ass lives commonly to the horse's age, but the mule outlives them both.

8. The hart is famous amongst men for long life, yet not upon any relation that is undoubted. They tell of a certain hart that was found with a collar about its neck, and that collar hidden with fat. The . long life of the hart is the less credible, because he comes to his perfection at the fifth year, and not long after his horns (which he sheds and renews yearly) grow more narrow at the root, and less branched.

9. The dog is but a short liver, he exceeds not the age of twenty years, and, for the most part, lives not to fourteen years; a creature of the hottest temper, and living in extremes, for he is commonly either in vehement motion, or sleeping; besides, the bitch bringeth forth many at a burden, and goeth nine weeks.

10. The ox likewise, for the greatness of his body and strength, is but a short liver, about some sixteen years, and the males live longer than the females: notwithstanding they bear usually but one at a burden, and go nine months; a creature dull, fleshy, and soon fatted, and living only upon herby subtances, without grain.

II. The sheep seldom lives to ten years, though he be a creature of a moderate size, and excellently clad; and, that which may seem a wonder, being a creature with so little a gall, yet he hath the most curled coat of any other, for the hair of no creature is

so much curled as wool is. The rams generate not before the third year, and continue able for generation until the eighth. The ewes bear young as long as they live. The sheep is a diseased creature, and rarely lives to his full age.

12. The goat lives to the same age with the sheep, and is not much unlike in other things, though he be a creature more nimble, and of somewhat a firmer flesh, and so should be longer lived; but then he is much more lascivious, and that shortens his life.

13. The sow lives to fifteen years, sometimes to twenty; and though it be a creature of the moistest flesh, yet that seems to make nothing to length of life. Of the wild boar or sow we have nothing certain.

14. The cat's age is betwixt six and ten years; a creature nimble and full of spirit, whose seed (as Ælian reports) burneth the female; whereupon it is said, that the cat conceives with pain, and brings forth with ease. A creature ravenous in eating, rather swallowing down his meat whole than feeding.

15. Hares and coneys attain scarce to seven years, being both creatures generative, and with young ones of several conceptions in their bellies. In this they are unlike, that the coney lives under ground, and the hare above ground. And, again, that the hare is of a more duskish flesh.

16. Birds, for the size of their bodies, are much

F

lesser than beasts; for an eagle or swan is but a small thing in comparison of an ox or horse, and so is an ostrich to an elephant.

17. Birds are excellently well clad, for feathers, for warmth and close sitting to the body, exceed wool and hairs.

18. Birds, though they hatch many young ones together, yet they bear them not all in their bodies at once, but lay their eggs by turns, whereby their fruit hath the more plentiful nourishment whilst it is in their bodies.

19. Birds chew little or nothing, but their meat is found whole in their crops, notwithstanding they will break the shells of fruit and pick out the kernels; they are thought to be of a very hot and strong concoction.

20. The motion of birds in their flying is a mixed motion, consisting of a moving of the limbs, and of a kind of carriage, which is the most wholesome kind of exercise.

21. Aristotle noted well touching the generation of birds (but he transferred it ill to other living creatures), that the seed of the male confers less to generation than the female, but that it rather affords activity than matter; so that fruitful eggs and unfruitful eggs are hardly distinguished.

22. Birds (almost all of them) come to their full growth the first year, or a little after. It is true, that their feathers in some kinds, and their bills in others,

show their years; but for the growth of their bodies. it is not so.

23. The eagle is accounted a long liver, yet his years are not set down; and it is alleged, as a sign of his long life, that he casts his bill, whereby he grows young again; from whence comes that old proverb, the old age of an eagle. Notwithstanding perchance the matter may be thus, that the renewing of the eagle doth not cast his bill, but the casting of his bill is the renewing of the eagle; for, after that his bill is grown to a great crookedness, the eagle feeds with much difficulty.

24. Vultures are also affirmed to be long livers, insomuch that they extend their life well near to a hundred years. Kites likewise, and so all birds that feed upon flesh, and birds of prey, live long. As for hawks, because they lead a degenerate and servile life for the delight of men, the term of their natural life is not certainly known; notwithstanding amongst mewed hawks some have been found to have lived thirty years, and amongst wild hawks forty years.

25. The raven likewise is reported to live long, sometimes to a hundred years. He feeds on carrion, and flies not often, but rather is a sedentary and melanchollic bird, and hath very black flesh. But the crow, like unto him in most things (except in greatness and voice), lives not altogether so long, and yet is reckoned amongst the long livers.

26. The swan is certainly found to be a long liver,

and exceeds not unfrequently a hundred years.

He is a bird excellently plumed, a feeder upon fish, and is always carried, and that in running waters.

27. The goose also may pass amongst the long livers, though his food be commonly grass, and such kind of nourishment, especially the wild goose; whereupon this proverb grew amongst the Germans, Magis senex quam ansernivalis; older than a wild

goose.

28. Storks must needs be long livers, if that be true which was anciently observed of them, that they never came to Thebes, because that city was often sacked. This, if it were so, then either they must have the knowledge of more ages than one, or else the old ones must tell their young the history. But there is nothing more frequent than fables.

29. For fables do so abound touching the phoenix, that the truth is utterly lost, if any such bird there be. As for that which was so much admired, that she was ever seen abroad with a great troop of birds about her, it is no such wonder; for the same is usually seen about an owl flying in the daytime, or a parrot let out of a cage.

30. The parrot hath been certainly known to have lived threescore years in England, how old soever he was before he was brought over; a bird eating almost all kind of meats, chewing his meat, and renewing his bill likewise curst and mischievous, and of a black flesh.