The partridge: crafty, unclean, not the Savior

We have come upon the much-discussed question, to see what the partridge is, concerning which Scripture now says: 'A partridge called; it gathered what it did not bear, making its wealth not with judgment. In the middle of its days they will abandon it, and at its end it will be a fool.'

From the account of the natures of animals we must take up what has been recorded about the partridge, so that knowing the things about the animal we may know whether the partridge now spoken of must be ranked upon a better or upon a worse. It is said to be a most ill-natured animal, and deceitful, and thoroughly crafty, wanting to deceive those who hunt it, and often rolling about the feet of the hunter so as to distract him—as if the animal were near—so that he may not come upon the nest. And whenever it judges that it has distracted the hunter and the nestlings have fled, then it too flies away. And the animal is utterly unclean, so that the males fight one another over mating and male mounts male.

If then this animal is ill-natured and unclean and thoroughly crafty and deceitful, it is clear that to rank it upon a better and to say it can be referred to the Savior appears impious. Therefore we must see, if we wish to interpret it of the opposing one, whether the whole interpretation follows for us.