6 
The Animal-Lore of Shahspeare s Time. 
“ The Emperour hath two inclosures walled about, which they 
call gardaines, one of which is called Stella , because the trees are 
planted in the figure of starres, and a little fai're house therein is like¬ 
wise built, with six corners in forme of a starre. And in this place be 
kept 12 cammels, and an Indian oxe, yellow, all over rugged, and 
hairy upon the throate, like a lyon; and an Indian calfe; and two 
leopards, which were said to be tame, if such wild beasts may be 
tamed. They were of a yellow colour, spotted with blacke, the head 
partly like a lyon, partly like a cat, the tayle like a cat, the body like 
a greyhound, and when the huntsman went abroad, at call they leaped 
up behind him, sitting upon the horse like a dog on the hinder parts, 
being so swift in running, as they would easily kill a hart ” (. Itinerary , 
p. 15). 
In Italy, again, Moryson meets with a similar 
collection 
“ The Duke of Florence kept fierce wilde beasts in a little round 
house, namely, five lyons, five wolves, three eagles, three tygers (of 
blacke and gray colour, not unlike cats, but much greater), one wilde 
cat (like a tyger), beares, leopards spotted with white, black and red, 
and used sometimes for hunting, an Indian mouse (with a head like 
our mise, but a long hairie taile, so fierce and big, that it would easily 
kill one of our cats), and wilde boares.” (Page 151.) 
This last-named animal may have been an ichneumon, 
sometimes called Pharaoh’s rat. 
Herrera, in his History of America (vol. ii. p. 348), 
gives an account of a menagerie in Mexico, far exceeding 
in magnitude any European collection. When the 
Spaniards visited Mexico, about the year 1500, they 
found a zoological garden sustained by Montezuma with 
right royal magnificence. This menagerie contained 
many varieties of beasts, birds, and serpents. These last 
were fed sometimes on human diet; persons sacrificed 
were afterwards given to the snakes and alligators. 
According to Herrera, five hundred cocks were daily 
given to the eagles, and three hundred men were 
appointed to attend in the house of birds. There were 
also large ponds for salt and fresh water birds, the water 
of which was frequently renewed. These birds were 
