalwilldie。Ofallanimalsonitsofitskinditistheleastcapableofenduringextremecold,whichcircumstancewillaccountforthefactthattheanimalisnotfoundontheshoresoftheEuxine,norinScythia。

  26

  Elephantssufferfromflatulence,andwhenthusafflictedcanvoidneithersolidnorliquidresiduum。Iftheelephantswallowearth-moulditsuffersfromrelaxation;butifitgoontakingitsteadily,itwillexperiencenoharm。Fromtimetotimeittakestoswallowingstones。Itsuffersalsofromdiarrhoea:inthiscasetheyadministerdraughtsoflukewarmwaterordipitsfodderinhoney,andeitheroneortheotherprescriptionwillproveacostive。Whentheysufferfrominsomnia,theywillberestoredtohealthiftheirshouldersberubbedwithsalt,olive-oil,andwarmwater;whentheyhaveachesintheirshoulderstheywillderivegreatbenefitfromtheapplicationofroastpork。Someelephantslikeoliveoil,andothersdonot。Ifthereisabitofironintheinsideofanelephantitissaidthatitwillpassoutiftheanimaltakesadrinkofolive-oil;iftheanimalrefusesolive-oil,theysoakarootintheoilandgiveittheroottoswallow。Somuch,then,forquadrupeds。

  27

  Insects,asageneralrule,thrivebestinthetimeofyearinwhichtheycomeintobeing,especiallyiftheseasonbemoistandwarm,asinspring。

  Inbee-hivesarefoundcreaturesthatdogreatdamagetothecombs;forinstance,thegrubthatspinsawebandruinsthehoneycomb:itiscalledthe\'cleros\'。Itengendersaninsectlikeitself,ofaspider-shape,andbringsdiseaseintotheswarm。Thereisanotherinsectresemblingthemoth,calledbysomethe\'pyraustes\',thatfliesaboutalightedcandle:thiscreatureengendersabroodfullofafinedown。Itisneverstungbyabee,andcanonlybegotoutofahivebyfumigation。Acaterpillaralsoisengenderedinhives,ofaspeciesnicknamedtheteredo,or\'borer\',withwhichcreaturethebeeneverinterferes。Beessuffermostwhenflowersarecoveredwithmildew,orinseasonsofdrought。

  Allinsects,withoutexception,dieiftheybesmearedoverwithoil;andtheydieallthemorerapidlyifyousmeartheirheadwiththeoilandlaythemoutinthesun。

  28

  Varietyinanimallifemaybeproducedbyvarietyoflocality:

  thusinoneplaceananimalwillnotbefoundatall,inanotheritwillbesmall,orshort-lived,orwillnotthrive。Sometimesthissortofdifferenceisobservedincloselyadjacentdistricts。Thus,intheterritoryofMiletus,inonedistrictcicadasarefoundwhiletherearenoneinthedistrictcloseadjoining;andinCephaleniathereisariverononesideofwhichthecicadaisfoundandnotontheother。InPordoselenethereisapublicroadonesideofwhichtheweaselisfoundbutnotontheother。InBoeotiathemoleisfoundingreatabundanceintheneighbourhoodofOrchomenus,buttherearenoneinLebadiathoughitisintheimmediatevicinity,andifamolebetransportedfromtheonedistricttotheotheritwillrefusetoburrowinthesoil。TheharecannotliveinIthacaifintroducedthere;infactitwillbefounddead,turnedtowardsthepointofthebeachwhereitwaslanded。Thehorseman-antisnotfoundinSicily;thecroakingfroghasonlyrecentlyappearedintheneighbourhoodofCyrene。InthewholeofLibyathereisneitherwildboar,norstag,norwildgoat;andinIndia,accordingtoCtesias-noverygoodauthority,bytheway-therearenoswine,wildortame,butanimalsthataredevoidofbloodandsuchasgointohidingorgotorpidareallofimmensesizethere。IntheEuxinetherearenosmallmolluscsnortestaceans,exceptafewhereandthere;butintheRedSeaallthetestaceansareexceedinglylarge。InSyriathesheephavetailsacubitinbreadth;thegoatshaveearsaspanandapalmlong,andsomehaveearsthatflapdowntotheground;andthecattlehavehumpsontheirshoulders,likethecamel。InLyciagoatsareshornfortheirfleece,justassheepareinallothercountries。InLibyathelong-hornedramisbornwithhorns,andnottheramonly,asHomer\'wordsit,buttheeweaswell;inPontus,ontheconfinesofScythia,theramiswithouthorns。

  InEgyptanimals,asarule,arelargerthantheircongenersinGreece,asthecowandthesheep;butsomeareless,asthedog,thewolf,thehare,thefox,theraven,andthehawk;othersareofprettymuchthesamesize,asthecrowandthegoat。Thedifference,whereitexists,isattributedtothefood,asbeingabundantinonecaseandinsufficientinanother,forinstanceforthewolfandthehawk;forprovisionisscantyforthecarnivorousanimals,smallbirdsbeingscarce;foodisscantyalsoforthehareandforallfrugivorousanimals,becauseneitherthenutsnorthefruitlastlong。

  Inmanyplacestheclimatewillaccountforpeculiarities;

  thusinIllyria,Thrace,andEpirustheassissmall,andinGaulandinScythiatheassisnotfoundatallowingtothecoldnessoftheclimateofthesecountries。InArabiathelizardismorethanacubitinlength,andthemouseismuchlargerthanourfield-mouse,withitshind-legsaspanlonganditsfrontlegsthelengthofthefirstfinger-joint。InLibya,accordingtoallaccounts,thelengthoftheserpentsissomethingappalling;sailorsspinayarntotheeffectthatsomecrewsonceputashoreandsawthebonesofanumberofoxen,andthattheyweresurethattheoxenhadbeendevouredbyserpents,for,justastheywereputtingouttosea,serpentscamechasingtheirgalleysatfullspeedandoverturnedonegalleyandsetuponthecrew。

  Again,lionsaremorenumerousinLibya,andinthatdistrictofEuropethatliesbetweentheAchelousandtheNessus;theleopardismoreabundantinAsiaMinor,andisnotfoundinEuropeatall。Asageneralrule,wildanimalsareattheirwildestinAsia,attheirboldestinEurope,andmostdiverseinforminLibya;infact,thereisanoldsaying,\'AlwayssomethingfreshinLibya。\'

  Itwouldappearthatinthatcountryanimalsofdiversespeciesmeet,onaccountoftherainlessclimate,atthewatering-places,andtherepairtogether;andthatsuchpairswilloftenbreediftheybenearlyofthesamesizeandhaveperiodsofgestationofthesamelength。Foritissaidthattheyaretameddownintheirbehaviourtowardseachotherbyextremityofthirst。

  And,bytheway,unlikeanimalselsewhere,theyrequiretodrinkmoreinwintertimethaninsummer:fortheyacquirethehabitofnotdrinkinginsummer,owingtothecircumstancethatthereisusuallynowaterthen;andthemice,iftheydrink,die。Elsewherealsobastard-animalsareborntoheterogeneouspairs;thusinCyrenethewolfandthebitchwillcoupleandbreed;andtheLaconianhoundisacrossbetweenthefoxandthedog。TheysaythattheIndiandogisacrossbetweenthetigerandthebitch,notthefirstcross,butacrossinthethirdgeneration;fortheysaythatthefirstcrossisasavagecreature。Theytakethebitchtoalonelyspotandtieherup:ifthetigerbeinanamorousmoodhewillpairwithher;ifnothewilleatherup,andthiscasualtyisoffrequentoccurrence。

  29

  Localitywilldifferentiatehabitsalso:forinstance,ruggedhighlandswillnotproducethesameresultsasthesoftlowlands。

  Theanimalsofthehighlandslookfiercerandbolder,asisseenintheswineofMountAthos;foralowlandboarisnomatchevenforamountainsow。

  Again,localityisanimportantelementinregardtothebiteofananimal。Thus,inPharosandotherplaces,thebiteofthescorpionisnotdangerous;elsewhere-inCaria,forinstances-wherescorpionsarevenomousaswellasplentifulandoflargesize,thestingisfataltomanorbeast,eventothepig,andespeciallytoablackpig,thoughthepig,bytheway,isingeneralmostsingularlyindifferenttothebiteofanyothercreature。IfapiggoesintowaterafterbeingstruckbythescorpionofCaria,itwillsurelydie。

