FIG.] NATURAL HISTORY. 109 



Ferret. 



JULIUS CAESAR, i. 2, 1 86. 



THERE is no beast that more desireth fish than Ferrets 

 and cats, and yet I cannot consent unto them which will 

 have the Ferret descend and hunt fish in the waters like 

 otters or beavers. Young boys and scholars also use to put 

 them into the holes of rocks and walls to hunt out birds, 

 and likewise into hollow trees, whereout they bring the birds 

 in the claws of their feet. Wheras a long fly (called a 

 Friar) flying to the flaming candles in the night, is ac- 

 counted among poisons, the antidote and resister thereof is 

 a goat's gall or liver mixed with a Ferret, or wild weasel, 

 and the gall of Ferrets is held precious against the poison 

 of asps, although the flesh and teeth of a Ferret be ac- 

 counted poison. Topsell, " Four-footed Beasts," pp. 170-1. 



Fig. 



MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, iii. I, 170. 



The fig of Spain. 



KING HENRY V., iii. 6, 62. 



THE Fig-tree is more fruitful than other trees, for it 

 beareth fruit three or four times in one year, and while 

 one ripeth, another springeth anon. And the stodk thereof 

 done in water sinketh anon to the ground, and riseth and 

 cometh up above the water after that it hath lien in the 

 mud, against the common course of kind. Tofore Pytha- 

 goras' time hawks were fed with Figs, tofore he brought 

 them to choose of flesh, that is the stronger meat. Figs do 

 away rivels [i.e., wrinkles] of old men, if they eat thereof 

 among their meat. And full cruel bulls become mild anon 

 if they be tied to a Fig-tree. The milk of the Fig-tree 

 hath virtue of running together to make cheese. Some trees 

 shall be set nigh trees that bear well fruit, that blasts of wind 

 may be borne therefrom to the Fig-tree, and thereto the 

 southern wind is better than the northern wind, for the 

 northern wind grieveth the Fig-tree more than the southern 

 ind. Bartholomew (Bertkekt\ bk. xvii. 61. 



THE blood made from Figs is not good, and for this 

 eason it makes lice. Hortus Sanitatis, bk. i. ch. cxciv. 





