30 MEMOIR OF 



nose is very flat, tlie teeth and tail are like those of 

 the boar, though the former are somewhat less cut- 

 ting ; it has the mane and back of the horse, and 

 neighs like it ; the hoof is cleft ; the hide impene- 

 trable, except when moistened, and covered with a 

 few hairs ; in size it equals the ass ; its internal 

 parts are like those of the horse; it inhabits the 

 banks of the Nile, and is amphibious. According 

 to Pliny, it was first exhibited at Rome by Marcus 

 Scaurus. It browses on the corn fields, with much 

 cunning ; it has little or no affection for its parents ; 

 according to Pausanias, it is as dangerous to man as 

 the crocodile ; and according to Pliny, it taught men 

 the use of phlebotomy mittendi sanguinis rationem 

 docuit. It is accounted sacred in the Papremitanan 

 district. An account of its mode of capture is 

 given by Heroditus ; according to ^Elian, its flesh is 

 hard and difficult to cook ; finally, the diseases in 

 which it may be usefully employed are stated in 

 the references given to Pliny, Nicander, Dioscori- 

 des, and Paulus j^Egineta. Again, of the seal or 

 sea-calf, we are told that it receives its name from 

 its lowing cry ; that it is an imperfect quadruped, 

 with small feet, the fore ones like those of the beai, 

 the hind ones like the tails of fishes, but covered 

 with hair ; that it has no external ears, but has the 

 auditory passage ; that its eye changes into a thou- 

 sand colours ; that the teeth are like those of the 

 sow, and the tongue is cleft at the point. It has 

 no gall, the kidnies have no internal cavities, but are 

 solid and like those of the ox. It is very fleshy and 



