Hai Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Bird (niǎo) 鷺; Kangxi strokes: 23; Page 1501, Entry 19 Pronounced lù Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Characters and Words): Refers to the egret. Li Shizhen says: It is a type of water bird. It dwells in forests, forages in water, and flies in an orderly flock. Its feathers are as white as snow. On the top of its head, there are more than ten long feathers, fine and fluffy like silk; when it intends to catch fish, it retracts them. It is called silk bird. Another name is shuyu, also called chongchu. Erya (Approaching Elegance), Interpretation of Birds: Calls the egret chongchu. Commentary: The head, wings, and back of the egret all have long, hard feathers. People in the Jiangdong region now take them to make dust whisks (jiechi), calling it the white egret wisp. Qin Jing (Classic of Birds) says: The flying of the shuang bird foretells frost, and the flying of the egret bird foretells dew; its name derives from this. When it walks in shallow water, it likes to bob its body up and down, resembling the action of pounding rice or hoeing the ground, hence it is called chongchu. There is also the red egret. Erya (Approaching Elegance), Commentary on Interpretation of Birds: During the time of King Wei of Chu, red egrets came in flocks to dance. Thus, there are also red egrets; the old drum and wind music piece titled Song of the Red Egret refers to this. However, this bird is commonly called the white egret, and the red ones are rare. Book of Jin (Jin Shu), Treatise on Music: In the short-flute and cymbal songs of the Han dynasty, there is a piece titled Red Egret. There is also egret feather, a prop held by dancers to direct movements, whether sitting or crouching. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of the States: Holding their egret feathers. Also, Odes of Lu (Lu Song): Flapping, the egret. There is also the white egret, which is a type of official title. Book of Wei (Wei Shu), Treatise on Officials: The official position responsible for reconnaissance was called the White Egret Official, taking its name from the bird's habit of stretching its neck to look into the distance. Pronounced lǜ Zilin (Forest of Characters): Name of a bird. Pronounced lú Water bird.