http://bestiary.ca An online repository of information on the Medieval Book of Beasts - the Bestiary - its history, meaning and sources; and on animals in the Middle Ages in general. This amphisbaena is more snake-like than most, and lacks wings and feet. "Auphiuena dicta eo quod duo capita habeat uno in loco suo et altera in cauda." [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 54r] beasts/beast144.htm The amphisbaena, a serpent with a head on both ends, allowing it to run either direction. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 250v] beasts/beast144.htm The amphisbaena has a head at either end so it can quickly escape in any direction. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 122r] beasts/beast144.htm The amphisbaena, a snake with a head at both ends, so it can travel in either direction. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 41v] beasts/beast144.htm The amphisbaena, with the small head seeming to threaten the large one. Misericord; Limerick Cathedral (St. Mary's), Limerick, Ireland; late 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 64] beasts/beast144.htm A two headed amphisbaena looks at itself. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 32v] beasts/beast144.htm The amphisbaena has an extra head on its tail, allowing it to quickly run in either direction. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94r] beasts/beast144.htm The amphisbaena has an extra head on its tail, allowing it to run forward or backward. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 85v] beasts/beast144.htm The ants extend in a line up the center of the page and across to the right side (not shown in this image). [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 4v] beasts/beast218.htm Many generic ants on an ant hill. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 29v] beasts/beast218.htm In Ethiopia there are ants as large as dogs, and they attack those who come to take the gold which they guard. The artist has taken "dogs" literally. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 96r] beasts/beast218.htm Ants swarming on an ant hill. The ants are depicted as tiny four-footed beasts, something like gophers. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 95v] beasts/beast218.htm Ants gathering their harvest of grain. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 71] beasts/beast218.htm The ants in this Pieter van der Borcht copperplate engraving are gathered around two large seeds in the center; two ants appear to be tearing each seed in half. The rains of winter are sweeping in from the left. This could also be a reference to another attribute of the ant mentioned by Pliny the Elder: if the grain the ants have stored becomes wet, they bring it out on a sunny day to dry; in this case the rain would be moving away, having already done its damage. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 74] beasts/beast218.htm Ants on an ant hill. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 27r] beasts/beast218.htm Ants walking in order like soldiers (?), moving toward stalks of grain. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 25r] beasts/beast218.htm Ants climbing stalks of grain, where they will select only the wheat. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 28r] beasts/beast218.htm Two giant gold-digging ants of Ethiopia guard their mound of gold. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 245r] beasts/beast218.htm Ants carry grain from the stalks at the right. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 244v] beasts/beast218.htm Ants gather around an ant hill and gather grain. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 31v] beasts/beast218.htm Ants on an anthill. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 25r] beasts/beast218.htm Three ants that appear to have heads at both ends. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 132v] beasts/beast218.htm Ants on an ant hill. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 32r] beasts/beast218.htm These ants have arranged themselves in a pleasing pattern. They have eight legs, rather than the correct six. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 19r] beasts/beast218.htm Busy ants in tunnels in an anthill. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 85r] beasts/beast218.htm When it is time to harvest the grain, ants go into the fields and climb up to the grain, where they distinguish wheat from barley by its smell and reject the barley because it is food for cattle. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 116r] beasts/beast218.htm Two orderly columns of ants each carry a grain seed to the nest. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 36v] beasts/beast218.htm A large spider-like ant-lion (right) faces an eight-legged ant. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii] beasts/beast145.htm A hornless antelope is attacked near a river. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 4r] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope with its horns caught in branches, so it cannot escape the hunter. The horns are somewhat saw-like, as the text describes ("Habet autem longa cornua Serre fiiguram habentia..."). [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 5r] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope, lacking the usual saw-like horns, drinking from a stream. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 87v] beasts/beast137.htm The antelope, having gone to the river to drink, has its horns tangled in bushes, allowing the hunter to spear it. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 88r] beasts/beast137.htm The text accompanying this image says the beast is a "wild ox" (uro), but it is clearly the antelope, saw-like horns caught in branches, being speared by the hunter. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 9] beasts/beast137.htm The antelope has horns that are like saws, with which it can cut down trees. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 7v] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope with its saw-like horns caught in branches, being attacked by a hunter. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 23r] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope with its horns caught in a bush is attacked by a hunter. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 3v] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope, its saw-like horns tangled in a bush, is attacked by a hunter. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 5v] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope, its saw-like horns caught in a bush, is bloodily slaughtered by a hunter. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 4r] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope shows its long serrated horns. [Rossiiskaia Natsionalnaia Biblioteka, Q.v.V. 1, Folio 40r] beasts/beast137.htm The antelope, with horns caught in bushes where it was playing, is speared by armored soldier. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 9v] beasts/beast137.htm The antelope has long, saw-toothed horns, which it careless gets entangled in bushes. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119v] beasts/beast137.htm The antelope has got its saw-like horns caught in the bushes, and so is easy prey for the hunter. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 109v] beasts/beast137.htm Despite looking like a lion, this beast is identified in the text as being the antelope, here show caught in branches. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 241v] beasts/beast137.htm The antelope has gotten tangled in bushes, leaving it open to attack. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 76v] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope has gotten its horns tangled in a bush. The horns are smooth, rather than having the saw-like shape they should have. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 19r] beasts/beast137.htm The antelope has gotten its saw-like horns caught in the bushes, making it easy prey for the hunter. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 141r] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope has got its saw-like horns caught in the bushes, leaving it easy prey for the hunter. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 9v] beasts/beast137.htm An antelope has gotten its saw-like horns caught in a bush, making it easy prey for the hunter. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 14r] beasts/beast137.htm Two apes hold a third by its arms. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7v] beasts/beast148.htm An ape of the type called satyr. The satyr is generally described as having a pleasant face, though this one does not. The ape-satyr is not much like the traditional Roman Satyr. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 11r] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape, carrying the one of her twin young that she loves, while the other must cling to her back. The ape at the left is examining what may be a vase (?). None of the apes have tails. They appear to be mimicking a human family. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 10v] beasts/beast148.htm An ape being captured; it will become the pet of a great man. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 107r] beasts/beast148.htm An ape mimicking humans by trying to put on a boot. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 106v] beasts/beast148.htm The mother ape, being hunted, has dropped her loved child, but her hated child still clings to her back. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 108r] beasts/beast148.htm The mother ape, being hunted, carries her loved child, but her hated child must cling to her back. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 107v] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape, carrying the child she loves while the child she hates must cling to her back. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 50v] beasts/beast148.htm Apes at school. One is being beaten by a master, three are being lectured by another. [British Library, Stowe MS 17, Folio 109r] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape carries her favored child in her arms, while the less-favored one must cling to her back. To escape the hunter, she will have to drop the one she holds. The hunter's arrow has gone astray. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 19v] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape carries her favored child in her arms, while the less-favored one must cling to her back. To escape the hunter, she will have to drop the one she holds. [Rossiiskaia Natsionalnaia Biblioteka, Q.v.V. 1, Folio 20v] beasts/beast148.htm An ape or monkey riding on a goat. Both animals are noted for being lascivious. [British Library, Stowe MS 17, Folio 81v] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape holds her favorite child in front, while the other must cling to her back. To escape the hunters, she will have to drop the child she holds. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 11r] beasts/beast148.htm An ape examines a container. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 32r] beasts/beast148.htm An ape examines a flask. This is probably the "ape as physician" (or "physician as ape") theme, and the flask contains urine. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 69r] beasts/beast148.htm A kind of ape called "satyrus". [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 9r] beasts/beast148.htm The ape on the right is carrying her favored child in her arms, while the less favored one must cling to her back. It is not clear what the ape at the left is doing. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 8v] beasts/beast148.htm An ape with a collar, reaching for a bottle (?). [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast148.htm An ape eating something. