The Goal of the Wise

Left margin contains three groups of birds: top shows four pigeons or doves in blue and brown; middle shows four birds of prey, some perched and some in flight; bottom shows three smaller birds, likely partridges or quails. The right margin features four vultures: two perched on rocky or wooden outcroppings, and two in soaring or descending poses.

...to gather, as it is said—especially when by manner it is the time—which here in time are gathered in—the males of the birds to be gathered—themselves to procreation in places—they are seen together—societies singly even—they are acquired—males with females—others, of which much—as if some—they take to their—scaraebees which, however, they take not—the year justly—if they had conquered—they were taking—but when it returns—they eat them even in flying. Which is not a work for them to kill such things even, nor to prepare [them]. And many manners of birds of prey, when they are found, eat such birds, especially the manner of falcons. And some terrestrial [birds] go out walking gathered in a multitude, as the manner of partridges, [as] it was said, since in the time of mating. Others, truly, go out walking singly, as pheasants and common [birds] unless when there are chicks; then indeed many follow the mother when they go out walking to feed. But terrestrial birds—

—by flying go out here and there through the air in diverse [ways] and through the earth. For when—they receive pasture—and the vultures, truly, which have [keenness] most acutely, divide themselves hither and thither to feed—namely, [the] vultures—so that they descend from on high upon fresh carcasses—since those [which are] in nests and small parts—unless another animal sees that another animal kills the animals. When, therefore, these indicate [food], they return most keenly to that place, all suddenly, and are gathered at the body. If standing on rocks or wings over a tree, they do not see anything and by the aforementioned signs—they ascend to the air in sublime flight, flying here and there so that they might see, [that they] can see the more remote. And if one of them suddenly descends to the carcass, the others, knowing the motion of that one, [know] what it knows [about how] to descend, suddenly follow it—and descending, gathering themselves many [where] the carcass will be. It is therefore not to be held that they sense the carcass by smell, as some say, if [it is] first seen, which has been experienced by us many times. For indeed, when vultures are shown—

The bottom of the page is decorated with a naturalistic scene of vultures. On the left, three vultures stand on a green ground. In the center, three vultures feed on the carcass of a large, pale-colored animal (perhaps a stag or horse). To the right, two additional vultures stand nearby. The scene is executed in brown, grey, and cream tones against a green wash representing grass.