CHAP. XXVI. Of the Lynx, and Lutra or Otter.
THe Lynx is said to see so clearly, that he will pierce through so∣lid bodies; yet too great light offends him. Some say, they one∣ly suck the blood of their prey, and never meddle with the flesh. Erasmus saith, he assaults greater four-footed beasts, leaping upon them from Trees, and catching them by the crown with his ••alo••s, he will tear their heads, and eat their brains, not touching the other parts; but he will eat lesser creatures every bit. In Summer they are weak, in Autumn strong. They hide their pisse in heaps of sand, as Theophrastus saith, and it growes as hard as a pretious stone. It is like Amber in colour, and drawes things to it; it cures pains of the Kidneys, and the Kings-Evill. We saw one at Lyons in the reposi∣tary of Cl. Dominus Baudartius. Men say, that in Carpathus they burn their claws, and their skins for to be drunk effectually by men in powder, against all obscenenesse, and against too great lust in women, Plin. The flesh eaten with the broth cures quartan Agues, and the bones burnt cure Ulcers, Collinus. In the Tower of London there was once a living Creature that Gesner refers to a Lynx; It was al∣waies moving, and would never stand still, as John Gaius an English∣man writes; but it would stand still at the voice of a Hickeway▪ Lu∣tra hath a Dogs head, the Beavers ears, a Foxes legs; but these are somewhat thicker, they are more prevalent in Water than on Land. The hinder parts are plain with a membrane to fence them. His Cottage is near the waters, it is made of boughes that it cannot be we••. Sometimes it is so full of Fish, that they stink. It is so quick-sented, that he will smell fish by water that comes forth of a ••ivule•• at some miles distance, and will go to the Fish-ponds and destroy