Book 9
40
There is also another bird called the porphyris. Callimachus, in his treatise on Birds, says that the porphyris is different from the porphyrion, and enumerates the two birds separately. And he says that the porphyrion takes its food while hiding itself in darkness, so that no one may see it; for it hates those who come near its food. And Aristophanes also mentions the porphyris in his drama entitled The Birds. And Ibycus speaks of some birds which he calls lathipor-phyrides, and says; There are some variegated ducks with purple necks which frequent the highest branches of the trees; and the birds called lathiporphyrides with variegated necks, and king-fishers with extended wings." And in another place he says— You're always bearing me aloft, my mind, Like some bold porphyris, with out-stretch'd wings.
41
The next bird is the partridge. A great many authors mention this bird, as also does Aristophanes. And some of them in the oblique cases shorten the penultima of the noun; as Archilochus does where he writes— πτώσσουσαν ὥς τε πέρδῖκα, in the same way as ὄρτῦγα and χοίνῖκα have the penultima short. But it is usually made long by the Attic writers. Sophocles, in his Camici, says— A man arrived, who in the famous hills Of Attica is a namesake of the partridge (πέρδι·κος). And Pherecrates, or whoever it was who wrote the Chiron, says— He goes against his will, like any partridge (πέρδι·κος τρόπον). And Phrynichus, in his Tragedians, says— And Cleombrotus the son of Perdix (πέρδι·κος), (for the bird is sometimes cited as a model of lasciviousness).
