An history of the wonderful things of nature set forth in ten severall classes wherein are contained I. The wonders of the heavens, II. Of the elements, III. Of meteors, IV. Of minerals, V. Of plants, VI. Of birds, VII. Of four-footed beasts, VIII. Of insects, and things wanting blood, IX. Of fishes, X. Of man / written by Johannes Jonstonus, and now rendred into English by a person of quality.

OF Naturall VVonders. (Book 7)

The Seventh Classis. Wherein are set down the Wonders of Four-footed Creatures. (Book 7)

Seneca l. 3. de ira. c. 30.

WE are troubled with frivolous and vain matters. A red colour makes a Bull angry, and a viper is stirred by a shadow. A picture will make Bears and Lions fiercer. All things that are cruell and ravening by nature are moved with vain things. The same things happen to unquiet and foolish spirits; they are stricken with jealousie and suspition of things.

CHAP. I. Of the Elk, and the Ram.

THe Elk is a four-footed beast commonly found in Scandina∣via; in Summer of an Ash-colour almost; in Winter it turns toward black. The horns are fit for footstools, each of them is 12 pound weight, and two foot long. His upper lip hangs out so long, that he cannot eat but going backwards. Men write, that he is subject to the falling sicknesse; and that the remedy he hath is to lift up the right claw of the hinder foot, and put it to his left Ear. It holds the same vertue, if you cut it off when he goes to rut in August or September. He is commended for his swiftnesse, for he will run as much ground in one day as a horse shall in three. He is very strong; for a strong blow with his foot will kill the hunter. The Ram for six Winter moneths sleeps on his left side; but after the vernal equinoctiall, he rests on his right. Aelianus hath discovered

this, but the Butchers deny it. In Camandu a Country of Tartary, they are as big as Asses, their tails weigh 30 pound weight. One was seen in the Court of the King of the Arabians, whose tail weighed 40 pound, Vartom. Cardanus ascribes that to its cold temperament, when the rest of the bones will no more be extended. Lest he should be choked with his own fat, he sends down the humour unto his tail.

CHAP. II. Of the Asse.

IN the Kingdom of Persia, Asses are so esteemed, that one of them is sold for 30 pound of gold; amongst the Pigmies they are as big as our R••ms, Paul Venet. In Egypt they amb••e so swiftly, that one will go 40 miles a day without any hurt, Scalig. Exerc. 217. s. 1. She doth sparingly dip-in her mouth when she drinks. She is afraid, saith Cardanus. For when she beholds the great shadow of her ears in the water, she is fearfull they will be wet. There are some found in Africa that do not drink: She staleth when she seeth another stale▪ or upon a dunghill. For Nature doth stirre them up being slothfull, by the acrimony of the smell. Cardan. l. 10. subtil. Observation proves, that where an Asse hath cropt a vine branch, the vine will grow more fruitfull. The monument of this matter was seen at Nauplia, where an Asse of stone was set up in thankfull remembrance for posterity. Vadimonius writes, that there is a fruitfull Orchard, in the middle whereof she was buried, Aldrovand. l. 1. de quadr. c. 2. In Hetruria when they have eaten Hemlock they fall asleep, that they seem to be dead. The Countrey-men are deceived by it, for oft-times they rise up and fright them when they have pull'd off their skins al∣most, Mathiol. in Dioscorid. Sheep will run into the fold, if you pen them in an Asses stall. If one be stung by a Scorpion, if he sit upon on Asse with his face toward the tayl, the Asse will endure the pain, and not he. It is a sign of it, because she will dye farting, Merula. Asses milk is commended. Poppaea, the Wife of Domitius Nero, that conceived in all 500 times, did wash her body in a Bath of Asses milk, thinking to stretch her skin thereby, Plin. l. 15. c. 40. 〈…〉〈…〉 of crete, being in a Consumption, recovered by feeding on Asses flesh. Moreover, there are some in Scythia whose horn contains Sty∣gian water, for it will pierce through iron vessels. Some in 〈…〉〈…〉 have one horn in their forehead: Who drinks out of that, is preser∣ved from a disease; but if any venomous matter be drank, it is ca••t forth. They are so strong, that they will kill a horse to travell with them. Also that was a wonderfull one, that was sent as a present with other gifts by the King of Assyria, to Ferdinand of Naples▪ for the hair was wonderfull, the body was full of streaks, of divers co∣lours and equall lines, Pontan. d•• Magnificent.

CHAP. III. Of the Boar, and the Archopitecus.

IN Crete there are no Boars. In a great part of the New World there are some that are lesse than ours. Their tails were so short, that the Spaniards thought they were cut off. The fore-feet are whole, the hinder feet cloven. In some parts of Scandinavia they are 12 foot long. Scaliger writes, that the petty King of Salvimons, had a huge one, which would at the sound of the horn go forth to hunt with his Lord and the dogs. Archopitecus is a creature in America that is wonderfull ill-favour'd. The Inhabitants call it Ha••••t; He is as great as a Monky, his belly toucheth the ground, he hath a head and a face like a child; and when he is taken, he sighs like to a child. Three claws hang to his hinder feet, and four long ones to his fore-feet, like the great prickly bones of a Carp, and with these he creeps up upon Trees. His tail is 3. foot long. He was never found to eat mans flesh, whilest he is alive; and they think he lives upon nothing but leaves, which in their language they call Amohut. When he is tame, he will love a man, and run up upon his shoulders. Thevet left him in the open Ayr, yet was he never wet.

CHAP. IV. Of the Ox.

IN one of the outermost Provinces of Asia, between the outmost Mountains of India and Cathay, Oxen are bred white and black, with a horses tail, but more full of hairs, and reaching down to their feet. The hairs of them are most fine, like feathers, and as dear, Venet. Brought into Hispaniola they will grow so much, that they are grea∣ter than Elephants, Petr. Martyr in Decad. In these parts where we write these things, Guickardinus testifieth that one of them weighed above 1600 weight: we saw one at Leyden that weighed 2970, pound But Ptolomaeus 11, had the horn of one that held 27, gallons. When the Cows are great with young, men say they carry their young ones on their right side, though they be great with two. But they that drink of the River Charadrus, not farr from the City of the Patrenses, con∣ceive for the most part only Males: the same will come to passe if in time of copulation you bind the left testicle of the male with a band; or let them couple when the North wind blows, Pausan. in Achaicis: and if the right, or when the South wind blows, the Cows will con∣ceive a female. The Cows if they be more fruitfull in summer, are a Token of a rainy Winter. For a fruitfull Creature cannot abound with generative humour, unlesse it be moved by a celestiall influence, Albert. Somtimes they are very fierce. In the yeare 1551 in Rhoetia,

between Duria and Velcuria, some of them, brought into the fields from two Villages, fought so violently that 24, were killed before the com∣bate could be ended. Gesner de quadrup. Somtimes they are puffed up with fullnesse, for the cure whereof they use a Charme, nameing the swelling, In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost. Men say that Pythagoras, by whispering some words at Tarentum, tamed an Oxe, so that he forsook bean straw, and followed a Country Man, and lived to be very Old at Tarentum, eating out of mens hands, Coelius. The smok of Oxe-dung will preserve Bee-hives free from Flies, and Spiders. Bullocks blood powred into a wound, will stop the bleed∣ing. Also the dry dung burnt, drunk three spoonfulls, will cure the dropsy.

CHAP. V. Of the Buffe and Bonasus.

A Buff is a Creature greater than an Oxe with a bunch on his back, (two or three men may sit between his Horns) for it hath a very large forehead, and curled with haire that smels like Musk. The flesh of it is most fat in Summer, but it tasts of Garlick that it feeds on. It is wonderfull strong, for he will take up a Horse and his Rider. The blood of it is redder than purple, so hot that it will make Iron on the Hunters Speare turn every way, and in the greatest cold it will corrupt in two houres. In the Scotch woods, they so ab∣hor the company of men, that they will not touch the shrubs that men have touched, after many days; and being taken by art, they will dye for grief, Cambd. in Scotia. Gesner makes the Bonasus to be a kind of Bugle, of whom men write that he dungs extream hot when the Hunter follows him; but that happens to living Creatures by running so fast. The intestines grow hot thereby, and heat raiseth winds, which being shut in, they break forth violently through a narrow place, chiefly if there fall out to be any pressing of the places by motion. Also the Cuttle fish gives an example, that feare will cause her to cast out her inky juyce. Philip King of Macedon, killed one with a Dart at the foot of Mount Orbelus, the Hornes were 16, hand∣fulls, which were consecrated to Hercules.

CHAP. VI. Of the Camel.

THe Camel hath a manifold belly, either because he hath a great body: or, because he eats Thorny and Woody substances, God hath provided for the concoction. Puddle water is sweet to him▪ nor will he drink River water, till he have troubled it with his foot. In

Africa when they have fasted 50, days, they will not eat at night, but when they have their burdens taken off, they will feed on leaves in the fields. Leo Afric. L. 3. He lives a hundred yeares, unlesse the Ayre agree not with him. Plin. They serve the Indians to travel with, if we credit Philostratus; nor is it beyond his force, to go a thousand fur∣longs in one day. But that kind of Camel, the Africans call Ragnail, will go a hundred miles a day for 8, days together, with a very little meat. They never couple with their dams. When as his keeper had admitted him to the dam vailed▪ when she was discovered, he was so inraged, that she trampled on him, and threw her selfe headlong. Arist. in admirand. Examples shew that they are very docile: when they are longer on their journey than ordinary between Aethiopia and Barbary, they do not whip them forward, but they sing to them, whereby they will run so fast that men can hardly follow them. One at Alcair danced at the sound of a Taber, being taught by a strange art. For when he is young, he is brought into a stove, the pavement being very hot. One plays on a Tabret at the dore, he because of the heat lifts up one foot: they continue this exercise, and use him to it a whole yeare, that coming in publick remembring the hot pavement, when one plays on the Tabret he will lift up his feet, and seem to dance Leo. Aphric.

