Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-11-21
ANcIENTs AND ANIMALS.
Fantastic Natural History OF the
Greeks and Romans.


The knowledge Of animals and their
habits which existed among the an
Client Greeks and Romans was most
fantastic.
Among other snakes described In the
ancient natural histories, for example,
was the basllisk, which Pllny called
the king of serpents." According TO
the description, it was six feet long,
wore white crest ON It's head and had
Z skin spotted with white. Such was
the abundance of It's venom, according
TO these reports, that il made the body
shine all over. The air was poisoned
where this vile reptile passed, and
great plants were envenomed with its
subtle aud luminous fluid, while the
birds in turn fell before the Odor ex-
hailed by the trees. But this monster
was an easy prey TO the weasel. The
dragon was the largest of serpents and
inhabited especially Ethiopia and
Egypt, When he dew out OF his cav
ern he furrowed the air with such vio-
lence that II cleaned with fire. His
mouth was small, and Il was not the
wounds which II indicted which made
him so formidable. but the strangllng
power OF his tail, which was capable OF
destroying even elephants,
II Is interesting to notice that the
Mythical dragon was already evolving
toward the boa constructor The real
siren lived IN Arabia and "was a sort
Of white serpent which ran so marvel.
ously that most men say It few"
Most Of the facts which are recorded
concerning birds are more accurate,
for the sport of falconry only made
men observers Of their habits. Stlll
there are a few strange myths concern.
Ing the eagle He was said 10 seize his |
young In his tnlons and 60 make them |
tx their eyes ON the burning rays OF
the sun. Those alone n could gaze
without fnching were kept and nour.
ished as worthy OF life. This Is not
cruelty" says the simple writer, but
The eagle had the power
OF renewing youth. Mounting higher
and higher TIL his plumes were burned
by the sun. he fell into fountain,
where he bathed three times and was
reJuvenated.
The habits Of the ostrich. an old book
said. were regulated by star named
Virgil. When the star began to rise tho
astute bird laid ita eggs. covered them
with sand and left their Matching 10
the sun. Another remarkable thing
was the influence which the chantlcleer
exercised over the king Of beasts. His
thrill crow put him IA full hight-even
Pllny says so-but 20 DO this his plum
Ige had 20 be pure white.
II would not be doing Justice 10 the
middle ages n the account OF the uni
orn was withheld. II was tho size Of
horse. though its legs were shorter.
nd ~ hide had generally a tanned col. )
r. There were three kinds The mag.
lGCent white unicorn had n purple
cad and blue eyes Tho horn was a
Ubit IN length. white IN the lower part.
hlny IN the middle and rcd NJ the
nd. II had The head ~ a stag and the
lll OF boar The egllsSerlon was Ike
gigantic deer and had a very sharp
orn. The monoccroa was Ike an oz l.
he ordinary unicorn ~ tho middle
gcs had a horn three fcct IN longlh
nd 30 sharp aud hard that nothing
ould resist a. Whcn h. prepared 10 =
ght the elephant. the animal b. hated
lost u AL Dee shaprucd hla horn q
galnst a Stone and When the day ~
attic came dealt the rnrny q faial v
Iow 90 the paunch This noble animal A
'll nn easy prey 10 the fluctuations ~
innocence and virtue. Ia India, eapv
ally among TO- dWcllers Of TIE Gan :
~. when % was desired 60 tame =
1icoru a young and yirtuous glrl was
i0tcn and lrd 20 bic care The snlmal
once apr pared and did homage %
- damssl aaa was easily caught and
mri by ths enF6Eng wilkes ~ the