BOOK VIII.] History of Nature. 101 



They feed with distinguished Piety their Parents, when 

 they are feeble with Age. They renew their Age by sleeping 

 all the Winter; for they lie close and snug all the while. 

 But when the Summer is come, they grow young again. 

 The Fieldmice (Nitelae) likewise take similar Rest. 



CHAPTER LVIII. 

 What Creatures are not to be found in certain Places. 



IT is wonderful that Nature hath not only assigned diffe- 

 rent Creatures to different Countries, but also in one Region 

 hath denied some to certain Situations. In the Forest of 

 Moesia in Italy, these Dormice are found only in one Part. 

 In Lycia, Roebucks 1 never pass the Mountains that border 

 on the Syrians ; nor do the wild Asses that Mountain which 

 divideth Cappadocia from Cilicia. Within Hellespont the 

 Stags never wander away into the Borders of other Coun- 

 tries ; and those which are about Arginussa do not pass be- 

 yond the Mountain Elatus; which may be known by the 

 Fact, that all upon that Mountain have their Ears divided. 

 In the Island Poroselenum, the Weazels do not cross over 

 the Highway. And about Lebadia in Bceotia, those Moles 

 which are brought thither from other Parts fly from the 

 very Soil ; although near by, in Orchomenus, they under- 

 mine all the Corn-fields ; and I have seen all the Bed- 

 clothing made of their Skins. In this Manner, even Religion 

 will not prevent our seeking Pleasures out of the Portents 

 themselves. The strange Hares that are brought to Ithaca 

 are found dead about the very Banks of the Sea. In the 

 Island Ebusus there are no Rabbits ; but in Spain and in the 

 Balearic Islands they abound. Frogs were mute in Cyrenae ; 

 but those which were brought thither from the Continent 



1 Antelope dorcas. PALLAS. The Gazelle. This animal is generally 

 supposed to be the Dorcas of the ancients ; but there are those who 

 would rather identify it with either the Antelope Arabica, Hemp, et 

 Ehren.; or the Antelope subgutturosa, Guldenst. Wern. Club. 