In the Land of Gyants there is a Creature that hath a head, ears, and neck like to a Mule, a body like a Camel, a taile like a Horse, he is 6, foot high, and five foot long, his neck is as white as a Swan. There was one brought to Middleburg in Zeland, Anno. 1558. It was called an Indian Sheep. Scalig. in exerc, calls it Allo. Camelus.

CHAP. VII. Of the Shee-Goat.

THe report is that Goats see as well by night as by day, wherefore if those that are blind in the night, eat a Goats Liver they will be cured. They breathe out of their eares and nostrils, if we will credit the Shepherds. Phi••es gives the reason, because when their nostrills are stopt, they are not hurt, Aelian. When the Sun sets, they lye back∣wards in the fields, and so they do at other times, but one with ano∣ther. A Goats horn laid under a sick mans head, will bring him to rest; scraped with honey, it stops the belly flux; burnt, it will raise people in a Lethargy. In Aegypt they are said to bring 5, young ones. The cause is the water of Nilus that is drank by such as are Barren and want milk. They shew the revolution of Syrius. For as often as he riseth with the Sun, they turn to the East and gaze upon it, Plutarch. In some part of Africa, they sheer them, and make Cabels of their haire. Those of Lybia shew when rayn comes, for so soon as they come forth of their stalls, they run to feed, and presently come back

to their stalls again, Ael••an. Those of Giman••a do not drink in six moneths; but, turning toward the Sea, they receive the vapours with open mouth, and so they quench their thirst. The Goat of Mambrey will endure a saddle and bridle, and a rider; he hath ears that hang down to the ground, and horns twisted below his mouth, Gesner. l. 1. de quadrup. The wild ones in L••bia are as great as Oxen; so active, that they will leap upon the highest Mountain tops; and their limbs are so hard, that if they fall, they neither break their horns, nor hurt their heads, Aelian. l. 14. c. 16.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Beaver and Colus.

THe Beaver is a most strong Creature to bite, he will never let go his teeth that meet, before he makes the bones crack, Plin. His hinder feet are like a Gooses, and his fore-feet like an Apes. His fat tail is covered with a scaly skin, and he useth it for a rudder when he pursues fish. He comes forth of his holes in the night; and biting off boughs of Trees about the Rivers, he makes his houses with an upper loft, and when the water riseth, he lies there, Albert. When they are cut asunder, they are very delightsome to see; for one lies on his back, and hath the boughs between his leggs, he holds them fast that they may not fall down, and the others draw him by the tail to their Cottage. Colus is a four-footed wild Beast, amongst the Scythians and Sarmatians, he is for greatnesse between a Stag and a Ram. He is white, and very swift. He drawes his drink by his nostrils into his head, and holds it for some dayes; so that he will feed well enough in Pastures where there is no water, Strabo l. 7. Sometimes they will be 500 together; but about Easter you may see 2000. In March they dig up an herb, by the sent whereof they stirre up venery; when that is spent, for a day they lie as half dead, but when they taste of it once more, they are restored, Gesn.

CHAP. IX. Of the Cat and C••ney.

THe Cats eyes are so good, that she will see any thing in the dark, Albert. The Cat by the Egyptian Sea is observed to change the pupils of his eye, as the Sun doth alter. They are long in the morn∣ing, round at noon; when the Sun sets they are obscured, Gellius. He commonly playes on his back, that he may look round about. Cut off his ears, he will stay at home more, for he cannot endure the drops that fall into his ears. If a Cat's hair fall into a mans mouth, it will stick there. Hence matter is heaped together, that causes a Scr••fu∣lous

diseases. Scaliger saith, That in the Province of Malabar, there are wild-Cats dwelling in Trees, they leap as though they flew, having no wings. They have a membrane stretched out from their fore-feet to their hinder-feet, when they rest they contract it up to their belly; when they begin to fly, by moving their feet and thighes, they are carried and born up by stret∣ching out and gathering in this membrane, and it is wonderfull to see them run as if they ran in the Ayr.

Conies are abundant in the Baleares, where they do the Corn and the fields great harm, Solin. They breed every moneth, nor are their young ones blind. They presently take Buck again, so soon as they have bred, though the young ones do suck, Plin. l. 10. The female hath not milk presently so soon as she hath brought forth, before she hath been six hours with the Buck, and they have eaten some Oats, Gesner de quadrup.

CHAP. X. Of the Stag.

IT is certain, that there are white Stags, and Does that have horns. Apollonius saw them as he passed beyond Paraca a City of the Indies, Philostrat. l. 3. Sertorius led one about, which he feigned to have re∣ceived from Diana, that he took counsel with, that so he might keep his Souldiers in obedience, Gellius. Lewis King of France took one, and when Anna of Britanny asked what that was, he said, That they were all such at first, and that God took them from them for their pride. Their blood hath no fibres, as other creatures have, and therefore it will never grow thick. The Gall is not upon the Liver, but upon the Intestines, or in the Tail. Hence it is so bitter, that dogs will not eat it, Plin. In their heads they have live Worms; sometimes 20, and they are parted, so great as Maggots in flesh. They are said to breed under the hollow of their tongue, near the Ver∣tebra, where the head joyns to the neck. If you pierce the scull bone in such as are of years, under the eye, you shall see Wasps fly out, bred of the superfluous humour, if you will credit Hunters; and then he can live no longer unlesse he eat a Serpent to renew him∣self. Gesner writes, That in the basis of the heart between the lap of the greater ventricle, and the urinal vein, there is a bone found. He addes, That it is reddish from the heart blood, and melancholick; some adde, that from a dry vapour it is turned into a bony sub∣stance. Some adde further, that it is found at no other time, than between the two Feasts of the blessed Virgin, that is, from the middle of August to the I••es of September. The Doe breeds near the path∣wayes, for she thinks that she is safe from wild beasts, by reason of men passing up and down. So soon as she is delivered, she first ea••e the gleaning▪ hence it is, that the herb Seseli is her medicament in bringing forth, Arist. in hist. animal. They swim over the Sea like

Ships, the Master Buck leads, the rest follow. They lean their heads one upon the others back; then the first brings up the rear, when he is weary, and would refresh himself. By nature they con∣quer Serpents. For by strong sucking in their breath, they will draw them out of their holes, and then devoure them. After this Ban∣quet they bathe themselves, and eat Crevish. Then they weep, and their tears are turned to Bezar stones. They die, if they drink be∣fore they have done this, Gesner.

CHAP. XI. Of the Dog.

THere are many wonderfull things in a Dogg, his manner of birth▪ quick sent, biting, docile nature, fidelity and the like. The pup∣pies are borne blind; the more they suck, the slower they are to see, but commonly in 7; days, if they see quickly; but 20, days is the longest time. Some say, if one Whelp be littered, he will see in 9, days; if two in ten, and so it is if there be more▪ each addeth a day of blindnesse to the time. Lastly, one bred of the first litter of a Bitch will see soonest. The best of the puppies is that which sees last, or which is first puppyed. Albertus writes, that he saw a Mastiff that first littered 19, then 18, then 13, at one time. He hath a sent so quick that he will never eate Doggs-flesh, be it never so well seasoned to de∣ceive him. In Scotland there is a kind of them that will persue a theif, and if he passe over a River, they will swim over after him, and when they come on the other side▪ they will hunt about to find his foot-steps, and still follow him, Gesner. A mad Doggs biting is won∣derfull Venemous and deadly. (He runs mad about the Dogg days with the Tooth-ach; he is cured if he eate Hellebour with Barley flower, and Vomit it up again) the pisse of a mad Dogg trod upon hurts extreamly those rhat have an Ulcer, and it is observed that their wounds will increase by treading on it, that were ever bitten by any Dogg. They will cause Hens eggs to grow addle, and Cattel to miscarry. A man had a wound in his Arme: that, after 12 yeares that he was bitten, became sore again, and he died in two days. Albert. Fear of water first troubles such as are bitten, and, which is the greater wonder, after 7, years it may shew it self; One thought, that he was cured, being washed with Sea water, yet after some months by touching of the Dogg-Tree-Wood he fell into a relapse. Gesner. Also in their Urine, Doggs heads are said to appeare. As for their docilenesse and fidelity, there are many examples. The Dog of Francis, Marquis of Mantua, would call his servants. They will draw Coaches, carry burdens in Ibissibur a Countrey of Tartary. Lip∣sius Cent. 1. had a Dogg at Lovain that would carry letters so far as Brussels, ad Belg. Epist. 44. and he would bring letters back from

thence. A Dogge at Brussels would carry money to the Sham∣bles, and fetch ••ome meat, ••e fought with other Doggs upon the way, and when he was beaten, he laid hold of a peice. The Dogs at Rhod••s knew Christians from Barbarians, Gabel••n▪ Histor.

