A description of the nature of four-footed beasts with their figures en[graven in brass] / written in Latin by Dr. John Johnston ; translated into English by J.P.

CHAPTER I. Of the Fox.

ARTICLE I. Of the Fox in generall.

WEe call the Semiferae,* 1.1 or half wilde, those beasts that though wilde, yet being of small bulk, are easily mastered, and tamed by man.* 1.2 I begin with the Fox, called in Latine Vulpes, or volpes, either from volupes, because he is so full of doubles in his goings; or from volipes, he being so swift of foot, or from v••∣lipes, because he is strong-footed. The Greeks give him many names, as Aloopeez, from Aloo, and Oph, deluding the eyes, and sundry others taken from its craft, and tayl. He is so well knowne, that I need not stand long on descri∣bing him.* 1.3 The genital is bony as the Wolves, and Wezels. The tayl bushy, ears short, he loves to eat Hens, Geese, and other foule, and hayrs, wild Mice, Cats, litle Dogs, that he can gripe,* 1.4 and locusts. At Marsellis a Fox hunt∣ing in a fisher-boat for Buopes, among great Lobsters, was taken in a Lobsters claw; they refrain not ripe grapes, nor pears, saith the proverb.* 1.5 Solinus saith, there are none in Creet, or Candy. But in Russia, and the Helvetian Alps they abound. Whence Merchants buy the skins, and sell them in all parts. They couple in divers postures.* 1.6 They mix with other crea∣tures, as with dogs, whence come the Alope∣cides, or dog-foxes; they bear blinde whelps, foure at most at once, and then retire, so that few are taken great with young. They lick, and carefully foster their brood.* 1.7 They love serpents, and live in the same cave with them. They hate rue, which if you bind under Hens∣wings,

the Fox will not touch them. They hate the kite and eagle, because sometimes they snatch up their young, and Hauks, because they pluck of their hair. Avicen saw a fight in a cage, between crows, and a Fox, he wound∣ed their heads; but they bound up his lips, so that he could not queach. They have many combates with badgers, and with the sent of their dung, drive them away. Hares haunt those Isles most, where are fewest Foxes. They barke like dogs,* 1.8 when vexed, or in pain, when they desire any thing f••ame, they use a fawn∣ing murmur. They are very crafty. In Thrace, being to passe over frozen rivers, or lakes, by laying their eare to the ice,* 1.9 they guesse whether it be thick enough to beare, or no. In his hole he makes many outlets to scape traps, and gins. Because the Wolf by the touch of the Scillais vexed,* 1.10 they lay it in their holes; when troubled with fleas, they take a lock of hay, or hair in their mouth, and dip it in the water, and drown them. When Hedge-hogs roul themselves up, they pisse in their mouths, and choke them. He will play with a Hare,* 1.11 and then snap him. He will roule himself in red clay, to seeme bloudy, and then ly down, and stretch himself out, as if he were dead, and loll out his toung, and so he catches birds. So in Pontus, they delude Buzzards, lying with the face another way, and sprauling, with the tayl stretch forth, as a birds neck. Taken in a snare, to get loose, he will bite off his leg, or fain himself dead, holding in his breath. He worries Hens at roost so with his tayl, that he casts them down, and eats them; and hath tricks to catch fish, and wasps with his tayl. On a tall tree he will shew himself sportive, and stand on his guard as in a castle; he fears not fire, unlesse very neare him; he will rather be thrust through, then come down to become a pray to the dog, and if he must come,* 1.12 hee falls like lightning on the best nosed dogs, and dies not unre∣venged. Neate tables admit not Fox-flesh, yet the Sarmatians, Vandalls, and Rustique,* 1.13 French, eat it boyled, or roasted, as the Booetians of old. Those Islanders of S. Crux eat of it, raw, or a litle hardned in the smoake. Some decry it for a savage food; but Galen saith, it is like Hares-flesh. The brains given to children, preserve them from the falling-sicknes. The Tongue-worm in an bracelet, is good against thick sightednesse, and dried, and hung about the neck, against white in the eyes; the Lungs is commended against Ptisick, wheesings,* 1.14 short-breath, and liver-grown: the gall with hony, helps dim-cloudy-sight; and some put it in suppositories, to have male-children; the reins with fat, helpe knee-gout; and some rub the throat with them, to take down the swelling of the jaws. The genital, testicles, and the other secrets, some use to help conception, and months, and head-ach; the blood help the stone, the fat melted, and dropped into the eares, removes old griefs thence, and helps the sinews, and the stone, and is good against shedding of hair, and the frost in hands, and feet, if you annoint them afore they be swoln: the dung with mustard, cures fore-heads; the skin is good for the hair, and shoos made thereof, eases the Gout, and Scia∣tica. The tayl also hath its medicinall use: Fox-oyl is very effectuall for all diseases in the joints.* 1.15 Fox-skins make costly furres, especially if black. Foxes are of diverse colours, sizes, and natures.* 1.16 They are lesse in Egypt then in Greece. In Peru very litle, and of a noysome sent, and the stink of the pisse is not to be washed out. In the Northerne-woods are black, white,* 1.17 glistering Foxes, and some with crosses; and those called Isatides, and some black, with some white hair sticking in order: Of reddish, are two kinds, one with black, and white throats, as if besprinkled with ashes. The other white-throated, which is rarer. There is plenty of white ones in Swethland, and Norwey, especially about Nova-Zembla, seen most, when the Sun dis-appears. Hol∣landers say, they taste like rabbets. Some are crossed from the mouth by the head, back and tayl with a straight black streake, and another thwart by the shoulder to the forefeet; which two streaks make the crosse.* 1.18 By the Caspian-Sea they are as familiar as little dogs, and as harmles.

