Porphyrio

PORPHYRIO.¹ A sort of Water-fowl, which has the Name Porphyrio given to it, because of its red Beak. It has the Ground of its Plumage of a blue Colour; the Half of its Tail, towards its Extremity, is of a whitish Ash-colour, its Eyes are black, its Beak and Legs are of a purple Colour, and very splendid. It has four Claws, disposed like those of a Pye. This is a rare Bird; there are seen of them about Narbon a City of Spain, where they call it by the Name of Calamon. Pliny says, that it comes from the Islands Balearides, that it is very beautiful, and that it is as big as a Cock. ‘Tis observ’d to drink Water as if it bit it, and that it dips its Food in Water, and conveys it to its Beak with its Foot. Elian affirms, That the Greeks and Romans never used to eat this Bird at their Feasts.

This Bird haunts the Rivers. Pliny says, That at Comagene they are found in great Plenty. From its Fore-head, or the upper Part of the Beak, to the Top of the Head, it has a yellow Spot resembling that of a Coot, but of a different Colour. The part of the Head below this Spot, and the Forepart of the Neck, are of a greenish Colour. It has hardly any Tail. Elian says, That in the House where it is kept, if it perceives the Woman to commit Adultery, it discovers it to the Husband

Πορφυρεῖον. by certain Motions that it makes. But these are Fables. Moses prohibits the Use of it to the Jews, perhaps because of its Voracity. The Continence and the Modesty of this Bird is pass’d into a Proverb, Porphyrione castior. ‘Tis thought to be a sort of Hern. The Jews believe it to be the Wood-pecker. Targum. Vultur.The Samaritan Translator is for the Pelican. Bochart will have it the Vulture. The Hebrew Word Rachamah signifies Mercy; and the Care and Tenderness of the Vulture for its Young is well known. The Egyptians took the Vulture for the Symbol of Pity.

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