A certain Mountebank in the time of Justinian the Emperour had a Dogg that would take up many Rings, cast down, and restore eve∣ry man his own; he would tell you by pulling them by the cloaths which was a Wife, a Widow, or a Maid. Lastly, in Plutarch, there was one that would represent a Man that was poysoned. We read of the wonderfull fidelity of Dogg in Scaliger his Exercitations, I will set it down in his own words, and upon his own reputation: A Courtier envying the credit of a certain friend of his, or carried away with some other malice, came suddenly upon him, and killed him, and after buried him in a place besides the way. The party slain had at the same time a Hound with him, who lay a long while upon his Masters grave. Hunger for that time overcoming love, he returns home, and being seen without his Master by some other friends, who thought the dog had been strayed from him, they bade that some meat should be given him. Having let down a few morsels, he returns to the grave: Which course he continued so often, that the friends of the dead began to suspect; and at last believed that the Dog sought for his Master: They follow him, and coming to the place where the earth was cast up, dig into it, find the body, take it away, and cause it to be buried in another place. The solemnities ended, the dog keeps with them whom he had led to this discovery. A good while after, the Murtherer comes again to the Court; the Dog knows him, and begins to run at him with great cryes, and so earnestly pur∣sueth his point upon him, that suspition begins to enter into the minds of a great many, that there was some evill in the man. The dog con∣tinuing still to vex him, the King was at last advertised of the case, who commanded that the man should be straitly examined touch∣ing the fact. He affirmeth himself innocent: The dog, when the Murtherer denyed that he knew what was become of the Dogs Master, never left barking and bawling; insomuch, as all that were present took the same as a disproof, that the dog made against him. Well, the matter proceeded so far, that the King ordered it should be decided by a Combat between the man and the dog. To make short, the dog had the day: and the Combat is painted and finely set forth in the Hall of a certain Castle in France; and the work wearing out with age hath sometimes been renewed by Commandement from the King. It deserveth (saith the Lord de la Scale) to be set forth in pi∣ctures of brasse, that it may never perish.

But to close up this Discourse, we will adde hereunto that which James Micyllus a learned Poet hath written in praise of a Dog, in good Latin Verses, expressed thus in our Tongue:

Of any Beast, none is more faithfull found, Nor yields more pastime in house, plain, or woods;

Nor keeps his Masters person, or his goods With greater care, than doth the Dog or Hound. Command: he thee obeyes most readily. Strike him: he whines and falls down at thy feet. Call him: he leaves his game and comes to thee With wagging tail, offring his service meek. In Summers heat, he followes by thy pace: In Winters cold, he never leaveth thee: In Mountains wild he by thee close doth trace; In all thy fears and dangers true i•• he. Thy friends he loves; and in thy presence lives By day: by night he watcheth faithfully That thou in peace mayst sleep: he never gives Good entertainment to thine enemy. Course, hunt, in hills, in valleys, or in plains; He joyes to run and stretch out every lim: To please but thee, he spareth for no pains: His hurt (for thee) is greatest good to him. Sometimes he doth present thee with a Hare, Sometimes he hunts the Stag, the Fox, the Boar, Another time he baits the Bull and Bear, And all to make thee sport, and for no more. If so thou wilt, a Collar he will wear; And when thou list to take it off again, Unto thy feet he coucheth down most fair, As if thy will were all his good and gain, In fields abroad he looks unto thy flocks, Keeping them safe from Wolves and other Beasts: And oftentimes he bears away the knocks Of some odde Thief that many a fold infests. And as he is thy faithfull bodies guard, So is he good within a Fort or Hold Against a quick surprise, to watch and ward; And all his hire is bread musty and old▪ Canst thou then such a creature hate and spurn? Or barre him from such poor and simple food? Being so fit and faithfull for thy turn, As no Beast else can do thee half such good?

CHAP. XII. Of the Ma••mase•• and the Catoblepas▪

IN the Country of Prasium, Monkeys are as big as great Dogs. The tail of one is five cubits long; hair hangs down from their fore∣heads, and they have long beards, and an inbred tamenesse, Strabo l. 15. There are others wonderful great, like to men. For by their

legs, face, privities; they look like Countrey men, they are else∣where all-over hairy. They love Children and women, and desire to embrace them, Cardanus. The common ones are well known, they have testicles of a blew and green colour. When they eat up the ears of Corn, one of them lies perdue in the field, and makes an out∣cry when he spies a Country man, the rest fly. They so hate a Cro∣codile, that they cannot endure to see his skin at a great distance. Gyl∣lius made tryal of it, and he observed, that they being tyed in chains, yet trembled and scowred, and would have run away through fire and water to escape. In the borders of Cariai, there is a kind of them that will leap from bough to bough, as if they flew, they are enemies to Boars; for it will leap furiously upon him, and twine about him with the tail. Aelian l. 3. saith, That the Catoblepas is like the Bull, and is very terrible to behold, and fierce, and with blood-shot eyes it looks downwards. It feeds on venomous herbs, and so soon as it looks on them with a countenance like a Bull; it fears, and lifts up the Mane; having lifted up this, with open lips it roars terribly, sending such a steam out of the Throat, that the Ayr over the head will be infected, and will make others dumb that draw it in, and causeth mor∣tal convulsions. The Souldiers of Marius found it to be so; for they supposing it had been a wild sheep: they ran at it with drawn-swords several times, but when they were killed by it, they found their er∣rour. This wild beast was slain afterwards by the Nomades that were horsemen, and they brought it to Marius.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Baboon and Chamaeleon.

A Baboon is a Creature with a head like a dog, but in shape like a man, he will fish cunningly; for he will dive all day, and bring forth abundance of fish. He takes wonderfull delight to wear a garment; he hurts no man. He understands what the Indians say, he will gently feed sheep for their milks sake, Plin. l. 7. c. 7. Stra∣bo, l. 15. Two things are most wonderful in him; that in the two equinoctials, 12 times a day he will make water, once every hour, and doth the same at night, Prec••os. Johan. in Epist. ad R. P. Hence the Egyptians have the picture of a Baboon pissing upon their Dials. The second is, that when the Moon hath been sometimes in conjun∣ction with the Sun, and loseth her light, the male will not look nor feed, but holds down his face to the Earth; nor will the female move her eyes any way, casting withall her sperm forth. Therefore are they held sacred, and fed untill this day, that by them the set time of the Moons conjunction with the Sun may be known by them. Africa breeds Chamaeleons, but India more frequently▪ He is said to have five toes of his feet, which he stands upon opened, but he draws them in when he lies down upon round young branches. He chan∣geth

his colour oft-times, both in his eyes, his tail, and his whole body; and he changeth like that thing he next toucheth, except red and white; when he is dead he is pale, Plin. It is certain, that some∣times he lives by the Ayr. For he will suffer hunger a whole year, and taking in the Ayr by gaping, and shutting his chaps, he will shew forth his great belly. Some said that he turns to the Sun, and drawes in the Suns beams, and followes them with open mouth. From Zandius we have it, that he will hunt flies: who saith, he dis∣sected the tongue of one that was as long as ones hands breadth; hol∣low, and empty, in the top was a hole with snivel in it, with which he catcht his prey, Card. de subtil. Alexander Myndius saith, he fenceth himself against the hungry Serpent, after this manner: He holdeth a bro••d and strong stalk, and turning himself under that like a buckler, he encounters the Serpent. The Serpent, because the stalk is broader than he can take in his mouth to bite in sunder, and the rest of the Chamaeleons limbs are too hard for him to do him any harm, he labours in vain.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Crocodile.

THe Crocodiles are bred in Egypt, but not all so dangerous; the furious ones are towards the Mountains, from Caire to the Sea they are mild; that is because there is scarsity of fish; but here are men that are rewarded to kill them. For whosoever kills a great Crocodile, and brings it into the City, hath ten crowns out of the Treasury. Also when Nilus runs back to its channel, the Crocodiles will lye hid in the mud, watching to satisfie their hunger; and they strike those that come, and strangle them with their tails. They strike so strongly, that one of them brake the four legs of a great beast at one blow, Martyr. They lay one egge as big as a Goose egg, yet from this small beginning they grow to a vast bignesse; sometimes they are more than 18 cubits long. In the time of Psammeticus 25 cubits; in the time of Amasis 26, Plin. They hold their young one legitimate, if he catch up something so soon as he is hatched, Aelian. Their tongue sticks all fast, the reason is given by Aristot. l. 2. de part. Anim. c. 7. The Trochilus is his guard, and the Tentyritae are his Enemies. He awakes him when Ichneumon is like to do him hurt, and entring into his wide Jaws he pulls out flesh from amongst his rows of teeth with his beak; when he flies away, he is warned to close his upper chap, Plutar. Plin. 8.25. But these swim in the River, and getting upon their backs, as if they rid, they thrust a bough into their mouths, and frighting them with their cry alone, they compell them to vomit up the bodies they had newly de∣voured, that they may be buried; hence it is that there are none in their Island, and the very smell of a man will make them fly away. How he fights, the history of him will shew.

CHAP. XV. Of the Horse.