ARTICLE II. Of the Indian Foxes.

THese are of sundry kinds, distinguish∣ed by name. The Coiotl hath a wolfs∣head, great,* 1.19 pale, but lively eyes, short, sharp-ears, black, long, thick-muzl'd; sinewy, hoocked-thighs, thick-claws, bushy-tail, dusky, long, and bright-hair, and bites shrewdly. For bulk, between a wolf and a Fox; frequent in new Spain, in places lesse cold; He lives by preying on weaker beasts, and on Sugar-canes, and Mazium. He some∣times sets on Deer, and Men; He is cunning in avoiding hunts-men; of the wolfs nature, revengefull, and mindfull of the losse of his prey, long after hunts him that took it; and with others falls on him, kills him, watches his house, kills all the tame cattel about it. But is so grateful to his benefactors, that he leaves part of his prey to them. His pizzle rubbed on the teeth, is said to give present ease to the touth-ach. The Cuit-lax-caiotl, is of the like nature and shape, but of another hair; thick, and shag-necked; the hair so long on the breast and face, that it is hideous to behold. The Azcacoiotle sits on Ants holes, and by night houles in several voices. The Ilpemaxtla is of a hair white, black, and gold-yellow, small-headed, and joynted, slender-bodied, and short, but long-muzzled, and thin; He is found eve∣rywhere mostwhat in hot places. The Oztoa is a kind of shape and bulk like a Fox, about thirty inches long, white and black-haired, and a little yellow, haunting ditches, and feeding

in fenny-places; They nurse up their young in hidden holes, and bite shrewdly, and fain them∣selves dead, if they have no other way to avoid the hunter; He breaks most stinking wind, yet they eat him. The Izquiepatl is coloured like tosted Maiz, he is eighteen inches long, low, small-muzzled, small-eared, hairy, and black-bodied, especially near the tail, short-thighed, black and crooked-claw; he lives in rocky∣dens, and there their young are nursed up. They feed on Horse-flies, and worms, and they kill fatted-fowles, and eat their heads only; Re∣duced to extream hazard, he darts his pisse and dung eight paces off, and spoyles the cloathes of the hunts-men with indelible spots, and a stink never to be gotten out. They that have the Spanish-scab, find good by eating the flesh, and dung. There are two other small Foxes, the Izquiepatl, and the Conepatl, one with two bright gards, the other with one drawn along the tail. The Brachirae are like Foxes, but rounder, and of sweeter flesh; The Annae are somewhat lesse then our Cats, and of a pe∣stilent smell, haunting towns by night; their sent betrayes them an hundred paces of, nor doors or windows can keep them out.

ARTICLE III. Of the Beasts akin to Foxes.

POINT I. Of the Cary-gueja, and Tajibi.

IN Brasil are five sorts of Beasts akin to Foxes;* 1.20 the Cary-gueja first, or the Jupatu∣ma, or Sarigoy, or Tlaquatzin, about the bignesse of a Cat, having a Foxes head, a pointed mouth, shorter below then above, a long tongue, that he withdrawes threatning to bite; teeth as a Cat, or a Fox, small ones afore, then four long Dog-teeth, then six other, and then the grinders, which are sixteen, twelve middle-teeth, four Dog-teeth, and lesser, eight in the lower, ten in the upper-jaw, and two greater middle ones, like the Hare. He is wide-nostrild; hath fair, round, black-eyes; wide, long, Fox-ears, starting up, proportion∣able to his bulke; thin-skinned, smooth, trans∣parent, a little dusky; bearded like a Cat; the hairs longer above, some on the eyes and cheeks; the head a little more then three fin∣gers long; each ear two fingers long, and a finger and half broad; the neck but a fingers length; the rest of the body seven fingers to the dock; the tail crooked, a foot long, whereby he hangs on trees like an Ape; broad-breasted; the two fore-thighs shorter then the hinder; the fore-feet five toed, as a hand, nailes white, as a birds claws with tufts; the hinder-legges longest, as a Baboons; the hair in some parts longer, in some shorter, those of the head, and part of the neck, and tail yellow; along the head runs a large black-streak; the back, sides and tail most what black, but other coloured hairs mixt; the tail part hairy, part skinny, half black, half white, some hair dusky. Round bo∣died, insensibly slenderer in some parts. Male and Female alike; under the belly is a double skin, cloven like a purse, big enough to hold an Orange, hairy within, where are eight nipples, the purse closed, scarce discernable; herein are the welps conceived; six at a time are brought alive forth, and perfectly shaped, but hairlesse, there they move too and fro, each two fingers long, and stay there till they can feed themselves, and sometimes go forth, and come in again. The testicles ly under the dock; It is easie to be flead, as the Cony, or Hare, if you begin at the belly. It stinks as a Fox, or Martin. He bites hard. Feeds gladly on Hens; climbs trees to goe a birding, Mark grave fed on in his chamber a month with Sugar-canes; at last he tangled himself in his string, and died.

