GEMS GENERATION FROM PUTRIDITY. 65 



Galba 1 . He gives a fac-simile thereof, which is here 

 reproduced. 



The eighth book is botanical, the ninth treats of the 

 animals generated from putridity, and of their propaga- 

 tion; how from the putrid matter of oxen we get bees, 

 from that of horses wasps, and hornets out of mules. In 

 this book, treating of the power of warmth as a principle 

 of life, Cardan quotes Joannes Leo, who related that in 

 Egypt the executioner cuts criminals in half, and that the 

 upper half being then placed upon a hearth, over which 

 quicklime has been scattered, will understand and answer 

 questions for a quarter of an hour. The next book treats 

 of perfect animals, and in this is contained, under the head 

 of sheep, the praise of English wool, not less renowned 

 than was the Milesian in the days of Virgil. " Now, 

 therefore," says Jerome, " is Britannia famous for her 

 wool. No wonder, when there is no poisonous animal in 

 the country, and it is infested now only by the fox, and by 



1 The figure was added in a subsequent edition, and recopied into 

 the works. Tom. iii. p. 466. 



VOL. II. F 



