The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 2 (of 6)

BOOK VI.. An Account of Countries, Nations, Seas, Towns, Havens, Mountains,

AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST, OR FORMERLY EXISTED.

Chap. Page

1. The Euxine and the Maryandini 1

2. Paphlagonia 3

3. Cappadocia 6

4. The region of Themiscyra, and the nations therein 8

5. The region of Colica, the nations of the Achæi, and other nations in the same parts 11

6. The Cimmerian Bosporus 13

7. Lake Mæotis and the adjoining nations 14

8. The situation of Cappadocia 16

9. The Lesser and the Greater Armenia 17

10. The rivers Cyrus and Araxes 18

11. Albania, Iberia, and the adjoining nations 20

12. The passes of the Caucasus 21

13. The islands of the Euxine 22

14. Nations in the vicinity of the Scythian Ocean 23

15. The Caspian and Hyrcanian Sea 24

16. Adiabene 27

17. Media and the Caspian Gates 28

18. Nations situate around the Hyrcanian Sea 30

19. The nations of Scythia and the countries on the Eastern Ocean 33

20. The Seres 35

21. The nations of India 38

22. The Ganges 43

23. The Indus 46

24. Taprobane 51

25. The Ariani and the adjoining nations 56

26. Voyages to India 60

27. Carmania 66

28. The Persian and the Arabian Gulfs ib.

29. The Parthian Empire 68

30. Mesopotamia 70

31. The Tigris 75

32. Arabia 82

33. The Gulfs of the Red Sea 91

34. Troglodytice 93

35. Æthiopia 97

36. Islands of the Æthiopian Sea 105

37. The Fortunate Islands 107

38. The comparative distances of places on the face of the earth 108

39. Division of the earth into parallels and shadows of equal length 110

BOOK VII.. Man, His Birth, His Organization, and the Invention of the Arts.

MAN, HIS BIRTH, HIS ORGANIZATION, AND THE INVENTION OF THE ARTS.

1. Man 117

2. The wonderful forms of different nations 122

3. Marvellous births 135

4. The generation of man; the unusual duration of pregnancy; instances of it from seven to twelve months 139

5. Indications of the sex of the child during the pregnancy of the mother 141

6. Monstrous births 142

7. Of those who have been cut out of the womb 143

8. Who were called Vopisci 144

9. The conception and generation of man ib.

10. Striking instances of resemblance 145

11. What men are suited for generation. Instances of very numerous offspring 148

12. At what age generation ceases 150

13. Remarkable circumstances connected with the menstrual discharge ib.

14. The theory of generation 153

15. Some account of the teeth, and some facts concerning infants ib.

16. Examples of unusual size 155

17. Children remarkable for their precocity 158

18. Some remarkable properties of the body ib.

19. Instances of extraordinary strength 160

20. Instances of remarkable agility 161

21. Instances of acuteness of sight 162

22. Instances of remarkable acuteness of hearing 163

23. Instances of endurance of pain 164

24. Memory ib.

25. Vigour of mind 166

26. Clemency and greatness of mind ib.

27. Heroic exploits 167

28. Union in the same person of three of the highest qualities with the greatest purity 169

29. Instances of extreme courage 170

30. Men of remarkable genius 173

31. Men who have been remarkable for wisdom 174

32. Precepts the most useful in life 178

33. Divination 179

34. The man who was pronounced to be the most excellent ib.

35. The most chaste matrons 180

36. Instances of the highest degree of affection ib.

37. Names of men who have excelled in the arts, astrology, grammar, and medicine 182

38. Geometry and architecture 183

39. Painting; engraving on bronze, marble, and ivory; carving 184

40. Slaves for which a high price has been given 185

41. Supreme happiness 186

42. Rare instances of good fortune continuing in the same family 187

43. Remarkable example of vicissitudes 189

44. Remarkable examples of honours ib.

45. Ten very fortunate circumstances which have happened to the same person 191

46. The misfortunes of Augustus 195

47. Men whom the gods have pronounced to be the most happy 199

48. The man whom the gods ordered to be worshipped during his life-time; a remarkable flash of lightning ib.

49. The greatest length of life 200

50. The variety of destinies at the birth of man 203

51. Various instances of diseases 206

52. Death 208

53. Persons who have come to life again after being laid out for burial 210

54. Instances of sudden death 213

55. Burial 217

56. The Manes, or departed spirits of the soul 218

57. The inventors of various things 219

58. The things about which mankind first of all agreed. The ancient letters 236

59. When barbers were first employed ib.

60. When the first time-pieces were made 237

BOOK VIII.. The Nature of the Terrestrial Animals.

