The cuckoo shows up in the spring and hides when the dog-star rises. In that time, it lays eggs in other birds' nests, especially wood-pidgeon. Unlike other birds it just lays one egg at a time usually, but every so often two. NH 10.26

Dear Uncle Pliny: Wait, why does a cuckoo lay eggs in someone else's nest? Cuckoos know everyone hates them, right? Even tiny birds attack it on sight. It figures its young won't be safe unless its mistaken for another bird's baby. Hence the nest thing. NH 10.26

Dear Uncle Pliny: Why doesn't the cuckoo just... not make other birds mad and build its own nest? Look. Bullying makes you scared, ok? The cuckoos have anxiety issues. Stop being so judgy. The cuckoo is doing its best. NH 10.26

Slipping out of character a moment to make you more certain about a job in our department! Are YOU an ancientist whose research centers Asia in some way? Do you want to work with dorky and friendly colleagues, some of whom are way too fond of Pliny? main.hercjobs.org/jobs/19039558/…

Next hawk! Let's talk about kites. It's known this perpetually hangry, grabby bird never snarfs lunch from the altar at Olympia, funeral offerings, or hands carrying offerings to the gods. Unless they're delivering an ill omen. If a kite steals your sacrifice, RUN. NH 10.27

Follow up question, Uncle Pliny. My... friend had a kite eat his sacrificial goat meat. How bad is it? Like, really bad. If a kite eats your offering, something SUPER REGRETTABLE is going to happen to your city. What did y'all DO to piss of the gods that bad? Big Yikes. NH 10.27

Did YOU know that Nature herself taught us how to sail ships? In the way a kite flicks its tail as it sails the skies, we learned what we had to do on the depths below. NH 10.28

Dear Uncle Pliny: It's been quiet. Have you given up on the bird posts? Kites go away during the winter months too, you know, but not before the swallow does. NH 10.28

Kites get gout on the solstice. Just thought you should know. NH 10.28

Dear Uncle Pliny: But what about falcons, though? The harpe is the natural enemy of the three-testicle hawk. Is that what you meant? Or do you want my BlueSky invite code? NH 10.204 (I have a code, first come, first served)

Dear Uncle Pliny: Where does the funk go when I use Scolymus as a deodorant? Luckily, Xenocrates did an experiment to prove that you pee the armpit odor out when you use scolymus to slay your armpit goat. NH 22.86

Dear Uncle Pliny: Ugh, I got a bunch of raisins for Halloween trick-or-treat. What should I do with them? Are your testicles swollen? Mush the raisins up with cumin, flour, & coriander and pack them around your junk. Trick or treat, eh? NH 23.16

It's a good idea to soak your man-bits in warm wine. Dear Uncle Pliny: WHY? You'll see. Trust me on this. Off you go. NH 23.44

I understand y'all moderns are celebrating a holiday about your fear of bats. Did you know plane trees repel bats? Now you do! You're welcome. Happy spooky season. NH 24.44

Greetings from Plinycon! (AKA the CEMERS Binghamton University Pliny conference with a cool tote bag)

Have you heard the good news about subtitles on Office 365? This is how you turn them on. It's really this easy. Please, please use them when presenting if you can.