Hai Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Bird (niǎo) Jiao; Kangxi stroke count: 17; Page 1489, Entry 06 Pronounced jiao. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it is a type of pond heron. According to the Erya (Erya: Explaining Birds), it is also known as jian, or the blue pond heron. Guo's commentary states it resembles a wild duck, with long legs and a crest of feathers. Xing's sub-commentary states the pond heron is also called jian. According to the Record of Extensive Observations (Bowuzhi), the pond heron nests in high trees and lays its eggs in holes; the young grasp their mother's wings to fly down for food. According to Shi Kuang's Classic of Birds (Qin Jing), the pond heron conceives through the mating of its eyes. It is also said that when its eyes are circular, it is called yan, and when they are square, it is called bo. According to Sima Xiangru's Rhapsody on the Shanglin Park (Shanglin Fu), it refers to the eye of the pond heron. According to the Correct Character Guide (Zhengzitong), the pond heron resembles a wild duck, with long legs, a red beak, and a crown of red feathers on its head. Also referred to as jiaolu. According to the Erya (Erya: Explaining Birds), it is also known as a yao-head jiao. Guo's commentary states it resembles a wild duck, known in the Jiangdong region as the fish-jiao. According to the Explanation of Pronunciation (Shiwen), it is pronounced qiao. Xing's sub-commentary states one name for it is the jiao-head. According to Sima Xiangru's Rhapsody on the Shanglin Park (Shanglin Fu), it is referred to as the jiaolu. The commentary states this is the fish-jiao. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhaijing), on Mount Manlian there is a bird that lives in flocks and flies in groups, with feathers resembling a female pheasant, called jiao. Also pronounced xiao. The meaning is the same.