Chap. 17.] LIONS. 266 



there, the males and females of various species coupling 

 promiscuously with each other. ^^ Hence arose the saying, 

 which was common in Greece even, that '' Africa is always 

 producing something new." The lion recognizes, by the 

 peculiar odour of the pard, when the lioness has been unfaith- 

 ful to him, and avenges himself with the greatest fury. 

 Hence it is, that the female, when she has been guilty of a 

 lapse, washes herself, or else follows the lion at a considerable 

 distance. I find that it was a common belief, that the lioness is 

 able to bear young no more than once, because, while delivering 

 herself, she tears her womb with her claws. ^* Ai-istotle, how- 

 ever, gives a different account ; a man of whom I think that 

 I ought here to make some farther mention, seeing that upon 

 these subjects, I intend, in a great measure, to make him my 

 guide. Alexander the Great, being inflamed with a strong 

 desire to become acquainted with the natures of animals, en- 

 trusted the prosecution of this design to Aristotle, a man who 

 held the highest rank in every branch of learning ; for which 

 purpose he placed under his command some thousands of men 

 in every region of Asia and Greece, and comprising all those 

 who followed the business of hunting, fowling, or fishing, or 

 who had the care of parks, herds of cattle, the breeding of bees, 

 fish-ponds, and aviaries, in order that no creature that was 

 known to exist might escape his notice. By means of the 

 information which he obtained from these persons, he was ena- 

 bled to compose some fifty volumes, which are deservedly es- 

 teemed, on the subject of animals ; of these I purpose to give 

 an epitome, together with other facts with which Aristotle 

 was unacquainted ; and I beg the kind indulgence of my readers 

 in their estimate of this work of mine, as by my aid they 

 hastily travel through all the works of nature, and through 

 the midst of subjects with which that most famous of all kings 

 so ardently desired to be acquainted. 



Aristotle then informs us, that the lioness, at the first birth, 

 produces five whelps, and one less every succeeding year, 



»3 "What Pliny states here, is without foundation. He supposes that the 

 leopard is the produce of a pard, or male panther, and the female of the 

 lion ; but this is incorrect, the leopard being a distinct species of animal. — B. 



^* Herodotus, B. iii. c. 108, gives the same account, which is refuted by 

 Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 31. Aulus Gellius, B. xiii. c 7, refers to 

 Herodotus, and the refutation by Aristotle.— B. 



