On the naming of birds, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230
Transcription
Translation
Nam sicut specie sibi differunt; ita et nature di-
versitate. Nam alie simplices sunt sicut columbe.
Alie astute; ut perdix. erasure Alie ad manum se subiciunt.
ut accipitres. Alie reformidant; ut garramantes. Alie
converstionem hominum delectantur ut hyrundo. Alie
in deserto secretam vitam diligunt; ut turtur. Alie
solo semine reperto; pascuntur. ut anser. Alie carnes
edunt et rapinis intendunt; ut milvus. Alie grega-
tim volante; ut sturni et coturnices. Alie solivage;
id est solitarie propter insidias depredandi ut aquila et
accipiter. Alie voce strepunt ut hyrundo. Alie cantus
edunt dulcissimos ut cignus et merula. Alie verba
et voces hominum imitantur. ut psitacus. et pica. Sed
alia sicut genere; ita et moribus innumerabiles. Nam
et volucrum quot genera sunt; invenire quis non
potest. Neque omnia scithie et indie ac ethiopie deser-
ta quis penetrare potuit. qui earum genus vel diffe-
rentias nosset. Aves dicte; eoquod rectas vias non habent.
But the name of birds is one, but of a different kind. For they differ from each other in appearance; so also by nature. For others are as simple as the dove. Others are cunning; like a partridge Others submit themselves to the hand, like hawks. Others shrink; as they growled. Others delight in the conversion of men as a swallow. Others love a secret life in the desert; as a turtle Others were found in the soil of the seed; they feed, like a goose. Others eat meat and aim at rapine; like a kite Others flying in flocks; as starlings and quails. Other solivage; that is alone because of the snares of prey like the eagle and the hawk. Others shriek like a swallow. Some eat very sweet songs, such as swans and blackbirds. Other words and voices are imitated by humans, such as the parrot and the pica. But other things, like gender; so also innumerable manners. For how many kinds of birds are there? who cannot find No one could penetrate all the deserts of Scythia and India and Ethiopia, who knew their kind or differences. Say the birds; because they do not have straight roads,
ad alta tendunt. et ad sullimia remigio alarum con-
tendunt. Volucres a volando. Nam unde volare; inde
et ambulare dicimus. Vola enim; est. media pars pedis
vel manus. et in avibus; media pars alarum. quarum
motu; penne agitantur. inde volucres pulli dicuntur.
Et homo parvus; pullus. Recentes nati igitur pulli dicunt-
tur. eoquod polluti sunt. Unde et vestis nigra; pulla
est. dicta. Alie sunt in quibus penne per ordinem fixe vo-
landi exhibent usum. Vocate autem ale; quod hiis
aves complexus alant. ac fovent pullos. penna; a
pendendo id est a volando; dicta. Unde et pendere. Volucres
enim pennarum auxilio moventur; quando se aeri;
mandant. Pluma; quasi piluma. Nam sicut pili in
quadrupedum corpore; ita pluma in avibus. Avium;
multa nomina a sono vocis constat esse. composita.
Ut grus. corvus. cignus. bubo. milvus. ulula. cu-
culus. garrulus. graculus et cetera. Varietas enim vo-
cis earum; docuit quid homines eas vocarent.
but they run through each and every byway. The fans; because the wings tend to be high, and the rowing of the wings tends to be high. Birds from flying. For whence to fly; hence we say to walk. For fly; that is, the middle part of the foot or hand, and in birds; the middle part of the wings, whose motion; they are moved with a feather, hence the birds are called chicks. And the little man, the chicken. Therefore the recently born chicks are said to be polluted by this. Hence the black garment; she is a chick, she said. There are others in which the pen exhibits the use of flying in fixed order. Now call ale; that by means of these the fowls feed, and foster their young, with feathers; from hanging, that is from flying; said Hence it depends. For birds move with the help of their wings; when they are aired; they command Feather; like a feather For like hairs on the body of a quadruped; so a feather in birds. Many names of birds are compounded from the sound of their voice. As the crane, the crow, the swan, the owl, the kite, the howler, the cuckoo, the chatterbox, the jackdaw, and the rest. For the variety of their voice; he taught them what men should call them.