CHAPTER XVI. 



MYTHICAL ANIMALS. 



" Libri Graeci miraculorum fabularumque pleni ; res inauditas, 

 incredulas ; fcriptores veteres non parvae audoritatis." (AuL. 

 GELLIUS.) 



N Greek and Roman literature, par- 

 ticularly in the earlier authors, many 

 mythical beings are found, juft as in 

 the primitive hiftory of almoft all 

 nations. Sometimes the philosophical reafon for a 

 belief in thefe mythical creatures is evident after 

 a little confederation. Thus the numerous worms 

 or ferpents many of which have left their trail 

 on local names, and many more in the traditional 

 folk-lore of England are undoubtedly due to the 

 old Norfe reverence for thefe creatures; perhaps 

 becaufe, in the Scandinavian cofmogony, the earth 

 was girdled by a monftrous ferpent called Jormun- 

 gandr. Again, the numerous and fantaftically- 

 iized facred fim of the Buddhifts are referable to 

 thefe devotees' fondnefs for fim ; while the mythi- 

 cally-fhaped creatures, peacocks, elephants, and 



