B. IX.] THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 231 



all in mankind ; for the nature of the human subject is the 

 most complete, so that these habits appear more conspicuous 

 in mankind than in other animals. 



4. Wherefore women are more compassionate and more 

 readily made to weep, more jealous and querulous, more 

 fond of railing, and more contentious. The female also is more 

 subject to depression of spirits and despair than the male. 

 She is also more shameless and false, more readily deceived, 

 and more mindful of injury, more watchful, more idle, and 

 on the whole less excitable than the male. On the contrary, 

 the male is more ready to help, and, as it has been said, 

 more brave than the female ; and even in the malacia, if the 

 sepia is struck with a trident, the male comes to help the 

 female, but the female makes her escape if the male is 

 struck. 



CHAPTER IL 



1. ANIMALS often fight with each other, particularly those 

 which inhabit the same places and eat the same food ; for 

 when food becomes scarce, congeners fight together. They 

 say that seals which occupy the same locality will fight, the 

 males with the males and the females with the females, until 

 one party is either killed or ejected by the other, and their 

 cubs also will fight in the same way. All animals also will 

 fight with carnivorous creatures, and these will fight with 

 other animals, for they feed upon living creatures ; for which 

 reason augurs observe the disputes and agreements of 

 animals, considering that their disputes betoken war, and 

 their agreements peace with each other. 



2. When supplied with plenty of food, animals that are 

 naturally afraid of man and fierce appear to submit them- 

 selves to him, and to conduct themselves quietly towards 

 each other. The care which is taken of animals in Egypt 

 demonstrates this circumstance ; for even the fiercest crea- 

 tures live together, when they have food enough, and are 

 not in any want ; for they become tame from the supply of 

 their wants which they receive, as the crocodiles are tamed 

 by the priests by the care which is bestowed on their food. 

 The same thing may be observed in other countries and in 

 their different parts. 



3. The eagle and the dragon are enemies, for the eagle 

 feeds on serpents. The ichneumon and the spider are also 



