BOOK VII.] History of Nature. 187 



eight Cubits High : that this Nation of Ethiopian Nomades 

 is called Syrbotse, and dwelleth along the River Astapus, 

 toward the North. The Nation called Menismini dwell 

 Twenty Days' Journey from the Ocean, and live on the Milk 

 of certain Animals which we call Cynocephali, 1 of which 

 they keep Flocks of the Females, but they kill the Males, 

 except only enough to preserve the Race. In the Deserts of 

 Africa you will meet oftentimes with Appearances in the 

 shape of Men, but they vanish in an instant. Ingenious 

 Nature disposes this and such-like things, as a Pastime to 

 her, but which are Miracles to us. And indeed, who is able 

 to recount every one of her Sports, which she accomplishes 

 daily and even hourly ? Let it suffice therefore, in order to 

 declare her Power, that we have set down those prodigious 

 Works of hers, as displayed in whole Nations. And now we 

 proceed to a few Particulars that are well known in regard 

 to Man. 



CHAPTER lit. 



Of Prodigious Births* 



THAT Women may bring forth three at one Birth, ap- 

 peareth evidently by the example of the Horatii and Curiatii. 

 But to exceed that number is reputed to be among the Por- 

 tents ; except in Egypt, where Women are more fruitful by 

 drinking the Water of the Nile. Of late Years, about the 

 latter end of the Reign of Divus Augustus, a Woman at Ostia 

 named Fausta, of ordinary Rank, was delivered of two 

 Boys and as many Girls ; but this was a Portent beyond 



1 The cynocephalus anubis of modern zoologists is without doubt here 

 intended. Wern. Club. 



2 " Prodigious births :" that is, not simply out of the common course 

 of nature, but such as were believed to be prophetic of some remarkable 

 events, and so reported by augurs to the proper authorities. What, at the 

 end of this chapter, Pliny reports that he had himself seen, is of no uncom- 

 mon occurrence, and would be regarded among us as nothing beyond a 

 monstrous birth, an irregular formation of nature ; but the incident he 

 mentions last can only be regarded as a proof of the great agitation of the 

 public mind, at a period when the danger was a sufficient motive to raise 

 and propagate the strangest reports. Wern. Club. 