  Thereisgreatvarietyintheeffectsproducedbythebitesofserpents。TheaspisfoundinLibya;theso-called\'septic\'drugismadefromthebodyoftheanimal,andistheonlyremedyknownforthebiteoftheoriginal。Amongthesilphium,also,asnakeisfound,forthebiteorwhichacertainstoneissaidtobeacure:astonethatisbroughtfromthegraveofanancientking,whichstoneisputintowateranddrunkoff。IncertainpartsofItalythebiteofthegeckoisfatal。Butthedeadliestofallbitesofvenomouscreaturesiswhenonevenomousanimalhasbittenanother;as,forinstance,aviper\'safterithasbittenascorpion。Tothegreatmajorityofsuchcreaturesman\'sisfatal。Thereisaverylittlesnake,bysomeentitledthe\'holy-snake\',whichisdreadedbyeventhelargestserpents。Itisaboutanelllong,andhairy-looking;wheneveritbitesananimal,thefleshallroundthewoundwillatoncemortify。ThereisinIndiaasmallsnakewhichisexceptionalinthisrespect,thatforitsbitenospecificwhateverisknown。

  30

  Animalsalsovaryastotheirconditionofhealthinconnexionwiththeirpregnancy。

  Testaceans,suchasscallopsandalltheoyster-family,andcrustaceans,suchasthelobsterfamily,arebestwhenwithspawn。

  Eveninthecaseofthetestaceanwespeakofspawningorpregnancy;

  butwhereasthecrustaceansmaybeseencouplingandlayingtheirspawn,thisisneverthecasewithtestaceans。Molluscsarebestinthebreedingtime,asthecalamary,thesepia,andtheoctopus。

  Fishes,whentheybegintobreed,arenearlyallgoodforthetable;butafterthefemalehasgonelongwithspawntheyaregoodinsomecases,andinothersareoutofseason。Themaenis,forinstance,isgoodatthebreedingtime。Thefemaleofthisfishisround,themalelongerandflatter;whenthefemaleisbeginningtobreedthemaleturnsblackandmottled,andisquiteunfitforthetable;atthisperiodheisnicknamedthe\'goat\'。

  Thewrassescalledtheowzelandthethrush,andthesmarishavedifferentcoloursatdifferentseasons,asisthecasewiththeplumageofcertainbirds;thatistosay,theybecomeblackinthespringandafterthespringgetwhiteagain。Thephycisalsochangesitshue:ingeneralitiswhite,butinspringitismottled;itistheonlysea-fishwhichissaidmakeabedforitself,andthefemalelaysherspawninthisbedornest。Themaenis,aswasobserved,changesitscolourasdoesthesmaris,andinsummer-timechangesbackfromwhitishtoblack,thechangebeingespeciallymarkedaboutthefinsandgills。Thecoracine,likethemaenis,isinbestconditionatbreedingtime;themullet,thebasse,andscalyfishesingeneralareinbadconditionatthisperiod。Afewfishareinmuchthesameconditionatalltimes,whetherwithspawnornot,astheglaucus。Oldfishesalsoarebadeating;theoldtunnyisunfitevenforpickling,asagreatpartofitsfleshwastesawaywithage,andthesamewastingisobservedinalloldfishes。Theageofascalyfishmaybetoldbythesizeandthehardnessofitsscales。Anoldtunnyhasbeencaughtweighingfifteentalents,withthespanofitstailtwocubitsandapalmbroad。

  River-fishandlake-fisharebestaftertheyhavedischargedthespawninthecaseofthefemaleandthemiltinthecaseofthemale:thatis,whentheyhavefullyrecoveredfromtheexhaustionofsuchdischarge。Somearegoodinthebreedingtime,asthesaperdis,andsomebad,asthesheat-fish。Asageneralrule,themalefishisbettereatingthanthefemale;butthereverseholdsgoodofthesheat-fish。Theeelsthatarecalledfemalesarethebestforthetable:theylookasthoughtheywerefemale,buttheyreallyarenotso。

  BookIX

  1

  OFtheanimalsthatarecomparativelyobscureandshort-livedthecharactersordispositionsarenotsoobvioustorecognitionasarethoseofanimalsthatarelonger-lived。Theselatteranimalsappeartohaveanaturalcapacitycorrespondingtoeachofthepassions:tocunningorsimplicity,courageortimidity,togoodtemperortobad,andtoothersimilardispositionsofmind。

  Somealsoarecapableofgivingorreceivinginstruction-ofreceivingitfromoneanotherorfromman:thosethathavethefacultyofhearing,forinstance;and,nottolimitthemattertoaudiblesound,suchascandifferentiatethesuggestedmeaningsofwordandgesture。

  Inallgenerainwhichthedistinctionofmaleandfemaleisfound,Naturemakesasimilardifferentiationinthementalcharacteristicsofthetwosexes。Thisdifferentiationisthemostobviousinthecaseofhumankindandinthatofthelargeranimalsandtheviviparousquadrupeds。Inthecaseoftheselatterthefemalesofterincharacter,isthesoonertamed,admitsmorereadilyofcaressing,ismoreaptinthewayoflearning;as,forinstance,intheLaconianbreedofdogsthefemaleisclevererthanthemale。OftheMolossianbreedofdogs,suchasareemployedinthechaseareprettymuchthesameasthoseelsewhere;butsheep-dogsofthisbreedaresuperiortotheothersinsize,andinthecouragewithwhichtheyfacetheattacksofwildanimals。

  Dogsthatarebornofamixedbreedbetweenthesetwokindsareremarkableforcourageandenduranceofhardlabour。

  Inallcases,exceptingthoseofthebearandleopard,thefemaleislessspiritedthanthemale;inregardtothetwoexceptionalcases,thesuperiorityincouragerestswiththefemale。

  Withallotheranimalsthefemaleissofterindispositionthanthemale,ismoremischievous,lesssimple,moreimpulsive,andmoreattentivetothenurtureoftheyoung:themale,ontheotherhand,ismorespiritedthanthefemale,moresavage,moresimpleandlesscunning。Thetracesofthesedifferentiatedcharacteristicsaremoreorlessvisibleeverywhere,buttheyareespeciallyvisiblewherecharacteristhemoredeveloped,andmostofallinman。

  Thefactis,thenatureofmanisthemostroundedoffandcomplete,andconsequentlyinmanthequalitiesorcapacitiesabovereferredtoarefoundintheirperfection。Hencewomanismorecompassionatethanman,moreeasilymovedtotears,atthesametimeismorejealous,morequerulous,moreapttoscoldandtostrike。

  Sheis,furthermore,morepronetodespondencyandlesshopefulthantheman,morevoidofshameorself-respect,morefalseofspeech,moredeceptive,andofmoreretentivememory。Sheisalsomorewakeful,moreshrinking,moredifficulttorousetoaction,andrequiresasmallerquantityofnutriment。

  Aswaspreviouslystated,themaleismorecourageousthanthefemale,andmoresympatheticinthewayofstandingbytohelp。Eveninthecaseofmolluscs,whenthecuttle-fishisstruckwiththetridentthemalestandsbytohelpthefemale;butwhenthemaleisstruckthefemalerunsaway。

  Thereisenmitybetweensuchanimalsasdwellinthesamelocalitiesorsubsistonthefood。Ifthemeansofsubsistencerunshort,creaturesoflikekindwillfighttogether。Thusitissaidthatsealswhichinhabitoneandthesamedistrictwillfight,malewithmale,andfemalewithfemale,untilonecombatantkillstheother,oroneisdrivenawaybytheother;andtheiryoungdoeveninlikemanner。

