The Goal of the Wise

At the top left, a rectangular illustration shows five ducks of various colors swimming in a green and blue pond. In the top right margin, two large wading birds, possibly cranes or herons, stand on the grass. In the middle of the left margin, a large brown goose stands facing right. In the middle of the right margin, a smaller duck-like bird is perched. Across the bottom of both columns, a wide landscape illustration depicts two rows of birds: the top row contains five geese or ducks walking on green grass, and the bottom row contains four birds, including a large grey heron or crane on the right and several smaller ducks on the left near a stream.

The order, however, will be whenever they are gathered in the same place for the sake of feeding. First, certainly. The hozerae perhaps a specific smaller species go out first, then the cranes, afterward diverse species of larger geese. And finally, the biveride perhaps "two-colored" or a specific species like the pochard. And although two of the geese's feathers according to [the] number [are] at the same [time] to them, which is said to be many, and others of the modern waters follow.

The order of return is this: the biveride and others who return first? to the waters. Then the cranes and geese. Finally, however, the other smaller ones. The places to which they go out to feed are according to the diversity [of] being, [as] diverse [things] are, and according to the diversity of times, as will be said below, teaching the places in which they find birds to which they go, such as falcons and other birds of prey.

Ducks, indeed, and other aquatic birds of similar genera go out at daybreak, and more often to feed at rainy times. On account of which, [they do so] more in winter and much more often in September, October, and November, especially on rainy days. This, however, they do because the rains deposit the seeds of herbs and the fruits of trees and thickets, all of which the waters in their course gather and carry back to lower places,

and streams, and to alien smaller places collective of water. Therefore, the places [are] as places that? these are in time, when and where the liberty grows and [is] more frequent. Not only, however, do ducks and aquatic [birds] of this kind go out then further to feed, to humid places, but also all birds that live from worms which they dig from under the earth, and which they find upon the earth. For worms at this time and in these places are generated more, and go out from their habitations to the higher [parts] of the earth. For they flee the water which is harmful to them, and it is easy for them to penetrate to the surface because of the? thinness of the surface than downwards where the solid [earth] is.

All things, indeed, as much of the aquatic [birds] to which they return to the waters or go to places to feed, are fated, just as are lakes, ponds, marshes, large rivers, and moderate [ones] which are called rivers, and other places collective of waters which are called by some placerie likely referring to pools or wet basins. Burning, however, and more often, birds of this kind return to stony, gravelly rivers, and most often to the islands that are in them. On account of this, however, they return to watery places so? that they might remain there safer.