The Eleventh Booke of Plinies Naturall History

Philemon Holland, translator (1601): C. Plinius Secundus The Historie of the World. Book XI. (Pages 310-356)

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THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF

THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE,

WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS

SECVNDVS.

The Preface.

T remaineth now to write of those living creatures, which are the most subtill of all other that Nature hath brought forth: forasmuch as some are of opinion, That they breath not, ne yet have any blood at all.

MANY and sundrie sorts there be of Insects, as well among land creatures as those that flie in the aire. Some are winged, as Bees: some have partly wings and partly feet, as Pismiers: others want both, and neither flie nor goe on their feet. And well may they all be called Insecta: by reason of those cuts and divisions, which some have about the necke, others in the breast and belly; the which doe goe round and part the members of the bodie, hanging togither only by a little pipe a fistulous conveiance. There be of them, that have not the bodie divided entire, one part from the other by these incisunes, cuts, and wrinkles; but they appeare onely either under the bellie, or upon the backe above, and go no deeper, neither yet round the whole compasse of the bodie. But a man shall perceive in them certaine rings or circles, apt to bend and wind to and fro, & those so plated and plaited one over another, that in no thing elsewhere, is more seen the workmanship of Nature, than in the artificiall composition of these little bodies.

IN BODIES of any bignesse, or at leastwise in those of the greater sort, Nature had no hard peece of worke to procreat, forme, and bring all parts to perfection; by reason that the matter wherof they be wrought, is pliable and will follow as she would have it. But in these so little bodies (nay prickes and specks rather than bodies indeed) how can one comprehend the reason, the power, and the inexplicable perfection that Nature hath therein shewed? How hath she bestowed all the five senses in a Gnat? and yet some there be, lesse creatures than they. But (I say) when hath she made the seat of the eies to see before it? where hath she set and disposed the tast? where hath shee placed and inserted the instrument and organ of smelling? and above all, where hath she disposed that dreadfull and terrible noise that it maketh, that wonderfull great sound (I say) in proportion of so little a body? Can there be devised a thing more finely & cunningly wrought than the wings set to her bodie? Marke what long-shanked legs above ordinarie shee hath given unto them. See how shee hath set that hungrie hollow concavitie in stead of a belly: and hath made the same so thirstie and greedie after blood, and mans especially. Come to the weapon that it hath to pricke, pierce, and enter through the skin; how artificially hath shee pointed and sharpened it? And being so little as it is, (as hardly the finenesse thereof cannot be seen) yet as if it were of bignes and capacitie answerable, framed it she hath most cunningly for a twofold use: to wit, most sharpe pointed, to pricke and enter; and withall, hollow like a pipe for to sucke in and conveigh the bloud through it. Come to the Wood-worme, what manner of teeth hath Nature given it, to bore holes and eat into the verie heart of hard oke? who heareth not the sound that she maketh whiles she is at her worke? and in wood and timber is in manner all her feeding. We make a wonder at the monstrous and mightie shoulders of Elephants, able to carrie turrets upon them. Wee marveile at the strong and stiffe necks of Bulls, and to see how terribly they will take up things and tosse them aloft into the aire with their hornes. We keepe a woondring at the ravening of Tygres, and the shag manes of Lions: and yet in comparison of these Insects, there is nothing wherein Nature and her whole power is more seene, neither sheweth she her might more than in the least creatures of all. I would request therefore the readers, that in perusing this treatise, they will not come with a prejudicate opinion, nor (because many of these sillie flies and wormes be contemptible in their eies) disdaine, loath, and contemne the reports that I shall make thereof; seeing there is nothing either in Natures workes that may seeme superfluous, or in her order unworthie our speculation.

DIVERS HAVE denied that they breath at all; and upon this reason they ground their position, Because they have no arterie or windpipe annexed or reaching to any instrument within, of respiration. And they be of opinion, that they live indeed as plants, hearbs, and trees: howbeit (say they) there is a great difference betweene having life, and drawing wind or vitall breath. And by the same rule they affirme, that they have no bloud, which is in none that be without heart and liver. Neither doe any things breath which want lungs. And from hence ariseth a world of other questions thereupon depending. For the same men denie flatly, that these creatures have any voice: notwithstanding so great humming of Bees, & singing sound of Grashoppers, and such other, whereof wee will consider in due time and place, accordingly. Verily for mine owne part, the more I looke into Natures workes, the sooner am I induced to beleeve of her even those things that seeme incredible. Neither doe I see any inconvenience to beleeve, that these Insects may as well draw wind and breath without lungs, as live without such noble and principall parts as are requisite for life in other creatures: according as wee have alreadie shewed in the discourse of fishes and such like, that live in the sea; howsoever the quantitie, depth, and heights of the water, may seeme to impeach and stop their breath. For who would easily beleeve, that some creatures should flie at libertie, and living as they doe in the mids of wind and aire, yet want wind and breath themselves? that they should have a sense and care to seeke their living, to engender, to worke, and to forecast for the time to come: and albeit they have no distinct members, to carrie (as it were in a ship) their severall senses, yet that they should heare, smell, and tast; yea and be endued with other singular gifts besides of Nature, to wit, wisdome, courage, skill, and industrie. Indeed, confesse I must, that bloud they have none: no more have all creatures that live upon the land: howbeit a moist humor they have, somewhat like unto bloud, which serveth them in stead thereof. Like as in Cuttles of the sea, there is found a certaine blacke liquor in stead of bloud: and in all the sort of Purples and such shell fishes, that excellent juice which staineth and dieth so as it doth. Semblably in these Insects, whatsoever humour it is whereby they live, the same may well enough goe for bloud and so be called: all the while that every man hath libertie to give it what name he thinketh fittest. As for me, my purpose is not to judge and determine of these doubtfull quillets, and their causes: but to set downe and shew the nature of such things as be cleare and apparent.

THESE INSECTS, so farre as a man may perceive, seeme not to have either sinewes or bones, no chine nor gristle, no fat, no flesh, ne yet so much as a tender and brittle shell, as some sea-fishes have, nor that which may be truly called a skin; but a certaine corporall substance of a middle nature between all these: for their bodie without, is like a drie thing, and yet more tender and soft than a sinew: whereas in all other parts the matter is to be accounted rather drie than hard. This is the very substance whereof they consist, and nothing have they besides. For within them there is nought, unlesse it be in some very few, who have a certain pipe or conduit in stead of a gut, and the same wrapped and enfolded together. Which is the cause, that if they be cut in twaine and pulled in peeces, yet they have a speciall propertie to live long, and each part asunder will pant and stirre by it selfe. The reason is, because the vitall vertue in them (whatsoever it is) is not seated in any one member, this or that, but spread and defused throughout the whole bodie; and least apparent in the head, of all other parts: for, that alone, unlesse it be plucked away together with the breast, mooveth not one jot. No kind of creatures have more feet than these: and the more they have, the longer live they when they be divided asunder; as we see by experience in the Scolopendres. Eies they have, that is certaine; and besides sight, they are not without the sences of feeling and tasting: some there be which smell, and a few that have their hearing also.

BUT AMONG THEM ALL, Bees are principall, and by good right deserve especiall admiration, as being the onely Insects ordained by Nature for mans use. They gather honie, a most sweet, pleasant, fine, and wholesome liquor. They frame the honie combes, and worke the waxe, which serve for a thousand turnes in this life. They endure paines continually, and dispatch their worke and businesse. They have a policie and Commonwealth among themselves. They hold their severall counsels: and there is not a swarme or cast that they have, without a king and captaine of their own: and that which is most admirable of all, there be civile fashions and customes among them. Moreover, being as they are, neither tame and gentle, nor yet to be counted wild and savage, yet (see the wonderous worke of Nature!) by the means of so little a creature, nay, a shaddow rather (to say a truth) of the least creature, shee hath effected a thing incomparable. What strength of sinewes, what force and puissance is able to countervaile this so great industrie and effectuall power of theirs? what wit and policie of man is answerable to their discreet and orderly course? Beleeve me, they passe them all, & in this one point surpasse, That all things are common among them, and nothing know they private and severall. What should we debate and make question any more as touching their breath? Why should we dispute of their bloud, which cannot chuse but bee very little in such small bodies? Let us rather consider hence-forth their wit, and the gifts of their mind.

BEES ALL WINTER time keep close within their hives. And good reason: for how possibly should they endure hard frost and chilling snow? how should they abide the peircing blasts of the North winds? And verily it is the manner of all these Insects so to doe, but yet they keepe not in so long. For why? being nestled warme as they are within our houses, they sooner doe recover their vigor, and come abroad betimes. But as concerning Bees, either the times have changed, and places altered their course, or els the writers beforetime of this argument have greatly erred. They begin to retire themselves and take up their wintering harbor, presently upon the setting and occultation of the starre Vergiliæ; and come not forth into the field againe, untill after the rising and apparition thereof. So that Bees goe not abroad at the very beginning of the Spring, as writers have set downe, (for who seeth not the contrarie throughout all Italie) but remaine still close and secret, untill that Beanes begin to bloume; before which time they settle not themselves to any worke or labour. But from thence forward, they loose not a day, they slacke not their painefull travell, neither play they one jot, if the weather be faire and will permit. The first thing they doe, is to make their combes and waxe, that is to say, their own habitations and storehouses. When they are provided of lodging, they thinke upon the multiplying of their owne kind: and finally, they gather and make both honie and waxe: the substance whereof they sucke from the flowers of trees and hearbes, from the gums also of trees which breed such gluey matters; and besides, out of the juice, gum, and rosin of the willow, elme, and cane. With these and such like, they plaister all the hive within throughout, as it were with a coat or parget, entermingling withall other juices that are more unsavorie, gathered from the bitterest hearbes they can get: to the end that they might keepe out other little vermines that are greedie of their honnie: as knowing full well, that they are about a peece of worke which is worthie to be desired and sought after. Of this gummie and glutinous substance they frame also their dores and entries which are wide and large.

THE FIRST FOUNDATION of their worke, skilfull honie-maisters doe call Commosis: the second Pissoceros: the third Propolis, which lieth betweene those former coats and the waxe of the honie-combe, whereof there is so great use in Physicke. Commosis is the first coat or crust of a bitter tast. Pissoceros commeth next after it, as it were a thinner course of pitch or varnish, and a weaker kind of waxe, made of the more liquid and mild gum of vines and Poplars. But Propolis consisteth of a more solide matter, as having the strength of some floures withall: howbeit, as yet it is no full and perfect waxe, but the foundation and strengthening of the combes: and serveth as a good defence against cold, and to stop the passage of waspes and such hurtfull creatures as would doe injurie to the Bees, for still a strong sent it carrieth, as which many men doe use in stead of Galbanum. After this munition done, then followeth the provision of that which is called Erithace, some tearme it Sandaracha, and others, Cerinthus. This must serve for the Bees meat, whereof they are to live whiles they worke: and found it is oftentimes, laid apart within the concavities of their combs, it being also of a bitter tast. Now this Erithace commeth of the * Spring-dew, and the moisture issuing out of trees in manner of gumme: in lesse abundance ever, when the Southwest wind bloweth: but when it is full South, more blacke: and in the Northerly constitution, farre better and more red withall. Great store hereof Bees meet with upon Almond trees. Menecrates saith, that it is a flower for shewing what harvest shall ensue: ^** but no man saith so besides him.