  Allcreaturesareatenmitywiththecarnivores,andthecarnivoreswithalltherest,fortheyallsubsistonlivingcreatures。Soothsayerstakenoticeofcaseswhereanimalskeepapartfromoneanother,andcaseswheretheycongregatetogether;callingthosethatliveatwarwithoneanother\'dissociates\',andthosethatdwellinpeacewithoneanother\'associates\'。Onemaygosofarastosaythatiftherewerenolackorstintoffood,thenthoseanimalsthatarenowafraidofmanorarewildbynaturewouldbetameandfamiliarwithhim,andinlikemannerwithoneanother。ThisisshownbythewayanimalsaretreatedinEgypt,forowingtothefactthatfoodisconstantlysuppliedtothemtheveryfiercestcreatureslivepeaceablytogether。Thefactistheyaretamedbykindness,andinsomeplacescrocodilesaretametotheirpriestlykeeperfrombeingfedbyhim。Andelsewherealsothesamephenomenonistobeobserved。

  Theeagleandthesnakeareenemies,fortheeaglelivesonsnakes;soaretheichneumonandthevenom-spider,fortheichneumonpreysuponthelatter。Inthecaseofbirds,thereismutualenmitybetweenthepoecilis,thecrestedlark,thewoodpecker?,andthechloreus,fortheydevouroneanother\'seggs;soalsobetweenthecrowandtheowl;for,owingtothefactthattheowlisdim-sightedbyday,thecrowatmiddaypreysupontheowl\'seggs,andtheowlatnightuponthecrow\'s,eachhavingthewhip-handoftheother,turnandturnabout,nightandday。

  Thereisenmityalsobetweentheowlandthewren;forthelatteralsodevourstheowl\'seggs。Inthedaytimeallotherlittlebirdsflutterroundtheowl-apracticewhichispopularlytermed\'admiringhim\'-buffethim,andpluckouthisfeathers;inconsequenceofthishabit,bird-catchersusetheowlasadecoyforcatchinglittlebirdsofallkinds。

  Theso-calledpresbysor\'oldman\'isatwarwiththeweaselandthecrow,fortheypreyonhereggsandherbrood;andsotheturtle-dovewiththepyrallis,fortheyliveinthesamedistrictsandonthesamefood;andsowiththegreenwoodpeckerandthelibyus;

  andsowithkiteandtheraven,for,owingtohishavingtheadvantagefromstrongertalonsandmorerapidflighttheformercanstealwhateverthelatterisholding,sothatitisfoodalsothatmakesenemiesofthese。Inlikemannerthereiswarbetweenbirdsthatgettheirlivingfromthesea,asbetweenthebrenthus,thegull,andtheharpe;andsobetweenthebuzzardononesideandthetoadandsnakeontheother,forthebuzzardpreysupontheeggsofthetwoothers;andsobetweentheturtle-doveandthechloreus;thechloreuskillsthedove,andthecrowkillstheso-calleddrummer-bird。

  Theaegolius,andbirdsofpreyingeneral,preyuponthecalaris,andconsequentlythereiswarbetweenitandthem;andsoistherewarbetweenthegecko-lizardandthespider,fortheformerpreysuponthelatter;andsobetweenthewoodpeckerandtheheron,fortheformerpreysupontheeggsandbroodofthelatter。Andsobetweentheaegithusandtheass,owingtothefactthattheass,inpassingafurze-bush,rubsitssoreanditchingpartsagainsttheprickles;bysodoing,andallthemoreifitbrays,ittopplestheeggsandthebroodoutofthenest,theyoungonestumbleoutinfright,andthemother-bird,toavengethiswrong,fliesatthebeastandpecksathissoreplaces。

  Thewolfisatwarwiththeass,thebull,andthefox,forasbeingacarnivore,heattackstheseotheranimals;andsoforthesamereasonwiththefoxandthecircus,forthecircus,beingcarnivorousandfurnishedwithcrookedtalons,attacksandmaimstheanimal。Andsotheravenisatwarwiththebullandtheass,foritfliesatthem,andstrikesthem,andpecksattheireyes;andsowiththeeagleandtheheron,fortheformer,havingcrookedtalons,attacksthelatter,andthelatterusuallysuccumbstotheattack;andsothemerlinwiththevulture;andthecrexwiththeeleus-owl,theblackbird,andtheorioleofthislatterbird,bytheway,thestorygoesthathewasoriginallybornoutofafuneralpyre:thecauseofwarfareisthatthecrexinjuresboththemandtheiryoung。

  Thenuthatchandthewrenareatwarwiththeeagle;thenuthatchbreakstheeagle\'seggs,sotheeagleisatwarwithitonspecialgrounds,though,asabirdofprey,itcarriesonageneralwarallround。Thehorseandtheanthusareenemies,andthehorsewilldrivethebirdoutofthefieldwhereheisgrazing:thebirdfeedsongrass,andseestoodimlytoforeseeanattack;itmimicsthewhinnyingofthehorse,fliesathim,andtriestofrightenhimaway;butthehorsedrivesthebirdaway,andwheneverhecatchesithekillsit:thisbirdlivesbesideriversoronmarshground;ithasprettyplumage,andfindsitswithouttrouble。Theassisatenmitywiththelizard,forthelizardsleepsinhismanger,getsintohisnostril,andpreventshiseating。

  Ofheronstherearethreekinds:theashcoloured,thewhite,andthestarryheronorbittern。Ofthesethefirstmentionedsubmitswithreluctancetothedutiesofincubation,ortounionofthesexes;infact,itscreamsduringtheunion,anditissaiddripsbloodfromitseyes;itlaysitseggsalsoinanawkwardmanner,notunattendedwithpain。Itisatwarwithcertaincreaturesthatdoitinjury:withtheeagleforrobbingit,withthefoxforworryingitatnight,andwiththelarkforstealingitseggs。

  Thesnakeisatwarwiththeweaselandthepig;withtheweaselwhentheyarebothathome,fortheyliveonthesamefood;withthepigforpreyingonherkind。Themerlinisatwarwiththefox;itstrikesandclawsit,and,asithascrookedtalons,itkillstheanimal\'syoung。Theravenandthefoxaregoodfriends,fortheravenisatenmitywiththemerlin;andsowhenthemerlinassailsthefoxtheravencomesandhelpstheanimal。Thevultureandthemerlinaremutualenemies,asbeingbothfurnishedwithcrookedtalons。Thevulturefightswiththeeagle,andso,bytheway,doesdoesswan;andtheswanisoftenvictorious:moreover,ofallbirdsswansaremostpronetothekillingofoneanother。

  Inregardtowildcreatures,somesetsareatenmitywithothersetsatalltimesandunderallcircumstances;others,asinthecaseofmanandman,atspecialtimesandunderincidentalcircumstances。Theassandtheacanthisareenemies;forthebirdlivesonthistles,andtheassbrowsesonthistleswhentheyareyoungandtender。Theanthus,theacanthis,andtheaegithusareatenmitywithoneanother;itissaidthatthebloodoftheanthuswillnotintercomminglewiththebloodoftheaegithus。Thecrowandtheheronarefriends,asalsoarethesedge-birdandlark,thelaedusandtheceleusorgreenwoodpecker;thewoodpeckerlivesonthebanksofriversandbesidebrakes,thelaeduslivesonrocksandbills,andisgreatlyattachedtoitsnesting-place。Thepiphinx,theharpe,andthekitearefriends;asarethefoxandthesnake,forbothburrowunderground;soalsoaretheblackbirdandtheturtle-dove。Thelionandthethosorcivetareenemies,forbotharecarnivorousandliveonthesamefood。Elephantsfightfiercelywithoneanother,andstaboneanotherwiththeirtusks;oftwocombatantsthebeatenonegetscompletelycowed,anddreadsthesoundofhisconqueror\'svoice。Theseanimalsdifferfromoneanotheranextraordinaryextentinthewayofcourage。Indiansemploytheseanimalsforwarpurposes,irrespectiveofsex;thefemales,however,arelessinsizeandmuchinferiorinpointofspirit。Anelephantbypushingwithhisbigtuskscanbatterdownawall,andwillbuttwithhisforeheadatapalmuntilhebringsitdown,whenhestampsonitandlaysitinorderlyfashionontheground。Menhunttheelephantinthefollowingway:theymounttameelephantsofapprovedspiritandproceedinquestofwildanimals;whentheycomeupwiththesetheybidthetamebrutestobeatthewildonesuntiltheytirethelattercompletely。Hereuponthedrivermountsawildbruteandguideshimwiththeapplicationofhismetalprong;afterthisthecreaturesoonbecomestame,andobeysguidance。Nowwhenthedriverisontheirbacktheyarealltractable,butafterhehasdismounted,somearetameandothersvicious;inthecaseoftheselatter,theytietheirfront-legswithropestokeepthemquiet。Theanimalishuntedwhetheryoungorfullgrown。

