§9.14Ἡ δ’ ἁλκυὼν ἔστι μὲν οὐ πολλῷ μείζων στρουθοῦ, τὸ δὲ χρῶμα καὶ κυανοῦν ἔχει καὶ χλωρὸν καὶ ὑποπόρφυρον· μεμιγμένως δὲ τοιοῦτον τὸ σῶμα πᾶν καὶ αἱ πτέρυγες καὶ τὰ περὶ τὸν τράχηλον, οὐ χωρὶς ἕκαστον τῶν χρωμάτων·
The halcyon is not much larger than a sparrow, and its color is dark-blue, pale-yellow, and slightly purple; these are mixed together over its whole body, wings, and neck, not with each color separate.
τὸ δὲ ῥύγχος ὑπόχλωρον μέν, μακρὸν δὲ καὶ λεπτόν.
Its beak is slightly greenish, and long and slender.
Τὸ μὲν οὖν εἶδος ἔχει τοιοῦτον, ἡ δὲ νεοττιὰ παρομοία ταῖς σφαίραις ταῖς θαλαττίαις ἐστὶ καὶ ταῖς καλουμέναις ἁλοσάχναις, πλὴν τοῦ χρώματος· τὴν δὲ χρόαν ὑπόπυρρον ἔχουσιν, τὸ δὲ σχῆμα παραπλήσιον ταῖς σικύαις ταῖς ἐχούσαις τοὺς τραχήλους μακρούς.
It has this kind of appearance, and its nest is very similar, except for the color, to the sea-balls and what are called halosachnae; they have a reddish color, and in shape they are very like gourds with long necks.
Τὸ δὲ μέγεθος αὐτῶν ἐστὶ τῆς μεγίστης σπογγιᾶς μεῖζον· εἰσὶ γὰρ καὶ μείζους καὶ ἐλάττους·
Their size is larger than the largest sponge; for there are both larger and smaller ones.
κατάστεγοι δέ, καὶ τὸ στερεὸν ἔχουσι συχνὸν καὶ τὸ κοῖλον.
They are covered over, and have a good deal of solid and hollow space.
Καὶ κόπτοντι μὲν σιδηρίῳ ὀξεῖ οὐ ταχὺ διακόπτεται, ἅμα δὲ κόπτοντι καὶ ταῖς χερσὶ θραύοντι παχὺ διαθραύεται, ὥσπερ ἡ ἁλοσάχνη.
If one tries to cut it with a sharp iron tool, it is not quickly cut through, but if one strikes and crushes it with the hands at the same time, it is easily shattered, just like halosachne.
Τὸ δὲ στόμα στενὸν ὅσον εἴσδυσιν μικράν, ὥστ’ οὐδ’ ἂν ἀνατραπῇ ἡ θάλαττα, οὐκ εἰσέρχεται.
The mouth is narrow, just enough for a small entrance, so that even if the sea is overturned, the water does not enter.
Τὰ δὲ κοῖλα παραπλήσια ἔχει τοῖς τῶν σπόγγων.
Its hollow parts are similar to those of sponges.
Ἀπορεῖται δ’ ἐκ τίνος συντίθησι τὴν νεοττιάν, δοκεῖ δὲ μάλιστα ἐκ τῶν ἀκανθῶν τῆς βελόνης· ζῇ γὰρ ἰχθυοφαγοῦσα.
It is a matter of doubt what it composes its nest of, but it is thought to be chiefly of the bones of the needle-fish; for it lives by eating fish.
Ἀναβαίνει δὲ καὶ ἀνὰ τοὺς ποταμούς.
It also goes up rivers.
Τίκτει δὲ περὶ πέντε μάλιστα ᾠά.
It lays about five eggs.
Λοχεύεται δὲ διὰ βίου, ἄρχεται δὲ τετράμηνος.
It breeds throughout its life, beginning when it is four months old.
§9.15Ὁ δ’ ἔποψ τὴν νεοττιὰν μάλιστα ποιεῖται ἐκ τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης κόπρου· τὴν δ’ ἰδέαν μεταβάλλει τοῦ θέρους καὶ τοῦ χειμῶνος, ὥσπερ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἀγρίων τὰ πλεῖστα.
The hoopoe makes its nest chiefly of human dung; and it changes its appearance in summer and winter, just like most of the other wild animals.
Ὁ δ’ αἰγίθαλος τίκτει μὲν ᾠὰ πλεῖστα, ὡς φασίν.
The titmouse lays the most eggs, as they say.
Ἔνιοι δὲ καὶ τὸν μελαγκόρυφον καλούμενόν φασι πλεῖστα τίκτειν μετά γε τὸν ἐν Λιβύῃ στρουθόν· ἑώραται μὲν γὰρ καὶ ἑπτακαίδεκα, τίκτει μέντοι καὶ πλείω ἢ εἴκοσιν.