AS FOR WAXE, Bees gather and make it of the flowers of all trees, hearbes, and plants, saving the docke and ^*** goose-foot, which are two kinds of hearbes. Some except also a kind of Broome called Spart: but untruly, for in Spaine (where there be many places full of that shrub) the honie carrieth the strength thereof in the tast. I am besides of opinion, that they be deceived, who thinke that Bees gather not of Olive trees. For we see it ordinarie, that there be more casts and swarmes of Bees where Olives grow in greater abundance. These pretie creatures hurt no fruit whatsoever. They will not settle upon a flower that is faded, much lesse of any dead carkasse. They use not to goe from their hive about their businesse above threescore paces; And if it chaunce, that within the precinct of these limits they find not flowers sufficient: out goe their spies, whom they send forth to discover forage farther off. If in this expedition, before they come home againe, they bee overtaken by the night, they couch upon their backes for feare least their wings should bee overcharged with the evening dew, and so they watch all night untill the morning.

SUCH IS THE INDUSTRIE of this creature, that no man need to wonder at those two persons who delighted so much in them, that the one (namely Aristomachus of Soli) for threescore yeares lacking but twaine, did nothing els but keepe Bees: and Philiscus the Thasian emploied the whole time of his life in forrests and desarts, to follow these little animals; whereupon hee was surnamed Agrius. And both these upon their knowledge and experience, wrate of Bees.

THE MANNER of their businesse is this. All the day time they have a standing watch and ward at their gates, much like to the corps de guard in a campe. In the night they rest untill the morning: by which time, one of them awaketh and raiseth all the rest with two or three bigge hums or buzzes that it giveth, to warne them as it were with sound of trumpet. At which signall given, the whole troupe prepareth to flie forth, if it be a faire and calme day toward: for they doe both foresee and also foreshew when it will be either windie or rainie, and then will they keepe within their strength and fort. Now when the weather is temperate (which they foreknow well enough) and that the whole armie is on foot and marched abroad, some gather togither the vertue of the flowers within their feet and legs: others fill their gorge with water, and charge the downe of their whole bodie with drops of such liquor. The younger sort of them go forth to worke, and carrie such stuffe as is before-named, whiles the elder labour and build within the hive. Such as carrie the flowers abovesaid, stuffe the inner parts of their legs behind (and those Nature for that purpose hath made rough) with the helpe of their forefeet; and those again are charged full by the meanes of their muffle. Thus being laden with their provision, they returne home to the hive, drawne even togither round as it were in a heape, with their burden: by which time, there be three or foure readie to receive them, and those ease and discharge them of their load. For this you must thinke, that they have their severall offices within. Some are busie in building, others in plaistering and overcasting, to make all smooth and fine: some be at hand to serve the workemen with stuffe that they need; others are occupied in getting readie meat and victuals out of that provision which is brought in: for they feed not by themselves, but take their repast togither, because they should both labour and eat alike, and at the same houre. As touching the manner of their building, they begin first above to make arch-worke embowed, in their combs, and draw the frame of their worke downward; where they make two little allies for every arch or vault, the one to enter in by, the other to go forth at. The combs that are fastened togither in the upper part, yea and on the sides, are united a little, and hang all together. They touch not the hive at all, nor joine to it. Sometime they are built round, otherwhiles winding bias, according to the proportion of the hive. A man shall find in one hive honycombs somtime of two sorts: namely, when two swarmes of Bees accord togither: and yet ech one have their rites and fashions by themselves. For feare least their combs of waxe should be readie to fall, they uphold them with partition-wals, arched hollow from the bottome upward, to the end that they might have passage every way to repaire them. The formost rankes of their combs in the forefront, commonly are built void and with nothing in them, because they should give no occasion for a theefe to enter upon their labours. Those in the backe part of the hive, are ever fullest of honie: and therefore when men would take out any combes, they turne up the hives behind. Bees that are emploied in carrying of honie, chuse alwaies to have the wind with them, if they can. If haply there doe arise a tempest or a storme whiles they bee abroad, they catch up some little stonie greet to ballaise and poise themselves against the wind. Some say, that they take it and lay it upon their shoulders. And withall, they flie low by the ground under the wind when it is against them, and keepe along the bushes, to breake the force thereof. A wonder it is to see and observe the manner of their worke. They marke and note the slow-backs,¹ they chastice them anone, yea, and afterwards punish them with death. No lesse wonderfull also it is to consider how neat and cleane they be. All filth and trumperie they remove out of the way: no foule thing, no ordure lieth in the hive to hinder their businesse. As for the doung and excrements of such as are working within, they be laid all on a heape in some by corner, because they should not goe farre from their worke: and in foule weather (when otherwise they have nought to doe) they turne it forth. Toward evening, their noise beginneth to slacke and grow lesse and lesse: untill such time as one of them flieth about with the same lowd humming wherewith shee waked them in the morning, and thereby giveth a signall (as it were) and commaundement to goe to rest: much after the order in a campe. And then of a suddaine they are all husht and silent.

THE HOUSES AND HABITATIONS that Bees build first, are for the Commons: which being finished, they set in hand with a pallace for their king. If they foresee that it will be a good season, and that they are likely to gather store of provision, they make pavilions also for the Drones. And albeit they be of themselves bigger than the very Bees, yet take they up the least lodgings. Now these Drones be without any sting at all, as one would say unperfect Bees, and the last fruit of such old ones as are wearie and able to doe no more good; the very latter brood and encrease, and to say a truth, no better than slaves to the right Bees indeed. And therefore the others as maister Bees over them, have them at their commandement: if any drudgerie or such like businesse is to be done, out are they sent first: make they but slow hast in that they are set about, sure they are to pay for it, and to be punished without mercie. And not only in their ordinarie worke they serve them in good stead, but also they helpe them to multiplie: for the hotter that the place is, the more hope there is of a greater increase. Certes, this is found by experience, That the better the hive is peopled with a number of Bees, the Cast when time comes will be the greater, and the oftener will they swarme. But after the honie is growing once to maturitie and perfection, then begin they to drive these Drones out of dores: nay, ye shall have many Bees set upon one poore Drone, and kill him outright. So that a man shall not lightly see any of that kind but in the Spring time.

If one plucke off the wings from a Drone, and put him againe within the hive, he will never lin² untill he have done the like by all the rest of the same kind. As touching the roiall pallaces for the kings and captaines that shall bee, built they are all most stately, great of receit, in shew magnificent, seated by themselves apart, and like citadels raised upon some high knap or tuft of a mountaine. If one of these castles chance to be pressed or crushed, there will be no more come of that princely race. All the lodgings and roumes where the Bees abode is, are six cornered, according to the number of feet emploied in that worke. None of all this is done at any set time or day appointed: but they take the opportunitie when they can espie faire weather to fit their businesse, and so doe these things by snatches. And surely within a day or two at the most, they fill their store-houses with honie.

THIS PLEASANT AND SWEET LIQUOR which we call honie, is engendred naturally in the aire, and especially by the influence and rising of some starres: but principally during the fervent heat of the canicular daies, even when the Dog starre is in his full power and force: never before the appearing of the starre Vergiliæ, but alwaies before day. For so about the day breake betimes in the morning, the leaves of trees are found bedewed with honnie: and looke whosoever they are, that have occasion to be abroad in the aire about the dawning of the morrow, they may evidently perceive their clothes wet with a clammie humour of honie, yea, and their haires glewed therewith together, if they goe bare headed. Bee it what it will, either a certaine sweat of the skie, or some unctuous gellie proceeding from the starres, or rather a liquor purged from the aire when it purifieth it selfe; would God wee had it so pure, so cleare, and so naturall, and in the one kind refined, as when it descendeth first, whether it be from skie, from starre, or from the aire. For even now such as it is, passing (as it were) through so many hands: namely, falling from a region so high and remote from us, and in the way as it commeth catching much filth; and namely, infected with the grosse vapour of the earth which it meeteth in the fall: moreover, sucked and drunke (as it is) by the Bees from the leaves of trees and grasse, and so gathered and laid up in their little bellies or bladders, (for at their mouth they spew it up againe;) corrupted also and sophisticated with other humors drawne out of flowers; finally, so long soking within the hives, and suffering so many alterations: yet for all the sorrow, a great resemblance it carrieth still with it of a most pleasant, sweet, and cœlestiall liquor.

THE BEST HONIE is ever there, where the best flowers are; within the receptacles whereof, it lieth. As we may see in the countrey about Athens, which carrieth the name for honie: also in Sicilie within those territories about Hymettus and Hybla: and lastly, in the Island Calydna. Now this honie, whereof we treat, is at the first cleare and thin as water: and for certaine daies in the beginning, it workes and boiles like to new wine, and so purgeth it selfe. By the twentieth day it getteth a certaine consistence and thicke substance, and soone after gathereth a thin creame or skin over it: which in the very heat of working, is raised of a scum, and so thickeneth. The best simply that Bees can sucke, and least infected with the corruption of tree branches, is that which they get out of the leaves of Oke, Tilia [i. Linden tree,] and Canes.

HONIE (as we said before) is better or worse, according to the region where it is gathered; and that in many respects. For in some place ye shall have goodly combs: howbeit more commendable for waxe than the honie in them: as in the Pelignians countrey,³ and Sicilie. In others, and namely in Candie, Cypres, and Affricke, the combes yeeld more honie than waxe. Some countries there be, especially in the North parts, where the combes passe for bignesse; insomuch, as in Germanie there hath been a hony-combe seene eight foot long, and black all within. But in what region soever it be that honie is found, three kinds there be of it. First, the Spring honie, made of flowers onely; like as the combe also: and thereupon the Greekes call it Anthinon, which is as much to say as the Floure-honie. Some would not have this to be once touched, but to serve for nourishment of the young Bees, that the swarmes or casts may be more strong and lustie. Others againe leave for the Bees of none lesse than of it: by reason of the great plentie like to follow, at the rising of those notable starres in Summer ensuing. Moreover, the combes are in their principall beautie about the Sunnestead in Summer, when daies be longest, at what time as the Vine and Thyme do begin to floure. Also, in taking forth of the honycombs, needfull it is to be well advised in ordering the matter for the provision of food for Bees. If they be cut short and destitute of their meat, they either despaire and die for want, or else depart and flie away. Contrariwise, if you leave them too much, plentie breeds idlenesse, that they will not labour: neither deigne they to feed of Erithace, their ordinarie food, but fall to the good honie. They therefore that bee well experienced in these matters, thinke it good to leave them the twelfth part of this store and vintage, if I may so say, which is gathered in the combes. And verily, it seemeth that Nature hath ordained a certaine set day for to begin this vintage, if men would take knowledge thereof, and marke it well; namely, the thirtieth day, after the Bees swarmed and went forth: and usually it falleth out, that this gathering commeth within the month of May. A second kind of honie there is, which we call Summer honie, and is named also Horæum, of that principall season wherein it is made, namely, in the very middest of dogdaies, when the star Sirius is in his full strength: and that commonly is thirtie daies after the Sunne-stead. And I assure you, Nature hath shewed her admirable and excellent power to men ward in this behalfe; in case their fraud and deceit would suffer her workes in their entire and proper nature without corruption and sophistication, which marreth all, and maketh nothing but confusion. For upon the rising and apparition of any starre, and especially of those that be more excellent than the rest; or after that a rainebow is seene above the earth, and no showers of raine presently follow, but a drisling dew warmed with the raies and beames of the sunne; yee shall have that which falleth, not to be bare honie, but a very medicinable thing, even a cœlestiall gift, singular good for eies and ulcers, yea, and comfortable to the principall noble parts within the bodie. And if this happen to be at the rising of the dog starre, and it chaunce withall, that upon the same day (as oftentimes it falleth out) Venus, Iupiter, or Mercurie be Orientall, then shall yee have so heavenly a sweet liquor, that no one thing in the world may bee comparable to it for the curing of all our maladies, and even to reduce and recover us backe from death to life, like unto that cœlestiall and divine Nectar, which immortalizeth the gods above.

