The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

OF THE FIRST KIND OF TRAGE∣laphus which may be called a Deere-goate.

[illustration]

[ 10] [ 20] [ 30] [ 40]

* 1.1THere is another kind so like a Deere (although conceiued of a Bucke-Goate and a female Hart) that I cannot but expresse the figure and briefe narration thereof in this place.* 1.2 It is like a Deere (except the beard and the bristles growing about the shoulders) and Pliny affirmeth that they are found about the riuer Phasis, in Arabia and Arachotae, which is a Citty of India so called of Arachotus a riuer issuing from Caucasus which the [ 50] Graecians call Tragelaphos,* 1.3 and the Germans ein Brandhirse, and some thinke this beast to be mentioned by the name of Ako in Deut. 14. This doubtles is the same beast which Aristo∣tle calleth Hippelaphus, because he attributeth the selfe same things to it that Pliny ascribeth to this, both for the beard, the bristles, and deepe haire about the shoulders, which hang∣eth downe like the mane of a horse.

The similitude both in proportion and quantity holdeth with a Hart in the feete which are clouen, and that the female thereof doth want hornes. The hornes of the male are like the hornes of a Roe. Therefore howsoeuer some haue imagined that there is no such Beast to be found in the world, they are rather to be pittied then confuted, for it is not to be doubted, that neither the auncients nor other euer haue seene all the diuers and mar∣uailous shapes of Beastes, which are to be found in many remote and far distant places of the world, especially in Arabia and India, where are many desarts; and therefore the rea∣son why they affirme this, is because they neuer saw any such, and so it is to be vnderstood: for the rare pictures of these beasts called in ancient time Canathra,* 1.4 whereupon children were [ 10] carried in Pageants and shewes, gaue them occasion to think that these were but mens de∣uises, and that God neuer ordained such creatures. Georgius Fabritius which sent me this Picture, doth among other thinges write vnto me very probably that this kinde is onely distinguished from other informe, name, and strength, and not in kind: and this being more strange and lesse knowne among men, was called by the Graecians Tragelaphus, be∣ing greater then the vulgar Deere, deeper haired, and blacker in colour,* 1.5 and this (saith he) is taken in the ridings or forrests of Misena, bordering vppon Bohemia, and the com∣mon sort of hunters hold opinion, that by reason it loueth to lie where Coles are made,* 1.6 and in their dust, feeding vpon such grasse as groweth in those places, that therefore the Germanes call it Brandhtrze, and so the Foxes which resemble them in colour, are called [ 20] Brandfusche.

It is for certaine that these are greater and stronger then Harts,* 1.7 their vpper part of the backe being blacke, and the neather neere the belly not White (as in a Hart) but rather blackish; but about his genitals very blacke. I haue seene the hornes to haue seauen spires or braunches, growing out of one of them, being palmed at the top. These are like to those which are called Achaeines in Greeke, by reason of their paine and sorrow: and Kummerer in Germane, by cause they liue in continuall sorrow for their young ones, while they are not able to runne out of their dennes, belike fearing by some instinct of nature,* 1.8 least their tender and weake age, should betray them to the hunters, before they be able to runne [ 30] away.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plinyus.
• * 1.2

  of the gene∣ration of this beast.
• * 1.3

  Athenaeus The coun∣tries of this beast and the name heerof.
• * 1.4

  Zenophon. Plutarch. Coelius
• * 1.5

  Of the parts.
• * 1.6

  Of the coun∣tries of this beast.
• * 1.7

  Agricola Of their strength and colour.
• * 1.8

  A secret in their pa••sion.