Library

(Recorded in the "Food" section)

[Names] Ou (pronounced like "Yi"), water bird.
Li Shizhen stated: The Ou floats on the water surface, light and swaying like bubbles. "Ou" refers to its calling sound, and "Ou" refers to its physical appearance. Those living in the sea are named Haio (Seagull), those in rivers are named Jiangou (River Gull), and people in Jiangxia erroneously call them Jiang'e (River Goose). There is a type in the sea that migrates with the tides, called Xinfu (Tidal Duck).

[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen stated: Ou inhabits rivers, lakes, and streams in the southern regions. Its color and shape resemble white pigeons or small white chickens; it has a long beak and long legs, flies in flocks shining in the sun, and lays eggs in the third lunar month. Luo claimed it was blue-black, which is incorrect.

Meat
[Flavor and Properties] Not recorded.

(Zhu Yu. From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)
[Names] Lu.
Li Shizhen stated: The etymology of the name Lu is unclear. According to Xu Shen's *Shuowen Jiezi*, Lu belongs to the phoenix category. Another record states there is a Lu in the rivers, resembling a duck but larger, with red eyes. Based on this, Lu is likely a phonetic shift from Ou. This bird likely shares the same name because its plumage patterns resemble those of a phoenix.
[Collected Explanations] Chen Zangqi stated: Lu appears in mountain streams where water toxicity exists, caused by consuming poisonous insects. It resembles a duck but is larger, with a long neck, red eyes, spotted beak, and purple-blue feathers, similar to the color gan (dark blue-purple).
Li Shizhen stated: Consulting *Sanfu Huangtu* and *Shilei Hebi*, both refer to what modern people call Baihezi (White Crane Chick) as Lu, stating it is so named because the bird is white as jade. This differs from Chen's description of it being duck-like with purple-blue plumage. Baihezi is white like an egret, with a long beak and high legs, but lacks filamentous plumes on the head. Its posture resembles a crane, hence the name. It dwells in forests and feeds on aquatic life, abundant near water sources. People capture and eat it, but the taste is not very good.

Feathers and Feces
[Therapeutic Actions] Burned to ash and taken with water to treat Xidu (Stream Poison), Shashi (Sand Louse), Shuinu (Water Bow), Shegong (Shooting Worker), Yu (Shadow Shooter), Duanhu (Short Fox), and Xuxu (Shrimp Whisker) diseases. It can also be used to expel parasites from the human body; by placing the bird near a person, their qi attracts each other (Chen Zangqi).
[Elucidation] Chen Zangqi stated: The aforementioned diseases are roughly similar, all caused by insects in mountains and rivers shooting sand at shadows. Some cases occur even without water. Symptoms may resemble malaria or epidemic fevers, with or without sores. When lying down at night, rubbing the body reveals stinging pain points; careful inspection shows red dots like needle heads. Pinch them urgently. Insert taro leaves into the wound, scrape out fine sand, and apply garlic paste to cure; otherwise, fever symptoms will deepen. Xuxu sore is the most toxic, with only one or two out of ten surviving, particularly common in Guiling. If detected early, insert bent taro or sugarcane leaves into the flesh to hook out the root shaped like shrimp whiskers for a cure. Delay allows the root to penetrate to the bone, resembling a carbuncle, which is extremely malignant and prefers hidden areas of the body.
Li Shizhen stated: Shuinu, Duanhu, Shegong, and Yu are actually the same entity. Chen divided them into four, which is incorrect. Xidu has qi but no form. Shashi refers to tiny insects in the sand.