MORE PLENTIE OF HONIE is gathered in the full of the Moone, than at any other time: and if therewith the weather be faire, the same will be more uncteous and fattie. In all kinds, the best honie is that, which runneth of it selfe as new Wine and Oile; and called it is Acedon, as a man would say, gotten without care and travell.⁴ All Summer-honie is red, as being made in the driest season of the yeare. The honie which commeth of Thyme, is held to bee the best and most profitable: in colour like gold, in tast right pleasant; evident to be knowne by the little leaves therein: and the same is likewise fattie. That which is made of Rosemarie, or within the aire & vapour of the sea, is thick: and such verily as is thus candied, and will not run, like life-honie, is nothing commendable. As for Thyme honie, it will not thicken: and if a man touch it, rope it will and draw small slimie threds after it: which is a principall sign of the weight and heavinesse thereof. If honie be short in the handling, and soone breake, and that the drops part one from the other, it is thought to be a token of the worst and coursest of all. Another triall there is besides of good honie, namely, if it be fragrant and odoriferous to smell unto, sweet in tast, and biting withall, or quicke at the tongues end, glutinous, and cleare. As touching the driving of hives for Summer honie, Thasius⁵ Dionysius is of opinion, that the tenth part thereof should be left for the Bees, namely, if they were full: if not, then according to the proportion: but if they were but light and very thin, he would not have them to bee touched at all. The Athenians goe by this rule, and doe observe duly the Caprificiall day, which is kept holie unto Vulcan: for then they ever begin to drive their hives for this kind of honie.

THERE IS A THIRD SORT of wild honie, which the Greekes call ^† Ericæum, and is of least reckoning. It is gathered after the first raine in Autumne, when the heath and lings only bloum in the woods, whereupon it seemeth as if it were sandie. This kind of honie is engendered for the most part after the rising of Arcturus, much about the Ides of September. Some there be that continue in gathering Summer honie unto the rising of Arcturus: betweene which and the Autumne Æquinoctiall are 14 daies: & from thence unto the setting of the Vergiliæ (namely, for the space of 48 daies) the said heath is most in his blouming time. This shrub the Athenians call Tetralix; the Eubœans name it Sisara: and they repute it to be a flower most pleasant to Bees, haply, because at that time there is no plentie of other flowers. This gathering of honie is about the end of vintage & the occultation of the Vergiliæ; and commonly endeth by the Ides of November. In driving of the hives for this honnie, by good reason, two [third] parts thereof would be reserved for the Bees: and especially those corners of the combes, which have in them the provision called Erithace. From the mids of winter unto the rising of Arcturus, for 60 daies Bees are nourished only with sleepe, without any other food. But from that time unto the Spring equinoctiall, and namely, where the weather is more warme, they are awake. Howbeit, they lie stil in their hive, & then fall to their victuals which they laid up in store against that time. But in Italie they do the like indeed after the rising of the star Vergiliæ: howbeit, untill then they do nothing but sleep. And there verily, men use when they take the honie forth of the hives, to weigh the combs, and so by weight dispence & set out how much they will leave them for their food: having this opinion, that they are bound to deale injustice & equitie even with the very Bees: insomuch, as it is commonly said, If they be defrauded of their due in this societie & part-taking, and find falsehood in fellowship, they will die for greefe: and so both the old stock will be lost, and the hope also of a new increase. In the first place therfore, this is a rule, That such folk only be set about this businesse to drive the hives, who are neat and clean. A theefe,⁶ & a woman whiles she is in her monthly sicknesse, they abhor. In taking out of honie, the best means to drive away the Bees, is to smoke them out of the hive: for feare that you anger them, or that they devour the honie themselves with more greedinesse. Moreover, when they grow to be idle, perfuming and smoking of them thus now and then, maketh them more fresh to goe about their worke. For when they lie still and doe nothing, they make their combes look dead and blackish. Againe, if they be overmuch smoaked, they will be the worse for it: and surely, the very honie soone catcheth the hurt hereof: for so tender and weake will it be, that with the least dew that is, you shall have it to turne and waxe soure. And therefore in all kinds of honie they observe and keepe that which is called Acapnon, [i. without smoke.] The honie gathered of both sorts of Thyme, called thereupon Bithymum, is not white: howbeit, very good it is for eies and to cleanse ulcers.

Now as touching the generation of Bees,⁷ and how they multiply and encrease, much dispute there hath been among the learned, and a nice question this is. For first and foremost, Bees were never seen to engender one with another: and therefore most men have been of opinion, that young Bees must needs be made of flowers fitly and handsomly laid togither and composed, according to Natures lore. Others say, that one master-Bee, which is the king in every swarme, doth beget them all: and that he forsooth is the only male; bigger also than the rest and more strong, because hee should not faint and faile in the action; for without such an one, we see there is no breed: and him all the other Bees attend upon, not as their leader and captain, but as the female follow the male. Certes this were a good conjecturall opinion, and sounding to a truth, but that the breed of these Drone-bees abovesaid, doth checke and overthrow it cleare: for what reason is there that one and the same manner of procreation, should bring forth some perfect and others unperfect? The former opinion yet might seeme more probable, but for another difficultie and inconvenience that crosseth it too: for otherwhiles in the utmost edges and sides of the combs, there are seen to breed the bigger kind of Bees, which chase & drive the others away: and this vermin is called Oestrus, [i. the gad-Bee or Horse-flie.⁸] Now if those little wormes or grubs from whence the Bees come, were made of flowers, which they themselves formed and brought into fashion, how commeth this gad-Bee, and whereof is hee made? This is certein, that Bees couvie and sit as Hens doe: and that which is (after a sort) by them hatched, seemeth at the first to be a little white grub or maggot, lying crosse overthwart the honey, and so fast sticking thereto, as if it seemed to feed thereupon. The king that shalbe, at the very first is yellow, and of the colour of honey: as if he were made of the most choise and excellent flower of all the rest: nothing like to a grub as the other, but presently hath wings. The rest of the multitude, when they begin to take some shape, are called Nymphae: like as the Drones at the beginning, be tearmed Sirenes or Cephenes.⁹ If a man take their heads from either sort, before they be winged, it is a most pleasant and excellent meat for the old dams. In processe of time, as they grow bigger, the old Bees distill and drop meat into their mouthes, as they sit upon them: and then they keepe most humming (as some thinke) for to set the combs into an heat, which is requisite and necessarie for the hatching of them: and thus they continue, untill the little pellicles or membranes be broken; within which, everie one lieth by it selfe, as egs: and then they break forth all togither and shew themselves accomplished Bees. The manne and experiment hereof, was seene upon a time in a ferme neare unto Rome, belonging to a Nobleman of Rome who somtime had been Consull: for hee caused his hives to be made of lanterne hornes that a man might see through into them. These young wormes be 45 daies before they come to their perfection.

There is found in some combs, a certaine bitter thing and hard like to wax, which the Latins call Clerus.¹⁰ This is as it were the abortive and untimely fruit of the Bees, to wit, when either by maladie or idlenes, or rather upon some barrennesse and unfruitfull disposition by nature, Bees are not able to bring the same to perfection.

As for the young Bees, they are not so soone abroad, but they begin to labour with their mothers, and are trained by them to learne how to gather honey. This young people have a young king also, unto whome they make court, and whome they follow. And many such kings are bred at first, for feare least they should want: but when the young Bees are growne bigge, they all agree with one accord and voice, to kill those that be most untoward among them, for feare they should make divisions, factions, and siding to parts. These kings be of two sorts: those that are red all over, be better than the blacke or partie-coloured. All the race of them be verie faire and goodly to see to; and twice as big as the rest: their wings shorter, their legges streight; in their port and manner of march, more stately: carrying in their front a white starre, like a diademe or coronet: farre brighter also and more neat they be than the common sort.

WHAT SHOULD a man now dispute about Hercules, whether there was but one of that name or many? Likewise as touching the Sepulchre of Prince Bacchus, where and which it is? As also trouble his head in many other such like antiquities, buried by long continuance of time. For behold, in one small matter that is daily seene in our countrey houses, in a thing annexed to our fermes, and whereof there is such store, all Authours who have written of Agriculture are not yet resolved: namely, Whether the king of Bees alone hath no sting, and is armed only with majestie? or, whether Nature hath bestowed a sting upon him, and denied him only the use therof? For certain it is, that this great commander over the rest, doth nothing with his sting: & yet a wonder it is to see, how they all are ready to obey him. When he marcheth abroad, the whole armie goeth forth likewise: then they assemble togither, & environ him round about; they are his guard, and so close they keepe united togither, that they will not suffer him once to be seene. At other times, when all his people are busie in labor, himselfe (as a right good captaine) overseeth their workes, goeth about from one to another, encouraging them in well-doing, and exhorting them to plie their businesse: himselfe onely exempt from all other travell and painstaking. About his person he hath a certain guard ever attendant: he hath his Lictors and officers alwaies in readinesse, in token of majestie and princely port. Hee never setteth forward, but when the whole swarme is prest likewise to goe forth: and in truth, long time before, a man may perceive that they be about a voiage and expedition; for, many daies togither there is an extraordinarie humming and noise within, whiles they prepare to dislodge, trussing up as it were their bag and baggage, and expecting onely a faire day of remoove. And suppose that the kind have in some battaile lost one of his wings, yet will not his hoast forsake him and flie. When they be in march, each one desireth and striveth to be next the prince, as taking a joy and pride to be seene of him, how lustily they performe their devoir. If he begin to be wearie, they support him with their shoulders: if hee be tired indeed and faint outright, they carry him full and whole. If any one of their owne companie chaunce to faile for very wearinesse, and doe drag behind, or stray aside and wander out of the way, it will yet endeavour to follow the armie only by the smell and sent. Where the king once setleth and taketh up his resting place, there they all pitch downe their tents and encampe. And I assure you, herein lieth a matter of great weight and importance: as touching the Auguries & presages gathered by the manner of their setling, prognosticating both to publicke states and also to privat persons, somthing to ensue of much moment, either for good or otherwise, according as they have been observed to hang togither in clusters like bunches of grapes, either at mens houses or upon the temples of the gods.¹¹ By occasion whereof, folke had recourse to their devotions and sacrifices, for to appease the heavenly powers: and yet oftentimes such foretokens have not ben expiat without some strange events in the end. There was a swarme of Bees rested upon the very lips and mouth of Plato, when he was but a very babe and infant;¹² Another cast of Bees setled within the very camp of Generall Drusus, the very same day, when he obtained that notable victorie at Arbalo.¹³ By which examples we may see, that this conjecturall skill and learning of these Soothsayers holdeth not alwaies, nor proveth ever true: for they forsooth suppose this to be evermore a portenteous sign of some fearfull event and misfortune.¹⁴ To returne againe to our captain Bee: if he chaunce to be entrapped and surprized by the enemie, the whole armie is sure withall to be taken with him. If he be deffeited and slaine, the field is lost: all the rest are scattered, and seeke their fortune to serve some other prince: for without one king or other, live they cannot. Sometime they are driven to kill those of the kings race, and namely when there be many kings togither: but this they doe perforce and full against their wills:and before they will so doe, they chuse rather to ruinate and pull downe the houses wherein they were bred; especially when there is some feare of scarsitie, by reason of the unkind season: and at such a time also, they chase and drive away the drone-Bees. And yet I see some doubt made of them: for divers are of opinion, that they be a kind of Bees by themselves, and that the rest doe set against them as very theeves. The biggest they are of all others, but blacke and broad bellied: good reason therefore that they should be called Theeves, because they come stealing and eat up their hony. Certein it is, that these drones be killed by the other Bees: and surely, king of their owne they have none. But how they should be naturally without a sting, there is some question, and the same as yet not determined. This is well known, that in a moist and rainie spring, Bees multiply better: but if it be drie weather, there will be more encrease of honey. Now if it happen, that the meat in one hive be spent, the Bees belonging thereto will assaile their next neighbours, with intent to rob and spoile them of their provision. But they on the contrarie side, put themselves in battaile aray, with full purpose to receive them againe. And if there chance to be a keeper by, to see the combat, that one part which perceiveth him to favor their side, will not once make at him for to sting him. Other causes there are besides, which make them often go togither by the ears: and then shall ye have two severall captains to arraunge their battailons one against another. But most of all they brawle and jarre upon occasion of gathering and carrying flowers, whiles they call each one to his owne companie, for to come forth and take part. But all this great fray is soone parted and dispatched, either by casting up some dust among them, or by making a little smoke and perfume under them. And reconciled soon they be againe, with setting before them a messe of milke, or honied-water.