IN Portugal they say, the Mares conceive by the wind, Varro, Pliny, and Solinus affirm, that the Birth is fruitlesse, for their Colts live not above 3, yeares. Justinus calls these things Fables. In the Island Hispaniola, the foals conceive in ten months after they are born, and oft times they beare twins, Peter Martyr. A Barren Mare will conceive, saith Aldrovandus, if you bruise a little handfull of Leeks in a Mortar, and powre upon it a little cup of Wine, and shall for two days cast in 12. Spanish flies of divers colours into the Matrix with water by a Syringe: the next day have your Horse to the Mare that is lusty; when he hath leapt her, wash the privities twice. In the Province of Belascia their hoofs are so hard, that they are never shod. Amongst the Ambes they are so swift, that they will run a hundred miles in 24 houres. Ludov. Rom. l. 4. Navig. And Historians relate of such a one that was taken in the Alanick Warr by Prince Probus. In Artois the Governour of the Fort, Mellomus, had one bred, very large, and with Horns: at this day is to be seen the leap he made, which was 60, foot. Lipsius Cent. 3. ad Belg. Epist 56. They live very long; some have come to 50, yeares, and some above 60, yeares. Albert Solinus and Niptus say 70, years. The same saith, We have observed that, in Opus by name, a Mare lasted to breed on, for 40, years. They so fear a Camel that they cannot endure to see him or smell him, wherefore Cyrus when he was to fight against Craesus, op∣posed his Camels against the others Horses, Herodot. Pliny writes that if Horses tread where Wolves have passed, they will be benum∣med in their legs: and Aelian adds, that if they touch the foot step of a Wolfe when they are in a Wagon drawing, they will stop present∣ly as if they were frozen. The Tartars love to eate their flesh, and the rich men had it rosted in their feasts in Persia. The Moscovites, of old time Servants to the Tartars, were wont to pay tribute to them in their journeys, by their Duke when they demanded it, of Mares milk. Their sweat, causeth women with Child to suffer abortion, and if Knives hot be wet with it, they are so infected that the part they wound, will bleed till they dye, Albert. They will weep: Caesars Horse wept 3, days before he died. Cardan had a Gennet that would weep abundantly, chiefly in Summer. They are so docile, that Alexanders Bucephalus, nor Caesars Gennet, could be ruled by any man, except his Mr. There have been seen in Olandia an Island of the Gothick Sea, that at the sound of a Tabret would dance. Scalig. writes of one thus, A certain Mountebank led about a little Horse, which would do any thing at his word, or beck; amble, trot, run, leap, on four or two feet, drink Wine, sit on his buttocks, and bring his foreseet to the cup, he would hold a Bason or Dish, with his Legs, as if he were to be barb'd, he would lye on the ground at length, and shut his eye lids and nod. He would lift up his head at his Masters beck, turn on his back, and lye to shew how women lay:

this I saw, saith he, and we also, saith Gaudentius Merula, saw a Horse of a Physitian of Pannonia, that stood at the dore untied till his Master came forth from visiting the sick, if it were a whole day, &c.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Urchin.

A Hedg-Hogg or land Urchin, is a Creature with a Hogs snowt, he hath most stiff bristles on his skin, that a sword can hardly cut them. Volch••rus Coiter, first observed that he rowls himself up like a ball, by reason of a long and broad Muscle over his whole back that contracts the skin. He opens, if you poure water on his belly. For because he cannot breath, he opens and cries with a shrill note. Rosen∣bach in Indice. About the time of the Vintage, he goes under the Vines, and he breaks down clusters of Grapes, and takes them upon his prickles, Plutarch. When he is taken he pisseth on his back, and it corrupts, therefore hee never useth that mischievous way, but when he is past hopes, for they hate their imbred Venom, and will not hurt themselves; and will stay till the very last, that they will first be almost taken.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Elephant.

THe Elephant is a stranger with us, but the Indians and other places have them common. The King of the Palibroti had 90000, of them; of the Siamenses, 12000; and 4000 of them were armed against sudden occasions: The great King of Mogor had 50000 at command. Vartomannus saw heards of them in Mozambica. In Africa there are plenty. For Appianus Alexandrinus writes that there were 300 stalls for them at Carthage. Many strange things are spoken of them, and the most part past beleif. Lipsius hath collected them in his Epistle; we shall briefly reduce all to two, that is to their bo∣dy and soul. As for the first; it is exceeding great, the greatest of all land creatures, wherefore the Hebrews call him in the plural num∣ber Behemoth. It is certain that of old time they carried Castles of armed men into the Field, and an Author namelesse writes that he saw one of their teeth sold for 36 Ducats, it was 14 spans long, and 4, spans thick: so heavy that he could not take it up from the ground Aldrovandus. In his heart he hath a bone wonderful big, that Aldro∣vandus writes he saw in one that was killed. Aristotle maintains that he hath three stomacks. There were two found that weighed 225 pounds, Vartomannus. As for its soul, Writers set down great endowments that

he hath. Christophorus Acosta, who searched diligently the East In∣dies writes things that are incredible of them. It is most certain, saith he, that in the Kingdom of Malabar they talk together, and speak with mans voice. There was, saith he, in the City Cochin an Elephant, who carried things to the Haven, and laboured in Seafaring matters: When he was weary the governour of the place did force him to draw a Galley from the Ha∣ven which he had begun to draw, into the Sea: the Elephant refused it, the Governour gave him good words, and at last intreated him to do it for the King of Portugal. Hereupon, (it is hardly credible) the Elephant was moved, and reported these two words clearly, Hoo, Hoo, which in the language of Malabar is, I will, I will, and he presently drew the ship into the Sea. There was another example at Rome; when Tiberius was Emperour, 12, Elephants were brought into the Amphitheatre, in Cloaths that Players use, and first thir Commander divided them into several places of the Circuit, as they went they went easily as if they danced, and again when he spoak, they came together and danced in a round, and they scattered their flowers and Garlands, and according to the musick, they gently and in order moved their feet, and performed all things as well as the best sword Players. Then they (which is a mad wonder) as they were taught, sat down at Table, did eat and drink very modestly as if they had been men. The beds to sit on were low, co∣vered with Purple, and embroidered work, the Tables were furnished with divers kinds of provision in abundance, cups of Gold and Silver, great and small; were set upon them, in great dishes were meat, bread, flesh, and fruit. Then came in the Elephants, 6, males, and 6, females, they in Mens Gowns these in Womens Cloaths. They lay themselves very decently and reverently on the beds, and so sat at Table. Then, when the Mr. gave the sign, they put forth their snowts to the Table instead of hands, and take the meat very modest∣ly, and tast of it, no greedinesse or ravening was observed in them, none seemd to covet the greater or the better part, nor did they catch one before the other when boys that waited on them gave them the cup, and then by meanes of their trunk drank it jovially off, and they did sprinkle the remainder of the Wine upon the standers by, and so made a noise as pot companions do. Lipsius writes this in his own words, and it is the direct opinion of Aelian. And they learn all these things so eagerly, that Plutarch and Pliny say, that an Elephant that was somthing dull, and was often beat for not learning well, was found acting his part by Moon light, and some say that Elephants will learn to write and read. For Pliny saith plain∣ly from Mucianus, that one of them learned to describe the Greek let∣ters, and did write in the same tongue these words. I my self▪ writ this, and I offerd the Celtick spoils. But what we may judge of them may be collected out of Libavius de Intellectu bestiarum. They seem also to hold a sympathy with the Moon, for when the Moon after Conjuncti∣on begins to appeare again, they crop boughs from Trees, and hold them up, and looking toward the Moon, they shake them. They may 〈…〉〈…〉 her diety. But I say no more.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Dormouse, and Gulo.

THe Dormise sleep all the Winter as round as a ball; when they come to the calm Ayr they will revive between your hands, by a warm breathing, Gesner. They are strangely taken in the valley of Pel∣nig: for the Country men go forth in the night with Torches, and coming near them, they blind them with the light, and so take them with their hands. They put Apples on cleft sticks or forks, which the Dormise love to eat the kernels of, so they can the better take them out: Amongst the Rhetians that speak Italian, they salt up their flesh, because it is sweet and fat, and as pleasant as hogs flesh, Ges∣ner. Gulo is a creature in the North parts, he feeds on Carrion, till he be full like a drum; then he goes between narrow Trees, and presses his stretched belly till he unload himself, and then he crams again, Michov. l. 2. descript. Sarmat. Europeae.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Hyaena, and the Porcupine.

THe Hyaena is a Creature as big as a Wolf, and hath horses hair, but harder, and it goes all over his back, Aristot. in admirand. He seems to have the genitals of both Sexes; but some have onely a long line under their Tail, Aristot. If you take hold of the right, when he is at his venery, he becomes stupid; but if by the left, it kills him, Gillius in Aelian. A Portupine is like a Pig at two moneths old, he hath a head like a Hare, ears like a man, feet like a Bear, a mane that stands up, and the forepart is hollow. Two little bunches of skin grow on both sides of his mouth; long bristles grow out of them. In Summer he lies hid, but comes forth in Winter: and when it is great with young, it is said to follow the Bear in time, Agricola de subterran. Gisner refers Cardanus Monster to the Porcu∣pine, for he writes thus, l. 10. subtil. There was a Creature (saith he) of a strange kind, which this present year 1530, January 19, we saw at Papia; It was as great as Fox, but the face was sowething longer, and the jawes were like to a Hares, with long hair, and two very long teeth, for they stuck out as long as a mans finger, like to a Squirrils teeth, the eyes were like to Serpents eyes, black, and without corners. There was a cap on its head like a Goats beard, but no otherwise than a Peacocks tuft. The hair was like to a Weasels, very fair, onely about the neck it appeared like white wooll; the forefeet were like a Badgers, the ears and hinder feet like to mens, but that the feet had nails like a Bear. On the back and hinder part, there were about a hundred thorny quills like a Porcupine, some of them were crooked at the point; they stuck forth, but were not moveable, as they say the Porcupine

can shoot hers; when it moved they made a noise by rusling together. The tail was like a Gooses, but the feathers were pointed like thorns. If you saw nothing else, you would say it were a Goose. He had feathers white and coloured, and a great eye like a Goose. The tone was obscure and hoarse like the barking of a dog. It was an angry creature, yet the Moun∣tebank could easily deal with it. It hated dogs extreamly, this was a young one, and a shee. It did not drink, but eat bread dipt in water, &c.

CHAP. XX. Of the Hee-Goat.

