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 Alpine-Mouse

THe Alpine Mouse taketh

[illustration]

her name from the Alpes wherein she is bred, and al∣thogh there be many other kindes of mice bred in the Alpes, yet this being the principal thereof, recei∣ueth denomination from the moun∣taines, because they are bred in the ve∣ry tops of the mountaines, and sildom [ 10] or neuer come down to the roots. The Italians cal it Marmota, and Murmont, and according to Matheolus, Marmon∣tana, the Rhaetians Montanella, and in some part of Italy Varrosa, in Fraunce Marmote, although Marmot be a word also among them for a Munkey. The Germans and especially the Helueti∣ans by a corrupt word, drawne from a [ 20] mouse of the mountain, Murmelthier, and Murmentle, and some Mistbellerle, by reason of his sharpe whining voyce like a little Dogs. In Latine it is called also Emptra, which seemeth to be com∣pounded of Embdor, & this is the least kind of Alpine Mice which is found in all the German regions, of which wee wil speake in the end of this story. Som take this to be called Taxus, amongst whom Brassauolus is one, yet it hath no [ 30] property with the Alpine mouse, ex∣cept lying in a Caue, for it doeth not sleepe in the winter, nor hath no out∣ward resemblance with mice, neither can haue affinity in disposition or ma∣ner of liuing, & therfore I canot assent thereto. Grapaldus and Alununs, both learned Italians say, that the Armelins are called Alpine mice, wherunto they are led, because they sleepe al the win∣ter [ 40] long, like the Alpine mouse; But wee shall shew in their due place, that these belong to the weasils, and not to the mice, which liuing in colde coun∣tries, growe white in the winter time: the Haebrew word is Saphan, acording to some Authors, and is translated Ar∣cktonim, but we will shew in due place, that the Arcktomys is the Crycetus, or Grycet-mouse, and the Saphan we haue [ 50] shewed already to be the Cony.

These Alpin Mice are in the tops of the Apenine hils, and none of the Auncientes ex∣cept Pliny make mention thereof, and it is doubtfull whether he doeth describe it or no. For his words are, Sunt his Muribus Alpinis, pares & in Egypto similiter{que} residunt in clunibus & binis pedibus gradiuntur, prioribus{que}, vt manibus vtuntur, that is to say, there are mice in Egypt like to the Alpin Mice, for they sit vpon their Buttocks, and goe with their fore∣most two feet, which also they vse insteed of hands, by which we collect, that they are not the same, but like the Alpine mice.

* 1.1The Alpine mouse is in quantity like a Hare, or at the least betwixt a Hare and a Co∣ny, being more fat, and of a thicker body then a Cat, but shorter legges in outward ap∣pearance most like a mouse, and therefore it is called an Alpine mouse. The backe of it is [ 10] very broad, and the haire harder and harsher then a Conies. The colour for the most part is yellow,* 1.2 which in some is more cleare, and in others more obscure and browne. Their eyes of a reasonable quantity, standing farre out of their heads. Their eares very short like cropt eares. The head like a Hares, and their feet with long nails, his foreteeth like a squir∣rels, two aboue, and two beneath, but long and sharpe like a Beuers, in colour yellowe, about the nose and vpper-lippes, he hath long-blacke-bristle-haires like a cat. The taile, is halfe a cubit long, according to Stumpsius, but two palmes according to Agricola. His legges very short and thicke, couered with long deep thicke haire, like to the bottome of his belly.

The toes of his feet are like a Beares, and his clawes long and blacke, wherewithall be diggeth the earth to make his denne, he goeth vpon his hinder feete like a Beare, or like [ 20] an Ape, by iumpes, and with his forefeet he taketh his meat like a squirrell & an Ape, sit∣ting in the meane time vpon his buttockes. His backe is also very fatte, although all the other parts of his body be leane, and yet that on his backe cannot be said to be fat, but ra∣ther like a cowes vdder, neither fat nor flesh, and they encrease or grow more in bredth, then in length.

* 1.3Scaliger describeth them in this manner, a Marmot (saith he, for so he tearmeth an Al∣pine mouse in French) is a Beast about the bignesse of a Badger, hauing haire and tayle much like it, and after the same manner short legges, and little or no eares, long, sharp, firme, crooked, strong, and blacke clawes, which is numbred amongst the kinds of mice, with whom it holdeth little correspondence, except that like a squirell it taketh his meate [ 30] in the forefeet as with hands, and eateth sitting vppon his taile. They agree also with the Dormouse in their sleepe, for they passe ouer winter sleeping.