Of the sundrie sorts of Bees in generall: and what things be contrarie and hurtfull unto them.

THERE IS A KIND OF RUSTICALL and wild Bee: and such are more rough and hideous to see to: much angrier also and curst than the rest: howbeit, more laborious and painfull by farre. Of domesticall and tame house-Bees, there are two sorts. The best be those that are short, well trust up and round, and withall, painted with sundrie colours. The long ones be the worse, and such as resemble waspes: and yet the worst of all others, bee those that are hairie all. Within the kingdome of Pontus there bee white Bees, and those make honey twice in everie moneth.¹⁵ Moreover, along the river Thermodoon, there be two sorts more. The one, gathereth hony in trees: others, within the ground, and bring great encrease thereof: for they frame their combs with a threefold course and ranke. The sting that Nature hath given unto Bees, sticketh within their bellies. Some are of opinion, that with the first prick they give with it, they die presently. Others hold, that they die not withall, unlesse they thrust it forth so far, that some of the gut followeth after: mary howsoever it be, they become afterwards no better than drones: neither gather they any more honey, as if they were guelded of their vigor and strength; so as they cease to doe good and harme both at once. We find it written in Chronicles, that horses have been stung to death by them. Filthie stinking savours they cannot abide, and namely, such as be contagious; and from them will they flie farre enough. Nay more than that, sure they will be to haunt and sting them that smell as they goe of sweet pomanders and odoriferous ointments, notwithstanding they be otherwise themselves subject to the injurie of most living creatures. For first and foremost, they are molested and assailed by those of their owne nature, but yet degenerate and of bastard breed, to wit, Waspes and Hornets: also by a kind of Gnats called Muliones.¹⁶ Swallowes, Martins, and some other birds, make foule work among them, and are their mortall enemies. The Frogs lie in wait for them as they come to drinke: which is the principall worke they have to doe, when they be about to multiply and breed young. And not those Frogs onely which keepe in standing pooles and running rivers, but those land-Frogs of a Todes kind will come of their owne accord from out of the brambles and briers where they keepe, and leap up to the very dore and entrance of the hive; where they will blow and breath in unto them: and when the Bees come flying forth thither, to see what the matter is, soone are they snapt up and devoured. And as for Frogs, all the sort of them are supposed not to feele the prick of their sting. Sheepe also are no friends of theirs: for if they once get entangled within their wooll, hardly can they get out again. Seeth but Crabfishes neer unto their hives, the very aire & smell therof will kill them. Over and besides, Bees naturally are many times sick; and that do they shew most evidently: a man shall see it in them by their heavie looks, and by their unlustines to their businesse: ye shall marke how some will bring forth others that be sicke and diseased, into the warme sunne, and be readie to minister unto them and give them meat. Nay, ye shall have them to carie forth their dead, and to accompanie the corps full decently, as in a solemne funerall. If it chaunce that the king be dead of some pestilent maladie, the commons & subjects mourne, they take thought and grieve with heavie cheere and sad countenance: idle they be, & take no joy to do any thing: they gather in no provision: they march not forth: onely with a certain dolefull humming they gather round about his corps, and will not away. Then requisite it is and necessarie, to sever and part the multitude, and so to take away the bodie from them: otherwise they would keepe a looking at the breathlesse carcasse, and never go from it, but still mone and mourne without end. And even then also they had need be cherished and comforted with good victuals, otherwise they would pine away and die with hunger. To conclude, a man may soone know when Bees be well in health, by their chearefulnesse and fresh hue that they carrie.

THERE BE DISEASES also and imperfections in their worke: and namely, when they fill not their comes, or bring not to perfection their young Bees. The first is called Cleros, like as the other Blapsigonia.¹⁷ Moreover, the sound made by reverberation of the aire, which men call Eccho, is hurtfull unto them: for they feare mightily that resounding noise, comming with a double stroke. Mists and Fogs also trouble them much. As for Spiders, they be their greatest enemies of all others, in case they can prevaile so much as to enter into the hive, and weave a copweb within it: for they kill all the Bees, and there is no remedie against it. Over and besides, that Moth or Butterflie¹⁸ which useth to flie about the snuffe of a candle burning, (a poore silie flie otherwise and of base account) here doth much hurt, and that in divers sorts. For not only it selfe eateth and gnaweth the waxe of their combes, but also doth blow and leave behind them such excrements as afterwards prove other moths. Also, wheresoever he goeth and flieth within the hive, he leaveth behind him a certaine substance, comming most from the dustie downe of his wings, with which he thickeneth the threds (as it were) of copwebs. There breed likewise even in very wood, certain wormes, which above all things make means to eat the combes. What should I speake of their owne greedie feeding and glutting themselves with too much liquour of the flowers, in the Spring time especially? whereupon ensueth a daungerous fluxe and loosenesse of their bellie. As for Oile, it is not bane to Bees onely, but also to all other Insects: especially, if a man dip their heads in it, and then let them be in the Sunne; for presently they will die of it. Many times Bees are causers of their owne death, with getting a surfet by excessive devouring of honie, namely, when they see it readie to be taken out of the hive: for otherwise they are very thriftie and overgreat sparers, and such, as at other times will drive out those that wast prodigally and be gluttinous, no lesse than such as be idle luskes, and slow at worke. Nay, even their owne honie doth them hurt: for if they be annointed therewith in their hinder parts, they will die upon it. Lo how many enemies this creature (so liberall and bountifull) hath! see, how many casualties it is subject unto! and yet what be these I have alreadie rehearsed, in proportion and comparison of those which are omitted? Their remedies will we speake of in convenient time and place: for this present, content I will my selfe to treat onely of their natures.

BEES JOY in the clapping of hands, and ringing of brasen basons: at the sound thereof they will assemble and come together. Whereby, it is a plaine case, that they have the sence of hearing. When they have done their taske of worke; when they have brought foorth their young ones, and fully accomplished all their devoire; then they performe a solemnitie of exercise: wherein after they have flowne abroad in the open aire at libertie, fetched their compasse about on high, gathered into rings and rounds in manner of tournament for their pleasure: then at last when it it time of repast, they returne home againe. The longest time that they can live, (say, that they passe through all daungers, and no misfortune light upon them, but every thing that is adverse, fall out well and happily) is not above seven yeares.¹⁹ And never was it knowne or heard of, that an hive continued above ten years. Some writers be of opinion, That dead Bees if they bee kept within house all a Winter, and when the Spring is come, bee laid forth in the hote Sunne to frie, and one whole daie be kept covered all over with figtree ashes, they will revive and be quicke againe.²⁰ But suppose they be not onely dead, but their bodies also lost and gone, some say they may be repaired and a new swarme engendred, by laying the fresh paunches of oxen or kine newly killed, with the dung, garbage and all, within a dunghill there to putrifie. Virgill affirmeth,²¹ that the carkasses of any young steeres, will doe the same: like as dead horses will breed Waspes and Hornets: and Asses carrion turne to be Beetle-flies, by a certaine metamorphosis which Nature maketh, from one creature to another. And yet there be none of all these, but are seene to engender: howbeit the manner of their breed is much after the nature of Bees.

WASPES USE to build them nests on high, of earth and clay, and therein doe make their roomes and cells of wax. Hornets, in caves and holes under the ground. All these verily have their chambers made with sixe corners, and yet their nests consist of some barke and substance like cobwebs. And as they be a barbarous and savage kind of creatures, so their young is not uniforme: one is readie to flie abroad, whiles another is yet but yong and not fledge, and a third a meere worme and grub still. All these breed in the Autumne, and never in the Spring. When the moone is in the full, they encrease marveilously. As for the little Wasps, called Ichneumones²² (and lesse they be than others) they use to kill one kind of Spiders called Phalangia, and carrie them into their nests: they besmeare them all over with a liniment, sit over them, and so procreate their owne kind. Moreover, all the sort of these live upon flesh, contrarie to the manner of Bees, which will not touch a dead carcasse. But Waspes hunt after the greater flies: and when they have whipt off their heads, carrie away the rest of their bodies for that provision. The wild Hornets use to keepe in hollow trees. All winter time, like other Insects, they lie hidden, and live not above two yeeres. If a man be stung with them, hardly he escapeth without an ague. And some have written, that 27 pricks of theirs will kill a man. The other Hornets which seeme to be the gentler, be of two sorts. The lesse of bodie, doe worke and travaile for their living, and they die when winter is come. But the greater sort of them continue two yeeres: and those also are nothing daungerous, but mild and tractable. These make their nests in the spring, and the same for the most part having foure dores or entries unto them, wherein the lesser labouring Hornets abovesaid, are engendred. When those are quick, brought to perfection, and gotten abroad, they build longer nests; in which they bring foorth those that shall be mothers and breeders: by which time, those yong Hornets that worke, be readie to doe their businesse and feed these other. Now these mothers appeare broader than the rest: and doubtfull it is, whether they have any sting or no? because they are never seen to thrust them forth. These likewise have their drones among them, as well as Bees. Some thinke, that toward winter, these all doe loose their stings. Neither Hornets nor Waspes, have kings or swarms, after the manner of Bees: but yet their repaire their kind and maintaine their race by a new breed and generation.

Of Silkewormes: the Bombylius, and Necydalus. And who first invented silke cloth.

A FOURTH KIND of flie there is,²³ breeding in Assyria, and greater than those above-named, called Bombyx, [i. the Silkeworme.]²⁴ They build their nests of earth and clay, close sticking to some stone or rocke, in manner of salt: and withall so hard, that scarsely a man may enter them with the point of a speare. In which they make also waxe, but in more plentie than Bees: and after that, bring forth a greater worme than all the rest before rehearsed. These flies engender also after another sort; namely, of a greater worme or grub, putting forth two horns after that kind: and these be certain Cankerwormes. Then these grow afterward to be Bombylij; and so forward to Necydali: of which, in six moneths after, come the silkeworms Bombyces. Silkeworms spin and weave webs like to those of the Spiders, and all to please our dainty dames, who thereof make their fine silkes and velvets, forme their costly garments and superfluous apparell, which are called Bombycina. The first that devised to unweave these webs of the Silke-worme, and to weave the same againe, was a woman in Coos named Pamphila, daughter of Latoos:²⁵ and surely she is not to be defrauded of her due honour and praise, for the invention of that fine silke, Tiffanie, Sarcenet, and Cypres, which instead of apparell to cover and hide, shew women naked through them.

