A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. XXXVIII. Strange Beasts.

FOR the sake of those People that never Travell'd either with their Legs or Intellectuals beyond the narrow Horizon of their own Countrey, I have here Collected a short Catalogue and Description of such strange Beasts, as are bred only in Foreign Parts, or, but rarely in our own; still with the same Design to Illustrate the Power and Wisdom, both of the Divine Creation and Providence. Yet I dare not say, that I have all here, that were in Noah's Ark; nor have I searched all the Desarts of Arabia, and wide Wildernesles of the World; sor so I might have lost my self.

1. The Lions bones have no Marrow in them, they have Teeth like Saws, their Neck is made of one stiff bone. without any Vertebrae; they have 5 Claws on their Fore-feet, and but 4 on their Hinder feet; the Balls of their Eyes are black, Arist. They sleep but little, and when they do Sleep, their Eyes are half open; Aristotle says, they eat and drink but once in two days;

he is mild to them that yield; he will scarce hurt those that lie down; and when he is not Hun∣gry, he will seize on Men, rather then Women, but not upon Children, unless he be extream Hungry; they are frighted with Coach Wheels running round, and with the Combs and crow∣ing of Cocks, but chiefly by Fire. Johnston. Hist. Nat. Clas. 7. cap. 22. p. 223.

2. The Elephant is the greatest of all Land Creatures; it is certain, that in Old time, they carried Castles of armed Men into the Field. Aldrovandus tells of one of their Teeth, sold for 36 Ducars, it was 14 spans long, and 4 spans thick; so heavy, that he could not take it up from the Ground, and in his Heart he hath a Bone wonderful big, that he saw in one that was killed. Johnston Hist. Nat. Clas. 7. p. 219.

Some of the Indian Elephants are reported by Aelian, to be 9 Cubits high, 9 long, and 5 broad or thick.

3. The Crocodiles lay one Egg as big as a Goose Egg, yet from this small beginning, they grow to a vast bigness; sometimes they are more then 18 Cubits long; Aristotle says, their Tongue sticks all fast. When Nilus runs back to its Channel, the Crocodiles will lie hid in the Mud, watching to satisfie their Hunger; and they strike those that come, and Strangle them with their Tails. The Trochilus is his Guard, and the Tentyritae are his Enemies; he awakes him when the 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 warns to close up his upper Chap; but these swim in the River, and getting upon their Backs as if they rid, they thrust a Bough into their Mouths, and compell them to Vomit up the Bodies they have Newly de∣vo••red. Johnston's Hist. Nat. Clas. 7. p. 217.

4. The Ichneumon, is a Creature in Egypt, with a long Tail like to a Serpent's Oppian; with∣out the Chin he hath an Excreesence beset with Hair; when it is hot, it openeth that, his Mouth being shut; they will catch Mice as Cats: When he observes the Crocodile Sleeping, he rolls himself in Clay, and goes into his Mouth, and so into his Belly, and eats his Liver, and then leaps forth again. Johnston's Hist. Nat. p. 223.

5. The Chamaeleon, he changeth 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 dead, he is pale. It is certain, that sometimes he lives by the Air, for he will suffer Hunger a whole years some say, that he turns to the Sun, and draws in the Sun-beams, and follows them with open Mouth. Zandius says, he will hunt Flies; who saith, he dissected the Tongue of one that was as long as one Hands breadth, hollow and empty; in the top, was a Hole, with Snivel in it, with which he catcht his Prey. Johnston's Hist. Nat. Clas. 7. cap. 13. p. 216.

6. The Panther smells so sweet, that it will allure all the Wild Beasts; but the frowning Coun∣tenance 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 the Moon; and as that increaseth, this increaseth and decreaseth, Albert. Demetrius Physicus writes, 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 Panther came and tumbled before him, and was grieved at it; for she had littered, and her Whelps were fallen into a Pit; 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, guarded him out of the Desart, and she was jocund and merry, that it might easily appear, how grateful she was, and not to wrong him for his good deeds, which is a rare thing in a Man. John∣ston's Hist. Nat. Clas. 7. p. 230.

7. The Rhinoceros, is a Beast as big as an Elephant, he hath one Horn in his Nose; it is mo∣deratly bent, and so sharp, that it will pierce Stones and Iron; his Skin is very thick, with Scaly Crusts, in Colour and Figure, like a Tortoise-shell; it is so fast, that a Dart can hardly enter it. He is the Elephants Enemy, when he Fights with him, he whets his Horn on a Stone; then puts his Horn under the Elephant's Belly, where it is softest, he rends him. Johnston's Hist. Nat. Clas. 7. cap. 32. p. 232.

