Claudius Aelianus

“ Of the Sea-Fox The Fox, not onely the Land-beast is wily, but the Sea-Fox very cunning : For she scruples not the bait, neither, being greedy, refrains from it, but contemneth the hook ; for before the Fisher can pluck up the reed, she leaps up, and gnawing the line asunder, swims away. ”

“ For when in my Garden I prune and cut off the lower branches which grow about the Lettice, the mother and root of them is so farre from being grieved thereat, that she flourishes the better, and becometh both fairer and sweeter. ”

“ Of Pigeons They report that Pigeons (the male and female) sit upon their eggs by turns ; which being hatched, the male bedews them with a kinde of spittle to avert envy, and (as it is said) that they may not be liable to fascination. The female laies two eggs, of which the first alwaies proveth a male, the second a female. They lay all the year long, so that they bring forth young ten times in the year. ”

“ Of the Phalangium The Phalangium is as hurtful to Deer as to Men : If they bite the Deer, they are in danger of dying quickly after it ; yet if they tast Ivy, the bite will not harm them. But it must be wild Ivy. ”

“ The web is onely spred as a net for such things as fall into it, whilest she standing still, immovable, keeps watch : Whatsoever falls in she eats ; it being as much as the web can hold, is enough to satisfie her hunger.
Of the Ægyptian Frogs The Ægyptian kinde of Frogs hath a peculiar wisedom, and farre excelleth all other : For if a Frog meeteth a Serpent bred in Nilus, she biteth off a piece of reed and holds it as fast as she can cross-wise, and will not let it goe. The Serpent is not able to swallow the reed, because his mouth is not so wide as the reed. ”

“ Hereupon another contention arose, which of them could drink most, in which also Lepreas was worsted. At last, moved with anger and indignation, he challenged Hercules to single combate. Thus he received punishment for his counsel to Augeas, for he was slain in the fight. ”

“ They are so good accomptants, that having reckoned forty daies, (in which time the eggs are hardened and become living creatures) they return to the place where they hid what they laid, and digging up the earth with they had cast upon them, lead their young away, now able to follow them. ”

“ Other great eaters These are reported to have been extraordinary greater eaters : Pityreus a Phrygian, Cambletes a Libyan, Thius a Paphlagonian, Charidas, Cleonymus, Pisander, Charippus, Mithridates of Pontus, Calamodorus of Cyzicus, Timocreon a Rhodian, both a Wrastler and Poet, Cantibaris a Persian, Erysichthon son of Myrmidon, who for that reason was nick-named Æthon. It is said also that there is a Temple in Sicily dedicated to Gluttony, and an Image of Ceres the Corn-giver. Likewise Alcman the Poet attests of himself that he was a great eater. ”

“ That Mice have Præscience Mice also are to be reckoned among creatures of greatest Præscience ; for when a House decaieth and is ready to fall, they first perceive it, and leaving their holes and former dwellings, run away as fast as they can, and remove to new. ”

“ Of Aglais a great eater I have heard of a woman that could sound a Trumpet, which art was her way of living, by name Aglais, daughter of Megacles ; she wore a Periwig and a plume on her head, as Posidippus relates. ”

“ They drink of the River not greedily or freely, stooping and lapping till they have at the same time satisfied their thirst, for they are afraid of the Creatures in it ; but run along the bank, and catch up drink by stealth at times, till at lasst they have allayed their thirst by snatches without receiving harm. ”

“ The King was exceedingly pleased, and sent him royal gifts, saying, "By Mithra, this man by like care and diligence might also in my opinion make a little City great." This speech implies, that by continual industry and labour all things may be made better then Nature hath produced them. ”

“ Ptolomee much pleased with his sweet disposition and proneness to mercy, embraced him, and not onely saved the Malefactors, but confirmed and increased the affection he bare him.
The Persian custome of presenting Gifts to the King The Persians have a custome which they observe most strictly ; when the King rides abroad in Persia, all the Persians make him Presents according to their several abilities. They who live by the labour of their hands in husbandry and tillage, give one neither too mean, nor too rich or too magnificent, but either Oxen or Sheep ”