A Goat sometimes runs so violently at one, that he will run a hole in a board, or a Target: after he is 7 months old, he begins to couple, Aelian. His blood is a present remedy for the pains of the stone in the Reins or bladder. For it dissolves stones that are bred, and will let no more grow, easing the pains also, Aetius l. 11. c. 12. But great Gesner shews how it must be prepared. When the Grapes begin to grow ripe, take a new pot, and pour water into it, and boyl it untill the pot have been well cleansed, then take a Hee-goat that is of ripe age, out of the herd, about 4. years old, and kill him, and re∣ceive the middlemost blood in the pot, leaving that blood that came first forth, and that which comes last: let the middlemost blood thicken, and as it is in the pot, break it into many pieces with a sharp reed, then expose it to the open Ayr, covered with a thick net, or thin linnen cloath, or a close sieve, that it may be prepared by the Sun, and become dewy; wipe off the dew, and after two of the clock set it in the Sun, taking care that no rain fall upon it. When it is well dryed, put it up diligently in a box for use; and when the pain abates, give a spoonful of it with Candie wine. This medicament is called Gods-hand.

CHAP. XXI. Of the Goat call'd the Evick, and the Indiat Rat, Ichneumon.

THe Evicks in the Alps are a kind of wild Goats. They naturally require cold, otherwise they would grow blind. They have huge weighty horns that are reclining toward their backs; and the elder they are, so much the greater. The old horns are with 20 knots grown on them, and then two of them weigh above 16 pounds. There is no rock so steep but they will leap upon it, if they can but find place to stand; some say they will climb up a steep wall. Hun∣ters say, that when they are ready to die they will clamber up a very high rock, and leaning one horn against the rock, they will run round continually, till they have broken it, and fall down dead, Gesner.

Ichneumon is a Creature in Egypt with a long tail, like to a Serpents, Oppian. Without the Chin he hath an excrescence beset with hair, when it is hot he openeth that, his mouth being shut. The Country men of Alexandria sell the young ones in the Market; for they bring them up to catch Mice, which they will do like Cats. He is an Ene∣my to the Crocodile; for when he observes him sleeping, he rolles himself in clay, and goes into his mouth, and so into his belly, and eats his Liver, and then leaps forth again, Gillius in Oppian: but Gesner will not believe it.

CHAP. XXII. Of the Lion.

THere is plenty of Lions in the Province of Gingui, they are so offensive to the Inhabitants, that they dare not go out of their houses by night, nor come with Ships into the Haven, Gesner. Lions bones have no marrow in them, and are so hard, that they will strike fire, Aelian. They have teeth like Sawes. Their neck is made of one stiff bone, without any vertebra's: they have five clawes on their forefeet, and but four on the hinder feet; the balls of their eyes are black, Aristot. They are no gluttons, for they eat but once in two dayes, and drink in like manner; for when they are crop-sick, they will abstain one day; and when they have eaten too much, they will thrust in their clawes down their throats, and pull it out again, Ari∣stot. When they have filled themselves with the flesh of any crea∣ture, they will breathe on the remainder with open mouth; whence it will stink so, that no Creature will touch it, Aelian. They sleep but little, and when they do sleep, their eyes are half open. They bring forth but once in their life, and that but one, saith Herodot. hist. 3. The Whelps littered, sleep 3. dayes; The Males roar, and rouze them, Gellius l. 13. c. 7. They love their young ones exceeding∣ly. In Pangeum a Mountain of Thrace, a shee-Bear had killed the Lions Whelps, when the Lyons were absent; and she was gon, and clamberd up a Tree. The old Lyons followed, but they could not get up, so they could not be revenged. The Shee-Lyon stay'd, and the He went into the Mountains, and found a Shepherd with an Ax, the Lyon favvnd upon him who was sore afraid, and makes him take up his ax: and taking hold of his Cloths, brought him to the Tree: which being cut, the Bear fell down, and they tore her in peices. The Lion is mild to them that yeeld. He will scarse hurt those that lye down, and when he is not hungry he will seaze on men, rather then women, but not upon Chil∣dren unlesse he be extream hungry. Avicenna writes that if any man throw a stone or dart at the Lyon, and misse him, or hurt him but little he will rather threaten him than kill him: if he do revenge, he will do no more hurt, than he received; Crantzius in Saxon, l. 8. c. 24. He saith, that formerly in England a Lyon could tell noble blood from base. There are tame ones: For in a plain Country of the Kingdom of

Fez, they will drive them with a staffe, and in another Country of Africa, they gather bones in Villages, Leo African. Lastly those of In∣dia are so gentle, that being used to the place they will be led on hunt∣ing, Aelian. Marcus Antonius first yoked them, they are frighted with Coach wheels running round, and with the Combs, and Crowing of Cocks, but chiefly by fire, Plin. In Armenia they are killed with the powder of deadly fish, Aelian, and some little Worms that are Ve∣nemous to Lyons, with the powder whereof they strew flesh for them, Solin.

CHAP. XXIII. Of the Hare.

THe Country of Ithaca is dangerous for Hares, for bring them thi∣ther they will dye. But the Baleares is a pleasant place for them: for heretofore they were there in such abundance, that the inhabitants desired Souldiers to assist them against them, from Au∣gustus, Pliny. The young ones are white in the Alps in Winter, Gesn. But Pausanias saw in Arcadia white ones brought from Lybia. He wakes with his eye lids shut, and sleeps with them unmoved, Xe∣nophon. He sees but ill, for the eys are stretched out, the eye-lids are cut short, they do not cover the pupills of the eys. Albertus denies that there are of both sexes, but Niptus saith, That which Albertus said concerning Hares was alwaies a question with me, for in hunting I observed that a Hare had both a yard and testicles, and had young Hares in her belly, also we observed that a Hare had a Matrix, and young ones in it, and did want both pis••le and testicles. Rondeletius thinks, they are little bladders full of sanies; and indeed such do hang down from the beaver, wherein Castoreum is contain'd. They are said to live with dew, they use superfaetation, and bring young ones eve∣ry Month. When they go to their forms, they lay their young ones at least, an acre of ground asunder, lest if danger come, they should be all in hazard. Then they, running about many rounds, at last leap out into their form.

CHAP. XXIV. Of the Wolf.

IN Sardinia, Candie, Olympus, there are no Wolves. In Scandia if they go too far on the frozen Sea, the cold blinds them, Jervand. In the Mountains of Doffrinium they are white, and go in Troops. They eat Moles, Mice, &c, Olaus. Their necks are pressed together, so that they cannot stirre it, to look about, but they must move their whole bodies, Aelian. One that is hungry will smell his prey in the

night, though the wind be contrary, for half a mile, Stumpfius. When they have fasted very long, and have filled themselves again, their bellies will hang down, their tongues swell, their mouth is stop∣ped, their ravening is abated, but returns again, when they become lank as they were, Aelian. They devour hair, and bones and all, and void them as they eat them, Stumpf. When they are to fight in great herds, they fill their bellies with earth. When they are to passe over Rivers, they joyn tails; loaded with that weight they are not easily thrown down, and the floods can hardly carry them away, be∣ing joyned together, Aelian. When they have choice, they will al∣waies spare man; they fight also with hogs, very cunningly. One told me, (saith Albertus) that a Woulf was seen to take a great piece of wood in his mouth of 30 or 40 pound weight, in a Forrest, and did use with that to run over a great stock of a Tree, then when he thought he was skilfull enough in that exercise, he hid himself, and a wild hog coming thither by reason of Oates that were sowed there, and many hogs young and old with him; he brake forth, and catched the hog, that was about the bignesse of the block, he lept behind the stock of the Tree and there devoured him. They will not eat Oxen, if you hang his tail at the Cratch, Albert. Horses will tire under the rider, if they follow on the Wolves footing; if they tread on his heel, they will stand still, Gillius. The skins of sheep slayn by Wolves, will breed lice; but their flesh is the swee∣ter, Aristot. Plutarch ascribes this to his breath. His words are, The flesh of a sheep that is bitten by a Wolf, is made the sweeter, because the biting of the Wolf makes it soft and tender; for the breath of the Wolf is so fiery, that he will melt and consume the hardest bone in his stomack. Examples shew, that when he is shut in, he will do no harm: For in Italy, one going into a Country-mans house, the Country man ran away; but the Wolf did his Children no hurt, and falling into the same Cave with a Fox and a Woman, he hurt neither, Gesner.

CHAP. XXV. Of the Lizzard.

VOlatteranus writes, That there was a Lizzard 8. cubits long brought to Rome from Aethiopia, by the command of a Cardinal of Lisbone, and the mouth of it was so wide, that a Child might be put into it. Lerius c. 10. hist. saw one in Brasil, 7. foot long, as thick as a mans arm. If you strike it on the soal, and cut it in two pieces with a twig, neither part will dye, but it parts, and first goes, then joyns together, Aelian. The green ones are friends to man, that they will gaze upon him obliquely, and follow him when he goes; they will lick up his spittle, and Childrens urine, Erasmus in colloq. de amicitia. Putt alive into a new earthen vessell, and boyl'd with 3. Sextaryes of wine to one Cyathus, it is excellent good for one sick of the P••hisick, if he drink of it in the morning fasting, Marcell. Seven of them suffo∣cated

in half a measure of oyl▪ and set in the Sun for 3. dayes, will so alter it, that by anointing therewith, it will cure the Rose, Gesn. A water Lizzard, if he be angry, and as it were puffed up, will stand upright on his feet, and look terribly with open mouth on him that hurt him, and will by degrees send forth a venomous white swear, till he become all white, Agricola. When he is old and cannot see, he lies by a hole in the wall, against the East, and looking toward the Sun rising, he regains his sight, Isidor. To conclude, 'tis a won∣der that Aelian speaks in his history. There was (saith he) a man that catcht a great Lizzard, and with a brazen point he put out the eyes thereof, then he put it into an Earthen pot full of holes, that it might have breath, yet not come forth; he put in also de••y earth, and an herb, whose name he mentions not: then with an Iron ring, wherein the stone Sogates was set, in which was cut the picture of a Lizzard he made 9 seals, and every day he blotted out one: Lastly, when he took off the 9th. seal, and opened the p••t, I saw the Lizzard, and his sight was restored.

