§8.3#1Τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὴν τῶν ἰχθύων τροφὴν τοῦτον ἔχει τὸν τρόπον.
Now, the matters concerning the food of fish are of this nature.
Τῶν δ’ ὀρνίθων ὅσοι μὲν γαμψώνυχες, σαρκοφάγοι πάντες εἰσί, σῖτον δ’ οὐδ’ ἐάν τις ψωμίζῃ δύνανται καταπιεῖν, οἷον τά τε τῶν ἀετῶν γένη πάντα καὶ ἰκτῖνοι καὶ ἱέρακες ἄμφω, ὅ τε φαβοτύπος καὶ ὁ σπιζίας (διαφέρουσι δ’ οὗτοι τὸ μέγεθος πολὺ ἀλλήλων), καὶ ὁ τριόρχης· ἔστι δ’ ὁ τριόρχης τὸ μέγεθος ὅσον ἰκτῖνος, καὶ φαίνεται οὗτος διὰ παντός.
Of birds, those that have crooked talons are all carnivorous, and they cannot swallow grain even if someone tries to feed them by hand, such as all kinds of eagles, kites, and both kinds of hawks—the pigeon-hawk and the sparrow-hawk (these differ greatly in size from each other)—and the triorches; the triorches is about the size of a kite, and is visible throughout the year.
Ἔτι φήνη καὶ γύψ· ἔστι δ’ ἡ μὲν φήνη τὸ μέγεθος ἀετοῦ μείζων, τὸ δὲ χρῶμα σποδοειδές, τῶν δὲ γυπῶν δύο ἐστὶν εἴδη, ὁ μὲν μικρὸς καὶ ἐκλευκότερος, ὁ δὲ μείζων καὶ σποδοειδέστερος.
Also the phene and the vulture; the phene is larger in size than an eagle and ash-colored, and of vultures there are two kinds, one small and rather white, the other larger and more ash-colored.
Ἔτι τῶν νυκτερινῶν ἔνιοι γαμψώνυχές εἰσιν, οἷον νυκτικόραξ, γλαύξ, βρύας.
Further, some of the nocturnal birds have crooked talons, such as the night-raven, the owl, and the bryas.
Ἔστι δ’ ὁ βρύας τὴν μὲν ἰδέαν ὅμοιος γλαυκί, τὸ δὲ μέγεθος ἀετοῦ οὐδὲν ἐλάττων.
The bryas is similar in appearance to the owl, and in size not at all smaller than an eagle.
Ἔτι δ’ ἐλεὸς καὶ αἰγώλιος καὶ σκώψ.
Also the eleos, the aigolios, and the scops.
Τούτων δ’ ὁ μὲν ἐλεὸς μείζων ἀλεκτρυόνος, όνος, ὁ δ’ αἰγώλιος παραπλήσιος, ἀμφότεροι δὲ θηρεύουσι τὰς κίττας· ὁ δὲ σκὼψ ἐλάττων γλαυκός· πάντα δὲ ταῦτα τρία ὄντα ὅμοια τὰς ὄψεις καὶ σαρκοφάγα πάντα.
Of these, the eleos is larger than a cock, while the aigolios is of similar size, and both hunt jays; the scops is smaller than an owl; and all these three are similar in appearance and are all carnivorous.
Εἰσὶ δὲ καὶ τῶν μὴ γαμψωνύχων ἔνιοι σαρκοφάγοι, οἷον ἡ χελιδών.
There are also some among those without crooked talons that are carnivorous, such as the swallow.
Τὰ δὲ σκωληκοφάγα, οἷον σπίζα, στρουθός, βατίς, χλωρίς, αἰγιθαλός.
And the worm-eaters are, for example, the finch, the sparrow, the batis, the greenfinch, and the titmouse.
Ἔστι δὲ τῶν αἰγιθαλῶν εἴδη τρία, ὁ μὲν σπιζίτης μέγιστος (ἔστι γὰρ ὅσον σπίζα), ἕτερος δ’ ὀρεινὸς διὰ τὸ διατρίβειν ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν, οὐραῖον μακρὸν ἔχων· ὁ δὲ τρίτος ὅμοιος μὲν τούτοις, διαφέρει δὲ κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος· ἔστι γὰρ ἐλάχιστος.
