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THis Beast is called in Hebrew, Zamer; Deut. 14. which the Arabians translate Saraphah, and * 1.1 sometime Gyrapha, Gyraffa, and Zirafa; the Chaldeans, Deba, and Ana; the Perstans, Seraphah; and the Septuagint Grecians, Camelopardalis, which word is also retained by the Latins, whereunto
Albertus addeth Oraflus, and Orasius. The Ethiopians call it Nabin, from whence cometh Anabula, and * 1.2 Pausanios translateth it an Indian Sheep, so indeed Anabula may be English••d a wilde Sheep.
There were ten of these seen at Rome, in the daies of Gordianus the Emperor, and before that time, * 1.3 Caesar being Dictator. And such an one was sent by the Sultan of Babylon to the Emperor Frederick, so that it is without question that there is such a beast, which is engendred of a Camel and a female Libard, or Panther, as Horace saith;
Diversum confusa genus Panthera Camelo.
But the same which the Latins call Panthera the Graecians call Pardalis. The head thereof is like to a * 1.4 Camels, the neck to a Horses, the body to a Harts; and his cloven hoof is the same with a Camels; the colour of this Beast is for the most part red and white, mixed together, therefore very beauti∣full to behold, by reason of the variable and interchangeable skin, being full of spots: but yet they are not alway of one colour. He hath two little horns growing on his head of the colour of * 1.5 iron, his eyes rowling and frowing, his mouth but small like a Harts, his tongue is neer three foot long, and with that he will so speedily gather in his meat, that the eyes of a man will fail to behold his hast, and his neck diversly coloured, is fifteen foot long, which he holdeth up higher then a Camels, and far above the proportion of his other parts. His forefeet are much longer then his hinder * 1.6 and therefore his back declineth towards his buttocks, which are very like an Asses. The pace of this beast differeth from all other in the world, for he doth not move his right and left foot one after another, but both together, and so likewise the other, whereby his whole body is removed at every step or strain.
These beasts are plentiful in Ethiopia, India, and the Georgian region, which was once called Media. * 1.7 Likewise in the Province of Abasia in India, it is called Surnosa, and in Abasia, Surnappa, and the latter picture before set down, was truly taken by Melchior Luorigus at Constantinople, in the year of salvation 1559. by the sight of one of these, sent to the great Turke for a present: which picture and descrip∣tion, was afterward sent into Germany, and was imprinted at Norimberge. It is a solitary beast, and * 1.8 keepeth altogether in woods, if it be not taken when it is young: they are very tractable and easie to be handled, so that a child may lead them with a small line or cord about their head, and when any come to see them, they willingly and of their own accord turn themselves round as it were of pur∣pose to shew their soft hairs, and beautiful colour, being as it were proud to ravish the eyes of the beholders.
The skin is of great price and estimation among Merchants and Princes, and it is said that under∣neath * 1.9 his belly, the colourable spots are wrought in fashion of a fishers net, and the whole body so admirably intercoloured with variety, that it is in vain for the wit or art of man, once to go about to endevour the emulous imitation thereof. The tail of the beast is like the tail of an Asse, and I cannot judge that it is either swift for pace or strong for labour, and therefore well tearmed a wilde Sheep, because the flesh hereof is good for meat, and was allowed to the Jews by God himself for a clean beast.
Of the name.
Juli. Capital. Pliny.
A history. Isidorus.
The generati∣on and descri∣ption.
Leo Afric. Oppianus. Hel〈…〉〈…〉rus.
Their manner of going.
The Countries breeding these beasts.
Their natural disposition and mildness.
The skin.