8. The Camel, Puddle Water is sweet to him, nor will he drink river Water, till he have troubled it with his Foot; they serve the Indians to Travel with, and will go hundred Miles a day, for eight days together, with very little Meat; they never couple with their Dams; they are very docil; when they are longer in their Journey than ordinary between Ethio∣pia 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. At Alcair, they dance at the sound of a Taber, being Taught by a strange Art; for when they are young, they are brought into a Stove, the Pave∣ment being very hot; one plays on a Taber at the Dore, they because of the heat lifts up their Feet; they continue their Exercise, and use them to it a whole Year so, that coming in publick, re∣membring the hot Pavement, when one plays on the Taber, they will lift up their Feet, and dance. The swiftest kind are called by the Affricans, Ragnail, Johnston. Hist. Nat. Class. 7. cap. 6. p. 209.

9. The Beaver is a most strong Creature to bite, 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, Johnston. p. 211.

10. The Bear, when he is Hunted, will send forth a Breath, that will corrupt the Flesh of of the Hunters; and if they come nearer, they will cast a Flegm out of their Mouths, that kills or blind Dogs and Men. Aristot. de Mirab. she brings forth her Young, somewhat bigger then a Rat, that is both anked and unformed in its parts, a rude Mass. When he is Fat, he creeps into his Den on his back, and so takes away his Footsteps, that the Hunters may not perceive them. In this Den, he will grow lean in 40 days; and he will keep himself alive, lying still and

sucking his right Foot, 14 days. Johnston. p. 237. In Brasil, is the Ant Bear as big as a g reat Dog the Tail twice as long as the Body, and so full of Hair, that under it he shelters himself from Rain, Heat, Cold, and Wind, his Tongue 3 quarters of a Yard long, which he thrusts into Ant hills, upon which they run, and when full, he licks them in. Pur. Pilgr. Vol. 4. v. 1301.

11. Whether the Ʋnicorn be? Authors are of divers Opinions, some affirm it, and some deny it. Ludovicus Vartomanus saith, that he saw two of them sent to the Sultan at Mecha, out of Ethi∣opia, they were shut up in Lattises, and were not fierce; the Horns of this Creature are shewed in many places; at the Monastery of St. Dennis; there is one also at St. Mark's Church in Venice, and another at Rome. Cardan describes it, That it is a rare Creature, as big as an Horse, a Head like a Stag, that hath one Horn growing on it, 3 Cubits long; it stands in the middle of the Forehead, it is straight, and is broad at the bottom; it hath a short Neck, a thin Mane, with Feet like a Goat. A Portuguese affirms, that he saw them in the Abyssine Empire, as large as a handsome Horse, of a dark brown Colour, with the Mane and Tail black, with a fair beautiful Horn in the Forehead, 5 palms long, the Colour inclining to white; they live in close Woods and Thickets, sometimes venture into the Champion, not often seen, being timerous, are not many, and those conceal'd in the Woods. A Portuguese Captain, with 20 Soldiers in Company, de∣signing to breastfast, while their Horses graz'd; a Ʋnicorn described as before, sprang among the Horses; the Spectators had sufficient time to see and observe him. See the Relation Printed by the Order of the Royal Society. Anno 1669. by Sir Peter Wyche.

12. The 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 Fish abundantly; he takes wonderful de∣light to wear a Garment; he hurts no Man; he understands the Indians, he will gently feed Sheep for their Milks sake. Pliny. l. 7. c. 7. Strabo. 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; hence the Egyptians had the Picture of a Baboon Pissing upon their Dials. The second is, that when the Moon hath been sometimes in Coniunction with the Sun, and loseth her Light, the Male will not look not feed, but holds down his Face to the Earth; nor will the Female move her Eyes any way, casting withal, her Sperm forth; therefore are they held Sacred, and fed unto this day, that by them the set time of the Moon's Conjunction with the Sun may be known by them. Johnston's Nat. Hist. Clas. 7. c. 13.

13. The marmaset, is a larger kind of Monkey, the Tail 5 Cubits long, his Hair hanging down from his Forehead; by their Legs, Face, Genitals, they look like Countrey Men, they are else∣where all over Hairy; they love Children and Women, and desire to embrace them, saith Cardan. 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 Countrey-man; the rest flie. They so hate a Crocodile, that they can't endure to see his Skin at a g reat distance; In the Borders of Cariai, there are some will leap from bough to bough, as if they flew. Ibid.

14. The Cocus is a 4 footed wild Beast in Slythia and Sarmatia, for greatness between a Stag and a Ram, white and very swift; drinking with their Nostrils, and bearing it for some days; so that they will feed well enough in Pastures, where no Water is. Strabo. l. 7. About About Easter you may see 2000 together; upon eating a Venerious Herb in March, they lie for a day as half dead. Johnston. Ibid. out of Gesner.

