6'8 On Animals depicted on Antique Monuments. 



represents an animal, underneath which we read the word 

 iiys^iagf, or AysAa^r, according to the Abbe Barthelemy ; and 

 AyiXct^cv, according to Montfaucon. This word, so read by 

 these two commentators, is not to be found in Saure's descrip- 

 tion of the mosaic. Barthelemy remarks, that as the word is 

 situated upon the edge of a fragment, it has probably suffered 

 from the removal to which it has been subjected. This able 

 antiquarian, being ignorant of its meaning, refers it to the ani- 

 mal near which it is written, which is an ape. But the form of 

 its feet, not less than its other characters, oppose this idea. It 

 is also to be observed, as Montfaucon remarked, that this ani- 

 mal must have been very formidable, since the mosaic represents 

 that several Ethiopians are occupied in attacking it, armed with 

 spears and bucklers, whilst others are placed in ambush, to 

 shoot it with their arrows should it pass near them. These ob- 

 servations, joined to the characteristics of this species, induce us 

 to consider it as having belonged to a formidable carnivorous 

 animal, as, for example, the guipard, or hunting tiger of India 

 {Felisjnbata, Linn.), or perhaps to the black panther {Felis 

 melas, Peron.), or some other great feline species. 



Finally, the panther, which is placed above the Ethiopians 

 who are wishing to strike the guipard with their arrows, and 

 above which is written the words KgaxoStAoj iT«^§«>(;, is also so 

 well depicted, as to be readily recognised. We have seen that, 

 with the help of various epithets conjoined to the word KgexoS^Xej, 

 the ancients have designated animals very different from the 

 true crocodile, which they invariably named KgoxaJfAo? Trorxfuog. 

 As, besides, this animal differs from that beneath which we read 

 the word Tiy^a, it is probable that this rather represents the leo- 

 pard than the panther. 



III. Pachyderma. 



The animals of this family which are represented upon the 

 mosaic of Palestrina, belong to a very considerable number of 

 species, and these very important, such as the hippopotamus 

 and the rhinoceros. There can be no doubt as to the first of 

 these animals, which is represented with really more accuracy 

 than upon the greater part of the other monuments of antiquity. 

 These animals are here designed entire, with the exceptiori of a 



