Chap. 17.] 
LIOIiTS. 
266 
there, the males and females of various species coupling 
promiscuously with each other.®^ Hence arose the saying, 
which was common in Greece eyen, that Africa is always 
producing something new." The lion recognizes, by the 
peculiar odour of the pard, when the lioness has been unfaith- 
ful to him, and avenges himself with the greatest fury. 
Hence it is, that the female, when she has been guilty of a 
lapse, washes herself, or else follows the lion at a considerable 
distance. I find that it was a common belief, that the lioness is 
able to bear young no more than once, because, while delivering 
herself, she tears her womb with her claws. ^ Aristotle, how- 
ever, gives a different account ; a man of whom I think that 
I ought here to make some further mention, seeing that upon 
these subjects, I intend, in a great measure, to make him my 
guide. Alexander the Great, being inflamed with a strong 
desire to become acquainted with the natures of animals, en- 
trusted the prosecution of this design to Aristotle, a man who 
held the highest rank in every branch of learning ; for which 
purpose he placed under his command some thousands of men 
in every region of Asia and Greece, and comprising all those 
who followed the business of hunting, fowling, or fishing, or 
who had the care of parks, herds of cattle, the breeding of bees, 
fish-ponds, and aviaries, in order that no creature that was 
known to exist might escape his notice. By means of the 
information which he obtained from these persons, he was ena- 
bled to compose some fifty volumes, which are deservedly es- 
teemed, on the subject of animals ; of these I purpose to give 
an epitome, together with other facts with which Aristotle 
was unacquainted ; and I beg the kind indulgence of my readers 
in their estimate of this work of mine, as by my aid they 
hastily travel through all the works of nature, and through 
the midst of subjects with which that most famous of all kings 
so ardently desired to be acquainted. 
Aristotle then informs us, that the lioness, at the first birth, 
produces five whelps, and one less every succeeding year, 
93 What Pliny states here, is without foundation. He supposes that the 
leopard is the produce of a pard, or male panther, and the female of the 
lion ; but this is incorrect, the leopard being a distinct species of animal. — B. 
9* Herodotus, B. iii. c. 108, gives the same account, which is refuted by 
Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 31. Aulus G.ellius, B. xiii. c. 7, refers to 
Herodotus, and the refutation by Aristotle. — B. 
• 