IT IS COMMONLY SAID, that in the Iland Cos there be certain Silkeworms²⁶ engendred of flowers, which by the meanes of raine-showers, are beaten downe and fall from the Cypres tree, Terebinth, Oke, and Ash: and they soone after doe quicken and take life by the vapour arising out of the earth. And men say, that in the beginning, they are like unto little Butterflies naked; but after a while (being impatient of the cold) are overgrowne with haire; and against the winter, arme themselves with good thicke clothes: for being rough-footed, as they are, they gather all the cotton and downe of the leaves which they can come by, for to make their fleece. After this, they fall to beat, to felt and thicken it close with their feet, then to card it with their nailes: which done, they draw it out at length, and hang it between the braunches of trees, and so kembe it in the end to make it thin and subtil. When all is brought to this passe, they unwrap and enfold themselves (as it were) in a rond ball and clew of thread, and so nestle within it. Then are they taken up by men, put in earthen pots, kept there warme, and nourished with bran, untill such time as they have wings according to their kind: and being thus well clad and appointed, they are let go to doe other businesse. Now as touching the wooll or fleece which they have begun, men suffer it to relent in some moisture, and so anon it is spun into a small thread, with a spindle made of some light Kex or Reed. This is the making of that fine Say, whereof silke cloth is made; which men also are not abashed to put on and use, because in summer time they would goe light and thin. And so farre doe men draw backe now a daies from carrying a good corslet and armour on their backes, that they thinke their ordinarie apparell doth over-lode them. Howbeit, hitherto have they not medled with the Assyrian Silkworme, but left it for the fine wives and dames of the city.

IT WERE NOT AMISSE to join hereunto a discourse of Spiders, for their admirable nature, which deserveth a speciall consideration. Wherein, this is first to be noted, that of them there be many kinds, and those so well knowne unto every man, that needles it is to particularize and stand much upon this point. As for those which be called Phalangia, their stinging and biting is venomous, their bodie small, of diver colours, and sharpe pointed forward; and as they goe, they seeme to hop and skip. A second sort be blacke, and their feet are exceeding long. All of them have in their legs, three joints. The least of this kind, called Lupi, spin not at all nor make any webs. The greater, stretch foorth their webs before the small entries into their holes within the ground. But the third kind of Spiders, be they which are so wonderfull for their fine spinning and skilfull workmanship: these weave the great and large cobwebs that wee see; and yet their verie wombe yeeldeth all the matter and stuffe whereof they be made. Whether it be, that at some certein season naturally their belly is so corrupt (as Democritus saith:²⁷) or that within it there is a certain bed (as it were) which engendreth the substance of silke. But surely whatsoever it is, so sure and steadie nailes the Spider hath; so fine, so round, and even a thread she spinnes, hanging thereunto her selfe, and using the weight of her owne bodie in stead of a wherve; that a wonder it is to see the manner thereof. Shee beginneth to weave at the very mids of the web, and when she hath laid the warpe, bringeth over the woofe in compasse round. The mashes and marks she dispenseth equally by even spaces; yet so, as every course groweth wider than other: and albeit they do encrease still from narrow to be broader, yet are they held and tied fast by knots that can not be undone. Marke, I pray you, how artifically she hideth the snares in that net of hers, made into squares, to catch the poore flies. A man would not thinke (who seeth the long yarne in her web wrought serce-wise,²⁸ smoothed and polished so cunningly, and the verie manner of the woofe so glewish and clammie as it is, of it selfe) that all were to any purpose, and served for that which she intendeth. See withall, how slacke and hollow the net is made, to abide the wind, for feare of breaking: and thereby so much the better also to fold and enwrap whatsoever commeth within her reach! What a craft is this of hers to leave the upper part hereof in the front undone, as if she were wearie, (for so a man may guesse, when he can hardly see the reason) and (as it is in hunters net and toile) that so soone as those nets be stumbled upon, they should cast the flies headlong into the lap and concavitie of the net? To come now unto her nest and hole: Is there any Architecture comparable to the vault and arched frame? And for to keepe out the cold, how is it wrought with a longer and deeper nap than the rest! What subtiltie is this of hers, to retire into a corner so farre from the mids, making semblance as though she meant nothing lesse than that she doth, and as if she went about some other businesse! Nay, how close lyeth she, that it is impossible for one to see, whether any bodie bee within or no! What should I speake of the strength that this web hath to resist the puffes and blasts of winds? of the toughnesse to hold and not breake, notwithstanding a deale of dust doth weigh and beare it downe? Many a time ye shall see a broad web reaching from one tree to another: and this is when she learneth to weave and beginneth to practise and trie her skill. She stretcheth a thread, and warpeth in length from the top of the tree downe to the very ground; and up again she whirles most nimbly by the same thread: so as at one time, she spinneth and windeth up her yarne. Now if it chaunce that any thing light into her net, how watchfull, how quick-sighted, how readie is she to run? Be it never so little snared even in the very skirt and utmost edge thereof, she alwaies skuds into the mids; for so by shaking the whole net, she entangleth the flie or whatsoever it be, so much the more. Looke what is slit or rent therein, she presently doth mend and repaire, and that so even and small, that a man cannot see where the hole was derned and drawne up againe. These Spiders hunt also after the yong Lizards: first they enfold and wrap the head within their web: then, they catch hold and tweake both their lips togither, and so bite and pinch them. A worthy sight and spectacle to behold, fit for a king, even from the stately Amphitheatres, when such a combat chanceth.

Moreover, there bee many presages and prognostications depend upon these Spiders: for against any inundations and overflowings of rivers, they weave and make their cobwebs higher than they were wont. In faire and cleare weather, they neither spin nor weave: upon thicke and cloudie daies, they be hard at worke: and therefore many cobwebs be a signe of raine. Some thinke, it is the female that spinneth and weaveth; and the male, which hunteth and getteth in the provision for the familie: thus ordering the matter equally in earning their living, as man and wife togither in one house.²⁹ Spiders engender togither with their buttocks, and little worms they doe lay like egs. For, considering that the generation of all Insects besides, in a manner can be declared and shewed no otherwise, I must not deferre the relation of it, being so admirable as it is. Well then, these egs they do lay in their webs, but scattering here and there, because they use to skip and leape when they thrust them forth.³⁰ The Phalangius onely sitteth upon the egges within the very hole, and those in great number: which begin not so soon to peepe, but they eat the mother, yea and oftentimes the father likewise, for he helpeth her also to coove. And these kind of Spiders bring commonly 300 at a time: whereas all the rest have fewer. They sit ordinarily thirtie daies. As for yong Spiders, they come to their full growth and perfection in 4 weeks.

SEMBLABLY, THE LAND SCORPIONS doe lay certaine little worms or grubs in manner of egs: and when they have so done, perish likewise for their labour, as the Spiders. Their stings be as venomous and daungerous, as those of serpents: and albeit there ensue not thereupon so present death, yet they put folke to more paine a great delae; insomuch as they languish and lie drawing on three daies before they die. If a maiden be stung with one of them, she is sure to die of it: other women also for the most part catch their death thereby, and hardly escape. Yea and men also find their poison to be mortall and deadly, if they be stung in a morning by them when they creepe newly out of their holes, fasting, and before that they have discharged their poison by pricking one thing or other first. Their sting lieth in their tails, and readie they are with it alwaies to strike.There is not a minute of an houre but they practise and trie how they can thrust it forth, (so malicious they be) because they would not loose and misse the first opportunitie presented unto them. They strike both sidelong or byas, and also crooked and bending upward, with their taile. The poison that commeth from them, is white, as Apollodorus saith: who also hath set down nine sorts of them, and distinguished them by their colours, which me thinkes, was but superfluous and more than needed;³¹ considering that a man cannot know by his discourse, which of them he would have to be least hurtfull and noisom. He affirmeth, that some have double stings, and that the males are more curst and cruell than the females: for he avoucheth, that they doe engender togither, and that the males may be knowne by this, That they are long and slender. Moreover, that they be all of them venomous about mid-day, when they bee enchaffed and set into an heat, by the scalding and scorching sunne: also when they be drie and thirstie, they cannot drinke their full and quench their drought. This is well knowne, that those which have seven joints in their tailes, be more fell than the rest: for it is ordinarie to have but six. In Affricke, this pestilent creature useth to flie also, namely, when the Southerne winds blow, which carrie them aloft in the aire and beare them up as they stretch forth their armes like oares. The same Apollodorus before-named avoucheth plainly, that some of them have very wings indeed.³² The people called Psylli (who making a gainfull trade and merchandise of it, to bring in hither unto us the poisons of other countries, and by that meanes have filled Italie with forrein venomous beasts) have many times assaied to bring them hither; but never would they abide so much as the aire of Sicilie, nor live in that tract. Howbeit we see of them now and then in Italie, but harmlesse they be all: like as in many other places besides, and namely about Pharus in Ægypt. In ^†† Scythia they be so daungerous, that they kill their hogs; which otherwise be creatures that can eat such poisons, and yet live and doe full well. And if it be true that is said, the black swine die more speedily, especially if after they be stung, they goe into the water and drench themselves. If a man bee stung with a Scorpion and drinke the powder of them in wine, it is thought to be present remedie. Men hold, that nothing is more contrary unto them than oile, if they be dipped therein: as also to the Stelliones, which are made like Lizards, and doe no hurt to them onely, because they are without bloud. Like as the Scorpions also are said to be harmelesse to any thing that is bloudlesse. Some are of opinion, that they likewise devoure their young, save onely one who is more slie and craftie than the rest, who gets upon the rumpe behind of the mother, and there sits, being assured that he is safe enough in that place, both from sting of taile and tooth in mouth. This Scorpion revengeth the death of his other brethren and sisters: for in the end he skips upon the back of father and mother both, where he gnaweth and eateth them to death. To conclude, Scorpions usually doe breed eleven young ones at a time.

THE STELLIONS after a sort be of the nature of Chamæleons, living onely upon dew and Spiders.³³ Grashoppers also live much after the same manner. And they be of two sorts; namely, the lesser, which come first, and die last: but those be mute. The latter breed, seldome or never flie: and those likewise are of two kinds. Such as sing alowd, be named Echetæ; and the lesser sort of them Terttigoniæ: but those other are more shrill, and chant full merrily. The male Grashoppers in both kinds doe find themselves are silent. The people of the East countries make their food of them: even the very Parthians, who otherwise abound in wealth.³⁴ The hee Grashoppers are the sweeter meat before the time of engendring: and the shee Grashoppers afterward, by reason of egs knotted within them, and those be white. They engender with their bellies upward. They have a certain roughnesse upon their backs, which is very sharpe, and therwith they worke a hollow gutter in the ground, as a nest to lay their egs and breed in. At the first, appeareth a little worme or magot; whereof commeth afterward that which they call Tettigometra, as one would say, the mother of Grashoppers, or the great grashopper.³⁵ For about the Sunstead in Summer, the utmost crust or case thereof breaketh, and then out they flie, and alwaies in the night. At the first, blacke they be and hard withall. Of all creatures that are known to live, the Grashoppers alone have no mouth: in stead whereof, they have a certaine sharpe pointed thing in their breast (like unto their tongues that carrie stings in their mouths) and with it they sucke and licke in the dew. Their breast is full of little pipes, from whence commeth that ringing noise of the Echetæ which we doe heare, as I have above said. Moreover, their bellie is emptie and hath nothing in it. When a man raiseth them, so as they bee thereby forced to flie, they yeeld forth a certaine humour: which is the onely argument that they bee nourished of the dew. They have moreover this one marke from all other creatures living, namely, no concavitie of their bodie to be seen whereby to void out any excrements. So dim-sighted they be, that if a man chaunce to come neare unto them, plucking in and stretching out his finger before them, they will presently leape upon it, supposing that it is some leafe that waggeth. Writers there bee, that make two more kinds of them, namely, the greater, which appeare at the first spring and budding of trees; whereupon it is called Surcularia: and a lesser, which some name Frumentaria, others Avenaria. For this sheweth it selfe when corne is ripe and begins to die in the straw.