15. The Buff, is bigger then an Ox, with a bunch on his Back, with a very large Forehead, curled with Hair, that smells like Musk; the Flesh fattest in Summer, but tasting of Garlick, that it feeds on; so strong, it will take up a Horse and his Rider: The Blood, redder then Pur∣ple; so hot, that it will soften the Iron of the Hunters Spear, and in the greatest Cold, it will Corrupt in two hours. In the Scotch Woods, they will not touch the Shrubs that Men have touched for many days; being taken by Art, they will die for Grief. Camd. in Scotia.

16. The Haut, or Cercopithecus, is a Creature in America, mighty Ill-favoured, as big as a Mon∣key, his Belly touching the Ground, his Head and Face like a Child, and when taken, he Sighs like a Child. Three Claws hang to his hinder-feet, like the great prickly Bones of a Carp, and by these he creeps up upon Trees; when tame, he will love a Man, and climb upon his Shoul∣ders. Thevet lift one in the open Air, which yet was never wet. Johnston. Nat. Hist. chap. 7. c. 3.

17. The Elk, is a 4 Footed Beast, commonly found in Scandinavia, in Summer, of an Ash co∣lour almost, in Winter, enclining to black; his Horns fit for Footstools, each of them 12 pound weight, and two Foot long; his upper Lip hangs out so long, that he cannot eat, but going back∣wards. He will run as much Ground in one day, as a Horse in three; a strong blow with his Foot, will kill the Hunter. Ibid. ch. 1.

18. Bonasus is a kind of Bugle, which dungs extream hot, when the Hunter follows him. Phi∣lip King of Macedon, kill'd one with a Dart at the foot of Mount Orbclus: The Horns whereof were 16 handful, consecrated afterwards to Hercules. Ibid. ch. 5.

19. The Catoblepas is like a Bull, very terrible, with blood-shot Eyes, looking downward; from the Venemous Herbs that it feeds on lifting up its Mane, with open Lips it roars terribly, sending such a Stream out of the Throat, that the Air will be infected, and make others dumb that draw it in, causing Mortal Convulsions, Ibid. ch. 12.

20. The Sheep of Mexico, are Beasts of the greatest Profit and least Charge that are; for from them they draw Meat and Cloathing; they use them also to carry all their burthens, having need neither of Shooes nor Saddles, nor yet of any Oats, so that they serve their Masters for nought, feeding only on Grass which they find in the Fields. There are two kinds of them, the one bearing Wool, the other are bare, which are the better for burthen; they are bigger then great Sheep, and less then Calves, they have long Necks like a Camel; they are of divers Colours, some white, some black, and others grey, or spotted; their Flesh is good Meat, but that of their Lambs is better; of their Wool, the Indians make Cloth, some courser, others finer, like half

Silk; upon these the Spaniards carry their bars of Silver, one of them carrying about 150 pound weight. In the Stomach of these Beasts, is found the Bezar's Stone; sometimes one alone, some∣times two, three, or four; they are different in form, greatness, and colour, some like Filberds others like Walnuts, some as big as Pidgeon's Eggs, others as big as Hen's Eggs; some white, some dark, green, some black, and some as if they had been gilded; they are all made of divers Films and Skins one upon another. Purch. Pilgr. Vol. 3. p. 969.

In Socotira, are Sheep, whose Tails weigh 28 pound apiece. Ibid.

21. The Armadillo, is of the bigness of a Pig, and of a white Colour, a long Snout, and the Bo∣dy covered with Shells like Plates, they are so hard, that no Arrow will pierce them, except in the Flanks, where they are softer; they lie in the Ground. Ibid.

22. The Porcupine hath bristles, or Quills, white and black, of a span and a half long, which they can cast; and they are of this quality, that where one of these bristles enters into the Flesh, if it be not pull'd out presently, it will work it self quite through, they are of good Flesh and raste. Ibid.