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

them. In Scandinavia he is so tame, that he will bring fish out of the water to the Cooks in the Kitchins; but because he is greedy of his prey, and kills too many, he is seldom used.

CHAP. XXVII. Of the Mouse.

AMongst the Allobroges the Mice are white, and the Inhabitants think they live by Snow, Scaliger. In the Island of Cyprus they will gnaw Iron; and in another Island, Gold; therefore they are cut in pieces for mettal, Aristot. in mirab. Their generation is won∣derfull: If they do but lick salt, some think they will conceive with∣out copulation, Aristot. A shee Mouse great with young, staying some time in a vessel of Millet seed; when the vessel came to be ope∣ned, there were found 120 Mice, Plin. In a part of Persia, she-Mice were opened that had she-mice with young ones in their bellies. They first perceive when a House will fall; Helice is an Example of it; for five dayes before it happened, the Mice and Serpents were seen to go away in Troops, Aelian ••n variis. When they fall into a ves∣sell of water, and can hardly come forth, they lay hold one by the tail of another, and so clamber forth. Elephants cannot endure the smell of them, for they will not feed on any thing that Mice have touched. They will ••lye away if one be gelded, or let run away with the skin of his head pull'd off. Avicenna, when they cry they fore∣shew tempests, they cry either because they perceive the Ayre cold, or because their skin is fine, and they cannot endure to tread on the cold earth, and therefore they leap up, Aratus. Some think they will not be taught, yet Albertus saith in upper Germany, he saw a Mouse hold a Candle at supper time, to give light to those that sate at Table when his Mr. commanded him. If a Mouse fall into new Wine and be drown'd, put him into hot ashes, and he will recover, Col••∣mel. 12.31. There are many kinds of Mice; A rat is four times as big as a Mouse. Agricola saw one taken in the mid'st of Aprill, that was white, with red eyes sticking out, and it was all hairy, and had a beard with very long haires. Men say that there are none to be found at Auspurg about the Temple of St. Huldericus, when they are lustfull they are furious, so that i•• they pisse on any naked part of a Man▪ it will rot to the bones, nor will the Ulcer be cured Albert Aquatic. They will hunt fish, and diving under water they will find some holes to come to land another way. The field-Mice that breed of putre∣faction have one right gut, and no more. A Physitian that dissected one, observed that, Gesner. When Nilus runs back again, little Mice are found imperfect, part of their body being alive from the mixture of earth and water, and part dead earth. In some places they come so suddedly in abundance, that they will eate up all the Corn, Pliny. The Wood-Mice steep from the ending of Autumne till the Spring be∣gins,

Gesnerus. In Norway it is called Citellus, it dwells in the Caves of the earth. There are found somtimes 40, in one hole, with abun∣dance of small nuts. They eate them fresh, or dried in the Chimney, Agricola. The Cricotus, or Hamester, is referred to Mice: his haire sticks so fast to his skin, that the skin will sooner come from the flesh, than the hairs from the skin. He will not easily be drawn out of his hole, but by scalding water. The male is false; for when there is meat enough within, he shuts out the female. But she revengeth his falsenesse with fraud; for possessing her self of some hole, not far from him, she will gather Corn he knows not of, and live upon that, Agri∣cola. Mice in the Alps are as big as Hares, or else betwixt a Co••ey and a Hare. It will foreshew a tempest with a very shrill voyce like a pipe, and that not only in the Mountains, but when he is kept in the House. He hath three holes in his cave, at one he enters and comes out again, in another he rests and dwells, in the third he ••ays his ex∣crements. When Mountains are covered with snow, he hides himself in his Cave, and shuts the holes: he stops in the earth so fast, and rams it in, that it is easier to dig up the earth on either side, than where it is rammed into the holes.

CHAP XXVIII. Of the Wesil, and the Sable Wesil.

WEesils carried into Baeotia will run away: in a certaine Island they will not be taken out, for if they be, they dye, Albertus. There was a man that affirmed he saw a Weesil passing over the River Limagus, constantly leaping; so that he never swam, but leaped upon the surface of it. It is an Aegyptian Hieroglyphick, for they say it in∣genders by the eare, and is delivered by the mouth; this emblem shews the nature of speech. His genitalls are bony; and is a speciall remedy against the stone. Yet, that must not, saith Albertus, be un∣derstood as if it were so indeed, but only by proportion that it hath. The Germans call the best sort of them Zobella. This skin is of very great price: for sometimes 2000 Crowns at Constantinople will hardly buy a coat of them. Jovius. But the nature of them is such, that laid in the Sun to dry, they will consume more, than if they be worn a whole yeare. This creature whilst it lives, alwaies lurks in a shady grove, and watcheth for Coneys; They are nimble and use their taile for a helme, as squirrils do, and will leap from Tree to Tree.

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.

CHAP. XXX. Of the Wild Goat call'd Oryx, and the Panther or Leopard.

PLiny reckons Oryx amongst wild Goats. When the Moon comes to the East, it looks upon it and cryes; and men say, that for hate thereof, it will digge up the ground with its forefeet, and will set the very balls of the eyes to the ground, and cast it up. Some think it doth the same when the Sun riseth; what place soever in the desart it finds water in, it will trouble it by drinking at it, and stirs the mud, and throwes dust into it, that it may not be fit to drink. The Panther smells so sweet, that it will allure all the wild beasts; but the frowning countenance it hath, frights them; wherefore he hides his head, and so they come and are caught. In the right shoulder they have a mark, like to the Moon; and as that increaseth, this in∣creaseth, and decreaseth, Albert. It breeds but once in the life-time, if we credit the Author of the Book of naturall things. When the young ones are grown in the Mothers belly they will not tarry, but tear out their passage: she with pain is delivered of them, and so can never after conceive again, the parts being corrupted where the seed should stay. Demetrius Physicus writes of it, that one of them lay in the way waiting for a man, and suddenly appeared to him: he was frighted▪ and began to run away, but the wild beast came and tumbled before him that was frighted, and was grieved at it. Which also may be understood of a Panther: For she had litt••red, and her Whelps were fallen into a pit. First therefore he had cause to pity her, and not to be afraid; and next to take care: and he was secure, as he understood the cause of her grief, and followed her, she gently laying her claws and drawing him by the garments; and he had his life for a reward for taking out her whelps; and she having got her young ones again, went along with him, and guarded him out of the desart, and she was jocant and merry, that it might easily appear how gratefull she was, and not to wrong him for his good deeds; which is a rare thing in a Man. They love wine, and when they are drunk they are catcht. The Holy Ghost likeneth Alexander the Great, who founded the Graecian Monarchy, to the Leopard. You shall see the applica∣tion in Cl: Domino Conrado Grasero, our Master, in his Isagogue of Univer∣sal History, a Work never can be enough commended.

CHAP. XXXI. Of the Frog.

FRogs couple in the Spring, and lay their spawn in the spring of the year following; in the middle of it the frog lieth hid, the Frogs being come forth, shew their great heads, Albertus. At Luta∣via they catch Bees when they come to drink at the water; it is ob∣served, that they will eat a dead mole, Albert. In August their mouth is so shut, that they can neither eat nor drink, nor cry; and you can hardly open it with your hand, or with a stick, lib. de nat. rer. Their young ones are destroyed by the leaves of Mullens, or Nut-leaves cast into the water, Aelian. If a candle lighted be set on the bank, they will leave croking, African. in Geopont. Their spawn is first found in March, wash your hands in it, and it will cure the Itch. Gesner saith it will cure the worms, whereof a fellon is a kind, if you lay it on your fingers. The Egyptian Frogs when they light upon a water-Snake, will take a reed in their mouthes, and so they cannot be de∣voured, Gillius. A Toad burned, will breed again of his own ashes. But in Dariene a Province of the New World, they breed presently from the drops that fall from their slaves hands, whilest they water the pavements. Martyr changeth them in Summer into Fleas; he ascribeth it to the filthy muddy Ayr. If you beat him with a wand, he will first cast forth his venom by his legs, and then he sweats some drops like milk. Frederick Duke of Saxony gave one of them to hold till it grew hot; it was first thrust through with a woodden spit, dry∣ed in the shade, and wrapt in Sarsnet; and this was his remedy to st••nch blood. Gesner makes the reason to be, Cold. Borax is a kind of Toad, especially of a brown colour, and in hot Countries is of a cubital magnitude, and sometimes carries its young on its back. In the forehead of this Toad is the stone found, sometimes it is white, sometimes brown, which is best, if it have a yellow spot in the mid∣dle. Some say it is onely a bone; some say it is bred of that bird-limy froth, which Toads meeting together in Spring-time, do breathe into the forehead of one of the chief of them. Gesner l. 2. de Oviparis, he cannot believe that it is a stone. He that would hear more of Frogs, shall ••ind it in the books of Libavius, his Battrachiorum, if he reads them.

CHAP. XXXII. Of Rangifer, and Rhinoceros.

