Of the (generation of Animals, 57

a Cock-chicken; but if it be somewhat long, then it yields an Hen-bird ; the rea-son is, because in things that are round, the natural heat is more kindly and stronglycompacted together.

How to make a bird sociable and familiar with thee .

Now we will speak of the sociableneffe and familiarity which a certain Pie had witha friend os mine: who by this pretty device did make the Pie so well acquaintedwith him, and so serviceable to him, that she would flie unto him, not only for thesupplying of her daily wants, but as it were for love, never forsaking him night orday. The device was this. While she was yet unfeathcred in the nest, he brokeoff her lower beak, even to her very jaws, that the poor wretch could not eat anymeat but that which was put into her mouth with hands • and he himself gave herwith his own hands all the meat (he did eat. After that, she would flie to his tren-cher at dinner and supper, and would prate and chat unto him very flippant; inso-much that nothing could be spoken in the house, but she would imitate it,and speakit again ; and not only frame her tongue to their words, but her body also to theimitating and resembling of their actions. And he was wont still to leave her loose athome, and she would flie about everywhere- but still at dinner and supper times shewould return home.lt fell out that the man had occasion to go from home fifteen orsixteen days journey : (he would alwayes bear him company, now and then flying agreat way before him, and would sit still upon a bough till he came at her; aud thenshe would leap upon his cap and his shoulders,frisking about him for very joy ; andsometimes staying behind him • and then when he was gone a great way before, (hewould in all haste flie away after to overtake himtand she was also his continual bed-fellow ; and yet to this day he hath her, and enjoyeth her familiar company. But,concerning the general transmutation and change of living creatures, let these- thingsbe sufficient which we have already spoken.

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