Beast

Sources : Flycatcher

Thomas of Cantimpré [circa 1200-1272 CE] (Liber de natura rerum, Birds 5.86): Muscicape birds are named after the fact that this bird has a mouth so wide that no other bird can be compared to it. And in this provident nature is to be praised, that it wished to supply the bird with a smile in its mouth for the capture of prey, as its laziness diminishes its speed in flight. For in this way it can more easily catch flies and gnats, on which it only feeds, than if it were very fast with but a narrow mouth. Although it has a very wide mouth, its beak is the smallest among birds in relation to the size of its body. Similarly, it has very small feet. But larger is the turtledove and the dove. Its feet and face are like those of a swallow. It has feathers like a woolly mane. - [Badke translation/paraphrase]