310 PLINY'S tfATUBAL HISTORY. [Book VIII. 



CHAP. 57. (38.) THE LEONTOPHONUS, AND THE LYNX. 90 



There are also two other animals, whose urine possesses 

 very wonderful properties. We have heard speak of a small 

 animal, to which the name of leontophonus 91 has been given, 

 and which is said to exist only in those countries where the lion 

 is produced ; if its flesh is only tasted by the lion, so intensely 

 venomous is its nature, that this lord of the other quadrupeds 

 instantly expires. Hence it is, that the hunters of the lion 

 burn its body to ashes, and sprinkle a piece of flesh with the 

 powder, and so kill the lion by means of the ashes even so 

 fatal to it is this poison ! The lion, therefore, not without 

 good reason hates the leontophonus, and after destroying its 

 sight, kills it without inflicting a bite: the animal, on the 

 other hand, sprinkles the lion with its urine, being well aware 

 that this too is fatal to it. 



The urine of the lynx, in the countries 92 where that animal 

 is produced, either becomes crystallized, or else hardens into a 

 precious stone, resembling the carbuncle, and which shines like 

 fire. 93 This is called lyncurium ; 94 and hence it is, that many 

 persons believe that this is the way in which amber is pro- 

 duced. The lynx, being well aware of this property, envies 

 us the possession of its urine, and therefore buries it in the 

 earth j 95 by this, however, it becomes solid all the sooner. 



CHAP. 58. BADGERS AND SQUIBRELS. 



The badger, when alarmed, shows its fear by a different 

 kind of artifice ; inflating the skin, it distends it to such a 

 degree, as to repel equally the blows of men and the bite of 

 dogs. 9 * The squirrel, also, has the power of foreseeing storms, 



90 These statements are from the treatise De Mirab. Ausc,, but, as 

 Cuvier remarks, are fabulous, Lemaire, vol. iii. p. 470 ; Ajasson, vol. vi. 

 p. 458. B. 



91 Aovro0oi>6g, the " lion-killer." 



92 See c. 30 of this Book. 



93 This fable is referred to by Ovid, Metam. B. xv. 1, 414, and by Theo- 

 phrastus in his Treatise on Stones. 



94 See B. xxxvii. c. 11. 



95 It is not unusual for animals to cover their excrements with earth, 

 probably from the fact of their being annoyed Ly the unpleasant odour. 

 B. 



96 This statement respecting the " meles," or badger, as well as what is 

 said of the prescience of the squirrel, is without foundation. There has 



