PLINY ON THE SALAMANDER. 173 



convulsions for two minutes, and then it expired also. In 

 another case, some of the fluid was introduced into the mouth ol 

 a lizard by the hand of the experimenter, and in this instance 

 the animal first became convulsed, then paralyzed on one side, 

 and soon aftenvards it died. There appears to be no reason there- 

 fore to doubt that the Salamander is really endowed with poisonous 

 properties. 



But now, let us see how this simple fact was magnified and 

 adorned by the ancient philosophers. No better idea can be 

 given of the extravagant opinions of the ancients on this point 

 than that conveyed by the following passage from Pliny. 



" Of all venomous beasts, there are not any so hurtfull and 

 dangerous as are the Salamanders. As for other serpents, they 

 can hurt but one at once, neither kill they many together ; 

 to say nothing how, when they haue stung or bitten a man, 

 they die for very griefe and sorrow that they haue done such a 

 mischiefe, as if they had some pricke and remorse of conscience 

 afterwards ; and neuer enter they againe into earth, as vnworthy to 

 be receiued there : but the Salamander is able to destroy whole 

 nations at one time, if they take not heed and prouide to preuent 

 them. For if he get once to a tree, and either claspe about it, or 

 creepe vpon it, all the fruit that it hears is infected with his venome ; 

 and sure they are to die, whosoeuer eat of that fruit, and that 

 by the meanes of an extreame cold qualitie that his poyson hath, 

 which doth mortifie no lesse than if they had taken the Libard- 

 baine call Aconitum. Moreouer, say that she doe but touch 

 any peece of wood, billet, or hedgestake, wherwith either a 

 loafe is baked, or a shiue of bread tested, as many as eat there- 

 of shall catch their bane by it ; or if one of them chance to 

 fall into a well or pit of water, looke whosoeuer dririke thereof, 

 shall be sure to die vpon it ; and that which is more, if there 

 happen neuer so little of the spittle or moisture which shee 

 yeeldeth, to light vpon any part of the body, though it touched 

 no more but the sole of the foot, it is enough to cause all the 

 haire of the body to fall off." 



It appears, however, that notwithstanding these frightful at- 

 tributes of the Salamander, " swine eat them safely ;" from which 

 fact our author thinks " it soundeth to good reason " that the 

 flesh of the pig should have power to "mortifie" the terrible 

 venom. But more on that point anon. Suffice it to say here 