THE NATURE OF THE TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS.

1. Elephants; their capacity 244

2. When elephants were first put into harness 245

3. The docility of the elephant 246

4. Wonderful things which have been done by the elephant 247

5. The instinct of wild animals in perceiving danger 248

6. When elephants were first seen in Italy 251

7. The combats of elephants 252

8. The way in which elephants are caught 255

9. The method by which they are tamed 256

10. The birth of the elephant, and other particulars respecting it 257

11. In what countries the elephant is found; the antipathy of the elephant and the dragon 259

12. The sagacity of these animals 260

13. Dragons 261

14. Serpents of remarkable size ib.

15. The animals of Scythia; the bison 262

16. The animals of the north; the elk, the achlis, and the bonasus 263

17. Lions; how they are produced 264

18. The different species of lions 266

19. The peculiar character of the lion 267

20. Who it was that first introduced combats of lions at Rome, and who has brought together the greatest number of lions for that purpose 269

21. Wonderful feats performed by lions 270

22. A man recognized and saved by a dragon 273

23. Panthers 274

24. The decree of the Senate, and laws respecting African animals; who first brought them to Rome, and who brought the greatest number of them ib.

25. Tigers: when first seen at Rome; their nature 275

26. Camels; the different kinds 276

27. The cameleopard; when it was first seen at Rome 277

28. The chama, and the cepus ib.

29. The rhinoceros 278

30. The lynx, the sphinx, the crocotta, and the monkey ib.

31. The terrestrial animals of India 280

32. The animals of Æthiopia; a wild beast which kills with its eye 281

33. The serpents called basilisks 282

34. Wolves; the origin of the story of Versipellis ib.

35. Different kinds of serpents 284

36. The ichneumon 287

37. The crocodile ib.

38. The scincus 288

39. The hippopotamus 290

40. Who first exhibited the hippopotamus and the crocodile at Rome ib.

41. The medicinal remedies which have been borrowed from animals 291

42. Prognostics of danger derived from animals 294

43. Nations that have been exterminated by animals 295

44. The hyæna 296

45. The crocotta; the mantichora ib.

46. Wild asses 297

47. Beavers; amphibious animals; otters ib.

48. Bramble-frogs 298

49. The sea-calf; beavers; lizards ib.

50. Stags 299

51. The chameleon 302

52. Other animals which change colour; the tarandus, the lycaon, and the thos 304

53. The porcupine 305

54. Bears and their cubs ib.

55. The mice of Pontus and of the Alps 308

56. Hedgehogs ib.

57. The leontophonus, and the lynx 310

58. Badgers and squirrels ib.

59. Vipers and snails 311

60. Lizards 312

61. The qualities of the dog; examples of its attachment to its master; nations which have kept dogs for the purposes of war ib.

62. The generation of the dog 316

63. Remedies against canine madness ib.

64. The nature of the horse 317

65. The disposition of the horse; remarkable facts concerning chariot horses 319

66. The generation of the horse 320

67. Mares impregnated by the wind 322

68. The ass; its generation ib.

69. The nature of mules, and of other beasts of burden 324

70. Oxen; their generation 326

71. The Egyptian Apis 330

72. Sheep, and their propagation 331

73. The different kinds of wool, and their colours 333

74. Different kinds of cloth 336

75. The different shapes of sheep; the musmon 338

76. Goats, and their propagation 339

77. The hog 342

78. The wild boar; who was the first to establish parks for wild animals 344

79. Animals in a half-wild state 346

80. Apes 347

81. The different species of hares 348

82. Animals which are tamed in part only 350

83. Places in which certain animals are not to be found 352

84. Animals which injure strangers only, as also animals which injure the natives of the country only, and where they are found 353

BOOK IX.. The Natural History of Fishes.

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF FISHES.

1. Why the largest animals are found in the sea 358

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