RAngifer breeds in the North, specially in Norway and Swethland; it is like a Hart, but bigger in body, and exceeding strong. He ••ath three ranks of horns on his head, so that in each there are two, and his head seems to be set about with twigs. Of these two are grea∣ter

than the rest; when they come to perfection, they are five cubit••, and have 25 branches in them, Albertus. They are milked, and will go 30 miles a day, Olaus. Rhinoceros is a Beast as big as an Elephant, he hath one horn in his nose, and from thence he hath his name. It is moderately bent, and so sharp, that is will pierce stones and Iron, Aelian. His skin is very thick with skaly crusts, in colour and figure like a Tortoisse shell; It is so fast, that a Dart can hardly enter it. He is an Elephants enemy, when he fights with him, he whets his horn on a stone; then putting his horn under the Elephants belly, where it is softest, he rends him. He that will see examples, let him read Camerarius in subcisivis horis.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of divers Serpents.

IN the Province of Caraia, under the King of Tartaria, some Ser∣pents are ten yards long, and ten hands broad; some want fore∣feet, but have clawes in the room of them. Their eyes are as great as two small loaves. They are wonderfull good in Physick. For one, bit by a mad dog, if he drink but a penny weight, presently he will be suddenly cured; and a woman in labour, if she taste never so little thereof, will be delivered immediately, Paul Venetus. Americus Vespatius saw some in the Indies that men did eat. They were as big as Kids, and a yard and half long, their feet were long, armed with strong claws; their skin was of divers colours, and nose like a Ser∣pent. From the ears to the end of the tail, a certain bristle went quite through the back, that you would think they were Serpents indeed. Calecut breeds the like so great as Boars, and sometimes with greater heads, four feet, no venom, yet they bite dangerously, Ludovic. Rom. in Navig. In Hispaniola, called Hivana, of the West-Indies, there are some like to these. Their back is with pricks, their heads crested, they are mute, with four feet, a Lizzards tail, very sharp teeth, they are bigger than Conies, they live indifferently in Trees, Land, or Wa∣ter, and will suffer hunger many dayes. Anno 1543, there appeared four-footed beasts in the borders of Germany near to Styria, they were like Lizzards, and had wings, their biting was incurable. Anno 1551, about St. Margarets day in Hungary near Zischa, about the River Theisa, they were found in the bodies of many: They killed about 3000 men. Some came out of mens mouthes, but they went in again. It is almost incredible what is reported of those places: That multitudes of them were found in piles or handfuls of wheat: and when the Country men thought to burn them, there came a great many more forth, and charged them with mans voice to forbear, say∣ing, that they were not bred naturally, but sent by God to punish men for their sins.

CHAP. XXXIV. Of the Squirril, and Ape-fox.

THe Squirrils have but one blind gut, as great as a stomack, and in dissection it is alwayes found swoln with excrements, Vesalius. They are said to have a bony generative part. They foresee a tem∣pest, and opening their holes on the contrary side, they shut those places where the winds will blow, Albert. When it would passe over the water for to find food, he takes the bark of a Tree that is very light, and sets it on the water, sitting in it, and stears it with his Tail lifted up, and so the wind carries him over, Autor. lib. de natur. The Ape-fox is a Creature in Pariana, a Country of the Indies. Before, he is like a Fox; behind, an Ape: he hath mans feet, and Owls ears: under his common belly he hath another belly like a Wallet; she keeps her young in this, and it comes not forth but to suck, Gillius. Peter Martyr Decad. 1. l. 9. saith, he saw one dead, amongst such vaste Trees, that 16. men together could not fathom round.

CHAP. XXXV. Of the Ape.

THere are in some Countries Apes in abundance. Posidonius saw a wood full of them in the borders of Lybia. In a word, Alexan∣der saw Mountains full of them in the Indies. He thought when he espyed them by chance, standing upright, that an Army was ready to besiege him, Aelian. Amongst the Troglodites they have Manes like Lions, and the greatest are as tall as weathers, Scalig. in Exercit. In the Indies Mediterranean, they are huge bodies, and they follow civill Merchandise without any offence. Galen thought them the likest to Mankind, amongst all creatures, for their Bowels, Muscles, Arteries, and Nerves. But Vesalius saith, they are the most unlike in the Muscles of the Thorax, that move the arm, cubit and thigh; and those that move the shoulders and toes; and lastly, for the inward structure of the hand. A Male was seen, whose heart had two points, Albert. Scaliger saw many without tails, as great as a boy of eight years old, and a male and female with their young. If the young desire any thing, the shee is admonished by the hee clinching his fist, and he will correct her with a fierce look, as being guilty of ill-using her young ones. Mutianus saith, that those which have such tails, are sad when the Moon is decaying, and they rejoyce and adore the new Moon. He addes, That some were seen to play at Chesse, for they will imitate a man unluckily; for an Ape saw a Midwife wash the Child, and bind him up in swathebands, and lay him in the

Cradle, when he spide that the Child was alone, he went in at the window that was open, and took up the Child and unswathed it, and washed it with scalding water till he kill'd it, Aelian. He is very much afraid of a snail. Erasmus saith, At Rome we had an example of this. A man put a snail on his Childs head, and covered it with a Cap. Then he brought him to the Ape, who was glad and leaped on the boys shoulder to look lice, taking off his Cap he saw the Snail: it was strange to see how he was frighted and leapt back, and how fearfully he looked backward to see if the snail followed him. Another example. We tied a snail to one end of the cord that the Ape was tied with, that he could not get away, but he must look upon it; tis wonderfull how he was frighted, only he did not dye for feare; somtimes he strove to drive away the beast that stuck fast with his hinder feet, at last he pissed and shit all he had in his belly; and of this fright he fell into a feaver, that we were forced to let him loose, and to give him Wine mingled with Water to refresh him.

CHAP. XXXVI. Of Su and Subus.

SU in Patagonia, is a most monstrous beast, she takes her Whelps on her back, and covers them with her tail, when the hunter fol∣lows, and so she escapes. Wherefore she is caught in a pit, covered with leaves: when she is taken, she kills her young ones for madnesse, and cryes out so horridly that she frights the Hunters, Thevet. in de∣script. Americae. Subus is an Amphibion, with two Horns: he follows shoals of fish swimming in the Sea: Lobsters, Pagri, and Oculatae, are fishes that love him; but he cares for none of their love, but makes them all his prey.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of the Sow.

WEe shall contract briefly what is said of the Sow. It is a crea∣ture we know, but it will not live in Arabia, Pliny. Brought into Hispaniola, it grows as great as a Mule, Martyr. In Aethiopia it hath Horns. In England and Sclavonie, they have none. In Macedonia they are mute, Aelian. A Sows brain is fat: when the Moon decreaseth, it abateth; the eares are full of a humour like gall. When she looks upward, she is silent; for, looking commonly down ward, when she looks upwards, the light dants her, and her sharp artery being straightned holds in her voyce. Aphrodis. Somtimes, she will grow so fat, that it is miraculous. There were two ribs of a Hogg sent to L. Volumnius being in Spain, they weighed 23, pound; and from the bone to the skin was a foot and 3, fingers, Pliny. And Crescentiensis saith,

that the whole hog weighed 570 pound. There was one seen in Arcadia, that the Mice and Rats had eaten into it, and bred there: The same happened at Basil, Gesner. For some Creatures have fat that is insensible: and we read in Pliny, that the fat was taken away from the Son of L. Apronius the Consul, and his body was made lighter, of a burden one man could not carry. As concerning venery, Sows breed often that are homebred; but wild Sows but seldom: For they have plenty of meat, and do not labour much; these must seek for it, and wandring over the Mountains, endure trouble, Plutarch. Both of them are so wearied with copulation, that they fall asleep, and will grunt and grow so mad, that they will rend those that come near unto them, Aristotle. They will miscarry. They are friends with the Crocodile, and will come to the banks of Nilus without of∣fence, Calcagn. They mightily hate some kind of Barley in Thrace, for they do not onely forbear to eat it, but they refuse all excrements that proceed from it, Aristot. in admirand· The Measils is a common disease amongst them, and there is scarce any Hogg that hath not three kernels. The Druides make mention of a famous remedy, an herb that growes in moyst grounds; but because they command us to gather it with the left hand, and that he that gathers it must not look back, and must lay it no where but in their trough that they drink, having first bruised it, it is superstitious.

CHAP. XXXVIII. Of the Mole.

THere is great store of Moles, in Boeotia in the Country Orchomenia, Arist. In Lebadia that is near unto it, there are none; and brought from other places, they will not earth. Aristotoles saith, they want eyes; but Gesner saith, their eyes are plain, and putting forth, without the skin like black spots, as great as Millet seed, and fastned to their nerves. Also a Learned man in Gesner saith, That he found young ones in one that he dissected, with great heads, and they had eyes: They delight in Toads; and Albertus testifieth it by his own example: but he also knew Frogs and Toads to eat a dead Mole. Johan. averlin. Consul Gedanensis was cured of a Fistula in the corner of his eye, by the powder of a Mole that was burnt, and given him in powder to drink.

CHAP. XXXIX. Of Tatus and the Tyger.

TAtus is a four-footed Creature that is a stranger to us. It hath a thick covering, and a scaly shell, so that his flesh may be easily taken forth of it. I first saw this Creature at St. Andrews in Scot∣land (it is an Archiepiscopall City, and there is a famous University in it) in the place for rarities of the most noble and most courteous Gentleman John Arnet, Protonotary for the Office of the Commissary in the Archbishop∣rick of St. Andrews, at whose house I lodged. But because it drawes it self into its shell, it is thought to be a kind of Brasilian Urchin. It is like to that which in new Spain is called Avitochli: it is as big as a Cat, having a bill like a Duck, feet like a Hedge-hog, a long neck; and men report, that it grunts like a Sow. I have little to say of the Tyger, unlesse I should set down the history of Peter Martyr, of one in Dariene, an Island of the new World. It did so afflict the whole Island with killing people, that no man could go safe out of his house, afterwards it fell into a Pit that was dug, and stuck upon sharp stakes that were fastned in the bottom, and was yet so strong, that it would break Spears cast upon it, into a thousand pieces; but in the end it was killed with stones. Ledesma a Spaniard saith, they boyl'd the flesh of it, and he eat part thereof, and it was as good as Ox-flesh: It is a Creature so swift, that Oppianus compares it to the West wind.

