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Cuckoo: Hearing it cry first is said to presage separation. Imitating its call may cause one to vomit blood. Hearing it in a latrine is an ill omen. To counteract this, the folk custom suggests making dog sounds in response. According to *Jingchu Suishiji* (Records of Customs in Jingchu), this saying also exists, indicating that ancient and modern beliefs converge here. The bird is small, resembling a kite, and cries incessantly. *Shu Wang Benji* (Original Records of the Kings of Shu) states: "Du Yu was Emperor Wangdi; he committed adultery with the wife of his minister Bie Ling, then fled. The people of Shu called him Emperor Wangdi." *Yi Yuan* (Strange Tales) records: "When the cuckoo cries first, people dare not imitate its sound. Once, someone walking in the mountains saw a flock, casually imitated their call, vomited blood, and died." *Chu Ci* (Songs of Chu) says: "When it cries, grass and trees lose their fragrance. People say it bleeds from the mouth until its voice stops, hence the incident of vomiting blood."

Non-toxic. Swallowing it causes one to see things at night. Eating its meat treats rat-related ailments (Note: Text implies treating diseases caused by rats or perhaps a specific condition named 'rat', but literally 'main rat'). Ancients valued its roasted meat, which should indeed be fat and delicious. *Neize* (Inner Regulations) mentions: "Magpie pupil, one name is Xiao (owl), another name is [Character missing/obscured]." Wu people call it [Character missing/obscured] hun, a bird with an unpleasant cry. Jia Yi stated: "Peng resembles [Character missing/obscured], actually the same creature. If it enters a room, the owner must leave. This bird cannot see objects at noon but flies at night, often entering houses to catch rats." *Zhou Li* (Rites of Zhou) states that the Zhecu Shi (Official in charge of covering nests) manages the nests of demonic birds. The commentary notes: "Birds with unpleasant cries, such as [Character missing/obscured]."

If it enters a city, the city becomes empty; if it enters a house, the house becomes empty. It is a strange bird. If it stays in one place for a long time, do not worry about hearing it. If its sound resembles laughter, one should leave quickly. The bird resembles [Character missing/obscured], has horns, flies at night, and rests during the day. *Erya* states: "[Character missing/obscured], [Character missing/obscured]. The commentary notes: "People in Jiangdong call it Gou [Character missing/obscured] (pronounced Ge)." In the northern lands, there is a bird called Xunhu. The two are similar, or perhaps belong to the same category, named after the sound they make. Its eyes resemble a cat's, larger than a thrush. It is said that when it makes a laughing sound, someone will die. There is also [Character missing/obscured], which is also of this kind, small and yellow. At night, it can enter people's homes and pick up human fingernails/claws to predict good or bad fortune. Zhang Sikong said: "If it cries at night, people cut their nails and discard them in open ground. The bird picks them up to know the fortune. Crying brings disaster." *Wuxing Shu* (Book of Five Elements) advises: "Remove fingernails and bury them inside the door, lest this bird obtain them." *Erya* states: "[Character missing/obscured], [Character missing/obscured]. Those who capture it find claws and nail parings still in its crop. *Zhuangzi* states: "[Character missing/obscured] catches fleas at night, observing minute details, but closes its eyes during the day and sees nothing (Lishan). This speaks of different natures."