  Thusweseethatinthecaseofthecreaturesabovementionedtheirmutualfriendshiportheisduetothefoodtheyfeedonandthelifetheylead。

  2

  Offishes,suchasswiminshoalstogetherarefriendlytooneanother;suchasdonotsoswimareenemies。Somefishesswarmduringthespawningseason;othersaftertheyhavespawned。Tostatethemattercomprehensively,wemaysaythatthefollowingareshoalingfish:thetunny,themaenis,thesea-gudgeon,thebogue,thehorse-mackerel,thecoracine,thesynodonordentex,theredmullet,thesphyraena,theanthias,theeleginus,theatherine,thesarginus,thegar-fish,thesquid,therainbow-wrasse,thepelamyd,themackerel,thecoly-mackerel。Ofthesesomenotonlyswiminshoals,butgoinpairsinsidetheshoal;therestwithoutexceptionswiminpairs,andonlyswiminshoalsatcertainperiods:

  thatis,ashasbeensaid,whentheyareheavywithspawnoraftertheyhavespawned。

  Thebasseandthegreymulletarebitterenemies,buttheyswarmtogetheratcertaintimes;forattimesnotonlydofishesofthesamespeciesswarmtogether,butalsothosewhosefeeding-groundsareidenticaloradjacent,ifthefood-supplybeabundant。Thegreymulletisoftenfoundalivewithitstailloppedoff,andthecongerwithallthatpartofitsbodyremovedthatliestotherearofthevent;inthecaseofthemullettheinjuryiswroughtbythebasse,inthatoftheconger-eelbythemuraena。Thereiswarbetweenthelargerandthelesserfishes:forthebigfishespreyonthelittleones。

  Somuchonthesubjectofmarineanimals。

  3

  Thecharactersofanimals,ashasbeenobserved,differinrespecttotimidity,togentleness,tocourage,totameness,tointelligence,andtostupidity。

  Thesheepissaidtobenaturallydullandstupid。Ofallquadrupedsitisthemostfoolish:itwillsaunterawaytolonelyplaceswithnoobjectinview;oftentimesinstormyweatheritwillstrayfromshelter;ifitbeovertakenbyasnowstorm,itwillstandstillunlesstheshepherdsetsitinmotion;itwillstaybehindandperishunlesstheshepherdbringsuptherams;itwillthenfollowhome。

  Ifyoucatchholdofagoat\'sbeardattheextremity-thebeardisofasubstanceresemblinghair-allthecompaniongoatswillstandstockstill,staringatthisparticulargoatinakindofdumbfounderment。

  Youwillhaveawarmerbedinamongstthegoatsthanamongthesheep,becausethegoatswillbequieterandwillcreepuptowardsyou;forthegoatismoreimpatientofcoldthanthesheep。

  Shepherdstrainsheeptocloseintogetherataclapoftheirhands,forif,whenathunderstormcomeson,aewestaysbehindwithoutclosingin,thestormwillkillitifitbewithyoung;

  consequentlyifasuddenclapornoiseismade,theycloseintogetherwithinthesheepfoldbyreasonoftheirtraining。

  Evenbulls,whentheyareroamingbythemselvesapartfromtheherd,arekilledbywildanimals。

  Sheepandgoatsliecrowdedtogether,kinbykin。Whenthesunturnsearlytowardsitssetting,thegoatsaresaidtolienolongerfacetoface,butbacktoback。

  4

  Cattleatpasturekeeptogetherintheiraccustomedherds,andifoneanimalstraysawaytherestwillfollow;consequentlyiftheherdsmenloseoneparticularanimal,theykeepclosewatchonalltherest。

  Whenmareswiththeircoltspasturetogetherinthesamefield,ifonedamdiestheotherswilltakeuptherearingofthecolt。Inpointoffact,themareappearstobesingularlypronebynaturetomaternalfondness;inproofwhereofabarrenmarewillstealthefoalfromitsdam,willtenditwithallthesolicitudeofamother,but,asitwillbeunprovidedwithmother\'smilk,itssolicitudewillprovefataltoitscharge。

  5

  Amongwildquadrupedsthehindappearstobepre-eminentlyintelligent;forexample,initshabitofbringingforthitsyoungonthesidesofpublicroads,wherethefearofmanforbidstheapproachofwildanimals。Again,afterparturition,itfirstswallowstheafterbirth,thengoesinquestoftheseselishrub,andaftereatingofitreturnstoitsyoung。Themothertakesitsyoungbetimestoherlair,soleadingittoknowitsplaceofrefugeintimeofdanger;thislairisaprecipitousrock,withonlyoneapproach,andthereitissaidtoholditsownagainstallcomers。Themalewhenitgetsfat,whichitdoesinahighdegreeinautumn,disappears,abandoningitsusualresorts,apparentlyunderanideathatitsfatnessfacilitatesitscapture。Theyshedtheirhornsinplacesdifficultofaccessordiscovery,whencetheproverbialexpressionof\'theplacewherethestagshedshishorns\';thefactbeingthat,ashavingpartedwiththeirweapons,theytakecarenottobeseen。Thesayingisthatnomanhaseverseentheanimal\'slefthorn;thatthecreaturekeepsitoutofsightbecauseitpossessessomemedicinalproperty。

  Intheirfirstyearstagsgrownohorns,butonlyanexcrescenceindicatingwherehornswillbe,thisexcrescencebeingshortandthick。Intheirsecondyeartheygrowtheirhornsforthefirsttime,straightinshape,likepegsforhangingclotheson;andonthisaccounttheyhaveanappropriatenickname。Inthethirdyeartheantlersarebifurcate;inthefourthyeartheygrowtrifurcate;andsotheygoonincreasingincomplexityuntilthecreatureissixyearsold:afterthistheygrowtheirhornswithoutanyspecificdifferentiation,sothatyoucannotbyobservationofthemtelltheanimal\'sage。Butthepatriarchsoftheherdmaybetoldchieflybytwosigns;inthefirstplacetheyhavefewteethornoneatall,and,inthesecondplace,theyhaveceasedtogrowthepointedtipstotheirantlers。Theforward-pointingtipsofthegrowinghornsthatistosaythebrowantlers,withwhichtheanimalmeetsattack,aretechnicallytermedits\'defenders\';withthesethepatriarchsareunprovided,andtheirantlersmerelygrowstraightupwards。Stagsshedtheirhornsannually,inoraboutthemonthofMay;aftershedding,theyconcealthemselves,itissaid,duringthedaytime,and,toavoidtheflies,hideinthickcopses;duringthistime,untiltheyhavegrowntheirhorns,theyfeedatnight-time。Thehornsatfirstgrowinakindofskinenvelope,andgetroughbydegrees;whentheyreachtheirfullsizetheanimalbasksinthesun,tomatureanddrythem。

  Whentheyneednolongerrubthemagainsttree-trunkstheyquittheirhidingplaces,fromasenseofsecuritybaseduponthepossessionofarmsdefensiveandoffensive。AnAchaeinestaghasbeencaughtwithaquantityofgreenivygrownoveritshorns,ithavinggrownapparently,asonfreshgreenwood,whenthehornswereyoungandtender。Whenastagisstungbyavenom-spiderorsimilarinsect,itgatherscrabsandeatsthem;itissaidtobeagoodthingformantodrinkthejuice,butthetasteisdisagreeable。Thehindsafterparturitionatonceswallowtheafterbirth,anditisimpossibletosecureit,forthehindcatchesitbeforeitfallstotheground:nowthissubstanceissupposedtohavemedicinalproperties。Whenhuntedthecreaturesarecaughtbysingingorpipe-playingonthepartofthehunters;theyaresopleasedwiththemusicthattheyliedownonthegrass。Iftherebetwohunters,onebeforetheireyessingsorplaysthepipe,theotherkeepsoutofsightandshoots,atasignalgivenbytheconfederate。Iftheanimalhasitsearscocked,itcanhearwellandyoucannotescapeitsken;ifitsearsaredown,youcan。