CHAP. XL. Of the Tortoise.

TOrtoises in Taprobana are so great, that one of them will weigh 300 pound, Scalig. Pliny saith, that some are so great, that men may dwell under them. And between the Islands, especially of the red Sea, they rowe in them for Boats. The Sea-Tortoises have no tongue, nor teeth, they break all things with the edge of their snowe. In Hispaniola at what time they are given to venery, they come forth of the Sea▪ Sand being cast into a deep pit, she lays 3. or 400 eggs there; when she hath laid all, she covers her eggs with sand, and returns to the Sea, taking no more care for her young ones. At the time appointed they come forth, as out of an Ant-hill, in great mul∣titudes; onely by heat of the Sun, without help of the old ones, Mar∣tyr. The eggs are as big as Goose egs. When the head of one is cut off▪ it doth not die presently, but sees, and will shut its eyes, if you put your hands before them; and if you put them near, it will bite them, Aelian. Bellonius saw a kind of Tortle brought out of Turky,

that the Ancients knew not of. The shell of it is thin and Transpa∣rent, like to the colour of a Chrysolite. The Turks make hafts for knives of them, they are so pretious, that they adorn them with studs of gold. There is an Island in the Sea found by Jambolus toward the South, that brings forth little Creatures, that are of admirable vertue for their blood and nature. Their bodies are round and like to Tor∣tles, with two overthwart lines cutting one the other in the middle; in the end of each of them there is an ear and an eye, so that they see with four eyes, and hear with as many ears. It hath but one belly without any gut, and what it eats runs into that. They have many feet round about, and walk both wayes. The blood is said to be of wonderfull vertue. For every body that is wounded will grow to∣gether again, if it be smeered with this blood, Johan. Boemus▪

CHAP. XLI. Of the Bear.

IN the farthest part of Arabia they devour flesh, Strabo l. 1••. But in Mysia it is otherwise; for when they are hunted, they send forth a breath that will corrupt the flesh of the Hunter; and if they come nearer, they will cast a flegme out of their mouthes; that kills or blinds dogs and men, Aristot. in mirab. Sometimes they are very great, five cubits long. There was one brought to Maximilian that was as great as a large Ox, Vadianus. His head is so weak, that a sound blow will strike him dead, Pliny. He eats his water when he drinks, and having tasted of the Apples of Mandragora, he recovers by licking at an Ant-hill. She is said to bring forth a young one big∣ger than a Rat, but lesse than a Cat, that is both naked and unformed in its parts, Gillius: and Pliny, a rude masse. But one that was cut forth in Polonia was sent to Gesner, it was above ones finger long, and as thick as ones thumb; the body had joynts, except the hinder feet, Gesnerus. When he is fa••, he creeps into his den upon his back▪ and so takes away his footsteps, that the hunters may not perceive them. In this den he will grow lean in 40 dayes; and he will keep himself alive, lying still and sneking his right foot 14 dayes. When he per∣ceives that his 〈…〉〈…〉 is grown so empty, that it cleaves almost toge∣ther, he comes forth and feeds on Cuckow-pint, Aelian. Then there is no shew of meat left, but onely a little moysture in his belly, and some small drops of blood about his heart. Theophrastus thought that, during that time, the flesh was digested, and the Bear grew bigger by it. The Males love women. Amongst the A••••obroges one was seen, that caught a Maid and carried her to his den; and wooed her venereously, and fed her with Apples growing in the Woods. Swi∣drigelus▪ the Prince of Lithuania hath tryed it, that they will grow tame. For he bred up a Shee-Bear, which he was wont to feed by hand, and she was wont to run into the Woods and come home

again, and would come home into the Prince his bed-Chamber, Vo∣later. l. 7.

CHAP. XLII. Of the Fox.

IN Caspia there is such abundance of Foxes, that they will go into Country houses, and come into Cities, Aelian: and will be so tame, that they will fawn like dogs. They are very strong, in Sardinia, for they will kill the fiercest Rams, and young Calves, Munster. They are white in Muscovy; in Arabia they are of an ill-favoured hair, and exceeding bold. At night they rowze one the other by barking, and seeking for their prey, they will snatch away mens very shooes, Scalig. When they are to passe over frozen Rivers in Thracia, they will lay their ears to the Ice, and so judge whether it be thick enough, Plin. When they see a flock of birds flying, they will roll themselves in red clay, that they may appear like blood and they counterfeit themselves dead; but when the birds come to sit upon them, they catch them, and eat them, Herus. When they are troubled with fleas, they will take some soft straw, and dip their hin∣der parts into the water; the Fleas when they feel the cold water, will creep up toward their heads, and then they put their heads under water, and the Fleas will leap into the straw, the Foxes let go the straw, and run away.

CHAP. XLIII. Of the Unicorn.

AUthors ore of divers opinions concerning the Unicorn. They doubt whether there be such a creature, some affirm it and some deny it. Garzias, ab Horto. Physitian to the Kings Deputy in India, observed a creature like to the description of an Unicorn. It had a wonderfull Horne, that he would turn somtimes on one side, som∣times on the other, and somtimes he would lift it up, and somtimes let it down. Ludovicus Vartomannus saith, that he saw two of them sent to the Sultan at Machae out of Aethiopia, to Mahomets Tomb, they were shut up in Lattises, and were not fierce. The Horns of this creatures are shew'd in many places; At the Monastery of St. Denys there is a whole one in a dark vault of the Sanctuary, and the end of it stands in water. The water is given to drink to those that go under that hollow arch; so soon as they have drank that, they suddenly fall into a great sweat. There is one also seen at Venice, in St. Marks Church, and another at Rome covered with a Purple covering. Al∣drovandus writes that there was a Jew at Venice that boasted he had a

true one, and proved it by a wonderfull example: for he laid a Scor∣pion and Spider on a Table, and compassed the place in with the Unicorns Horn, these creatures were not able to passe out, but were killed either by the shade or the vertue of it. Cardanus describes it, That it is a rare creature as big as a horse, with hair like a Weasil, a head like a Stag, that hath one Horn growing on it, 3 Cubits long; it stands in the middle of the forehead, and is right and strait, it is broad at the bottom; it hath a short neck, a thin mane, lying but on one side, with small feet like a Goat, &c: Pliny saith, that it is a most rough creature▪ and the rest of the body is like to a horse, the head like a Stags, the feet like an Elephants, the taile like a Bor••s, with one black Horn, sticking out of the middle of the forehead two cubits length; what ever it be, here is cause enough to doubt of it. For first there are many kinds of Unicorns described, and we know not whether they be of the same kind. In India there be Oxen that have their hoofs undi∣vided, and they have but one Horn if we credit Pliny, There are Bulls in Aonia if we beleive Aelian and Oppianus. There were some in the Wood Hercynia, if Caesar be to be believed. Ludovicut Barthema saith, that he saw in Zeilam a City of Aethiopia, a kind of Cows that had but one Horn in their forehead, that was but a hand breadth long, and turned backwards. As for the Horns, there is much sophi∣stication in them. There was one found upon the shore of the River Arula, in Helvetia, nere to Bruga: who shall certainly make choice of these for the Unicorns Horn. That which Albertus saw was a hand breadth and a half thick, ten foot long, without any spirall lines, and like to a Stags Horn? And a Horn so thick and long, seems to apper∣tain to a living creature as great as a great Ship. Aldrovandus thinks that the cup which Alvarez Mendosa gave to the great Duke of Hetru∣ria, which he had from the King of Narsinga, was rather made of one of those creatures Horns which are seen in Basma and Macinum, Coun∣tries of Tartary, that are as big as Elephants. The Diameter of that cup was as much as both hands could hardly compasse. He that would read more of the Unicorn, let him read Andreas Marinus, An∣dreas Baccius, and Casparus Bartholinus. I for a conclusion will add somthing, omitted concerning the Mule. The common opinion is that the Mule is barren, and if they do bring forth, it is held for a monstrous thing. Yet in some Countries of Africa they are ordinarily with young and do bring them forth, Varro. It appears by the Mo∣numents of the Athenians that one lived 80, yeares. And they took pleasure in it, when they built a Temple in the Fort, that this old Mule would encourage their Cattel that fell down, with accom∣paning them, and labouring with them, wherefore they made a de∣cree, that no men that cleansed Corne should drive the Mule from their sieves, Plin. Some write they will not kick if they drink Wine. They have an excellent smell. Hence those Mules that are out of the way will return into the way when they smell it, and they easily are infected with the contagious force of the Ayre, and fall sick of the

Plague, Aldrovandus, l. 4. de Quadrup. There is something in them that is death to Mice; for the fume of the hoofe of a Mule will drive them from the house. Columella saith, That the pain of their guts is abated by the sight of swimming Ducks. Cardinal Ponzettus bids us to inclose one that is infected with the Plague, into the belly of a Mule newly slain: and Marantha de simplicibus saith, he must be shut in so long, untill all the heat of the Mule be vanished; and this must be done oft times.

The End of the Seventh Classis.