310 
PLTlS-y-S TTATURAL HISTOEX. [Book VIII. 
CHAP. 57. (38.) THE LEONTOPHONrS, AI^D THE LYKX.^^ 
There are also two other animals, whose urine possesses 
very wonderful properties. We have heard speak of a small 
animal, to which the name of leontophonus^^ has been given, 
and which is said to exist only in those countries where the lion 
is produced ; if its flesh is only tasted by the lion, so intensely 
venomous is its nature, that this lord of the other quadrupeds 
instantly expires. Hence it is, that the hunters of the lion 
bum its body to ashes, and sprinkle a piece of flesh with the 
powder, and so kill the lion by means of the ashes even — so 
fatal to it is this poison ! The lion, therefore, not without 
good reason hates the leontophonus, and after destroying its 
sight, kills it without inflicting a bite : the animal, on the 
other hand, sprinkles the lion with its urine, being well aware 
that this too is fatal to it. 
The urine of the lynx, in the countries where that animal 
is produced, either becomes crystallized, or else hardens into a 
precious stone, resembling the carbuncle, and which shines like 
93 rjj^j^-g -g called lyncurium and hence it is, that many 
persons believe that this is the way in which amber is pro- 
duced. The lynx, being well aware of this property, envies 
us the possessiofL of its urine, and therefore buries it in the 
earth by this, however, it becomes solid all the sooner. 
CHAP. 58. — BADGEES AND SQUIEEELS. 
The badger, when alarmed, shows its fear by a diflerent 
kind of artifice ; inflating the skin, it distends it to such a 
degree, as to repel equally the blows of men and the bite of 
dogs.^^ The squirrel, also, has the power of foreseeing storms, 
^0 These statements are from the treatise De Mirab. Ausc, but, as 
Cuvier remarks, are fabulous, Lemaire, vol. iii. p. 470 ; Ajasson, vol. vi. 
p. 458 — B. 
AeovTotpovbc, the " lion-killer." 
92 See c. 30 of this Book. 
93 This fable is referred to by Ovid, Metam. B. xv. 1 414, and by Theo- 
phrastus in his Treatise on Stones. 
9* See B. xxxvii. c. 11. 
95 It is not unusual for animals to cover their excrements with earth, 
probably from the fact of their being annoyed by the unpleasant odour. 
—B. 
96 This statement respecting the " meles," or badger, as well as what is 
said of the prescience of the squirrel, is without foundation. There has 