  6

  Whenbearsarerunningawayfromtheirpursuerstheypushtheircubsinfrontofthem,ortakethemupandcarrythem;whentheyarebeingovertakentheyclimbupatree。Whenemergingfromtheirwinter-den,theyatoncetaketoeatingcuckoo-pint,ashasbeensaid,andchewsticksofwoodasthoughtheywerecuttingteeth。

  Manyotherquadrupedshelpthemselvesincleverways。WildgoatsinCretearesaid,whenwoundedbyarrows,togoinsearchofdittany,whichissupposedtohavethepropertyofejectingarrowsinthebody。

  Dogs,whentheyareill,eatsomekindofgrassandproducevomiting。Thepanther,aftereatingpanther\'s-bane,triestofindsomehumanexcrement,whichissaidtohealitspain。Thispanther\'s-banekillslionsaswell。Huntershanguphumanexcrementinavesselattachedtotheboughsofatree,tokeeptheanimalfromstrayingtoanydistance;theanimalmeetsitsendinleapinguptothebranchandtryingtogetatthemedicine。Theysaythatthepantherhasfoundoutthatwildanimalsarefondofthescentitemits;

  that,whenitgoesa-hunting,ithidesitself;thattheotheranimalscomenearerandnearer,andthatbythisstratagemitcancatchevenanimalsasswiftoffootasstags。

  TheEgyptianichneumon,whenitseestheserpentcalledtheasp,doesnotattackituntilithascalledinotherichneumonstohelp;tomeettheblowsandbitesoftheirenemytheassailantsbeplasterthemselveswithmud,byfirstsoakingintheriverandthenrollingontheground。

  Whenthecrocodileyawns,thetrochilusfliesintohismouthandcleanshisteeth。Thetrochilusgetshisfoodthereby,andthecrocodilegetseaseandcomfort;itmakesnoattempttoinjureitslittlefriend,but,whenitwantsittogo,itshakesitsneckinwarning,lestitshouldaccidentallybitethebird。

  Thetortoise,whenithaspartakenofasnake,eatsmarjoram;thisactionhasbeenactuallyobserved。Amansawatortoiseperformthisoperationoverandoveragain,andeverytimeitpluckedupsomemarjoramgobacktopartakeofitsprey;hethereuponpulledthemarjoramupbytheroots,andtheconsequencewasthetortoisedied。

  Theweasel,whenitfightswithasnake,firsteatswildrue,thesmellofwhichisnoxioustothesnake。Thedragon,wheniteatsfruit,swallowsendive-juice;ithasbeenseenintheact。Dogs,whentheysufferfromworms,eatthestandingcorn。Storks,andallotherbirds,whentheygetawoundfighting,applymarjoramtotheplaceinjured。

  Manyhaveseenthelocust,whenfightingwiththesnakegetatightholdofthesnakebytheneck。Theweaselhasacleverwayofgettingthebetterofbirds;ittearstheirthroatsopen,aswolvesdowithsheep。Weaselsfightdesperatelywithmice-catchingsnakes,astheybothpreyonthesameanimal。

  Inregardtotheinstinctofhedgehogs,ithasbeenobservedinmanyplacesthat,whenthewindisshiftingfromnorthtosouth,andfromsouthtonorth,theyshifttheoutlookoftheirearth-holes,andthosethatarekeptindomesticationshiftoverfromonewalltotheother。ThestorygoesthatamaninByzantiumgotintohighreputeforforetellingachangeofweather,allowingtohishavingnoticedthishabitofthehedgehog。

  ThepolecatormartenisaboutaslargeasthesmallerbreedofMaltesedogs。Inthethicknessofitsfur,initslook,inthewhiteofitsbelly,andinitsloveofmischief,itresemblestheweasel;itiseasilytamed;fromitslikingforhoneyitisaplaguetobee-hives;itpreysonbirdslikethecat。Itsgenitalorgan,ashasbeensaid,consistsofbone:theorganofthemaleissupposedtobeacureforstrangury;doctorsscrapeitintopowder,andadministeritinthatform。

  7

  Inageneralwayinthelivesofanimalsmanyresemblancestohumanlifemaybeobserved。Pre-eminentintelligencewillbeseenmoreinsmallcreaturesthaninlargeones,asisexemplifiedinthecaseofbirdsbythenestbuildingoftheswallow。Inthesamewayasmendo,thebirdmixesmudandchafftogether;ifitrunsshortofmud,itsousesitsbodyinwaterandrollsaboutinthedrydustwithwetfeathers;furthermore,justasmandoes,itmakesabedofstraw,puttinghardmaterialbelowforafoundation,andadaptingalltosuititsownsize。Bothparentsco-operateintherearingoftheyoung;

  eachoftheparentswilldetect,withpractisedeye,theyoungonethathashadahelping,andwilltakecareitisnothelpedtwiceover;atfirsttheparentswillridthenestofexcrement,but,whentheyoungaregrown,theywillteachtheiryoungtoshifttheirpositionandlettheirexcrementfalloverthesideofthenest。

  Pigeonsexhibitotherphenomenawithasimilarlikenesstothewaysofhumankind。Inpairingthesamemaleandthesamefemalekeeptogether;andtheunionisonlybrokenbythedeathofoneofthetwoparties。Atthetimeofparturitioninthefemalethesympatheticattentionsofthemaleareextraordinary;ifthefemaleisafraidonaccountoftheimpendingparturitiontoenterthenest,themalewillbeatherandforcehertocomein。Whentheyoungareborn,hewilltakeandmasticatepiecesofsuitablefood,willopenthebeaksofthefledglings,andinjectthesepieces,thuspreparingthembetimestotakefood。Whenthemalebirdisabouttoexpelthetheyoungonesfromthenesthecohabitswiththemall。Asageneralrulethesebirdsshowthisconjugalfidelity,butoccasionallyafemalewillcohabitwithotherthanhermate。Thesebirdsarecombative,andquarrelwithoneanother,andentereachother\'snests,thoughthisoccursbutseldom;atadistancefromtheirneststhisquarrelsomenessislessmarked,butinthecloseneighbourhoodoftheirneststheywillfightdesperately。Apeculiaritycommontothetamepigeon,thering-doveandtheturtle-doveisthattheydonotleantheheadbackwhentheyareintheactofdrinking,butonlywhentheyhavefullyquenchedtheirthirst。Theturtle-doveandthering-dovebothhavebutonemate,andletnoothercomenigh;bothsexesco-operateintheprocessofincubation。Itisdifficulttodistinguishbetweenthesexesexceptbyanexaminationoftheirinteriors。Ring-dovesarelong-lived;caseshavebeenknownwheresuchbirdsweretwenty-fiveyearsold,thirtyyearsold,andinsomecasesforty。Astheygrowoldtheirclawsincreaseinsize,andpigeon-fancierscuttheclaws;asfarasonecansee,thebirdssuffernootherperceptibledisfigurementbytheirincreaseinage。

  Turtle-dovesandpigeonsthatareblindedbyfanciersforuseasdecoys,liveforeightyears。Partridgesliveforaboutfifteenyears。

  Ring-dovesandturtle-dovesalwaysbuildtheirnestsinthesameplaceyearafteryear。Themale,asageneralrule,ismorelong-livedthanthefemale;butinthecaseofpigeonssomeassertthatthemalediesbeforethefemale,takingtheirinferencefromthestatementsofpersonswhokeepdecoy-birdsincaptivity。Somedeclarethatthemalesparrowlivesonlyayear,pointingtothefactthatearlyinspringthemalesparrowhasnoblackbeard,buthasonelateron,asthoughtheblackbeardedbirdsofthelastyearhadalldiedout;theyalsosaythatthefemalesarethelongerlived,onthegroundsthattheyarecaughtinamongsttheyoungbirdsandthattheirageisrenderedmanifestbythehardnessabouttheirbeaks。

  Turtle-dovesinsummerliveincoldplaces,andinwarmplacesduringthewinter;chaffinchesaffectwarmhabitationsinsummerandcoldonesinwinter。

