ANIMAL.] NATURAL HISTORY. 9 



distinct between [i.e., separate]. The outer limbs thereof be 

 as it were the outer limbs of a lion, and his tail is like to 

 a wild scorpion with a sting, and smiteth with hard bristle- 

 pricks as a wild swine, and hath an horrible voice as the 

 voice of a trump, and he runneth full swiftly, and eateth 

 men. And among all beasts of the earth is none found 

 more cruel nor more wonderly shapen. 



The dolphin and other manner of fish fall to the bottom 

 suddenly, as it were in epilepsy, when they hear sudden 

 thundering, or great moving and noise, and be taken as they 

 were drunk. And fish fleeth and voideth the place of wash- 

 ing and slaughter of other fish, and the blood of other fish, 

 and flee and void also hoary and unclean nets ; and come 

 gladly into new. 



The female bear bringeth forth a lump of flesh not di- 

 vided by shape of members ; and she keepeth that lump 

 hot under her arm-pits as the hen sitteth on her eggs. 

 And the female bear licketh that lump of flesh and shapeth 

 it some and some, until it receive perfect figure and shape 

 of a bear. Also the panther and the lioness bringeth forth 

 whelps but not complete nor perfectly shapen. In all beasts 

 that bring children forth uncomplete and unperfect, the 

 cause is gluttony, for if kind would abide unto they were 

 complete and perfect, the children would slay the mother 

 with sucking, for immoderate and over-passing appetite. 



Fish in one month waxeth fat, and soon afterward wax 

 lean. And some waxeth fat in the northern wind, as fish 

 with long bodies, and some in southern wind, as fish with 

 broad bodies, and some in rain-time. Rain-water accordeth 

 to all manner shell-fish, out-take [n] the fish that hight 

 Roitera [or Koytea an unidentified class of fish], that dieth 

 in the same day, if he taste rain-water. And too much 

 rain-water grieveth some fish, for it blindeth them. 



Some beasts be ordained for man's mirth, as apes and 

 marmosets and popinjays ; and some be made for exercitation 

 of man, for man should know his own infirmities and 

 the might of God. And therefore be made flies and lice ; 

 and lions and tigers and bears be made that man may by 

 the first know his own infirmity, and be afeard of the 

 second. Also some beasts be made to relieve and help the 

 need of many manner infirmities of mankind as the flesh 



the adder to make treacle. Wolves flee from him that is 





