Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

¶De Elephantibus. chap. 44.

OF Elephants Solinus speaketh and sayth, that he kéepeth the course and order of the starres: and Elephants in wexing of the Moone goe to Riuers, and when they are besprong with lycour, they salute and welcome the rising of the Sunne with certaine mouings, as they may, and then they tourne againe into woodes and landes. Their youthe is knowen by whitenesse of téethe, of the which téeth, that one is alway wor∣king, and that other is spared, least hée shoulde wexe dull with continuall smi∣ting and rubbing: but when they are pursued with hunters, then they smite both togethers, and breake them, that they be no longer pursued, when y^e téeth be appayred and defiled: for they know, that theyr téethe, are the cause of theyr perill.

They gender seldome, and then they wash themselues ofte in running wa∣ter, and tourne not againe to the flock, before the washing and bathing. They fight neuer for females, nor knowe not spouse breache: and if they fight in any case, they be sull busie to helpe them that are hurte and wounded in the mid∣dle among them, and defend them more than themselues. And when they be ta∣ken, they are made tame and mild with Barley: and a caue or ditche is made vnder the earth, as it were a pitfall in the Elephaunts waye, and vnwares he falleth therein, and then one of the hun∣ters commeth to him, and beateth and smiteth him, and pricketh him full sore: and then another hunter commeth and smiteth the first hunter, and doth him a∣way, and defendeth the Elephaunt, and giueth him Barley to eate: and when he hath eaten thrice or foure times, then he loueth him that defended him, and is afterwarde milde and obedient to him.

And if it happeneth, that he swal∣loweth a Worme that is called Came∣lion, he taketh and eateth of wilde O∣lyue Tree, and is so holpe agaynst the venimme. His wombe is softe, and his ridge is harde: and therefore when he fighteth with the Unicorne, he putteth foorth the backe against him, least he sticke him with his horne in the softe bellye. He hath lyttle hayre, and no bristelles, and large eares, long and thinne, and hanging downewarde.

And hée réeseth and smiteth therewith full sore, when he is wrath against the Dragon that hée hateth full sore: and no wonder.

For the Dragon desireth to drinke his bloud when he may. And the dragon as∣saileth him neuer, but when the Ele∣phant is full of drinke, that he may take the more plenty of the weary Elephants bloud, when he is full of moisture with∣in, Huc vs{que} Soli. that setteth many other propertyes, the which Plinius rehearseth before.