284 
PLINI'S KATUEAL HISTOET. 
[Book VIIL 
the Greeks will go ! There is no falsehood, if ever so barefaced^ 
to which some of them cannot be found to bear testimony. 
So too, Agriopas, who wrote the Olympionics,*^^ informs ns 
that Demsenetus, the Parrhasian, during a sacrifice of human 
victims, which the Arcadians were offering up to the Lycgsan"^^ 
Jupiter, tasted the entrails of a boy who had been slaughtered ; 
upon which he was turned into a wolf, but, ten years after- 
wards, was restored to his original shape and his calling of an 
athlete, and returned victorious in the pugilistic contests at 
the Olympic games. 
It is also commonly supposed, that the tail of this animal 
contains a small lock of hair, which possesses an amatory 
power ; and that when the creature is caught, this hair is shed by 
it, but has no virtue whatever, unless it is procured from the 
animal while alive."^^ It is said that these animals couple for 
no more than twelve days in the year and that when pressed 
by hunger they will eat earth. Among the points of augury, 
to have our progress cut short to the right by a wolf, if at the 
time its mouth is full, is the best of omens. There is a 
species, which is known as the stag-wolf, such as we have al- 
ready said"^* were brought from Gaul and exhibited in the Circus 
by Pompeius Magnus. It is said, that however hungry this 
animal may chance to be, if it only turns its head while eating, 
it immediately becomes oblivious of the food that is before 
it, and takes its departure to seek it elsewhere.*^^ 
CHAP. 35. (23.) DITFEEENT KII^DS OP SEKPENTS. 
With reference to serpents, it is generally known, that they 
he loses no opportunity of a hit at the Greeks, to whom, after all, he is 
greatly indebted. See Introduction to vol. i. p. 17. 
"'^ An account of the victories gained at the Olympic games. — B. 
''^ It has been conjectured, that the epithet, " Lycaean," AvKaioQf vfas 
given to Jupiter by the Arcadians, for this supposed conversion of men into 
wolves, which was conceived to be effected by divine interposition. — B. 
'^'^ It does not appear what is the foundation of this opinion ; of course, 
it is without truth. — B. 
Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 35, says that they couple once only in 
the year, ^lian, Anim. Nat. B. iv. c. 4, says that their bringing forth 
continues twelve days. — B. 
'^^ See c. 28 of the present Book. He alludes probably to the lynx. 
'5 It is not easy to say whence this opinion was derived ; the general 
character of the wolf is that of quickness and watchfulness, rather than 
stupidity. — B. But it would appear that it is the lynx that is alluded to. 
