FIG. | NATURAL HISTORY. 109 
Ferret. 
Jutius Casar, i. 2, 186. 
THERE is no beast that more desireth fish than Ferrets 
and cats, and yet I cannot consent unto them which will 
have the Ferret descend and hunt fish in the waters like 
otters or beavers. Young boys and scholars also use to put 
them into the holes of rocks and walls to hunt out birds, 
and likewise into hollow trees, whereout they bring the birds 
in the claws of their feet. Wheras a long fly (called a 
Friar) flying to the flaming candles in the night, is ac- 
counted among poisons, the antidote and resister thereof is 
a goat’s gall or liver mixed with a Ferret, or wild weasel, 
and the gall of Ferrets is held precious against the poison 
of asps, although the flesh and teeth of a Ferret be ac- 
counted poison. Topsell, ‘‘ Four-footed Beasts,” pp. 170-1. 
Fig. 
Mripsummer Nicut’s Dream, iil. 1, 170, 
The fig of Spain. 
Kine Henry V.,, iii. 6, 62. 
Tue Fig-tree is more fruitful than other trees, for it 
beareth fruit three or four times in one year, and while 
one ripeth, another springeth anon. And the stock thereof 
done in water sinketh anon to the ground, and riseth and 
cometh up above the water after that it hath lien in the 
mud, against the common course of kind. Tofore Pytha- 
goras’ time hawks were fed with Figs, tofore he brought 
them to choose of flesh, that is the stronger meat. Figs do 
away rivels [i.e., wrinkles] of old men, if they eat thereof 
among their meat. And full cruel bulls become mild anon 
if they be tied to a Fig-tree. The milk of the Fig-tree . 
hath virtue of running together to make cheese. Some trees 
shall be set nigh trees that bear well fruit, that blasts of wind 
‘may be borne therefrom to the Fig-tree, and thereto the 
southern wind is better than the northern wind, for the 
northern wind grieveth the Fig-tree more than the southern 
wind. Bartholomew (Berthelet), bk. xvii. § 61. 
Tue blood made from Figs is not good, and for this 
reason it makes lice. Hortus Sanitatis, bk. i. ch, exciv. 