23. The Civet Cat exceeds the Castor for bigness, her Head is little, her Eyes clear; hath a long Muzzle, sharp and offensive Teeth; her Hair is party-coloured, harsh, and bristly, yellow above, and whiter underneath; the Pocket wherein the Civet is bred, is near the Genitory, which is taken forth with a Spoon or a Stick, saith Purchas. It hath Mustachioes, and a long bushy Tail. There is great plenty of them in Ethiopia, where the Jews keep them in wooden Cages, feeding them with raw Mutton and Beef, cut in small pieces. Civet is the Sweat of this Beast, which they make go back with a Stick, which they thrust in betwixt the Bars of the Cage, and catch hold of his Tail; they take hold also of his two hind Legs, pulling him half out of the Cage by the Door, which falls down upon his back, and keeps him fast there; then another opens a cer∣tain Cod of Flesh, which is shap'd like a split Gizzard, and scrapes all the sweat off it within. The Males have it between their Stones and Yard; the Females have it betwixt their Fundament and Privities; 'tis emptied of the Sweat twice a Weck, each Beast yielding a Drachm at a time. It is first of a whitish Gray, which afterwards turns to a very brown Colour. Dr. Stubbs saith, they will live a Month without drinking, and if they drink once a Month, they will then yield the more Civet. Sir Thomas Pope Blunt. Nat. Hist. p. 9.

24. The Musk Cat; Monsieur Thevenot tells us, That in the great Mogul's Countrey, there is a Beast, like a Fox in the Snout, which is no bigger then a Hare; the Hair of a Stags Colour, Teeth like a dog, it yields most excellent Musk; for, at the Belly it hath a Bladder full of cor∣rupt Blood, which they take from it, which is the Musk, but after this Operation is made, the Beast is not long liv'd: None of them have above one bladder, no bigger then a Hen's Egg, which will yield about an Ounce of Musk. Ibid. p. 1.

25. The Cows of Mexcio, have Bunches on their Backs, about the bigness of our Bulls, hav∣ing little Horns, more Hair on the foreparts then behind, which is like Wool; on the Back-bone having Manes like Horses, and long Hair from their Knees downwards, with much on their Throats. They are Meat and Drink, Shooes, Houses, Fire, Vessels, and their Masters whole substance Purch. Pilgr. Vol. 2. p. 1003.

26. The Possown of Virginia, hath a Bag under her Belly, from whence she letteth forth her Young ones, and taketh them in again at her pleasure. Idem. Vol. 4. p. 1772.

27. The Camelopardus, is the highest of Beasts, so that a Man on Horseback may ride up∣right under his Belly, his Neck is long, so that he usually feedeth upon the Leaves of Trees, his Colour is white and speckled; his hinder Legs are shorter then his former, so that he cannot graze, but with difficulty; he is also called a Jaraff. Idem. p. 1469.

28. I shall conclude this Chapter with a Description, which Dr. Brown gives of the Elector's Hunting House at Dresden. The Hunting-house is in the Old Town, and therein are 15 Bears very well provided for, and looked unto; they have Fountains and Ponds, to wash in, and near to the Pond, ragged Posts or Trees, set for the Bears to climb up, and Scaffolds made at the Top, to Sun and dry themselves; where they will also sleep, and come and go as the Keeper calls them; in the House for wild Beasts, I took Notice (saith he) of a Marian, which is a four footed Beast, that hangs upon Trees by the Tail; also a wild or Mountain Cat, of a large size, 5 Young Bears, 5 Old black Bears, a white Bear, very large, the Feet, Head, and Neck whereof, are long then those of the black; two Lions, 10 Luckses, (perhaps he means Lynxes,) very fine Beasts; in Bigness, Colour, and Shape, between a Tyger and a wild Cat; the Tips of their Ears and Tail are black, their Eyes lively, their Skin Lyon-colour and spotted, especially about their Eyes. Dr. Edw. Brown's Trav. in his Description of Vienna.

Whereas I have spoke before of Ʋnicorns, I desire my Reader to take Notice, that Dr. Edward Brown, speaking of 3 Unicorn's Horns, which were shewed him at Ʋtrecht, little differing in length, the longest being 5 Foot and a half, out of one whereof, being made hollow, and tipt with Silver, he drank, gives us his Judgment thus: These (saith he,) were of the Sea Unicorn, or the Horn or long wreathed Tooth of some Sea Animal, taken in the Notthern Sea; of which I have seen many, both in publick Repositories, and in private Hands; two such as these, the one 10 foot long, were presented not long ago to the King of Denmark being taken near Nova Zem∣bla; and I have seen some full 15 foot long, some wreath'd very thick, some not so much, others almost plain; some largest and thickest at the End, near the Head, others are largest at some distance from the Head; some very sharp at the end or point, others blunt. My Honoured Fa∣ther, Sir Tho. Brown, had a very fair piece of one, which was formerly among the Duke of Cur∣land's Rarities. I have seen a Walking Staff, a Scepter, a Scabbard for a Sword, Boxes, and other Curiosities made out of this Horn, &c. But of these Unicorns, the King of Denmark and his Fa∣ther had so many, that he was able to spare a great number of them, to build a Magnificent Throne out of Unicorn's Horns. Dr. Browns Trav. p. 101. &c.