IN COUNTRIES bare and naked of trees and wood, there breed no Grashoppers: and therefore ye shall have them at Cyrene, about the towne, but not in the plaines and fields thereof. Neither shall a man meet with them in woods that be cold and full of shade. It seemeth also, that they take a liking to some one quarter more than another: for in the region of the Milesians, few places there be that have them: but in Cephalenia, there is a river that doth limit and bound them: for of the one side there be plentie of them; and on the other, few or none. In the territorie of Rhegium they be all mute. Passe the river once and come into the Locrians countrey, yee shall heare them chaunt lustily. Wings they have like to those of Bees, but larger, to the proportion of their bodies.

OF INSECTS, some carrie two wings about them, as the flies: others foure, as Bees. As for Grashoppers, they flie with wings made like pellicles or fine skins. In summe, all Insects which be armed with a sting in their bodies or taile, have foure a peece: and none againe have above twaine that carrie their offensive weapon in the mouth.³⁶ To the former, Nature hath given it for to revenge; to the other, onely to feed themselves, and content their appetite. Moreover, plucke from any of them their wings, there will never come new in the place. None that have a sting in their taile, be double winged. Some Insects there be, which have growing a certaine huske or cod over their wings, for the safeguard and defence thereof, as the Beetles: and the wings of such be thinner and more brittle than others. Sting have they none, but a certaine kind of the great ones be armed with two long hornes boking out before them, and two-forked they be and toothed like pinsons, in the top, which (when they lift) they can bring togither and make them meet, and so nip and bite withall. These Beetles, folke use to hang about the necke of young babes, as present remedies against many maladies.³⁷ Such Beetles, Nigidius calleth Lucanes.³⁸ Over and besides, there is another sort, which tumbling upon their backe in dung, do roll it into great round balls with their feet; and therein doe make nests for to bestow the little grubs (which are their young) against the cold of winter. Some ther be that use to flie up and down, and where ever they go, make a great buzzing noise as if they lowed. Ye shall have others again that keepe in medowes; yea and Creckets that haunt the hearth and stocke of chimnies, where the[y] make many holes, and lie cricking alowd in the night.

The Glo-wormes, are named by the Greeks Lampyrides, because they shine in the night like a sparke of fire: and it is no more but the brightnes of their sides and taile: for one while, as they hold open their wings, they glitter; another while when they keepe them close togither, they be shadowed and make no shew. These Glowhards never appeare before hay is ripe upon the ground; ne yet after it is cut downe. Contrariwise, the flies called Blattæ, live and be nourished in darkenesse: a light is an enemie unto them, and from it they flie. They breed commonly in baines and stouves, of the moist vapours that be there. Of the same kind there be other great Beetles red in colour, which worke themselves holes in the drie earth, where they frame certaine receptacles like unto Bees combs, little and small, full of pipes resembling hollow spunges; and all for a kind of bastard honey, whereof yet there is some use in Physicke. In Thrace neare to Olynthus, there is a little territorie or plot of ground, where this one creature (among all other) cannot live; whereupon the place is called Cantharolethus.³⁹ The wings generally of all Insects, bee whole, without any slit: and none of them hath a taile but the Scorpion. Hee alone hath not onely armes, but also a sting in the taile.⁴⁰ As for the rest, some of them have a sharpe pricked weapon in their muzzle, as namely, the Breese or great Horse-flie, called in Latine Asilus or Tabanus, whether you will. Likewise Gnats also, and some kind of flies. And these prickes serve them in good stead both for mouth and tongue. Some of these are but blunt, and not good for to pricke, but onely handsome to sucke withall, as flies, which have all of them a tongue, beeing evidently fistulous and like a pipe. And none of all these have any teeth. There be Insects with little hornes proaking out before their eyes, but weake and tender they be, and good for nothing; as the Butterflies. And there bee againe, that are not winged, and such be the Scolopendres. All Insects that have legges and feet, goe not directly, but bias and crooked. Of which, some have the hinder legges loner than the former, and such bend hooked outward; as the Locusts.⁴¹

THE LOCUSTS lay egges in Autumne, by thrusting downe into the ground the fistule or end of their chine, and those come forth in great abundance. These eggs lie all winter long in the earth; and at the end of the spring the yeere following, they put out little Locusts, blacke of colour, without legs, and creeping upon their wings. Hereupon it commeth, that if it be a wet spring and rainie, those egs perish and come to no good: but in a drie season, there will be greater encrease and store of Locusts the Summer ensuing. Some writers hold opinion, that they lay and breed twice a yeare: likewise that they perish and die as often. For they say, that when the star Vergiliæ doth arise, they breed: and those afterwards about the beginning of the Dog-daies, die; and others then come in their place. Others say, that they engender and breed againe their second litter, at the full or setting of Arcturus. True it is indeed, that the mothers die so soone as they have brought foorth their little ones, by reason of a small worme that presently breedeth about their throat, which choketh them.⁴² And at the same time, the males likewise miscarrie. See what a little matter (to speake of) bringeth them to their death! and yet a woonder it is to consider, how one of them when it list will kill a serpent: for it will take him fast by the chaws, and never lin biting untill shee hath dispatched him. These little beasts breed no where but in plaine and champion countries, namely, such as be full of chinkes and crevises in the ground. It is reported, that there be of them in India, three foot long; where the people of the countrey use their legs and thighes for sawes, when they be throughly dried. These Locusts come by their death another way, besides that above-named: for when the wind taketh them up by whole troopes togither, they fall downe either into the sea, or some great standing pooles.⁴³ And this many a time happeneth by meere chaunce and fortune; and not (as many have supposed in old time) because their wings are wet with the night dew. For even the same Authors have written, that they flie not in the night for cold. But little know they, that it is ordinarie with them to passe over wide and broad seas, and to continue their flight many daies togither without rest. And the great wonder is this, that they know also when a famine is toward: in regard wherof, they seeke for food into farre countries: in such sort, as their comming is ever holden for a plague of the gods, proceeding from their heavie wrath and displeasure. For then commonly they are bigger to be seene,⁴⁴ than at other times: and in their flight they keepe such a noise with their wings, that men take them for some straunge foules. They shade and darken the very Sunne as they flie, like unto a great clowd: insomuch, as the people of every country behold them with much feare, least they should light in their territorie, and over-spread the whole countrey. And verily their strength is such, that they hold out still in their flight: and as if they had not enough of it to have flowne over seas, they give not over to traverse mightie great countries in the continent. And looke in what place soever they settle, they cover whole fields of corne with a fearfulle and terrible clowd: much they burn with their very blast, and no part is free but they eat and gnaw even the very dores of mens dwelling houses. Many a time they have been knowne to take their flight out of Affricke, and with whole armies to infest Italie: many a time have the people of Rome, fearing a great famine and scarcitie toward, beene forced to have recourse unto Sibyls bookes for remedie,⁴⁵ and to avert the ire of the gods. In the Cyrenaick region within Barbarie, ordained it is by law, every three yeares to wage warre against them, and so to conquer them: that is to say, first to seeke out their neasts, and to squash the egges; secondly, to kill all their young; and last of all, to proceed even to the greater ones, and utterly to destroy them: yea, and a grievous punishment lieth upon him that is negligent in this behalfe, as if hee were a traitour to his prince and countrey.⁴⁶ Moreover, within the Island Lemnos there is a certaine proportion & measure set down, how many & what quantitie every man shall kill; and they are to exhibit unto the magistrate a just and true account thereof, and namely to shew that measure full of dead Locusts. And for this purpose they make much of Iaies, Dawes, and Choughs,⁴⁷ whom they doe honour highly, because they flie opposite against the Locusts, and so destroy them. Moreover, in Syria they are forced to levie a warlike power of men against them, & to make riddance by that means. See in how many parts of the world this hurtfull and noisome vermine is dispersed and spread: and yet in Parthia they are taken for very good meat. The voice that they have (such as it is) seemeth to come from the hinder part of their head: for about that place where the joincture is of the shoulders to the nape of the necke, they are supposed to have certaine teeth, which by grating and grinding one against the other, doe yeeld a kind of crashing noise: and namely, about the time of both Æquinoctials: like as the Grashoppers at midsummers Sunstead. Locusts engender after the manner of all other Insects which do engender: to wit, the female carieth the male: and she lying underneath, bendeth up the very end of her taile against the other: and thus they continue a good while ere they part asunder. To conclude, the males of all this kind be lesse than the females.

MOST PART OF INSECTS do breed a grub or little worme. For even the very Ant in the Spring time doth bring forth such wormes like egges. These silie creatures labour and travell in common, as the Bees doe: this onely is the difference, that Bees doe make their owne meat; whereas these store up only their food and provision. As touching their strength, if a man would compare the burdens that they carie, with their own bodies, he will find and confesse, that there is not a creature againe in the world, for that proportion, stronger. And how doe they carrie them? even with their very mouths. Howbeit, if they meet with any greater load than they can bite betweene their chawes, then they set their shoulders to it, and with their hinder legs also make meanes to drive it forward. They have among them a certain forme of Commonwealth: they remember they are not without care and fore-cast. Looke what seeds or graines they do lay up for provision, sure they will be to gnaw it first, for feare they should sprout and take root again and so grow out of the earth. If a corne or seed be too big for their carriage, they divide it into peeces, that they may goe with it more easily into their house. If their seeds within, chaunce to take wet, they lay them abroad, and so drie them. They give not over worke by night, when the Moone is at the full: but when she is in the change, they rest and play them. When they are at worke, how painefull are they? how busie, how industrious? And for as much as they make their purveiance in diverse places, and bring from all parts, without knowledge one of the other: they keepe among them certain market daies, for a mutuall enterview and conference together. And verily, it is a world to see, how then they will assemble; what running, what greeting, what entercourse and communication there is betweene them, whiles they are inquisitive, as they meet one with another, What newes abroad: even like marchants at a Burse. Their warfare is so ordinarie and continuall, that wee may see the very hard flint and pebble stones worne with their passage too and fro: wee may see (I say) a very path-way made where they use to goe about their worke: whereby, let no man doubt of what force and power continuall use is, of any thing whatsoever, be it never so little. Of all living creatures, they onely and men, doe enterre and burie their dead among them. To conclude, throughout all Sicilie a man shall not see a flying Ant.

