BOOK XI. Lxxxi. 206-Lxxxiii. 208 



LXXXI. AU viviparous quadrupeds <* have kidneys, The uidntys. 

 but among oviparous ones only the tortoise, which 

 has all the other internal organs also, but, as with 

 man, its kidneys resemble those of the ox, and look 

 Uke a cluster of several kidneys. But at Briletum 

 and Tharne stags have four kidneys while the species 

 possessing feathers and scales have none.* For the 

 rest, they are attached to the top of the loins. In 

 all cases the right kidney is higher, and not so fat, 

 and drier; but with both the fat is discharged out 

 of the middle, except in the seal. Animals 

 accumulate fat most in the kidneys, sheep indeed 

 with fatal results, because the fat sohdifies round 

 them. Occasionally stones are found in the kidneys. 



LXXXII. Nature has surrounded the heart and Theribs. 

 the vital parts with the chest, a bony structure, but 

 has made it stop at the abdomen which had to be 

 allowed room to increase in size ; no animal has 

 bones round the abdomen. Man alone has a broad 

 chest ; with all the other animals it is keel-shaped, 

 more so with birds, and among thera most of all with 

 the aquatic species. Man has eight ribs, pigs ten, 

 horned animals thirteen and serpents thirty. 



LXXXIII. Below the belly in front is the bladder, TheUadder. 

 which occurs in none of the oviparous kinds except 

 the tortoise, in none devoid of lungs filled with 

 blood, and in none without feet. Between the 

 bladder and the belly are the tubes called the groin, 

 stretching to the private parts. The bladder of the 

 wolf contains a stone named syrites ; but in some 

 human beings there continually form terribly painful 

 stones and bristly fibres. The bladder consists of a 

 membrane that when wounded does not form a solid 

 scar ; it is not the same as the one that enfolds the 



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