BOOK VIII. xLix. iii-L. 113 



attacks ; it does this because it knows that it is 

 hunted for the sake of these products. Theo- 

 phrastus states that geckoes also slough ofF their old 

 skin as a snake does, and similarly swallow the slough 

 at once, it being a cure for epilepsy if one snatches it 

 from them. It is also said that their bite is harmless 

 in Greece but that they are noxious in Sicily. 



L. Deer also " have their own form of stinffiness, ^aW«»oy 



O ' U.C6T 



although the stag is the gentlest of animals. VVhen 

 beset by a pack of hounds they fly for refuge of their 

 own accord to a human being, and when giving birth 

 to young are less careful to avoid paths worn by 

 human footprints than secluded places that are 

 advantageous for wild beasts. The mating season 

 is after the rising of Arcturus. Pregnancy lasts 

 eight months, and occasionally they bear twins. 

 After mating the hinds withdraw, but the deserted 

 males rage in a fury of desire, and score the ground 

 with their horns ; afterwards their snouts are black 

 till a considerable rainfall washes off the dirt. The 

 females before giving birth use a certain plant called 

 hartwort as a purge, so having an easier deUvery. 

 After giving birth they browse on the two plants 

 named dittany and seseH before they return to 

 the young : for some reason or other they desire 

 the suckUngs' first draughts of milk to be flavoured 

 with those herbs. When the fawns are born they 

 exercise them in running and teach them to practise 

 escaping, and take them to cUffs and show them how 

 to jump. The males when at last freed from lustful 

 desire greedily seek pasture ; when they feel they 

 are too fat, they look for lairs to hide in, showing 

 that they are conscious of inconvenient weight. And 

 on other occasions when running away from pursuit 

 they always stop and stand gazing backward, when 



81 



