The description of sea-birds,
Mergique marinis
Fluctibus in salso victum vitamque petentes,[410]
recalls the vivid and natural life of those that haunted the isle of Calypso—
τανύγλωσσοί τε κορῶναι
εἰνάλιαι τῇσίν τε θαλάσσια ἔργα μέμηλεν.[411]
His lively personal observation and active interest in the casual objects presented to his eyes in the course of his walks are seen in such passages as—
Cum lubrica serpens
Exuit in spinis vestem; nam saepe videmus