She scarcely could the poultry (τὰς ὄρνεις) drive away.
But Cratinus, in his Nemesis, has used the form ὀρνίθιον, saying—
And all the other birds (ὀρνίθια).
And they use not only the form ὄρνιν, but also that of ὄρνιθα, in the masculine gender. The same Cratinus says in the same play—
A scarlet winged bird (ὄρνιθα φοινικόπτερον).
And again, he says—
You, then, must now become a large bird (ὄρνιθα μέγαν).
And Sophocles, in his Antenoridæ, says—
A bird (ὄρνιθα), and a crier, and a servant.
And Æschylus, in his Cabiri, says—