BOOK XI. cxv. 278-cxvii. 282 



upper classes use as a remedy the seed of the citron- 

 tree, which has a remarkably sweet aroma, adding 

 it to their food. 



The breath of elephants attracts snakes out of Poisons. 

 their holes, that of stags scorches them. We have 

 mentioned " the races of men that rid their bodies of 

 snakes' poison by sucking it out. Moreover swine 

 will eat snakes, and to other animals it is poison.* 

 The creatures we have designated insects can all be 

 killed by sprinkhng with oil ; vultures are killed by 

 ointment (they are attracted by the scent, which 

 repels other birds), and beetles by a rose. A 

 scorpion kills some snakes. In Scythia the natives 

 poison their arrows with vipers' venom and human 

 blood ; this nefarious practice makes a wound 

 incurable — by a hght touch it causes instant death. 



CXVI. Wehave said*^ which animalsfeedonpoison. Tmns- 

 Some otherwise harmless species after feeding on ^^sm! " 

 poisonous things become harmful themselves also. 

 In Pamphyha and the mountain regions of CiHcia 

 people who eat boars when these have devoured a 

 salamander die, for there is no indication in the smell 

 or taste ; also water or wine when a salamander has 

 died in it is fatal, and so is even drinking from a 

 vessel out of which one has drunk ; and similarly with 

 the kind of frog called a toad ! so full of traps is 

 life ! Wasps devour a snake greedily, and by so 

 doing make their sting fatal. And so widely does 

 diet vaiy that according to Theophrastus in a district 

 where people hve on fish the cattle also eat fish, but 

 only Uve fish. 



CXVII. Simple food is the most serviceable for a GastTonomy. 

 human being — an accumulation of flavours is un- 

 wholesome, and more harmful than sauces. But it is 



609 



