OF THE STREPSICEROS.
THere is in Creete neare the Mountaine Ida,* a kind of sheep called by the Sheapheardes Strepsiceros, which is not dif∣ferent from the vulgar sheep, except onely in the hornes, for they bend not like other, but stand straight and vpright like the Vnicorne, and beside are circled about with certain round speeres like a Goates horne: This liueth in flockes, and we haue here beside the figure of the beast, expressed [ 40] a double form of their hornes, and forepart of their head, the figure of a Harpe being fastened to one of them as it was presently drawen. The description whereof was taken by Docter Cay of England, in these words following.
The hornes of this Strepsiceros are so liuely expressed by Pliny, and so fitly fitted to beare Harpes, that they seeme not to aske any further narration of words. I will therefore onely adde this, they are hollow within, and long, about two Roman feet and three palmes if you measure them, as they are straight; but if you take their scantling and length as they crooke a little, then are they about three foot long, they are in breadth where they ioyne to the head, three Roman fingers and a halfe, and their whole compasse in that place is [ 50] about two Roman palmes and a halfe. In the top they are smooth and blacke, but at the root they are more dusky and rugged, growing lesser and lesser to a sharp point. They with the dryed face did waigh seuen pounds and three ounces, and the face which remaineth is ioyned to the hornes, and likewise the haire of the necke and face. It is said that this beast is as great as a Hart, hauing a red haire like a Hart.
But whether his nostrils were so also I could not coniecture, by reason that the age and long vse of the piece had defaced the nose which was dried vp, and also the haire was worne away, so as it was bald, but by that which was most apparant vnto it. I rather inclined that it resembled a Hart, from hence it was that the drawer made the nostrils lesse then might answere the proportion of the face, and that which is seene betwixt the hornes it is a piece [ 20] of the necke, by which relation I canot beleeue that the Cretican or Idean sheep is a Strep∣siceros because the hornes thereof do not bend at all, although it answreth not the name, but the true hornes of the Strepsiceros do as I haue said resemble the auncient fashion of harpes, among our fore-fathers, especially the handle being taken away, and the face of the beast placed instead thereof. Vnto this I may adde an∣other
