i8 2 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



mountains, that they prey upon horses and men, and 

 that of their nails drinking-cups were made, as large 

 as ostrich eggs. These enormous birds correspond in 

 many points to the Eastern Rue or Rukh, or the Rok of 

 the "Arabian Nights," of whose mighty powers of flight 

 Sindbad took advantage. 



Ser Marco Polo, speaking of Madagascar, says : " 'Tis 

 said that in those other Islands to the south, which the 

 ships are unable to visit because this strong current 

 prevents their return, is found the bird Gryphon, which 

 appears there at certain seasons. The description given 

 of it is, however, entirely different from what our stories 

 and pictures make it. For persons who had been there 

 and had seen it, told Messer Marco Polo that it was for 

 all the world like an eagle, but one indeed of enormous 

 size ; so big in fact, that its wings covered an extent of 

 30 paces, and its quills were 12 paces long, and thick in 

 proportion. And it is so strong that it will seize an 

 Elephant in its talons, and carry him high into the air, 

 and drop him so that he is smashed to pieces : having 

 so killed him, the bird gryphon swoops down on him, 

 and eats him at leisure. The people of those isles call 

 the bird Rue, and it has no other name. So I wot not 

 if this be the real gryphon, or if there be another manner 

 of bird as great. But this I can tell you for certain, 

 that they are not half lion and half bird, as our stories 

 do relate ; but, enormous as they be, they are fashioned 

 just like an eagle. 



"The Great Kaan sent to those parts to enquire about 

 these curious matters, and the story was told by those 

 who went thither. He also sent to procure the release 

 of an envoy of his who had been despatched thither, 

 and had been detained ; so both those envoys had many 



