Chap. 43.] NATIONS EXTERMINATED BY ANIMALS. 295 



with ice, the foxes are consulted, an animal which, in other 

 respects, is baneful from its craftiness. It has been observed, 

 that this animal applies its ear to the ice, for the purpose of 

 testing its thickness ; hence it is, that the inhabitants will 

 never cross frozen rivers and lakes until the foxes have passed 

 over them and returned. 



CHAP. 43. (29.) NATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EXTERMINATED BY 

 ANIMALS. 



We have accounts, too, no less remarkable, in reference even 

 to the most contemptible of animals. M. Varro informs us, 

 that a town in Spain was undermined by rabbits, and one in 

 Thessaly, by mice ; that the inhabitants of a district in 

 Gaul were driven from their country by frogs, 22 and a place 

 in Africa by locusts ; M that the inhabitants of Gyarus, 24 

 one of the Cyclades, were driven away by mice ; 25 and the 

 Amunclae, in Italy, by serpents. There is a vast desert tract 

 on this side of the ^Ethiopian Cynamolgi, 26 the inhabitants of 

 which wore exterminated by scorpions and venomous ants. 27 



duals and the political power which they derived from their office. B. The 

 augurs, or diviners by birds, held the highest rauk in the state ; but the 

 power of their college greatly declined in the later period of the Roman 

 history. It was finally abolished by the Emperor Theodosius. 



22 Other instances are mentioned by Diodorus Siculus, B. iii. Justin, B. 

 xv. c. 2, and ^Elian, Hist. Anim. B. xvii. c. 41. B. Showers of frogs 

 are a thing not unknown in England even. They are probably caused by 

 whirlwinds acting upon waters which are the haunt of these animals. 



23 The ravages of locusts have been known in all ages ; their destructive 

 effects in Egypt and Judea, have formed the subject of a very elaborate 

 dissertation by Bochart, in his work on the "Animals of Scripture," Part 

 i. B. iv. c. 3 and 4. B. 



24 Used as a place of banishment by the Romans. See B. iv. c. 28, and 

 c. 82, of the present Book. 



23 See c. 82 of the present Book, and B. x. c. 85. B. 



26 The u dog-milkers." See B. vi. c. 35. 



l<i7 " Solipugis." There has been much discussion as to the word here 

 employed by Pliny, and the animal which he intends to designate. The 

 solipugus, solpugus, solipuga, or solipunga, probably different names of 

 the same animal, is mentioned by various writers ; among others, by Lucan, 

 Phars. B. ix. 1. 837 ; Diodorus Siculus, B. iii. ; Strabo, B. xvi. ; and JClian, 

 Hist. Anim. B. xvii. c. 40. It is again referred to in B. xxix. c. 16. The 

 description given is, however, too indefinite to enable us to identify it with 

 any known animal ; it would almost seem to indicate something between 

 the spider and the ant. B. We still hear in modern times of the venomous 



