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. 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 Menæchmus, 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 _elæus_, 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 sycallides. And these birds are caught at the season when figs are ripe. And it is more correct to spell the name with only one λ; but Epicharmus put in the second λ because of the metre. 70. There is a kind of finch, too, which was sometimes eaten, of which Eubulus says, * * * * * And Ephippus says, in his "Geryones"-- When 'twas the Amphidromian festival, When 'tis the custom to toast bits of cheese O' the Chersonesus; and to boil a cabbage, Bedewed with shining oil; and eke to bake The breasts of fat and well-fed lambs; to pluck The feathers from the thrushes, doves and finches; And also to eat cuttle-fish with anchovies, And baskets of rich polypus to collect, And to drink many cups of unmixed wine. 71. Then, too, there are blackbirds.--Nicostratus or Philetærus says-- _A._ What then shall I buy? Tell me, I pray you. _B._ Go not to more expense than a neat table; Buy a rough-footed hare; some ducklings too, As many as you like; thrushes, and blackbirds, And other small birds; there are many wild sorts. _A._ Yes, and they're very nice. Antiphanes also reckons starlings among the eatable birds, numerating them in the following list--"Honey, partridges, pigeons, ducks, geese, starlings, jays, rooks, blackbirds, quails, and pullets."