Kitap 2
68
Thrushes, too, and crowds of other birds, formed part of the dishes in the propomata. Teleclides says— But roasted thrushes with sweet cheese-cakes served, Flew of their own accord down the guests' throats. But the Syracusans call thrushes, not κίχλαι, but κίχηλαι. Epicharmus says— The thrushes (κίχηλαι) fond of eating the olive. And Aristophanes also, in his Clouds, mentions the same birds. But Aristotle asserts that there are three kinds of thrushes; the first and largest kind of which is nearly equal to a jay; and they call it also the ixophagus, since it eats the mistletoe. The next kind is like a blackbird in size, and they call them trichades. The third kind is less than either of the before-mentioned sorts, and is called illas, but some call it tylas, as Alexander the Myndian does. And this is a very gregarious species, and builds its nest as the swallow does.
68
There is a short poem, which is attributed to Homer, and which is entitled ἐπικιχλίδες, which has received this title from the circumstance of Homer singing it to his children, and receiving thrushes as his reward,—at least, this is the account given by Menœchmus, in his treatise on Artists.
69
There is a bird called the συκαλὶς, or figpecker. And Alexander the Myndian asserts—One of the tits is called by some people elœus, and by others pirias; but when the figs become ripe, it gets the name of sycalis. And there are two species of this bird, the sycalis and the μελαγκόρυφος, or blackcap. Epicharmus spells the word with two λλ, and writes συκαλλίδες. He speaks of beautiful συκαλλίδες: and in a subsequent passage he says— And herons were there with their long bending necks, And grouse who pick up seed, and beautiful sycallilles. And these birds are caught at the season when figs are ripe. And it is more correct to spell the name with on y one λ; but Epicharmus put in the second λ because of the metre.
