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CHAP. XXIX. Of the Sheep.
SHeep are creatures known to all. The Arabian Sheep have a very broad taile; and the fatter it is, the thicker it will be: Some tails weigh ten pounds, some 20, and it naturally grows fa••. Johannes Afri∣canus saw one above 80 pound weight; some have seen them above 150 pound weight. In Africa, Rams are bred with Horns presently, and also Sheep, as there are some with Horns in England. Albertus saw a Ram that had 4, great Horns growing on his head, and two long ones on his legs, that were like to Goats Horns: yet in Pontus in the Pro∣vince of Scythia they have no Horns, Aristot. And they have no gall; But in the Island Naxus they have two, and men say the Pontic Worm∣wood is the cause of it. Plin. In cold Countries when the snow abounds, they lose it, but recover it again in the Spring, Aelian. Anno, 1547, one was given to the French King that was very fat in Picardy: one of the claws, namely the inward claw of both feet, was eight inches long, the extream part of it turned upwards, and it had a Horn like to wild Goats, Gesner. In the Country of Prasy, they yeeld most sweet milk; for it rayns liquid honey that they feed on, Aelian. The milk is very fat in the Isle Erythea, for it hath no whey, and to make cheese they temper it with abundance of Fountain water. The cause is the plenty of pasture. It grows so fat and full that in 30 days the Sheep will be choked, if it be not let blood, Pliny. About Calimos a Village of India, they smell like fish, for wanting grasse they eate fish▪ and they that feed on fish give them dry fish to eate, Arri∣an. When the North wind blows, males are chiefly conceived; when the Southwind, females. For such is the force of the North wind, that it will change those that yean none but females, and cause them to bring males, Plin. When a noise is made they flock together; and if, when it thundereth, one that is with lamb be left alone, she will mis∣carry, Arist. In the Orcades Islands they all almost yean twins, and oft times 3, lambs, Boetius. Though their bodies be very soft, yet they are free of the plague, Columella. One was seen to run mad, which a mad Cow had hit with her Horn. In England they rot in their bo∣wells, if in rainy Summers they feed on moyst ground, and lick the dew, Gesner. In France if they eate the herb, Duva, they breed black Creatures in their Livers, and this disease is incurable. The French in Normandy call that hearb Duva, that is like to the sharp dock, but the leaves are narrovver, and stand alvvaies upright, and the middle nerve is almost red, and serves for Causticks, Gesner. Meadovv vvater drank, breeds Horseleeches, shut up in bladders in the same place; they are a finger and half long, and almost halfe as broad.