Some say that the bird called the blackcap lays the most after the Libyan ostrich; for as many as seventeen have been seen, but it even lays more than twenty.
Τίκτει δ’ ἀεὶ περιττά, ὡς φασίν.
It always lays an odd number, as they say.
Νεοττεύει δὲ καὶ οὗτος ἐν τοῖς δένδρεσι, καὶ βόσκεται τοὺς σκώληκας.
This bird also nests in trees and feeds on worms.
Ἴδιον δὲ τούτῳ καὶ ἀηδόνι παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους ὄρνιθας τὸ μὴ ἔχειν τῆς γλώττης τὸ ὀξύ.
A peculiar feature of this bird and the nightingale, unlike other birds, is that they do not have a sharp tip to their tongue.
Ὁ δ’ αἴγιθος εὐβίοτος καὶ πολύτεκνος, τὸν δὲ πόδα χωλός ἐστιν.
The aegithus is well-to-do and prolific, but is lame in its foot.
Χλωρίων δὲ μαθεῖν μὲν ἀγαθὸς καὶ βιομήχανος, κακοπέτης δέ, καὶ χρόαν ἔχει μοχθηράν.
The chlorion is good at learning and resourceful, but is a poor flier and has a poor color.
§9.16Ἡ δ’ ἐλέα, ὥσπερ ἄλλος τις τῶν ὀρνίθων, εὐβίοτος, καὶ καθίζει θέρους μὲν ἐν προσηνέμῳ καὶ σκιᾷ, χειμῶνος δ’ ἐν εὐηλίῳ καὶ ἐπισκεπεῖ ἐπὶ τῶν δονάκων περὶ τὰ ἕλη.
The elea is well-to-do, as much as any other bird, and in summer it perches in a breezy and shady place, and in winter in a sunny and sheltered place on reeds near marshes.
Ἔστι δὲ τὸ μὲν μέγεθος βραχύς, φωνὴν δ’ ἔχει ἀγαθήν.
It is small in size but has a good voice.
Καὶ ὁ γνάφαλος καλούμενος τήν τε φωνὴν ἔχει ἀγαθὴν καὶ τὸ χρῶμα καλός, καὶ βιομήχανος, καὶ τὸ εἶδος εὐπρεπής.
The bird called gnaphalus also has a good voice, is beautiful in color, resourceful, and comely in appearance.
Δοκεῖ δ’ εἶναι ξενικὸς ὄρνις· ὀλιγάκις γὰρ φαίνεται ἐν τοῖς μὴ οἰκείοις τόποις.
It is thought to be a foreign bird; for it is rarely seen in places that are not its own.
§9.17Ἡ δὲ κρὲξ τὸ μὲν ἦθος μάχιμος, τὴν δὲ διάνοιαν εὐμήχανος πρὸς τὸν βίον, ἄλλως δὲ κακόποτμος ὄρνις.
The crex is combative in character, and in intellect resourceful for its livelihood, but otherwise it is an ill-fated bird.
Ἡ δὲ καλουμένη σίττη τὸ μὲν ἦθος μάχιμος, τὴν δὲ διάνοιαν εὔθικτος καὶ εὐθήμων καὶ εὐβίοτος, καὶ λέγεται φαρμάκεια εἶναι διὰ τὸ πολύιδρις εἶναι· πολύγονος δὲ καὶ εὔτεκνος, καὶ ζῇ ὑλοκοποῦσα.
The bird called sitta is combative in character, but in intellect quick, orderly, and well-to-do, and is said to be a sorceress because of its great knowledge; it is prolific and good to its young, and lives by tapping wood.
Αἰγωλιὸς δ’ ἐστὶ νυκτινόμος καὶ ἡμέρας ὀλιγάκις φαίνεται, καὶ οἰκεῖ καὶ οὗτος πέτρας καὶ σπήλυγγας· ἔστι γὰρ δίθαλλος, τὴν δὲ διάνοιαν βιωτικὸς καὶ εὐμήχανος.
The aegolius is a night-wanderer and is rarely seen by day, and this bird also dwells in rocks and caves; for it has double vigor, but in intellect is capable of living and resourceful.
Ἔστι δέ τι ὀρνίθιον μικρὸν ὃ καλεῖται κέρθιος· οὗτος τὸ μὲν ἦθος θρασύς, καὶ οἰκεῖ περὶ δένδρα, καὶ ἔστι θριποφάγος, τὴν δὲ διάνοιαν εὐβίοτος, καὶ τὴν φωνὴν ἔχει λαμπράν.
There is a small bird called certhius; this is bold in character, dwells about trees, and is an eater of wood-boring insects, and in intellect is well-to-do, and has a clear voice.
Αἱ δ’ ἀκανθίδες κακόβιοι καὶ κακόχροοι, φωνὴν μέντοι λιγυρὰν ἔχουσιν.
The acanthides are poor-living and poor-colored, but they have a clear voice.