Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-01-02
ANcIENTs AND ANIMALS.
Fsnta>tte Natural ufsfory OF thr
Greeks and Romans.

The knowledge OF animals and their
habits which existed amour the an
Cheat Greeks and Romans was most
fantastic.
Among other snakes described IN the
ancient natural histories. for example.
was the basllisk. which Pilny called
the king Of serpents" According TO
the description, Il was six feet long.
NYJre white crest on It's head anu had
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 enyenomed with IT'S
subtle and luminous fluid, while the
birds In turn fell before the odor ex-
haled 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 few out of his cav
ern he furrowed the air with such VIC
fence. that II cleaned with ere. His
mouth was snali. and II was not the
wounds which II Indicted which made
him so formidable. but the strangl!ng
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 n sort
or white serpent which ran so marvel
ousiy that most men say IL flew"
Most of tho facts xx-I.fcl, A -
concerning birds are more accurate.
Tor the sport OF falconry only made
men observers OF their. habits. Still
there are few strange myths concern
ing the eagle. He was said to seize his
young in his talons and to make them
Tx their eyes on the burning ravs OF
the sun. Those alone that could gaze
without finching were kept and nour-
ished rs worthy Of life. This is not
cruelty" says the simple writer. "but
Judgment" The eagle had the power
OF renewing youth. Mounting higher
and higher till his plumes were burned
by the sun, he fell into n fountain.
where he bathed three times and was
thoroughly rejuvenated.
The habits OF the ostrich. an old book
said, were regulated 10y a star named
Virgil. When the star began To rise the
astute bird laid its eggs. covered them
with sand and left their Matching to
the sun. Another remarkable thino,
was the Influence which the chanticleer
exercised over the king OF beasts. His
shrill crow put him I'm full fight-even
PHny says so-but 10 do this his plum
age had TO be pure white.
IL would not be doing Justice TO thn
middle ages IL the account OF the uni
corn was withheld. II was the size Of
horse. though its legs were shorter.
and its hide had generally tanned col
or. There were three kinds The mag
nifcent white unicorn had a purplc
head and blue eyes. The horn. was a
cubit i'm length. white IN the lower part
ebony In the middle and red at the
end. 1t had the head OF n stag and the
tail or boar. The egliSSerion was like
n gigantic deer and had a very sharp
horn. The monoceros was like an OK
The ordinary unicorn OF the middle
ages had horn three feet In length
and so sharp and hard that nothing
could resist ii. When he prepared TO
nght the elephant. the animal he hated
most OF all. he sharpened his horn
against stone and when the day OF
battle came dealt the enemy n fatal
blow In the p9unch. This noble animal
fell an easy prey To- the faseinations Of
innocence and virtue. In India. espe-
cially among the jewellers of the Gan
ges, when ii was desired To tame
unicorn young and virtuous girl was
chosen and led TO his cave. The animal
at once appeared and did homage to
the damsel and was easily caught and
tanned by the engaging wiles OF the
maiden.