He is found in Dariene in Brasil, and in Flo∣rida, and new Spain. The Brasilians call him Cerigona; His tail is Medicinable steep in water, and take a dram of it, cleanses the Ure∣teres, helps the Stone, and Colick, breeds milk, easens Child-bearing. Champed in the mouth, and laid on, it drawes out a thorn. The Tajibi,* 1.21 in Portugees, Rachorro do Mato, is round and long; white glistering-haired, the tips black; headed like a Fox, sharp-mouthed, Cat-beard∣ed; the eyes clear, black, bolting out, goggle; the ears round, soft, thin, white, tender as soft paper; the tail five fingers long, hair white, tiped with black; the end of the tail is a thin hide, bright, scaly, like a Snakes slough. The flesh is stinking, yet eaten. The hair sticks in a thin skin, and may be plucked out without de∣facing the hide.

POINT II. Of the Tamandua-guacu, the Tamanduai, and the Coati.

THe former is as big as a Butchers Dog,* 1.22 (Abbe••illanus saith, as a Horse,) round headed, long snouted, sharp mouth'd, toothlesse, round tonged, seven and twenty fingers long, two feet, and half of it like an Owl, lying double in the mouth; eyes little and black; ears roundish; the tail like a fly-flap of Horse-bristles, almost a foot broad, where∣with he can cover himself all over; the thighs round; on the fore-feet four crooked-claws, the two greatest in the midst, two foot and a half long; the hollow of the foot round; the hair of the head and neck short, and dry, turn∣ing forward; he is white afore; he is slow of foot, and eats Pismires.

The Tamanduai is of the bignesse of an Ame∣rican little Fox, round, copped-headed, bow∣ing somewhat downward; the mouth black, very narrow, toothlesse; eyes small, and black; ears pricking up, about two fingers long; the hair hard, bright-yellow; the tongue long,

round; like an awl, lying as a pipe between the cheeks; on the forefeet are four turning claws; fierce he is, but cannot bite; touch him with a staff, and he stands as a Bear on his hind∣legs; he sleeps all day, hiding his head with his neck and forefeet; romes about by night. Drinking, part gushes out of his nostrils; Mark∣grave saith, that after he had killed and flead one, a great part stirred after, though he had been kept fasting 8 dayes afore. In the left rein, (saith he) I found above a three corner'd pas∣sage, fastened to the side by a double thin skin; in the bowels, many long round wormes; the lappings that folded in the hair, fair ones; the gall-bag great; the hide thick; the flesh smells like a Fox; none eat it.

The Coati is a Brasile-Fox,* 1.23 as big as a Cat, with short thighs, and hands like a Baboon; coped-headed, Fox-eared; the mouth shorter below then above; long and sharp muzzled; nostrils wide, and cloven; eyes black; the tail longer then the body, which he sets up, and crooked; with ringlets on it, raried with shadow and oker. Eating, he holds his meat in his forefeet. He can climb the tops of trees. The Laet saith, he kept one tame, that would take meat out of his mouth; but when he be∣gan once to gnaw his tail, he could not be kept from it, till he had eaten it all up, and so died.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ambros.
• * 1.2

  Name. Isidor.
• * 1.3

  Descrip∣tion.
• * 1.4

  Feed.
• * 1.5

  Place.
• * 1.6

  Gend••ing. Pliny. Arist.
• * 1.7

  Sympa∣thy, and Antipathy.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.13

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.14

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.15

  Galen.
• * 1.16

  Diffe∣rences.
• * 1.17

  Scalig. exer. 217.
• * 1.18

  Aelian l. 7. c. 3••.
• * 1.19

  Nierem∣berg. H. Exotic. l. 9. c. 10.
• * 1.20

  Marckg. H. Brasil. l. 6. c. 2.
• * 1.21

  Marckg.
• * 1.22

  De I•••• Ind. O•• p. 151 〈◊〉〈◊〉 618.
• * 1.23

  Marckg. H. l. 6. c. 6.