There are three kinds of titmice: the spizites is the largest (for it is as large as a finch), another is the mountain-tit because of its living in the mountains, having a long tail; and the third is similar to these, but differs in size, for it is the smallest.
Ἔτι δὲ συκαλίς, μελαγκόρυφος, πυρρούλας, ἐρίθακος, ἐπιλαΐς, οἶστρος, τύραννος· οὗτος τὸ μέγεθος μικρῷ μείζων ἀκρίδος, ἔστι δὲ φοινικοῦν λόφον ἔχων, καὶ ἄλλως εὔχαρι τὸ ὀρνίθιον καὶ εὔρυθμον.
Also the sycalis, the blackcap, the bullfinch, the redbreast, the epilais, the oistros, and the tyrant; the tyrant is in size slightly larger than a locust, and has a crimson crest, and is otherwise a charming and well-proportioned little bird.
Ἄνθος· οὗτος τὸ μέγεθος ὅσον σπίζα.
The anthos; this is as large as a finch.
Ὀρόσπιζος· οὗτος σπίζῃ ὅμοιος καὶ τὸ μέγεθος παραπλήσιος, πλὴν ἔχει τὸν αὐχένα κυανοῦν, καὶ διατρίβει ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν.
The mountain-finch; this is similar to the finch and of comparable size, except that it has a blue neck, and spends its time in the mountains.
Ἔτι βασιλεύς, σπερμολόγος.
Also the wren and the rook.
Ταῦτα μὲν οὖν καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα τὰ μὲν ὅλως τὰ δ’ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ σκωληκοφάγα, τὰ δὲ τοιάδε ἀκανθοφάγα, ἀκανθίς, θραυπίς, ἔτι ἡ καλουμένη χρυσομῆτρις.
Now, these and such birds are either wholly or for the most part worm-eaters, while the following are thistle-eaters: the acanthis, the thraupis, and also the so-called chrysomitris.
Ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα ἐπὶ τῶν ἀκανθῶν νέμεται, σκωλήκα δ’ οὐδὲν οὐδ’ ἔμψυχον οὐδέν· ἐν ταὐτῷ δὲ καθεύδει καὶ νέμεται ταῦτα.
For all these feed upon thistles, and eat no worm nor any living thing; and they sleep and feed in the same place.
Ἄλλα δ’ ἐστὶ σκνιποφάγα, ἃ τοὺς σκνῖπας θηρεύοντα ζῇ μάλιστα, οἷον πιπὼ ἥ τε μείζων καὶ ἡ ἐλάττων· καλοῦσι δέ τινες ἀμφότερα ταῦτα δρυοκολάπτας·
Others are insect-eaters, which live chiefly by hunting small insects, such as the larger and the smaller pipo; some call both of these woodpeckers.
ὅμοια δ’ ἀλλήλοις, καὶ φωνὴν ἔχουσιν ὁμοίαν, πλὴν μείζω τὸ μεῖζον· νέμεται δ’ ἀμφότερα ταῦτα πρὸς τὰ ξύλα προσπετόμενα.
They are similar to each other, and have a similar voice, except that the larger has a louder voice; and both of these feed by flying onto and clinging to the trees.
Ἔτι κελεός· ἔστι δ’ ὁ κελεὸς τὸ μέγεθος ὅσον τρυγών, τὸ δὲ χρῶμα χλωρὸς ὅλος·
Also the celeus; the celeus is as large as a turtle-dove, and is entirely green in color.
ἔστι δὲ ξυλοκόπος σφόδρα, καὶ νέμεται ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων τὰ πολλά, φωνήν τε μεγάλην ἔχει· γίνεται δὲ μάλιστα τὸ ὄρνεον τοῦτο περὶ Πελοπόννησον.
It is extremely active in pecking wood, and feeds for the most part upon trees, and has a loud voice; this bird is found especially around the Peloponnese.
Ἄλλος ὃς καλεῖται κνιπολόγος, τὸ μέγεθος μικρὸς ὅσον ἀκανθυλλίς, τὴν δὲ χρόαν σποδοειδὴς καὶ κατάστικτος· φωνεῖ δὲ μικρόν· ἔστι δὲ καὶ τοῦτο ξυλοκόπον.
Another, which is called the knipologos, is small, about the size of an acanthylis, and in color ash-grey and speckled; it has a weak voice, and this too is a wood-pecker.