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Meng Shen stated: "Consume the meat after the tenth month and before the first month." This is likely to take advantage of its yin and yang being quiet and stable, implying that the essence has not yet been discharged. The eggs should also be those from the first clutch.

Those with no red spots on the head, no black bands on the neck, and bodies resembling cranes are considered good; they do not cry well but make sounds by clacking their beaks together. The story about making ponds to raise fish and snakes to feed their young—how can this be presented to future generations? These birds mostly build nests on the ridge tiles of pavilions and halls, where people can observe them day and night, thus revealing the inaccuracy of such claims. It is also recorded in the stone entries.

The feces of *Fuyi* (Bat, *Vespertilionidae*) are combined with medicines for treating *Gan* syndrome (childhood malnutrition syndrome). It can fly during the day but dares not come out due to fear of raptors. This creature excels at *Fuqi* (qigong/breathing exercises), which is why it lives long. That it does not eat in winter can also serve as verification.

Peacock feathers must not enter the eyes, as they cause dimness and corneal opacity.

Tao Hongjing stated: "This bird does not lay eggs but spits out its chicks from its mouth. People now call it the 'water crow.' It nests in large trees, gathers in flocks, and stays in fixed places; over time, the trees wither due to the toxicity of its droppings. Pregnant women dare not eat it because it 'spits out chicks.'" Chen Cangqi further stated: It facilitates easy childbirth; at the time of delivery, let the parturient hold it, which contradicts Tao's view. I once served as an official in Lizhou Prefecture. Behind the official residence stood a large tree with thirty or forty nests. Observing it day and night, one could see mating behavior, and green eggshells were scattered on the ground. How could it spit out chicks from its mouth? This shows a complete lack of investigation, revealing that people at that time believed erroneous rumors.

White pigeons have the most varied plumage colors among birds. One qian (approx. 3-5g) of wild pigeon feces, stir-fried until slightly charred, mixed with musk (separately ground), Wuzhuyu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.) each 1 fen (approx. 0.3-0.5g), Chishao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra) and Qingmuxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) each 0.5 liang (approx. 15-20g), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 3 fen, and Yanshusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma) 1 liang, stir-fried until reddish-brown, with the thin skin removed. Grind these seven ingredients into powder. Take 1 qian with warm water without ash (clear water) on an empty stomach. It treats leukorrhea and expels pus; stop when the pus is exhausted. Subsequently, take other medicines to tonify the blood organs.

*Banjiao* refers to the turtledove. I raised them for several years and never observed differentiation between spring and autumn varieties. There are spotted ones, unspotted ones, gray ones, small ones, and large ones. Consuming them benefits qi deficiency in patients with chronic illness. Although there are these variations, their medicinal use remains the same.