IN THE TEMPLE OF Hercules at Erythræ,⁴⁸ there were to bee seene the hornes of a certain Indian Ant, which were there set up for a wonder to posteritie. In the countrey of the Northerne Indians named Dardæ, the Ants doe cast up gold above ground from out of the holes and mines within the earth: these are in colour like to cats, and as big as the ^††† wolves of Ægypt. This gold beforesaid which thy worke up in the winter time, the Indians do steale from them in the extreame heat of Summer, waiting their opportunitie, when the Pismires lie close within their caves under the ground, from the parching Sun: yet not without great daunger. For if they happen to wind them and catch their sent, out they goe, and follow after them in great hast: and with such furie they flie upon them, that oftentimes they teare them in peeces; let them make way as fast as they can upon their most swift Camels, yet they are not able to save them. So fleet of pace, so fierce of courage are they, to recover gold that they love so well.

MANY INSECTS there be that breed after another sort, than the former above specified: and principally of dew, which setleth upon the Radish leafe in the beginning of Spring.⁴⁹ For being made thicke, and hardened with the heat of the Sunne, it groweth to the bignesse of the graine of Millet. From it ariseth a little grub, and three daies after it becommeth a kind of canker-worme: and so in processe and tract of time it groweth bigger without mooving at all, and gathered an hard huske or case about her: onely if a man touch the webbie particles, wherein the said worme lieth enwrapped, it will seeme to stir. This is called Chrysalis: and after some time, when the kex or huske is broken, he proveth a faire flying butter-flie.

SEMBLABLY, THERE BE some Insects engendred of raine drops standing upon the earth; and others also in wood. For not onely the ordinarie wood-wormes breed in timber, but also certain Brees and Horse-flies come of it, yea, and other such like, whensoever the wood is dotted with overmuch moisture. Like as within one of our bodies there have been found broad wormes, of thirtie foot in length, yea, and sometimes with the vantage.⁵⁰ Also there have ben seen in dead carions many wormes: and the very flesh of men whiles they be alive, is apt to breed such vermine: and so in the haire of the head to harbour lice; of which filthie and lothsome creatures, both Sylla the Dictatour, and also Alcman (one of the most renowmed Greeke Poets) perished.⁵¹ Moreover, birds are much infested and troubled therewith. And as for Feasants, they will die therof, unlesse they bestrew themselves with dust. Of such beasts as carie haire, it is verily thought that the Asse alone and Sheepe are free from this kind of vermine. Some kind of cloth likewise is apt to engender lice, & especially those which are made of wooll, that Sheepe bare which were worried of Wolves.⁵² Over and besides, I find in some writers, That there is some water will engender this vermine, if we doe but wash therein. For even in waxe there will breed mites, but such are thought to be of all creatures that have life, the very least. Also, ye shall have others again engender of filthie drie dust, namely, fleas, which use to skip and hop with their hinder feet lustily like these tumblers and vautours. Last of all, there be those that come of a certaine moist powder in cranies of the ground, and those be our ordinarie little flies.⁵³

THERE IS A CREATURE as foule and illfavoured as the rest,⁵⁴ which hath evermore the head fast sticking within the skin of a beast, and so by sucking of bloud liveth, and swelleth withall. The only living creature of all other that hath no way at all to rid excrements out of the bodie: by reason whereof, when it is too full, the skin doth cracke and burst, and so his very food is cause of his owne death. In Horses, Asses, and Mules, these doe never breed. In Kine and Oxen they be common: and otherwhiles in dogs, who are pestered not onely with these tickes, but also with all other vermine abovenamed. And in Sheepe and Goats a man shall find none other but tickes. It is as strange a thing also to see, how the horseleeches which be nourished in standing waters of fennes, are thirstie after bloud. For these will thrust their whole head into the flesh for to draw and sucke out bloud. Finally, there is a kind of flies that plagueth dogges, and none els: they are busie commonly about their eares, where they will bite & sting them shrewdly; for there they cannot come by them with their teeth to snap and kill them.

WOOLL AND CLOTH when they be dustie breed moths,⁵⁵ especially if a Spider also be gotten within them. For the Spider is very thirstie, and by reason that he drinketh up all the moisture of the cloth or wooll, he increaseth the drinesse much more. In paper also they will engender. A kind of them there is that carie their coats and cases with them, as Cockles and Snailes doe: but they have feet to be seen. If they be turned out of their coats or husks, they presently die. If they grow still, they will proove to be Chrysalides. The wild fig-tree doth breed certaine Gnats called Ficarij. As for the Cantharides or French greene flies, they be bred of little wormes in Fig-trees, Peare-trees, wild Pines or Pitch-trees, the Eglantine brier, and Roses: A venomous vermine this is, howbeit, medicinable in some sort. The wings be they that are good in Physicke: cast them away, and the rest is deadly. Moreover, there be other Gnats, that soure things will engender. And no marvell, seeing that there be some wormes found in snow, & those are white, if the snow be but thin and new fallen. But in case it have lien long, and be deepe, a man shall find in the mids within, those that are red, (for snow also if it be old, waxeth red) rough and hairie, greater also than the rest, and dull of motion.

THE FIRE ALSO, a contrarie element to generation, is not without some living creatures engendred therein. For in Cypres, among the forges and furnaces of copper, there is to be seen a certaine foure-footed creature, and yet winged, (as big as the greater kind of flies) to flie out of the very middest of the fire: and called it is of some Pyralis, of others Pyrausta. The nature of it is this: So long as it remaineth in the fire, it liveth: but if it chaunce to leape foorth of the furnace, and to flie any thing far into the aire, it dieth.⁵⁶ There is a river in the kingdome of Pontus called Hypanis, which about the Summer Sunnestead, useth to bring downe the streame certain thin pellicles or bladders like unto grape kernils: out of which there breaketh forth and issueth a foure footed flie, like unto those above named: and it liveth not above one day, whereupon it is called Hemerobion, [i. a day-flie.] All other Insects of like sort, may continue and live a seven-night. The Gnat and little wormes, three weekes: but such as bring foorth their young alive, may endure a full month. As for the Metamorphosis of these creatures from one from to another, it is most commonly performed in three daies, or foure at the most. All the rest of the winged kind, lightly die in Autumne: among which, the Brees and Horse-flies are ordinarily blind first. To be short, those flies which have been drowned, and so come to their death, if they be laid and kept in hote cinders or ashes, will come againe to themselves, and revive.

A discourse Anatomicall, of the nature of living creatures, part by part, according to their particular members.

IT REMAINETH NOW to treat of the severall parts of the bodie, and over and above the former description, to particularize and set downe the storie of one member after another. First therfore, this is generall, that all living creatures whatsoever having bloud, have also heads.⁵⁷ And few of them have cops or crested tufts upon their heads, unlesse it be birds, and those are of diverse formes & fashions. The Phœnix is adorned with a round plume of feathers, out of the mids of which there groweth another little pennache. Peacockes carie upon their heads a tuft (as it were) of little hairie trees: and the Stymphalides,⁵⁸ a locke of crisped and curled haires. Phesants have feathers standing up like hornes. The pretie Titmouse or Nonett is filletted or coifed upon the head: and in lieu thereof, the Larke hath a little peruke of feathers, and thereupon at first it was called Galerita, but afterwards after the French word Alanda, and of it one of the Romane Legions tooke the name, because of their pointed morions.⁵⁹ Wee have written alreadie of the Ginnie or Turkie Cockes and Hens, upon whom Nature hath bestowed a folding crest, lying from the very bill, over the middest of the head, unto the nape of the necke. She hath given likewise unto all the sort of Seamewes, Fen-duckes, and Moore-hens, certain cops and crisped ruffes: to the Woodpeck also and Baleare Crane.⁶⁰ But above all others, the house dunghill Cocks carie upon their heads the goodliest ornament of their comb, and the same consisting of a massie and fleshie substance, endented besides like a saw. And yet we may not properly say it is either flesh, gristle, or callositie, but composed of some particular matter by it selfe, which cannot well bee named. As for the crests of Dragons, I could meet with no man hitherto that ever saw them.

To come now to Hornes, there be many fishes (as well of the sea as fresh waters) and also Serpents, that have hornes in divers and sundrie sorts. But to speake a truth and properly, they be no hornes indeed, for those pertaine onely to four-footed beasts. As for Actæon and Cippus, of whom we read in our Latine historie, that they had hornes, I take them to be meere fables, and no better.⁶¹ Certes, in nothing more hath Nature taken her pleasure than in this: as if shee had meant to sport and make her selfe merrie in these armes and weapons of beasts. For in some shee hath made them knagged and braunched, as in Deere, both red and fallow; in others, plaine and uniforme, without tines, as in the Spitters, a kind of Stag, which thereupon be called Subulones in Latine, for that their hornes be like a shomakers ¶ Nall blade. There be againe which have broad hornes, and plated like a mans hand, with fingers standing out of them, whereupon the beasts that beare them be called Platycerotes, [i. broad horned.] Roe Buckes have by nature branched heads, but they are small: and these doe not mew and cast them yearely, as the Stag and Bucke. All the sort of Rams be armed with crooked hornes, turning and winding with certaine revolutions, as if they were gantlets or whorlebats,⁶² given them by Nature to thumpe and jurre withall. Buls hornes be streight and upright, readie alwaies to doe a mischeefe. The females of this kind, to wit, Cowes, are horned as well as Buls: wheras in many others, the males only be in that wise armed. The wild Goats called Roch-goats have their hones turning backward, whereas in fallow Deere they bend rather forward. There is a kind of Roe Bucke, called in Affricke Addace, which the Greekes have named Strepsiceros, and they have upright hornes: but they are furrowed and wreathed round about, as if they were ribbed like the backe of a Lute; or rather chamferred like the ridge of a land, and alwaies sharpe pointed with a tip. Ye shall have droves and heards of beasts, namely, Kine and Oxen in Phrygia, which will stir and wag their hornes like eares.⁶³ And those in the kingdome of the Troglodites, carie their hornes pendant directly to the ground, which is the cause, that as they eat, they are forced to beare their neckes awrie, and looke at oneside.⁶⁴ Some have but one horne apeece, and that either in the mids of the forehead, as the Oryx, or else in the nose, and muffle, as the Rhinoceros, wherof we have written before. In summe, there be that have strong and hard-hornes to butt with: others to strike and gore withall: some crooking forward, others bending backward. In some, they are good onely to tosse and fling, and that in diverse manners. For there be of them that give backe; others turne one against another, and some even joine and meet together: but all run up sharpe pointed in the end. A kind of beasts there is, that use their hornes in stead of hands, to scratch their bodies when it itcheth: & others serve their turne to sound the way before them, as certain shell-Snailes and Winkles. And these hornes given for this purpose are some of them of a fleshie substance, as those of the Serpents called Cerastæ: and otherwhiles one alone without a fellow. As for the Periwinckles and Snailes aforesaid, they are never without twaine a peece: and at this passe they have them, to put out and draw in as they list. In Buffles hornes the barbarous people of the North parts use to drinke: and yee shall have the hornes of one Buffles head to hold full two measures, called Urnæ, which is about eight gallons.⁶⁵ In some countries men head their speares and javelines with horne. With us in Italie they be cut into thin plates, and serve for lanternes: and surely they are so transparent and cleare, that they make the candle (within enclosed) to cast the greater light, and farther off. nay, they are good for many other toies of delight and pleasure: insomuch, as some paint & die them with sundrie colours, others vernish and anneile them: and yee shall have men to make thereof their fine inlaid workes in Marquettrie of divers colours, called thereupon Cerostrata. All hornes in manner be hollow, save that as they grow toward the pointed tip, they bee solide and massie: onely Deeres both red and fallow, are sound and entier throughout: and every yeare they fall off. husbandmen in the countrey, when they see their Oxe hoofes surbatted and worne too neare neere the quicke with overmuch travell, annoint their hornes with sweet grease, and that is the way to make them grow againe. And in very truth the hornes of these beasts are of so pliable a substance, and easie to be wrought, that as they grow upon their heads, even whiles the beasts are living, they may with boiling waxe bee bended and turned every way as a man will: yea, and if they bee cut when they breake new forth out of the skin, they may be easily writhed to grow severed in sundry parts, so as every head may seeme to have foure hornes. For the most part, the hornes of Cowes are more tender and thinner than the other: like as wee see it is in the females of smaller beasts. ¶¶ Ewes have none at all: ne yet Hinds and Does: no more than the beasts that have feet cloven and devided into many toes: or those that be whole hoofed, except the Indian Asse, who is armed with one horne and no more.⁶⁶ Beasts cloven footed in twaine, have likewise two hornes: but none at all have they which are toothed in the upper mandible. They that make this reason, Because the matter of their teeth runneth all into the horne, and so contrariwise; are deceived, and soone convinced by this, That Hinds and Does are toothed no more than Stags and Bucks, and yet are not horned. In other beasts the hornes grow to the very bone of the head, in Deere onely they come out of the skin, and are graffed no deeper. Fishes of all living creatures have the biggest heads, for the proportion of their bodies: haply, because they might the better dive under water and sinke to the bottome. No kind of Oisters have any head at all: no more than Spunges, or any other in manner, which want all their sences but onely feeling. Some have heads indeed, but within their bodie, and not devided apart from it, as Crabs and Creifishes.