Their teeth are like to the teeth of hares and mice, after that they are made tame, they are not hurtfull to men or children, except they be prouoked. Being kept in houses, they will eat and gnaw all linnen and woolen cloath, Thus farre Scaliger. But we haue shewed al∣ready that the outward appearance of it is like a mouse, and that therefore it is safer to fol∣low Pliny, Albertus, Mathaeolus, Stumpsius, and others, then his sole and singular opinion; they keepe as we haue said already in the tops of the mountaines wherein they make their caue with woonderfull art and circumspection,* 1.4 making two different passages into their denne, one aboue another a poles length, which meete in the middle like a forke, or the [ 40] coniunction of two riuers or pathe-waies, making the seate of their rest to be very deepe in the Mountaine, and therein they remaine, fiue, seauen, nine, or eleuen of them toge∣ther.

They play many times before the mouth of their denne together, and in their sport or pastime,* 1.5 barke like little Dogges. When they go out of their caue into the mountaines to gather foode, or to playe, or to fetch in grasse, alwaies one of them remaineth like a Watchman neare the mouth of the caue vpon some high place, looking most diligently and vigilantly, both farre and neare; and if he see eyther a man or wilde beast comming towardes them, then hee suddainely cryeth out, and with his voice giueth the warning word, whining like the whisling of a pipe, if his fellowes be farre off, or else barking like a [ 50] Dogge if they be neare at hand. When the residue heare it, they presently repaire home, and he which kept the watch, entereth into the denne last of all. And it is reported by a certaine Greeke writer, that if their speculator doe not giue them the watch-worde, but that they are endaungered by any man or Beaste thorough his negligence, they teare

him in pieces with their teeth. There is no beast which is so strong as this,* 1.6 considering the quantity, for it hath beene seene that when a lusty young man tooke one of them by the hinder leg as it ran into the den, he could not withall his might plucke it backe againe.* 1.7 The clawes of it are exceeding sharpe, and fit to dig, so that it is thought if a man find them in the earth, and seeke to take them by digging vnto them, he shall labour in vaine, because the beast diggeth faster from him then he can follow her; they cannot run very fast in the plaine ground, but are easily killed by a man, except they get into the earth: with their teeth they bite deepe, for they can shere asunder wood with them like Beauers,* 1.8 they eate or liue vpon fruits & especially being tamed when they are young, they refuse not bread, [ 10] flesh, fish, or pottage, and aboue all they desire milk, Butter, and cheese, for in the Alpes they will breake into the little cottages where milk is kept, and are oftentimes taken in the manner sucking vp the milke, for they make a noise in sucking of milke like a pig. In the month of May they are much delighted to eate hornets, or horseflies, also they feede vp∣on wilde Sagapen of the meddow, and seeded Cabages, and while they are wilde in the Mountaines they neuer drink, the reason is as I suppose because in the summer time they eate moist greene herbs, and in all the winter time they sleepe.

Towards the feast of Saint Michaell the Arch-angell, and of Gallus, they enter into their caues, and as Pliny saith, they first of all carry prouision of Hay,* 1.9 and greene Hearbes into their denne to rest vpon, wherein their wit and vnderstanding is to be admired, for [ 20] like Beauers one of them falleth on the back, and the residue loade his belly with the car∣riage, and when they haue laid vpon him sufficient, he girteth it fast by taking his tayle in his mouth, and so the residew draw him to the caue, but I cannot affirme certainely, whe∣ther this be a truth or a falsehood.

