50 History of Nature. [BooK VIII. 



trable if made into Shields and Helmets, unless it be soaked 

 in some Liquor. He feedeth on the standing Corn ; and they 

 say that he fixeth beforehand where he will feed by Day ; 

 and his Footsteps are always backward, in order that against 

 his Return no Snare shall be laid for him. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



Who first showed the Hippopotamus and Crocodiles at Rome. 

 Also the Medicines discovered by Animals. 



MARCUS SCAURUS was the first, who, in the Games 

 which he displayed at Rome in his Office of Edileship, pro- 

 duced one Hippopotamus and four Crocodiles, swimming in 

 a temporary Pool. 



The Hippopotamus hath taught a Practice in a certain 

 Part of the Art of Healing. For finding himelf overfat, by 

 Reason of his full Feeding so continually, he getteth to the 

 Shore, having spied where the Reeds have been newly cut ; 

 and where he seeth the sharpest. Stem he presseth down his 

 Body on it, and pierceth a certain Vein in his Leg, so that 

 by a Flow of Blood he relieves his diseased Body, and he 

 covereth over the Orifice again with Mud. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



What Herbs certain Creatures have showed us: Deer, Lizards, 

 Swallows, Tortoises, the Weasel, Stork, the Boar, the 

 Snake, Dragon, Panther, Elephant, Bears, Doves, Pigeons, 

 Cranes, the Raven. 



SOMETHING like this was showed us by a Bird which is 

 called Ibis in the same Country of Egypt. This Bird having 



potamus at Rome, can hardly be supposed to have seen it, or he never 

 could have fallen into so great an error as to give it the mane of an 

 horse. It need hardly be observed, that in all probability the Romans 

 derived their Hippopotamus from Northern Africa ; if, therefore, there be 

 more than one species, the Hippopotamus Senegalensis is, in all likelihood, 

 the one intended. Went. Club. 

 1 Lib. x. 30. 