  8

  Birdsofaheavybuild,suchasquails,partridges,andthelike,buildnonests;indeed,wheretheyareincapableofflight,itwouldbeofnouseiftheycoulddoso。Afterscrapingaholeonalevelpieceofground-anditisonlyinsuchaplacethattheylaytheireggs-theycoveritoverwiththornsandsticksforsecurityagainsthawksandeagles,andtherelaytheireggsandhatchthem;

  afterthehatchingisover,theyatonceleadtheyoungoutfromthenest,astheyarenotabletoflyafieldforfoodforthem。Quailsandpartridges,likebarn-doorhens,whentheygotorest,gathertheirbroodundertheirwings。Nottobediscovered,asmightbethecaseiftheystayedlonginonespot,theydonothatchtheeggswheretheylaidthem。Whenamancomesbychanceuponayoungbrood,andtriestocatchthem,thehen-birdrollsinfrontofthehunter,pretendingtobelame:themaneverymomentthinksheisonthepointofcatchingher,andsoshedrawshimonandon,untileveryoneofherbroodhashadtimetoescape;hereuponshereturnstothenestandcallstheyoungback。Thepartridgelaysnotlessthanteneggs,andoftenlaysasmanyassixteen。Ashasbeenobserved,thebirdhasmischievousanddeceitfulhabits。Inthespring-time,anoisyscrimmagetakesplace,outofwhichthemale-birdsemergeeachwithahen。Owingtothelecherousnatureofthebird,andfromadisliketothehensitting,themales,iftheyfindanyeggs,rollthemoverandoveruntiltheybreaktheminpieces;toprovideagainstthisthefemalegoestoadistanceandlaystheeggs,andoften,underthestressofparturition,laystheminanychancespotthatoffers;

  ifthemalebenearathand,thentokeeptheeggsintactsherefrainsfromvisitingthem。Ifshebeseenbyaman,then,justaswithherfledgedbrood,sheenticeshimoffbyshowingherselfcloseathisfeetuntilshehasdrawnhimtoadistance。Whenthefemaleshaverunawayandtakentositting,themalesinapacktaketoscreamingandfighting;whenthusengaged,theyhavethenicknameof\'widowers\'。

  Thebirdwhoisbeatenfollowshisvictor,andsubmitstobecoveredbyhimonly;andthebeatenbirdiscoveredbyasecondoneorbyanyother,onlyclandestinelywithoutthevictor\'sknowledge;thisisso,notatalltimes,butataparticularseasonoftheyear,andwithquailsaswellaswithpartridges。Asimilarproceedingtakesplaceoccasionallywithbarn-doorcocks:forintemples,wherecocksaresetapartasdedicatewithouthens,theyallasamatterofcoursetreadanynew-comer。Tamepartridgestreadwildbirds,peckettheirheads,andtreatthemwitheverypossibleoutrage。Theleaderofthewildbirds,withacounter-noteofchallenge,pushesforwardtoattackthedecoy-bird,andafterhehasbeennetted,anotheradvanceswithasimilarnote。Thisiswhatisdoneifthedecoybeamale;butifitbeafemalethatisthedecoyandgivesthenote,andtheleaderofthewildbirdsgiveacounterone,therestofthemalessetuponhimandchasehimawayfromthefemaleformakingadvancestoherinsteadoftothem;inconsequenceofthisthemaleoftenadvanceswithoututteringanycry,sothatnoothermayhearhimandcomeandgivehimbattle;andexperiencedfowlersassertthatsometimesthemalebird,whenheapproachesthefemale,makesherkeepsilence,toavoidhavingtogivebattletoothermaleswhomighthaveheardhim。

  Thepartridgehasnotonlythenoteherereferredto,butalsoathinshrillcryandothernotes。Oftentimesthehen-birdrisesfromoffherbroodwhensheseesthemaleshowingattentionstothefemaledecoy;shewillgivethecounternoteandremainstill,soastobetroddenbyhimanddiverthimfromthedecoy。Thequailandthepartridgearesointentuponsexualunionthattheyoftencomerightinthewayofthedecoy-birds,andnotseldomalightupontheirheads。Somuchforthesexualproclivitiesofthepartridge,forthewayinwhichitishunted,andthegeneralnastyhabitsofthebird。

  Ashasbeensaid,quailsandpartridgesbuildtheirnestsupontheground,andsoalsodosomeofthebirdsthatarecapableofsustainedflight。Further,forinstance,ofsuchbirds,thelarkandthewoodcock,aswellasthequail,donotperchonabranch,butsquatupontheground。

  9

  Thewoodpeckerdoesnotsquatontheground,butpecksatthebarkoftreestodriveoutfromunderitmaggotsandgnats;whentheyemerge,itlicksthemupwithitstongue,whichislargeandflat。

  Itcanrunupanddownatreeinanyway,evenwiththeheaddownwards,likethegecko-lizard。Forsecureholduponatree,itsclawsarebetteradaptedthanthoseofthedaw;itmakesitswaybystickingtheseclawsintothebark。Onespeciesofwoodpeckerissmallerthanablackbird,andhassmallreddishspeckles;asecondspeciesislargerthantheblackbird,andathirdisnotmuchsmallerthanabarn-doorhen。Itbuildsanestontrees,ashasbeensaid,onolivetreesamongstothers。Itfeedsonthemaggotsandantsthatareunderthebark:itissoeagerinthesearchformaggotsthatitissaidsometimestohollowatreeouttoitsdownfall。A

  woodpeckeronce,incourseofdomestication,wasseentoinsertanalmondintoaholeinapieceoftimber,sothatitmightremainsteadyunderitspecking;atthethirdpeckitsplittheshellofthefruit,andthenatethekernel。

  10

  Manyindicationsofhighintelligencearegivenbycranes。Theywillflytoagreatdistanceandupintheair,tocommandanextensiveview;iftheyseecloudsandsignsofbadweathertheyflydownagainandremainstill。They,furthermore,havealeaderintheirflight,andpatrolsthatscreamontheconfinesoftheflocksoastobeheardbyall。Whentheysettledown,themainbodygotosleepwiththeirheadsundertheirwing,standingfirstononelegandthenontheother,whiletheirleader,withhisheaduncovered,keepsasharplookout,andwhenheseesanythingofimportancesignalsitwithacry。

  Pelicansthatlivebesideriversswallowthelargesmoothmussel-shells:aftercookingtheminsidethecropthatprecedesthestomach,theyspitthemout,sothat,nowwhentheirshellsareopen,theymaypickthefleshoutandeatit。

  11

  Ofwildbirds,thenestsarefashionedtomeettheexigenciesofexistenceandensurethesecurityoftheyoung。Someofthesebirdsarefondoftheiryoungandtakegreatcareofthem,othersarequitethereverse;somearecleverinprocuringsubsistence,othersarenotso。Someofthesebirdsbuildinravinesandclefts,andoncliffs,as,forinstance,theso-calledcharadrius,orstone-curlew;

  thisbirdisinnowaynoteworthyforplumageorvoice;itmakesanappearanceatnight,butinthedaytimekeepsoutofsight。

  Thehawkalsobuildsininaccessibleplaces。Althougharavenousbird,itwillnevereattheheartofanybirditcatches;thishasbeenobservedinthecaseofthequail,thethrush,andotherbirds。

  Theymodifybetimestheirmethodofhunting,forinsummertheydonotgrabtheirpreyastheydoatotherseasons。

  Ofthevulture,itissaidthatnoonehaseverseeneitheritsyoungoritsnest;onthisaccountandonthegroundthatallofasuddengreatnumbersofthemwillappearwithoutanyonebeingabletotellfromwhencetheycome,Herodorus,thefatherofBrysonthesophist,saysthatitbelongstosomedistantandelevatedland。Thereasonisthatthebirdhasitsnestoninaccessiblecrags,andisfoundonlyinafewlocalities。Thefemalelaysoneeggasarule,andtwoatthemost。

