1. There are some which live near the sea, as the cinclus. In
disposition this bird is cunning and difficult of capture, and when
taken easily tamed. It appears to be lame, for its hinder parts are
weak. All birds with webbed feet live near the sea, or near rivers and
ponds, for their nature teaches them to seek what is advantageous for
them. Many of those with divided feet live near waters and marshes, as
the anthus in the neighbourhood of rivers. Its colour is beautiful,
and its mode of life good. The diver lives near the sea, and when it
plunges into the sea it remains as long a time as it would take a man
to walk over a plethrum of ground. This bird is less than a hawk.
2. The swan also is web-footed, and lives in ponds and marshes. Its
manner of life and disposition is good, and so is its mode of rearing
their young and its old age. If an eagle attacks the swan, it defends
itself and comes off victorious, but will not commence the fight. Swans
have the power of song, especially when near the end of their life; for
they then fly out to sea, and some persons, sailing near the coast of
Libya, have met many of them in the sea singing a mournful song, and
have afterwards seen some of them die.
3. The cymindis is seldom seen, for it inhabits mountains. It is black,
and about the size of the hawk called pigeon hawk. Its form is long and
slight. (It shines with a metallic lustre, wherefore also it is called
chalcis.) The Ionians call it cymindis: wherefore Homer writes in the
Iliad, "the bird which the gods call chalcis, and mortals cymindis."
(Some persons say that the hybris is the same bird as the ptynx.)
This bird does not show itself in the day-time because its sight is
dim; but it hunts its prey during the night like the eagle. It fights
so fiercely with the eagle that both are often taken alive by the
shepherds. It lays two eggs, and builds in rocks and caverns. Cranes
fight so fiercely with each other that these also are taken alive by
the shepherds while they are fighting. The crane lays two eggs.