ULYSSES ALDROVANDI. 4? 



variety exists that Apelles himself would be unable 

 to rival them ; in mental and bodily powers, again, 

 we find that the smallest gnat in Mesopotamia will 

 sometimes vanquish the mighty lion, and an insig- 

 nificant beetle will make the queen of birds (the 

 eagle) to quail. The bees also, and the ants, to 

 omit many others, surpass other creatures, and even 

 man himself, in art and foresight. From such con- 

 templations we may reap instruction as well as in- 

 terest. Besides, how many are the luxuries and 

 the remedies which we derive from this source : 

 there is wax and honey from the bee, and silk from 

 the caterpillar, and other things from others. A& 

 aliis aliaque"* 



The volume on Serpents likewise appeared in the 

 year 1602. The third volume on Birds seems to 

 have been the last the author lived to publish. It 

 treats of aquatic birds, as of the Swan and Heron, 

 of the lower larynx of the starry Cormorant, &c. &c. 

 The year immediately after his death another very 

 important volume appeared, on what is called white 

 blooded animals, viz. the Mollusca, Crustacea, Tes- 

 tacea, and Zoophytes, 1606; which contains much 

 original matter, as well as exhibits the knowledge 

 of the ancients in this obscure department. 



These six volumes, then, appear to have been 

 entirely prepared for the press under the superin- 

 tendence of Aldrovandi himself: the remaining seven 

 of his " Opera," making thirteen in all, appeared 



* Opera, t. iv. Ad Lectorura. 