  Somebirdsliveonmountainsorinforests,asthehoopoeandthebrenthus;thislatterbirdfindshisfoodwitheaseandhasamusicalvoice。Thewrenlivesinbrakesandcrevices;itisdifficultofcapture,keepsoutofsight,isgentleofdisposition,findsitsfoodwithease,andissomethingofamechanic。Itgoesbythenicknameof\'oldman\'or\'king\';andthestorygoesthatforthisreasontheeagleisatwarwithhim。

  12

  Somebirdsliveonthesea-shore,asthewagtail;thebirdisofamischievousnature,hardtocapture,butwhencaughtcapableofcompletedomestication;itisacripple,asbeingweakinitshinderquarters。

  Web-footedbirdswithoutexceptionliveneartheseaorriversorpools,astheynaturallyresorttoplacesadaptedtotheirstructure。Severalbirds,however,withcloventoeslivenearpoolsormarshes,as,forinstance,theanthuslivesbythesideofrivers;theplumageofthisbirdispretty,anditfindsitsfoodwithease。Thecatarrhacteslivesnearthesea;whenitmakesadive,itwillkeepunderwaterforaslongasitwouldtakeamantowalkafurlong;itislessthanthecommonhawk。Swansareweb-footed,andlivenearpoolsandmarshes;theyfindtheirfoodwithease,aregood-tempered,arefondoftheiryoung,andlivetoagreenoldage。

  Iftheeagleattacksthemtheywillrepeltheattackandgetthebetteroftheirassailant,buttheyareneverthefirsttoattack。

  Theyaremusical,andsingchieflyattheapproachofdeath;atthistimetheyflyouttosea,andmen,whensailingpastthecoastofLibya,havefalleninwithmanyofthemoutatseasinginginmournfulstrains,andhaveactuallyseensomeofthemdying。

  Thecymindisisseldomseen,asitlivesonmountains;itisblackincolour,andaboutthesizeofthehawkcalledthe\'dove-killer\';itislongandslenderinform。TheIonianscallthebirdbythisname;HomerintheIliadmentionsitintheline:

  Chalcisitsnamewiththoseofheavenlybirth,ButcalledCymindisbythesonsofearth。

  Thehybris,saidbysometobethesameastheeagle-owl,isneverseenbydaylight,asitisdim-sighted,butduringthenightithuntsliketheeagle;itwillfighttheeaglewithsuchdesperationthatthetwocombatantsareoftencapturedalivebyshepherds;itlaystwoeggs,and,likeotherswehavementioned,itbuildsonrocksandincaverns。Cranesalsofightsodesperatelyamongthemselvesastobecaughtwhenfighting,fortheywillnotleaveoff;thecranelaystwoeggs。

  13

  Thejayhasagreatvarietyofnotes:indeed,mightalmostsayithadadifferentnoteforeverydayintheyear。Itlaysaboutnineeggs;buildsitsnestontrees,outofhairandtagsofwool;

  whenacornsaregettingscarce,itlaysupastoreoftheminhiding。

  Itisacommonstoryofthestorkthattheoldbirdsarefedbytheirgratefulprogeny。Sometellasimilarstoryofthebee-eater,anddeclarethattheparentsarefedbytheiryoungnotonlywhengrowingold,butatanearlyperiod,assoonastheyoungarecapableoffeedingthem;andtheparent-birdsstayinsidethenest。

  Theunderpartofthebird\'swingispaleyellow;theupperpartisdarkblue,likethatofthehalcyon;thetipsofthewingsareAboutautumn-timeitlayssixorseveneggs,inoverhangingbankswherethesoilissoft;thereitburrowsintothegroundtoadepthofsixfeet。

  Thegreenfinch,socalledfromthecolourofitsbelly,isaslargeasalark;itlaysfourorfiveeggs,buildsitsnestoutoftheplantcalledcomfrey,pullingitupbytheroots,andmakesanunder-mattresstolieonofhairandwool。Theblackbirdandthejaybuildtheirnestsafterthesamefashion。Thenestofthependulinetitshowsgreatmechanicalskill;ithastheappearanceofaballofflax,andtheholeforentryisverysmall。

  Peoplewholivewherethebirdcomesfromsaythatthereexistsacinnamonbirdwhichbringsthecinnamonfromsomeunknownlocalities,andbuildsitsnestoutofit;itbuildsonhightreesontheslendertopbranches。Theysaythattheinhabitantsattachleadenweightstothetipsoftheirarrowsandtherewithbringdownthenests,andfromtheintertexturecollectthecinnamonsticks。

  14

  Thehalcyonisnotmuchlargerthanthesparrow。Itscolourisdarkblue,green,andlightpurple;thewholebodyandwings,andespeciallypartsabouttheneck,showthesecoloursinamixedway,withoutanycolourbeingsharplydefined;thebeakislightgreen,longandslender:such,then,isthelookofthebird。Itsnestislikesea-balls,i。e。thethingsthatbythenameofhalosachneorseafoam,onlythecolourisnotthesame。Thecolourofthenestislightred,andtheshapeisthatofthelong-neckedgourd。Thenestsarelargerthanthelargestsponge,thoughtheyvaryinsize;theyareroofedover,andgreatpartofthemissolidandgreatparthollow。Ifyouuseasharpknifeitisnoteasytocutthenestthrough;butifyoucutit,andatthesametimebruiseitwithyourhand,itwillsooncrumbletopieces,likethehalosachne。Theopeningissmall,justenoughforatinyentrance,sothatevenifthenestupsettheseadoesnotenterin;thehollowchannelsarelikethoseinsponges。Itisnotknownforcertainofwhatmaterialthenestisconstructed;itispossiblymadeofthebackbonesofthegar-fish;

  for,bytheway,thebirdlivesonfish。Besideslivingontheshore,itascendsfresh-waterstreams。Itlaysgenerallyaboutfiveeggs,andlayseggsallitslifelong,beginningtodosoattheageoffourmonths。

  15

  Thehoopoeusuallyconstructsitsnestoutofhumanexcrement。

  Itchangesitsappearanceinsummerandinwinter,asinfactdothegreatmajorityofwildbirds。Thetitmouseissaidtolayaverylargequantityofeggs:nexttotheostrichtheblackheadedtitissaidbysometolaythelargestnumberofeggs;seventeeneggshavebeenseen;itlays,however,morethantwenty;itissaidalwaystolayanoddnumber。Likeotherswehavementioned,itbuildsintrees;itfeedsoncaterpillars。Apeculiarityofthisbirdandofthenightingaleisthattheouterextremityofthetongueisnotsharp-pointed。

  Theaegithusfindsitsfoodwithease,hasmanyyoung,andwalkswithalimp。Thegoldenorioleisaptatlearning,iscleveratmakingaliving,butisawkwardinflightandhasanuglyplumage。

  16

  Thereed-warblermakesitslivingaseasilyasanyotherbird,sitsinsummerinashadyspotfacingthewind,inwinterinasunnyandshelteredplaceamongreedsinamarsh;itissmallinsize,withapleasantnote。Theso-calledchattererhasapleasantnote,beautifulplumage,makesalivingcleverly,andisgracefulinform;

  itappearstobealientoourcountry;atalleventsitisseldomseenatadistancefromitsownimmediatehome。

  17

  Thecrakeisquarrelsome,cleveratmakingaliving,butinotherwaysanunluckybird。Thebirdcalledsittaisquarrelsome,butcleverandtidy,makesitslivingwithease,andforitsknowingnessisregardedasuncanny;ithasanumerousbrood,ofwhichitisfond,andlivesbypeckingthebarkoftrees。Theaegolius-owlfliesbynight,isseldomseenbyday;likeotherswehavementioned,itlivesoncliffsorincaverns;itfeedsontwokindsoffood;ithasastrongholdonlifeandisfullofresource。