For there is no reason that leadeth the Author thereunto, but that some of them haue beene found bald on the backe. But this is certaine, when the Snow begins to couer the Mountaines, then doe they enter into their dennes, and shut vp close the passages, with Stickes, Grasse, and earth, both so hard and so thicke, that it is easier to breake the solide ground, then the mouthes of their Caues, and so being safely encluded both from the feare of the Hunters, from Raine, Snow, and cold, there they liue vntill the Spring with∣out [ 30] all manner of meate and drinke, gathered round together like a Hedghogge, sleeping continually, and therefore the people inhabiting the Alpes haue a common prouerbe,* 1.10 to expresse a drowsie and sleepy fellow in the German tongue thus. Er musse synzyt ges∣chlaffen haben wie ein murmelthier, in Latine thus, Necesse habet certum, dormiendo, tempus consumere, instar muris Alpini, He must needes sleepe a little like the Mouse of the Alpes. They sleepe also when they be tamed, but it hath beene found by experience, that when a tame one hath beene taken asleepe and layd in a warme barrell vpon Hay, the mouth be∣ing shutte and closed to keepe out Raine and Snow, at the opening thereof it was found dead; and the reason was, because it lacked breath, and therefore this is most wonderfull that in the Mountaines, notwithstanding the close stopping of the mouth of their caues, [ 40] yet they should not bee depriued of refrigeration, that is fresh ayre, for expiration, and respiration.

But this is to be considered, that after they haue beene long tamed, they sleepe not so much as when they are wild, for I thinke that their continuall eating of rawe and greene Hearbes, ingendereth in them so many humors as cannot bee dispersed without along continuing sleepe, but afterwardes when they are dieted with such meate as is prouided for the nourishment of man, they are eased of the cause, and so the effect ceaseth. During the time that they sleepe, they grow very fat, and they are not awaked very easily,* 1.11 except with the heat of the sun or fire, or a hot-house. Now the manner of their taking while they are wilde is thus.

In the summer time when they goe in and out of their caues, they are taken with [ 50] snares set at the mouth thereof, but in the Winter time when they goe not abroad,* 1.12 then also are the inhabitants forced to another deuise, for then in the summer time, they sette vp certaine pillers or perches neare the mouth of their denne, whereby they may be dy∣rected, when the snow doth couer the mountaines.

For the Pillers or poles stand vp aboue the snow, although the snow bee very deepe.

Then come the inhabitants vpon round pieces of wood in the middest of the winter, fast∣ned to their shooe-soles ouer the deepe snow with their pyoners and diggers, and cast a∣way the snow from the den, and so dig vp the earth, and not onely take the beastes, but carry them away sleeping, and while they dig, they diligently obserue the frame and ma∣ner of the stopping of the Mouses den. For if it be long and deepe, it is a signe of a long and a hard winter, but if it be shallow and thin, of the contrary: so comming vpon them as we haue saide, they take them and carry them away asleepe, finding alwaies an odde number among them, and they diligently obserue, that whilest they dig, there bee no great noise, or that they bring not their fire too near thē. For as Stumpsius saith, Experrecti enim capinon possunt, nam vt cun{que} strenue fodiat venator, ipsi fodiendo simul & retrocedunt [ 10] & pedibus quam effoderint, terram reijciendo fossorem impediunt. That is to say, If they bee once awaked, they can neuer be taken, for howsoeuer the Hunter dig neuer so manfully, yet they together with him, dig inward into the mountaines, and cast the earth backward with their feete to hinder his worke.

Being taken as we haue saide, they grow very tame, and especially in the presence of their keepers,* 1.13 before whom they will play and sport, and take Lice out of their heads with their forefeet like an Ape. Insomuch as there is no beast that was euer wild in this part of the world, that becommeth so tame and familiar to man as they, yet doe they alwaies liue in the hatred of dogges, and oftentimes bite them deepely, hauing them at any aduan∣tage, especially in the presence of men, where the dogs dare not resist nor defend them∣selues. [ 20] When they are wilde they are also killed asleepe, by putting of a knife into their throate, whereat their forefeete stirre a little, but they dye before they can bee awa∣ked.

Their blood is saued in a vessell, and afterwards the Mouse it selfe is dressed in hot scal∣ding water like a pig,* 1.14 and the haire thereof plucked off, and then do they appeare bald and white; next to that they bowell them, and take out their intrals: afterwards put in the bloud againe into their bellies, and so seeth them or else salt them, and hang them vp in smoake, and being dressed after they are dryed, they are commonly eaten in the Alpine regions with Rapes and Cabiges, and their flesh is very fat, not a fluxible or loose fat like the fat of Lambes, but a solide fat, like the fat of Hogs and Oxen. And the flesh hereof is com∣mended [ 30] to be profitable for women with child, and also for all windinesse and gripings in the belly, not onely the flesh to be eaten in meate, but also the fat to be annointed vpon the belly or Nauel: And for this cause it is vsed to procure sleepe, and to strengthen decai∣ed and weake sinnewes: the flesh is alwaies better salted then fresh, because the salt drieth vp the ouermuch humidity, and also amendeth the grauity and ranknesse of the sauour: but whether it be salt, or whether it fresh, it is alwaies hard to be digested, oppressing the stomacke, and heating the body ouermuch.

