LIBER VIII · CAPUT 38
THE LEONTOPHONUS, AND THE LYNX
Latine · Mayhoff 1906
Vrinae et duobus aliis animalibus ratio mira. leontophonon accipimus vocari parvum nec aliubi nascens quam ubi leo gignitur, quo gustato tanta illa vis et ceteris quadripedum imperitans ilico expiret. ergo corpus eius exustum adspergunt aliis carnibus polentae modo insidiantes ferae necantque etiam cinere: tam contraria est pestis. haut inmerito igitur odit leo visumque frangit et citra morsum exanimat; ille contra urinam spargit, prudens hanc quoque leoni exitialem. lyncum umor ita redditus, ubi gignuntur, glaciatur arescitve in gemmas carbunculis similes et igneo colore fulgentes, lyncurium vocatas atque ob idsucino a plerisque ita generari prodito. novere hoc sciuntque lynces et invidentes urinam terra operiunt, eoque celerius solidatur illa.
Alia sollertia in metu melibus: sufflatae cutis distentu ictus hominum et morsus canum arcent.
Provident tempestatem et sciuri obturatisque, qua spiraturus est ventus, cavernis ex alia parte aperiunt fores. de cetero ipsis villosior cauda pro tegumento est. ergo in hiemes aliis provisum pabulum, aliis pro cibo somnus.
English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57
There are also two other animals, whose urine possesses very wonderful properties. We have heard speak of a small animal, to which the name of leontophonus has been given, and which is said to exist only in those countries where the lion is produced; if its flesh is only tasted by the lion, so intensely venomous is its nature, that this lord of the other quadrupeds instantly expires. Hence it is, that the hunters of the lion burn its body to ashes, and sprinkle a piece of flesh with the powder, and so kill the lion by means of the ashes even—so fatal to it is this poison! The lion, therefore, not without good reason hates the leontophonus, and after destroying its sight, kills it without inflicting a bite: the animal, on the other hand, sprinkles the lion with its urine, being well aware that this too is fatal to it.
The urine of the lynx, in the countries where that animal is produced, either becomes crystallized, or else hardens into a precious stone, resembling the carbuncle, and which shines like fire. This is called lyncurium; and hence it is, that many persons believe that this is the way in which amber is produced. The lynx, being well aware of this property, envies us the possession of its urine, and therefore buries it in the earth; by this, however, it becomes solid all the sooner.
The badger, when alarmed, shows its fear by a different kind of artifice; inflating the skin, it distends it to such a degree, as to repel equally the blows of men and the bite of dogs. The squirrel, also, has the power of foreseeing storms, and so, stopping up its hole at the side from which the wind blows, it leaves the other side open; besides which, the tail, which is furnished with longer hair than the rest of the body, serves as a covering for it. It appears, therefore, that some animals lay up a store of food for the winter, while others pass the time in sleep, which serves them instead of food.