86 HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SCIENCE 



only served the same purpose as the modern menageries and 

 zoological gardens, by gratifying curiosity, but served also 

 the higher purpose of observation and experiment. The im- 



Fig. 9. Four Figures of Quadrupeds. Traced from a plate of twelve fig- 

 ures in "Das Puch der Nature" by von Megenberg. Although 

 printed in 1475 and showing figures some of which bear internal evi- 

 dence of having been drawn from nature, this work was based mainly 

 upon the earlier manuscript and figures of the truly medieval volume 

 "De Naturis Rerum" by Thomas Cantimpre about 1248. Contrast 

 with the more accurate and artistic figure from Gesner (Fig. 10). 

 (Reproduced from Locy, Scientific Monthly, Sept., 1921.) 



portation of strange animals from distant regions was not 

 difficult because of the geographical situation of the Italian 

 peninsular and because the mild climate rendered possible 

 the keeping of animals from warmer latitudes. Lions were 