The ventricle or maw of the Mouse Alpine, is prescribed to be layed vpon the belly a∣gainst the collicke.* 1.15 If the hands of a man be annointed with the fat of this beast, it is said he shall be the better able to endure cold al that day after: Also the same fat being drunke vp [ 40] in warme broath by a woman in trauaile, are beleeued to accelerate and hasten her deli∣uery.

Certaine Horseleeches, in the cure of that disease which they call the worms, which are certaine vlcers rising in the body, do mingle this fat with other medicines which are very drying or scepticke. And Mathaeolus doth prescribe it for the softning and mollifieng of contracted nerues and ioynts in the body.

By the discourse aforesaide, it doth appeare that of these Alpine-Mice, there are two kinds,* 1.16 one great like a Badger, and the other in stature of a Hare or cony: This lesser see∣meth to be proper to Germany, which there they call Embdor, of the Latin word Emp••ra, a mouse of the mountain. [ 50]

The story wherof I thought good to expresse being short out of Stumpsius and Agricol••. The male and females say they of this kind, do gather together wilde corne which grow∣eth among the rockes in the summer time against the winter, and carry the same into the holes of the earth where their lodging is.

Now the female in this kind is crafty, and more apt to deuoure; the male on the other∣side more thirsty and sparing, wherefore he driueth his female out of the den in the win∣ter time, and stopeth the mouth of his caue, to forbid hir entrance, but she getteth behind the same, and diggeth a secret hole, whilest the male lyeth at the mouth asleepe,* 1.17 she con∣sumeth the whole store behind him, wherefore in the spring time she commeth forth ve∣ry fat and comely, and he very leane. And therefore in my opinion, the makers of Em∣blems may very well discribe an vnthrifty wise, that consumeth her husbands wealth, by the picture of this female, as by the picture of the Asse behinde Ocnus, biting assunder the cord that he weaueth, as we haue shewd before in the history of the Asse. These beasts giue themselues much to sleep, and when they are awake they are neuer ydle, but alwaies [ 10] carrying into their denne, straw, hay, sticks, rags, or peeces of cloth, wherewith they ful theirmouth so ful, that it may receiue no more, and if they meet with any thing which •• to big for their mouth, by the helpe of their feete, they drawe and rowle it to their owne denne.

Whereas they are nourished tame in houses, it is obserued, that they are a neate and cleanly kind of beast, for they neuer defile their lodgings with their excrements, but seeke out some secret corner, wherein they both render vrin, and empty their bellies. With their teeth they gnaw wood, and make holes in bords, so larg as their bodies may passe throgh, and while they liue, they haue a very ranke and stronge sauour like a mouse, especially in the Summer time while they are leane, and before they growe fat; for such is the nature [ 20] of this beast, that in the Summer time they labour and grow leane, but in the winter time they sleepe, and grow fat. And thus much for the Alpine mouse.

[ 30] [ 40] [ 50]

Notes

• * 1.1

  The quantity of this beast, and the seue∣rall parts.
• * 1.2

  Mathaeolus.
• * 1.3

  The descrip∣tion of the great Alpine mouse.
• * 1.4

  The places of their abod and then sin¦gular art in making their caue.
• * 1.5

  Their obser∣uation of watch.
• * 1.6

  Stumsius
• * 1.7

  The strength of this beast.
• * 1.8

  Their vsuall foode.
• * 1.9

  Entrance in∣to their caues
• * 1.10

  Their conti∣nual sleepe al the winter time.
• * 1.11

  Growing fat with sleepe.
• * 1.12

  The taking of these beasts.
• * 1.13

  Their taming & condicions in the house.
• * 1.14

  The sauing & vse of their flesh.
• * 1.15

  the medicines of this beast.
• * 1.16

  The descrip∣on of the Emp••••a or lit¦••le Alpine Mouse.
• * 1.17

  Albertus.