on the possibility of similar or parallel knowledge having been possessed by the old Chaldæan and Egyptian priesthood; and may not Joseph have been able, by superior ability in its exercise, to have anticipated the seven years’ drought, or Noah, from an acquaintance with meteorological science, to have made an accurate forecast of the great disturbances which resulted in the Deluge and the destruction of a large portion of mankind?34
Without further digression in a path which opens the most pleasing speculations, and could be pursued into endless ramifications, I will merely, in conclusion, suggest that the same influences which, as I have shown above, affect so largely the very nature of a people, must similarly affect its traditions and myths, and that due consideration will have to be given to such influences, in the case of some at least of the remarkable animals which I propose to discuss in this and future volumes.
Chronological List of some Authors writing on, and Works relating to Natural History, to which References are made in the present Volume; extracted to a great extent, as to the Western Authors, from Knight’s “Cyclopædia of Biography.”
The Shan Hai King– According to the commentator Kwoh P’oh (A.D. 276-324), this work was compiled three thousand years before this time, or at seven dynasties’ distance. Yang Sun of the Ming dynasty (commencing A.D. 1368), states that it was compiled by Kung Chia (and Chung Ku?) from engravings on nine urns made by the Emperor Yü, B.C. 2255. Chung Ku was an historiographer, and at the time of the last Emperor of the Hia dynasty (B.C. 1818), fearing that the Emperor might destroy the books treating of the ancient and present time, carried them in flight to Yin.
The ’Rh Ya– Initiated according to tradition, by Chow Kung; uncle of Wu Wang, the first Emperor of the Chow dynasty, B.C. 1122. Ascribed also to Tsze Hea, the disciple of Confucius.
The Bamboo Books– Containing the Ancient Annals of China, said to have been found A.D. 279, on opening the grave of King Seang of Wei [died B.C. 295]. Age prior to last date, undetermined. Authenticity disputed, favoured by Legge.
Confucius– Author of Spring and Autumn Classics, &c., B.C. (551-479).
Ctesias– Historian, physician to Artaxerxes, B.C. 401.
Herodotus– B.C. 484.
Aristotle– B.C. 384.
Megasthenes– About B.C. 300. In time of Seleucus Nicator. His work entitled Indica is only known by extracts in those of Strabo, Arrian, and Ælian.
Eratosthenes– Born B.C. 276. Mathematician, Astronomer, and Geographer.
Posidonius– Born about B.C. 140. Besides philosophical treatises, wrote works on geography, history, and astronomy, fragments of which are preserved in the works of Cicero, Strabo, and others.
Nicander– About B.C. 135. Wrote the Theriaca, a poem of 1,000 lines, in hexameter, on the wounds caused by venomous animals, and the treatment. Is followed in many of his errors by Pliny. Plutarch says the Theriaca cannot be called a poem, because there is in it nothing of fable or falsehood.
Strabo– Just before the Christian era. Geographer.
Cicero– Born B.C. 106.
Propertius (Sextus Aurelius) – Born probably about B.C. 56.
Diodorus Siculus– Wrote the Bibliotheca Historica (in Greek), after the death of Julius Cæsar (B.C. 44). Of the 40 books composing it only 15 remain, viz. Books 1 to 5 and 11 to 20.
Juba– Died A.D. 17. Son of Juba I., King of Numidia. Wrote on Natural History.
Pliny– Born A.D. 23.
Lucan– A.D. 38. The only work of his extant is the Pharsalia, a poem on the civil war between Cæsar and Pompey.
Ignatius– Either an early Patriarch, A.D. 50, or Patriarch of Constantinople, 799.
Isidorus– Isidorus of Charaux lived probably in the first century of our era. He wrote an account of the Parthian empire.
Arrian– Born about A.D. 100. His work on the Natural History, &c. of India is founded on the authority of Eratosthenes and Megasthenes.
Pausanias– Author of the Description or Itinerary of Greece. In the 2nd century.
Philostratus– Born about A.D. 182.
Solinus, Caius Julius– Did not write in the Augustan age, for his work entitled Polyhistor is merely a compilation from Pliny’s Natural History. According to Salmasius, he lived about two hundred years after Pliny.
Ælian– Probably middle of the 3rd century A.D. De Naturâ Animalium. In Greek.
Ammianus Marcellinus– Lived in 4th century.
Cardan, Jerome A.– About the end of 4th century A.D.
Printing invented in China, according to Du Halde, A.D. 924. Block-printing used in A.D. 593.
Marco Polo– Reached the Court of Kublai Khan in A.D. 1275.
Mandeville, Sir John de– Travelled for thirty-three years in Asia dating from A.D. 1327. As he resided for three years in Peking, it is probable that many of his fables are derived from Chinese sources.
Printing invented in Europe by John Koster of Haarlem, A.D. 1438.
Scaliger, Julius Cæsar– Born April 23rd, 1484. Wrote Aristotelis Hist. Anim. liber decimus cum vers. et comment. 8vo. Lyon, 1584, &c.
Gesner– Born 1516. Historiæ Animalium, &c.
Ambrose Paré– Born 1517. Surgeon.
Belon, Pierre– Born 1518. Zoologist, Geographer, &c.
Aldrovandus– Born 1552. Naturalist.
Tavernier, J. B.– Born 1605.
Păn Ts’ao Kang Muh– By Li Shê-chin of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1628).
Yuen Kien Léi Han– A.D. 1718.
CHAPTER I.
ON SOME REMARKABLE ANIMAL FORMS
The reasoning upon the question whether dragons, winged snakes, sea-serpents, unicorns, and other so-called fabulous monsters have in reality existed, and at dates coeval with man, diverges in several independent directions.
We have to consider: —
1. – Whether the characters attributed to these creatures are or are not so abnormal in comparison with those of known types, as to render a belief in their existence impossible or the reverse.
2. – Whether it is rational to suppose that creatures so formidable, and apparently so capable of self-protection, should disappear entirely, while much more defenceless species continue to survive them.
3. – The myths, traditions, and historical allusions from
Ammianus Marcellinus (bk. xxii., ch. xv., s. 20), in speaking of the Pyramids, says: “There are also subterranean passages and winding retreats, which, it is said, men skilful in the ancient mysteries, by means of which they divined the coming of a flood, constructed in different places lest the memory of all their sacred ceremonies should be lost.”
As affording a minor example of prophesy, I quote a correspondent’s communication, relating to Siam, to the
