In like manner there is war between birds that get
their living from the sea, as between the brenthus, the gull, and
the harpe; and so between the buzzard on one side and the toad and
snake on the other, for the buzzard preys upon the eggs of the two
others; and so between the turtle-dove and the chloreus; the
chloreus kills the dove, and the crow kills the so-called
drummer-bird.
The aegolius, and birds of prey in general, prey upon the
calaris, and consequently there is war between it and them; and so
is there war between the gecko-lizard and the spider, for the former
preys upon the latter; and so between the woodpecker and the heron,
for the former preys upon the eggs and brood of the latter. And so
between the aegithus and the ass, owing to the fact that the ass, in
passing a furze-bush, rubs its sore and itching parts against the
prickles; by so doing, and all the more if it brays, it topples the
eggs and the brood out of the nest, the young ones tumble out in
fright, and the mother-bird, to avenge this wrong, flies at the
beast and pecks at his sore places.
The wolf is at war with the ass, the bull, and the fox, for as
being a carnivore, he attacks these other animals; and so for the same
reason with the fox and the circus, for the circus, being
carnivorous and furnished with crooked talons, attacks and maims the
animal.
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