  Thetree-creeperisalittlebird,offearlessdisposition;itlivesamongtrees,feedsoncaterpillars,makesalivingwithease,andhasaloudclearnote。Theacanthisfindsitsfoodwithdifficulty;

  itsplumageispoor,butitsnoteismusical。

  18

  Oftheherons,theashen-colouredone,ashasbeensaid,uniteswiththefemalenotwithoutpain;itisfullofresource,carriesitsfoodwithit,iseagerinthequestofit,andworksbyday;itsplumageispoor,anditsexcrementisalwayswet。Oftheothertwospecies-fortherearethreeinall-thewhiteheronhashandsomeplumage,uniteswithoutharmtoitselfwiththefemale,buildsanestandlaysitseggsneatlyintrees;itfrequentsmarshesandlakesandPlainsandmeadowland。Thespeckledheron,whichisnicknamed\'theskulker\',issaidinfolklorestoriestobeofservileorigin,and,asitsnicknameimplies,itisthelaziestbirdofthethreespecies。Sucharethehabitsofherons。Thebirdthatiscalledthepoynxhasthispeculiarity,thatitismorepronethananyotherbirdtopeckattheeyesofanassailantoritsprey;itisatwarwiththeharpy,asthetwobirdsliveonthesamefood。

  19

  Therearetwokindsofowsels;theoneisblack,andisfoundeverywhere,theotherisquitewhite,aboutthesamesizeastheother,andwiththesamepipe。ThislatterisfoundonCylleneinArcadia,andisfoundnowhereelse。Thelaius,orblue-thrush,isliketheblackowsel,onlyalittlesmaller;itlivesoncliffsorontileroofings;ithasnotaredbeakastheblackowselhas。

  20

  Ofthrushestherearethreespecies。Oneisthemisselthrush;itfeedsonlyonmistletoeandresin;itisaboutthesizeofthejay。

  Asecondisthesong-thrush;ithasasharppipe,andisaboutthesizeoftheowsel。ThereisanotherspeciescalledtheIllas;itisthesmallestspeciesofthethree,andislessvariegatedinplumagethantheothers。

  21

  Thereisabirdthatlivesonrocks,calledtheblue-birdfromitscolour。ItiscomparativelycommoninNisyros,andissomewhatlessthantheowselandalittlebiggerthanthechaffinch。Ithaslargeclaws,andclimbsonthefaceoftherocks。Itissteel-blueallover;

  itsbeakislongandslender;itslegsareshort,likethoseofthewoodpecker。

  22

  Theorioleisyellowallover;itisnotvisibleduringwinter,butputsinanappearanceaboutthetimeofthesummersolstice,anddepartsagainattherisingofArcturus;itisthesizeoftheturtle-dove。Theso-calledsoft-headorshrikealwayssettlesononeandthesamebranch,whereitfallsapreytothebirdcatcher。Itsheadisbig,andcomposedofgristle;itisalittlesmallerthanthethrush;itsbeakisstrong,small,andround;itisashen-colouredallover;isfleetoffoot,butslowofwing。Thebird-catcherusuallycatchesitbyhelpoftheowl。

  23

  Thereisalsothepardalus。Asarule,itisseeninflocksandnotsingly;itisashen-colouredallover,andaboutthesizeofthebirdslastdescribed;itisfleetoffootandstrongofwing,anditspipeisloudandhigh-pitched。Thecollyrionorfieldfare

  feedsonthesamefoodastheowsel;isofthesamesizeastheabovementionedbirds;andistrappedusuallyinthewinter。Allthesebirdsarefoundatalltimes。Further,therearethebirdsthatliveasaruleintowns,theravenandthecrow。Thesealsoarevisibleatallseasons,nevershifttheirplaceofabode,andnevergointowinterquarters。

  24

  Ofdawstherearethreespecies。Oneisthechough;itisaslargeasthecrow,buthasaredbeak。Thereisanother,calledthe\'wolf\';andfurtherthereisthelittledaw,calledthe\'railer\'。

  ThereisanotherkindofdawfoundinLybiaandPhrygia,whichisweb-footed。

  25

  Oflarkstherearetwokinds。Onelivesonthegroundandhasacrestonitshead;theotherisgregarious,andnotsporadiclikethefirst;itis,however,ofthesamecolouredplumage,butissmaller,andhasnocrest;itisanarticleofhumanfood。

  26

  Thewoodcockiscaughtwithnetsingardens。Itisaboutthesizeofabarn-doorhen;ithasalongbeak,andinplumageislikethefrancolin-partridge。Itrunsquickly,andisprettyeasilydomesticated。Thestarlingisspeckled;itisofthesamesizeastheowsel。

  27

  OftheEgyptianibistherearetwokinds,thewhiteandtheblack。

  ThewhiteonesarefoundoverEgypt,exceptinginPelusium;theblackonesarefoundinPelusium,andnowhereelseinEgypt。

  28

  Ofthelittlehornedowlstherearetwokinds,andoneisvisibleatallseasons,andforthatreasonhasthenicknameof\'all-the-year-roundowl\';itisnotsufficientlypalatabletocometotable;anotherspeciesmakesitsappearancesometimesintheautumn,isseenforasingledayoratthemostfortwodays,andisregardedasatabledelicacy;itscarcelydiffersfromthefirstspeciessaveonlyinbeingfatter;ithasnonote,buttheotherspecieshas。Withregardtotheirorigin,nothingisknownfromocularobservation;theonlyfactknownforcertainisthattheyarefirstseenwhenawestwindisblowing。

  29

  Thecuckoo,ashasbeensaidelsewhere,makesnonest,butdepositsitseggsinanaliennest,generallyinthenestofthering-dove,oronthegroundinthenestofthehypolaisorlark,oronatreeinthenestofthegreenlinnet。itlaysonlyoneegganddoesnothatchititself,butthemother-birdinwhosenestithasdepositedithatchesandrearsit;and,astheysay,thismotherbird,whentheyoungcuckoohasgrownbig,thrustsherownbroodoutofthenestandletsthemperish;otherssaythatthismother-birdkillsherownbroodandgivesthemtothealientodevour,despisingherownyoungowingtothebeautyofthecuckoo。Personalobserversagreeintellingmostofthesestories,butarenotinagreementastotheinstructionoftheyoung。Somesaythatthemother-cuckoocomesanddevoursthebroodoftherearingmother;otherssaythattheyoungcuckoofromitssuperiorsizesnapsupthefoodbroughtbeforethesmallerbroodhaveachance,andthatinconsequencethesmallerbrooddieofhunger;otherssaythat,byitssuperiorstrength,itactuallykillstheotheroneswhilstitisbeingrearedupwiththem。Thecuckooshowsgreatsagacityinthedisposalofitsprogeny;thefactis,themothercuckooisquiteconsciousofherowncowardiceandofthefactthatshecouldneverhelpheryoungoneinanemergency,andso,forthesecurityoftheyoungone,shemakesofhimasupposititiouschildinanaliennest。Thetruthis,thisbirdispre-eminentamongbirdsinthewayofcowardice;itallowsitselftobepeckedatbylittlebirds,andfliesawayfromtheirattacks。

  30

  Ithasalreadybeenstatedthatthefootlessbird,whichsometermthecypselus,resemblestheswallow;indeed,itisnoteasytodistinguishbetweenthetwobirds,exceptinginthefactthatthecypselushasfeathersontheshank。Thesebirdsreartheiryounginlongcellsmadeofmud,andfurnishedwithaholejustbigenoughforentryandexit;theybuildundercoverofsomeroofing-underarockorinacavern-forprotectionagainstanimalsandmen。

  Theso-calledgoat-suckerlivesonmountains;itisalittlelargerthantheowsel,andlessthanthecuckoo;itlaystwoeggs,orthreeatthemost,andisofasluggishdisposition。Itfliesuptotheshe-goatandsucksitsmilk,fromwhichhabititderivesitsname;

  itissaidthat,afterithassuckedtheteatoftheanimal,theteatdriesupandtheanimalgoesblind。Itisdim-sightedintheday-time,butseeswellenoughbynight。

  31

  Innarrowcircumscribeddistrictswherethefoodwouldbeinsufficientformorebirdsthantwo,ravensareonlyfoundinisolatedpairs;whentheiryoungareoldenoughtofly,theparentcouplefirstejectthemfromthenest,andbyandbychasethemfromtheneighbourhood。Theravenlaysfourorfiveeggs。AboutthetimewhenthemercenariesunderMediuswereslaughteredatPharsalus,thedistrictsaboutAthensandthePeloponnesewereleftdestituteofravens,fromwhichitwouldappearthatthesebirdshavesomemeansofintercommunicatingwithoneanother。

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