Mankind of all living creatures hath most haire on the head, even men as much as women: as we may see in those countries, where they never cut their haire, but let it grow. And namely in Savoy, Dauphine, and Languedoc about the Alpes, where men and women both weare long haire: and thereupon a part of France is called Comata. And yet this is not so generall, but that the nature of some land and soile, may make some alteration and varietie. For the Myconians naturally have no haire at all:⁶⁷ like as the Caunians be all subject to the disease of hard and swelling Spleenes, even from their mothers wombe.⁶⁸ Some reasonlesse creatures likewise are by nature bald, as Ostriches, and certaine ¶¶¶ water Ravens, which of the Greekes are named thereupon Phalacro-coraces. Seldome doe women shed their haire cleane, and become bald: but never was there any guelded man knowne to be bald: nor any others that be pure virgins, and have not sacrificed unto Venus. The haire growing beneath the ventricles of the brain, and under the crown of the head, like as also about the temples and eares, falleth not off quite. Man alone of all creatures, groweth to be bald: I speak not of those that are so by nature. Men, women, and horses, wane gray-haired: men and women both, begin at the fore-part of their heads to be grislie, and afterwards behind. Men and women alone are double crowned.

Some creatures have the bones of their skull flat, plaine, thin, and without marrow: and the same united and joined together by certaine sutures or seames endented and toothed on either sides, which run one into another. The ruptures and crackes of the braine-pan, cannot be consolidated and saudred perfectly againe: But if the spils and peeces be gently taken forth, and but small, there is no daunger of death: for in their place there will grow a certaine callous cicatrice, or fleshie substance, that will supplie in some sort that defect. Beares of all others have the tenderest skuls; and Parrots, the hardest; as we have said before in place convenient.⁶⁹

Moreover, all living creatures which have bloud, have likewise brains: yea, and those in the sea which we call Soft-fishes, although they have no bloud at all, as namely, the Pour-cuttles or Polypes. But man, for his bignesse and proportion hath the most braine of all other: and the same is the moistest and coldest part that he hath within his bodie. Enfolded it is within two tunicles or kels, both above and beneath: whereof, if the one bee peirced and wounded, [to wit, Pia mater] there is no way but present death. Also, men commonly have more braines than women. And both of them have neither bloud nor veines therein: as for that, which is in other creatures, it wanteth all kind of fat. The learned Anatomists, who have searched deeply into the nature of things, doe teach us a difference betweene the braine and marow of bones: for, brains in the boiling and seething, waxe hard. In the middest of the braine of all creatures there be certaine little § bones. Man alone in his infancie hath his braine to pant and beat: and fully settled it is not, nor confirmed, before that he begins to speake. Of all parts necessarie for life, it is placed highest, and next unto the cope of head and heaven both: without flesh, without bloud, without filth and ordure. And in truth, it is the fort and castle of all the sences: unto it all the veines from the heart doe tend: in it they all doe likewise end. It is the very highest keepe, watch-tower, and sentinell of the mind: it is the helme and rudder of intelligence and understanding. Moreover, in all creatures it lieth forward in the front of the head: and good reason, because all our sences bend that way just before our faces. From our braine comes sleepe, from thence proceedeth our naps, our nods, our reeling, and staggering. And looke what creature so ever wanteth braine, the same sleepeth not. Stags (by report) have within their heads twentie little wormes, to wit, in the concavitie under their tongue, and about that joincture where the head is graffed to the chin-bone.

Man alone hath not the power to shake his Eares. Of flaggie, long, and hanging eares, came the surnames first of the Flacci (families, and houses in Rome).⁷⁰ There is no one part of the bodie costeth our dames more than this, by reason of the precious stones and pendant pearles thereat. In the East countries, men also as well as women thinke it is a great grace and braverie to weare earings of gold. As touching their proportion, some creatures naturally have bigger or lesser than others. Deere onely, the fallow as well as the red, have them slit and as it were devided. In Rats and Mice they be hairie. To conclude, no creature hath ears but those that bring forth their young alive: and none of them are without, save onely Seales, Dolphins, Vipers, and such fishes as wee called Cartilagineous and gristly. And these all in stead of eares, have certaine holes or conduits, except the foresaid gristly fishes, and the Dolphins: and yet manifest it is, that they do heare well ynough. For delighted they be with musicke: and upon some great noise and suddain cracke they are astonished, and then easily taken. But marvell it is how they should heare as they doe: neither can I comprehend the reason and meanes thereof, no more than I am able to shew how they doe smell? for no Organes and Instruments have they thereof to be seene, & yet there is not an hound upon the land senteth better, nor hath a finer nose than they. Of all foules, the Like-owle and the Otus alone, have feathers like eares: the rest have only holes to heare by. And after the same manner skaled fishes and serpents. In Horses, Mules, and Asses, and all such as serve either packe or saddle, the eares are tokens of their courage more or lesse, and will shew what stomacke is within them. If they be tired and wearie, they hang down flaggie: bee they afraid, you shall perceive them to wag too and fro: in heat of furie, they stand pricking up: in sicknesse they lie downe.

Man only of all creatures hath a Face and Visage: the rest have either musles and snouts, or else bils and beakes.

Other creatures have Foreheads also as well as man: but in man alone we may see and read sorrow and heavinesse, mirth and joy, clemencie and mildnesse, crueltie and severitie, and in one word, guesse by it, whether one be of a good nature or no?

In the ascent or rising of the forehead, man hath Eie-brows set; like unto the eaves of an house; which he can moove as he list, either both at once, or one after another; and in them is shewed part of the mind within. By them we denie, by them we graunt. These shew most of all others, pride and arrogancie. Well may it be that pride doth appeare and settle in some other part, yet here is the seat & place of residence. True it is that in the heart it beginneth, but hither it mounteth and ascendeth, here it resteth and remaineth. No part can it find in the whole bodie more eminent and hautie, and withall more steepe than the browes, wherein it might rule and raigne alone without controulment.

Next under the browes is the Eie, the most precious member of the whole bodie, which by the use of light maketh difference betweene life and death. Yet hath not Nature given eies to all creatures: Oisters have none: and for some other shell-fishes, it is hard to say whether they have any or none. As for Scallops, if a man stir his fingers against them as they lie gaping open, they will shut, as if they saw. And the shell-fishes called Solenes,⁷¹ give backe if any edge-toole come neare unto them. Of foure-footed creatures, Moldwarpes see not at all: a certaine shew and forme they have of eies to be seene, if a man take off the skin that lieth over the place.⁷² Moreover among foules of the air, those of the Herons kind, which are called Leuci, for that they be white, want by report one eie.⁷³ And for certaine, in case of Augurie, if these birds⁷⁴ flie either into the South or North, it is holden for an excellent good presage, for they assure men that perill is past and promise securitie. Nigidius affirmeth, That neither Locusts nor yet Grashoppers have eies.⁷⁵ As for Snailes and such like, the two little hornes that they put forth, serve them in stead of eies, as they sound or trie the way before them.⁷⁶ The earth-mads⁷⁷ and all the sort of wormes and grubs, are without eies. Men alone of all living creatures have eies of dives colours, some of one, and some of another. For all other creatures of one and the same kind, are eied alike. Howbeit, some horses there be that extraordinarily have §§ red eies. But in men it is hard to set downe the infinite varietie and difference in them: for some have great glaring eies: others againe as little and as pinking. Others also there be that have them of a moderate and reasonable bignesse. Some be goggle-eied, as if they would start out of their heads, and those are supposed to be dim-sighted: others be hollow eied, and they are thought to have the best and clearest sight: like as they who for colour have Goats eien.⁷⁸ Moreover, ye shall have some men, who can discerne a far off: others againe that see not but neere at hand. Many there are, whose eiesight dependeth of the Sunnes light: for let the day be overcast and cloudie, or the Sun gone downe, they see just nothing. And others contrariwise there be, that al the day time have but a bad sight: yet in the night season, they see better than any others. As concerning two bals or apples in one eie, as also who they be that can bewitch and hurt folke with their very eie, sufficient hath been said alreadie.⁷⁹ §§§ Gray eies commonly in the darke see more cleare than others. It is reported of Tiberius Cæsar the Emperour to have had this propertie by himselfe, that if he were awakened in the night, for a while he could see every thing as well as in the cleare day light; but soone after, by little and little, the darknesse would overcast and shaddow all againe: a gift that no man in the world was ever knowne to have but himselfe.⁸⁰ Augustus Cæsar of famous memorie, had ‡ red eies like to some horses: and indeed wall eied he was, for the white thereof was much bigger than in other men: which also was the cause, that if a man looked earnestly upon him, and beheld him wistly (and a man could not anger him worse) he would be displeased, & high offended.⁸¹ Claudius Cæsar had a fleshie substance about the corners of his eies, that tooke up a good part of the white, and many times they were very red and bloudshotten. C. Caligula the Emperour his eies were ever set in his head, and stiffe againe.⁸² Nero had a very short sight; for unlesse he winked (as it were) and looked narrow with his eies, he could not well see ought, were it never so neare. Twentie couple of professed masters of fence and sword-plaiers there were in the fense-schoole, that C. Caligula the Emperour maintained: & among the rest, two there were & no more, whom a man could not make to wink, or once to twinckle with their eies: present before them what weapon he would, or make offer to strike, so steadie and firme were they: and therefore they evermore caried the prize, and were invincible. So hard a matter is it for a man to keepe his eies from twiring. And many men naturally cannot chuse but be evermore winking and twinckling with their eies: but such are holden for fearefull and timorous persons.⁸³ None have their eies all of one colour: for the ball or apple in the middest is ordinarily of another colour than the white about it. Neither in any one part of the bodie are more signes and tokens to be gathered of the affection and disposition of the hearte, than in the Eie: of