[172]Valerius Maximus says, that seventeen members of this family fell at the battle of Cannæ.
[173]M. Mauduit, in a learned discussion many pages in length, satisfactorily shows that this is not entirely fabulous, but that the wild swan of the northern climates really is possessed of a tuneful note or cadence. Of course, the statement that it only sings just before its death, must be rejected as fabulous.
[174]The “mother of the quails.” Frederic II., in his work, De Arte Venandi, calls the “rallus,” or “rail,” the “leader of the quails.”
[175]Either hemlock or hellebore.
[176]This bird in reality builds no nest, but lays its eggs in holes on the water side. The objects taken for its nest are a zoophyte called halcyonium by Linnæus, and similar in shape to a nest.
[177]Not moss, Cuvier says, but blades of grass and the silken fibres of the poplar and other aquatic trees.
[178]“Without feet.” This was supposed to be the case with the martinet, the Hirundo apus of Linnæus.
[179]By nestling in the dust. Throwing dust over the body was one of the ancient modes of purification.
[180]“Lustrant,” “perform a lustration.” This was done by the Romans with a branch of laurel or olive, and sometimes bean-stalks were used.
[181]This is the jay, the Corvus glandarius of Linnæus; but they are not more apt at speaking than the other kinds.