Or rather, because this maner of garland is dedicated unto _Jupiter_ and _Juno_, who are reputed protectors of cities? Or might not this be an ancient custome proceeding from the Arcadians, who have a kind of consanguinitie with oakes, for that they report of themselves, that they were the first men that issued out of the earth, like as the oake of all other trees. 93. _Why observe they the Vultures or Geirs, most of any other fowles, in taking of presages by bird-flight?_ IS it not because at the foundation of _Rome_, there appeared twelve of them unto _Romulus_? Or because, this is no ordinarie bird nor familiar; for it is not so easie a matter to meete with an airie of Vultures; but all on a sudden they come out of some strange countrey, and therefore the fight of them doth prognosticke and presage much. Or else haply the Romains learned this of _Hercules_, if that be true which _Herodotus_ reporteth: namely, that _Hercules_ tooke great contentment, when in the enterprise of any exploit of his, there appeared Vultures unto him: for that he was of opinion, that the Vulture of all birds of prey was the justest: for first and formost never toucheth he ought that hath life, neither killeth hee any living creature, like as eagles, falcons, hauks, and other fowles do, that prey by night, but feedeth upon dead carrions: over and besides, he forbeareth to set upon his owne kind: for never was there man yet who saw a Vulture eat the flesh of any fowle, like as eagles and other birds of prey do, which chase, pursue and plucke in pieces those especially of the same kind, to wit, other fowle. And verily as _Aeschylus_ the poet writeth: _How can that bird, which bird doth eat, Be counted cleanly, pure and neat._ And as for men, it is the most innocent bird, and doth least hurt unto them of all other: for it destroieth no fruit nor plant whatsoever, neither doth it harme to any tame creature. And if the tale be true that the Aegyptians doe tell, that all the kinde of these birds be females; that they conceive and be with yoong, by receiving the East-wind blowing upon them, like as some trees by the Western wind, it is verie profitable that the signes and prognosticks drawen from them, be more sure and certaine, than from any others, considering that of all, besides their violence in treading and breeding time; their eagernesse in flight when they pursue their prey; their flying away from some, and chasing of others, must needs cause much trouble and uncertaintie in their prognostications. 94. _Why stands the temple of_ Aesculapius _without the citie of_ Rome? IS it because they thought the abode without the citie more holesome, than that within? For in this regard the Greekes ordinarily built the temples of _Aesculapius_ upon high ground, wherein the aire is more pure and cleere.