Library

(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)

[Names] (From *Erya*); Tianguo (Heavenly Dog, synonymous); Shuigou (Water Dog, synonymous); Yuhu (Fish Tiger, from *Qinjing*); Yushi (Fish Master, synonymous); Cuibi Niao (Emerald Green Bird, from *Eryayi*).

Li Shizhen stated: "Dog," "Tiger," and "Master" are all names for beasts that prey on other creatures. This bird harms fish, hence it received these names.

[Collected Explanations] Chen Zangqi stated: "This is the Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Kingfisher). It burrows into the earth to make nests. The larger ones are called Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Kingfisher), and the smaller ones are called Halcyon smyrnensis (White-throated Kingfisher). They are blue-green like the Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Kingfisher), and their tail feathers can be used as ornaments. Some are spotted white; all can catch fish on the water surface."

Li Shizhen stated: "Halcyon smyrnensis (White-throated Kingfisher) is found at water edges everywhere. It is the size of a swallow, with a sharp and long beak, red and short legs. Its back feathers are emerald green with a bluish tint, and its wing feathers are black with a green sheen. They can be used to decorate women's headwear; they belong to the category of Feicui (Kingfisher plumage)."

Meat

[Properties and Flavors] Salty, neutral in nature, non-toxic.

[Indications] For fishbone stuck in the throat, or fish bones embedded in flesh that cannot be removed, causing severe pain. Burn to ash, grind into powder, and take with water. Alternatively, boil in water and drink the juice; this is also effective (Chen Zangqi).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: "Currently, people treat fishbone impaction by obtaining the bird, removing the entrails, sealing it with mud in Yin-Yang tiles (Yin-Yang Wa, a type of specialized tile), calcining it to preserve its medicinal properties, and using it in prescriptions. This likely derives from the principle of mutual restraint between similar substances."

[Appendix] Feicui (Kingfisher Plumage) Li Shizhen stated: "*Erya* refers to it as Yu (Snipe). It is produced in Jiaozhou, Guangzhou, and Nan Yue regions. It drinks and feeds by the water, lives in burrows to raise young, and sometimes builds nests in trees. It is slightly larger than Halcyon smyrnensis (White-throated Kingfisher). Some say: the front part is 'Fei' (red), the back part is 'Cui' (green), similar to the meanings of Ecui (Goose Emerald) and Yancui (Wild Goose Emerald). Others say: males are 'Fei', mostly red in color; females are 'Cui', mostly green in color. People there also eat its meat as preserved jerky. It does not appear in medical formularies, but its efficacy should be the same as Halcyon smyrnensis (White-throated Kingfisher)."

(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)

[Names] Tuwen Niao (Mosquito-Vomiting Bird); [Character missing/obscure] (From *Erya*. Pronounced "Tian").

[Collected Explanations] Chen Zangqi stated: "This bird is the size of a chicken and is black. It grows in the reeds of southern pools and marshes, and is also abundant in the Jiangdong region. Its sound resembles human vomiting, expelling one or two sheng (a unit of volume) of mosquitoes each time. Mosquitoes are harmful insects from water, born through metamorphosis. Yet, in Jiangdong there is the Wenmu Niao (Mosquito-Mother Bird), in the northern frontier there is the Wenmu Cao (Mosquito-Mother Herb), and in Lingnan there is the Mengmu Mu (Horsefly-Mother Tree). These three different species share the same function."

Li Shizhen stated: "Guo Pu said: 'Wenmu Niao resembles a crow but is larger, with yellow and white mottled patterns, and its call sounds like a pigeon.' *Lingnan Yiwu Zhi* states: 'Tuwen Niao is the size of Qingxichi (Mandarin Duck), has a large beak, and eats fish.' Could this be due to differences in regional varieties?"

Wing Feathers

[Indications] Made into fans to repel mosquitoes (Chen Zangqi).