62 



ANALYSIS OF BOOK THIRD. 



Having sung, in the former book, of the horn bearing grami- 

 nivorous tribes, the poet now proposes to singof carnivorous animals, 

 and commences with the Hon. — The metamorphose of the Curetes 

 by Saturn, for being- instrumental to the saving of Jupiter when 

 newly born. — The Armenian and Parthian lions are not remarkable 

 for strength. Those of Arabia are universally celebrated, but their 

 number is small. In Africa they are more abundant, possess im- 

 mense strength, and are superior to all others. They devote one 

 day to feeding, and another to the chace, — and sleep wherever they 

 chance to be overtaken by night, without precaution or conceal- 

 ment. They have a narcotic power by which they immediately relax 

 the limbs of the beast which they attack. Five Avhelps are the 

 produce of the first parturition, four of the second, and each in suc- 

 cession is diminished by one, till the lioness becomes effete. 



Of the Panther there are two species, differing in size, but in 

 other respects similar, except in the tail, which in the small species 

 is longer than in the other. Tliese were originally the nurses of 

 Bacchus, and hence they still delight in wine. Of Lynxes there 

 are also two species. — the one small and the other large. The 

 former preys upon hares, the latter attaclis and subdues the stag. 

 The colour of the one is red, of the other saffron or sulphureous. In 

 other respects they have a strong resemblance. 



