THE ALEPO, A FISH.
The fish alepo does not live out of water.
THE OSTRICH.
This bird converts iron into nourishment, and hatches its eggs by its gaze;—Armies under commanders.
THE SWAN.
The swan is white without any spot, and it sings sweetly as it dies, its life ending with that song.
THE STORK.
This bird, by drinking saltwater purges itself of distempers. If the male finds his mate unfaithful, he abandons her; and when it grows old its young ones brood over it, and feed it till it dies.
Taken from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci edited by Jean Paul Richter, 1880.