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Birds

Those that are caught at Michaelmas are good to keep, but those that are caught in March die, because they are starting to fall in love. Ortolans are fed oats all summer so that they eat without getting fat, to be more suitable for hunting and helping to catch others. Then, when one wants to fatten them to sell, one gives them millet. They sing at night. They must be caught after mid—July and before Michaelmas, because after the period when they have their young in this country, they leave as turtledoves do. Siskins should also be caught after All Saints’ Day and before Christmas, because afterwards they leave for the mountains to brood.

at left bottom margin of folio 049v

Ortolans are ventriloquists, so that, singing without opening their beaks, they seem to be…