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 249r] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape, chased by a hunter and dogs, carries the child she loves in her arms while the less favored child must cling to her back. However, when she tires, she will have to drop the child she is carrying. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 5r] beasts/beast148.htm An ape holding fruit. [Universiteitsbibliotheek Leiden, BPL 1283, Folio 57r] beasts/beast148.htm A kind of ape called "satyrus". These are easy to catch but usually do not survive in captivity. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 17v] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape carries her young as she flees a hunter. The one she loves best, carried in front, she will have to drop when she tires; the one clinging to her back will stay with her. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 17r] beasts/beast148.htm "la singesse qui s'enfuit tout ses II singetiaus et laisse celui qu'elle amoit le miex" - The mother ape drops the child she loves and keeps the other on her back. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that if the woman should love anyone else more than him, he would still prevail, since he is holding on to her while the other man is only being held on to by her. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 25r] beasts/beast148.htm "Le singe qui chauce les sollers" - The ape is not caught until it puts on the shoes of the hunter. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that he was free until he clothed himself with his love for the woman. The woman replies that after she saw him spread nets to capture her, she would be crazy to come near. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 8v] beasts/beast148.htm The mother ape carries the child she favors in her arms, while the child she cares for less must cling to her back. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 111v] beasts/beast148.htm A mother ape carries her favorite child in her arms while the other has to cling to her back, but when she grows tired of running from the hunter she will have to drop the child she loves. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 7r] beasts/beast148.htm This is the type of ape called satyr, also sometimes described as one of the monstrous races of human. Why it has a crutch is unclear, though it is holding its leg. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 78v] beasts/beast148.htm The mother ape holds her favored child in her arms while the other must clicng to her back. When exhausted from fleeing the hunter, the mother will be forced to drop the child she is holding. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 78r] beasts/beast148.htm A variety of apes. The one at the left may be cericopithicus; it has a tail. The tall reddish ape in the middle may be the callitrix, which has a long beard on its pointed face, and has a wide tail. The blue one at the bottom may be the cynocephalus, with a head like a dog and a long tail. The one behind the dog-ape may be the satyrus, given its prominent testicles; it is lively and has a pleasant face. On the far right is illustrated the usual bestiary story: The mother ape has two children, and carries the one she favors while the other must cling to her back; when she is hunted and tires, she drops the one she carries but the less favored one hangs on and is safe. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 18v] beasts/beast148.htm In this unusual image of the ape, the two apes at the left appear to be fighting. The two in the middle are a mother ape with the unloved child on her back. The two apes at the right appear to be helping a sick man; this may be an allusion to the common motif of the ape as physician, often shown as an ape examing a flask of urine. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 153v] beasts/beast148.htm The kind of ape called satyr, bearded and holding a club. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 20v] beasts/beast148.htm An ape putes on a boot. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "Thus is the monkey caught; he always wants to do what he has seen done. The hunter puts on and takes off boots in the monkey's presence and then leaves them. The monkey comes and tries to do the same and is caught. So to love is to be clothed with love and imprisoned by it". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 89v] beasts/beast148.htm The mother ape carries her favored child in her arms while the less favored must cling to her back. When the hunter gets too close, she will have to drop the one she carries to escape. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 14v] beasts/beast148.htm The mother ape carries her favorite child in her arms while the other one must cling to her back. When she is chased by hunters and grows tired, she must drop the child she loves while the less favored child remains safe on her back. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 16v] beasts/beast148.htm Mother apes carry their favored child in their arms, while the less favored must cling to her back. When chased by hunters, the mother drops the one she carries. Here another ape has retrieved the dropped child and appears to remonstrate with the mother. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 89v] beasts/beast148.htm The asp blocks its ear with its tail. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7r] beasts/beast268.htm The asp blocks its ears to keep from hearing what the man is reading from a scroll. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7r] beasts/beast268.htm An asp, a dragon-like snake with wings as often depicted, blocks one ear with its tail while pressing its other ear to the ground, to avoid hearing the words the man is reading. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 53r] beasts/beast268.htm Musicians try to enchant an asp, a snake, shown here as a four-footed, lion-like beast. The asp blocks one ear with its tail and presses the other on the ground to avoid hearing the music. The men want to collect the balm produced by the tree, guarded by the asp. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 125v] beasts/beast268.htm The asp, which is supposed to be a snake but is shown here as a dog-like beast, guards the tree which distils balm and is lulled to sleep with music by those who come to take the balm. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 126r] beasts/beast268.htm An asp, depicted with wings as it often is, blocks one ear with its tail to avoid hearing the the man. The other ear should be pressed to the ground, but in this image it is not. The man appears to be admonishing the asp, which looks aprehensive. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 39r] beasts/beast268.htm A blue snake called "aspis". [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 80v] beasts/beast268.htm To avoid hearing the charm being spoken by the magician, the asp presses one ear to the ground and blocks the other with its tail. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 41r] beasts/beast268.htm To avoid hearing the magician's charm, the asp presses one ear to the ground and blocks the other with its tail. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 122r] beasts/beast268.htm The asp blocks its ear so it can't hear the song of the enchanter. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 32r] beasts/beast268.htm The asp plugs one ear with its tail while pressing the other ear to the ground, so it cannot hear the words the enchanter is reading from a scroll. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 61r] beasts/beast268.htm The asp blocks its ear with its tail so it cannot hear the enchanter. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 252r] beasts/beast268.htm The asp presses one ear to the ground and blocks the other with its tail, to avoid hearing the spell the enchanter is reading. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 93v] beasts/beast268.htm The asp presses one ear to the ground and blocks the other with its tail, to avoid hearing the music of the enchanter. The instrument being played is probably a vielle, also known as a fidel or a viuola. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 116r] beasts/beast268.htm An asp prepares to block its ear with its tail, so as not to hear the enchanter. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 158v] beasts/beast268.htm The asp presses one ear to the ground and stuffs its tail in its ear, to avoid hearing the music of the enchanter. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 8v] beasts/beast268.htm The asp lying down has pressed one ear to the ground and blocked the other with its tail, so as not to hear the enchanter. The other four asps appear not have blocked their ears in time and are under the enchanter's spell. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 24v] beasts/beast268.htm Since this image illustrates the entry on the lilly plant in the text, this is probably intended to be the asp or adder, the bite of which can be treated by the plant. Though it looks like it is breathing fire, it is probably spitting venom. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 43r] beasts/beast268.htm The asp presses one ear against the ground and blocks the other with its tail, to avoid hear the enchanter. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 96r] beasts/beast268.htm The asp presses one ear to the ground and blocks the other ear with its tail. This is to avoid hearing the enchanter who is normally illustrated; in this image there is a man with a club and shield instead. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 81v] beasts/beast268.htm The asp, here called emorois. The asp is sometimes said to have a precious stone called a carbuncle in its head, and the enchanter must say certain words to the asp to obtain the stone. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 83r] beasts/beast268.htm To avoid the sound of the enchanter's voice, the asp presses one ear to the ground and blocks the other with its tail. This asp seems to be breathing fire, perhaps to show its venomous nature. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 80v] beasts/beast268.htm An asp blocks its ears so it cannot hear the music of the enchanters. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: So, the author says, he should have acted, so as not to be lured by his love. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 92r] beasts/beast268.htm An elegant prancing blue ass. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 53v] beasts/beast210.htm A mule, the infertile cross between an ass and a horse. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 54r] beasts/beast210.htm A long-eared ass. Part of the image is lost to damage. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 25v] beasts/beast210.htm An ass braying. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 8r] beasts/beast210.htm An ass, possibly on a treadmill. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 35r] beasts/beast210.htm Asses are slow and resist commands. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 84r] beasts/beast210.htm A man loads a large sack onto the back of an ass. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 48r] beasts/beast210.htm A sad looking ass with long ears. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 89v] beasts/beast210.htm A braying ass, with a cross on its back. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 45v] beasts/beast210.htm An ordinary ass. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 16v] beasts/beast210.htm A blue long-eared ass (donkey). [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 43v] beasts/beast210.htm An ass braying. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The wild ass brays only when he wants his dinner; so cries the lover when he has lost his love". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 87v] beasts/beast210.htm The (domestic) ass. Unusually the name is inscribed on the gold leaf, perhaps to distinguish it from the similar illustration of the onager (wild ass) on the same page. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 32r] beasts/beast210.htm Asses are slow and resist commands, but can carry heavy loads. The man encourages the ass to work with a whip. On the right is a water powered grinding mill. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 44r] beasts/beast210.htm A very elegant badger, looking more like a fox or a dog. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 45v] beasts/beast4721.htm A not very lifelike badger. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 54r] beasts/beast4721.htm Badgers digging a den, using one of their number as a sort of wheelbarrow to haul the dirt away. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 30r] beasts/beast4721.htm Badgers work together to dig their holes in the mountains. One will lie down at the entrance to the hole, holding a stick in its mouth, while the others pile earth on its belly. Two badgers take hold of the stick with their mouths and drag the loaded badger away. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 50v] beasts/beast4721.htm Barnacle geese hang from a tree. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 36r] beasts/beast1195.htm Barnacle geese come from trees that grow over water. These trees produce birds that look like small geese; the young birds hang from their beaks from the trees. When the birds are mature enough, they fall from the trees; any that fall into the water float and are safe, but those that fall on land die. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 58v] beasts/beast1195.htm A basilisk, part snake, part cock. The wings are more like those of a hawk or eagle than a rooster. It is being attacked by a weasel, the only animal that can kill a basilisk. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 51r] beasts/beast265.htm A basilisk or regulus. The text refers to the regulus for this illustration, as distinct from the basilisk, the entry for which precedes this one, though both are the same beast. The artist has tried to reconcile the confused descriptions, giving this creature a bird's beak and a tail curving over its back like that of a scorpion, making it different from the basilisk of the previous illustration while retaining most of its described attributes. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 51r] beasts/beast265.htm A basilisk: head and body of a cock, tail of a snake. The crown is a reference to its Latin name, regulus, "ruler". [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 39v] beasts/beast265.htm A basilisk with scaly neck, cock head, serpent tail, and eyes that can kill. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 122v] beasts/beast265.htm The basilisk is half cock and half serpent. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 31r] beasts/beast265.htm This basilisk is drawn as a legged serpent with a cock's head and feet. Its glance will kill a man. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 79r] beasts/beast265.htm A form of basilisk called regulus this manuscript also has a more traditional illustration of the basilisk. [] beasts/beast265.htm A basilisk is attacked by a weasel, the only animal that can kill it. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 51v] beasts/beast265.htm A basilisk is attacked by a weasel, the only animal that can do so. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 23r] beasts/beast265.htm A small, fierce brown bat, essentially a mouse with wings. The artist may be trying to show that it has teeth. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 42v] beasts/beast250.htm A man chasing a bat. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 91v] beasts/beast250.htm Two men chasing a bat. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 92r] beasts/beast250.htm A fairly accurate, but spooky, bat. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 101r] beasts/beast250.htm Three bats flying in a starry sky. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 34r] beasts/beast250.htm A bat in flight. Misericord; Wells Cathedral, England; early 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 107] beasts/beast250.htm The bat, a bird that bears live young. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 160v] beasts/beast250.htm The bat is unlike other birds in that it gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs, and it has teeth. Bats gather together and hang from high places like a bunch of grapes; if one falls, all the rest also fall. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 54v] beasts/beast250.htm A mother bear licks her cub into shape. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 6v] beasts/beast171.htm A reasonably well-drawn bear. Unusually, it is not drawn so as to show any of its described attributes. Each paw has five toes instead of claws. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 13v] beasts/beast171.htm Bear-baiting. Dogs are urged to attack the chained and muzzled bear, which has caught one of the dogs. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 161r] beasts/beast171.htm A mother bear licks her cub into shape. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 15r] beasts/beast171.htm A bear wearing a collar. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 34v] beasts/beast171.htm A bear licks her new-born, formless cub into its proper shape. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 11v] beasts/beast171.htm A captive bear; note the iron collar with a chain loop. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 71v] beasts/beast171.htm A stylized bear with enormous claws. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 86v] beasts/beast171.htm A pointy-nosed bear. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast171.htm A bear licks her shapeless newborn cub into its proper shape. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 9r] beasts/beast171.htm A strange, but happy, bear. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 120r] beasts/beast171.htm A mother bear licks her cub into its proper shape. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 79v] beasts/beast171.htm The bear's cubs are born as shapeless lumps of flesh; here she is licking them into shape. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 37v] beasts/beast171.htm A nicely drawn bear. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 17v] beasts/beast171.htm Bear cubs are born as formless lumps of flesh; here the mother is licking the cub into shape. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 22v] beasts/beast171.htm A mother bear licks the lump of flesh she gave birth to until it takes on the proper shape of her cub. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 17r] beasts/beast171.htm Bear cubs are born as shapeless lumps of flesh, so their mother has to lick them into their proper shape. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 21r] beasts/beast171.htm Bears give birth to cubs that are a shapeless lump of flesh, until the mother licks them into their proper form. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 85v] beasts/beast171.htm A lion-like beaver flees from a hunter. Its testicles, already bitten off, fly away behind it. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 5v] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver, standing on its hind legs to show the hunter that it has no testicles. Its testicles hang in the air behind it; presumably the beaver has thrown them to the hunter. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 8v] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver, realizing it cannot escape the hunter, bites off its testicles, which is all the hunter wants. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 101v] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver, having previously bitten off its testicles to foil a hunter, shows another hunter that it has nothing he wants. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 102r] beasts/beast152.htm A dog-like beaver, being pursued by a hunter. The beaver has just bitten off its testicles and left them for the hunter; the wound is still bleeding. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 32v] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver. Bottom margin illustration. [British Library, Royal MS 13 B. viii, Folio 10v] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver bites off his own testicles. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 12r] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver castrates itself, knowing that the hunters only want to kill it for its testicles. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 9r] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver, pursued by a hunter with dogs, bites off his own testicles. [British Library, Additional MS 70000, Folio 65r] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver bites off his own testicles to save himself from a hunter. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 49v] beasts/beast152.htm The beaver, knowing the hunter will kill it for its testicles, bites them off the save its life. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 247r] beasts/beast152.htm An enormous beaver rears up to show the hunter that it has already given up its testicles, which is the only part of the beast the hunter wants. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 6v] beasts/beast152.htm The beaver, knowing what the hunter wants from it, castrates itself to save its life. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 111r] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver bites off its testicles to keep the hunter from killing it. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 5v] beasts/beast152.htm A hunter has shot a beaver, though it seems to have already castrated itself. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 77v] beasts/beast152.htm The beaver, unable to escape the hunter, throws him its testicles, which is all the hunter wants. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 150v] beasts/beast152.htm A beaver is speared by a mounted hunter; the beaver's usual response to being hunted has not worked in this case. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 13v] beasts/beast152.htm The beaver, knowing that the invisible hunter only wants its testicles, bites them off. [Bodleian Library, MS. Canon. Ital. 38, Folio 61r] beasts/beast152.htm Hunters look gloatingly at their prize, the testicles of the beavers they are hunting. The top beaver looks resentful of his loss, while the one at the bottom prepares to make the same sacrifice. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 14r] beasts/beast152.htm A swarm of seven bees, returning to their hive. The hive is clearly artificial. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 47r] beasts/beast260.htm Bees gathering nectar from flowering plants. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 58v] beasts/beast260.htm Bees flying around hives attached to a farmhouse. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 89] beasts/beast260.htm A man catching bees in a bag. [British Library, Stowe MS 17, Folio 148r] beasts/beast260.htm Bees, looking like small birds, fly over their hives. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 86v] beasts/beast260.htm Bees swarm around a hive. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 204r] beasts/beast260.htm Bees swarming around a hive. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 45r] beasts/beast260.htm Three bird-like bees flying over their individual hives. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 128v] beasts/beast260.htm Very large bees coming out of a hive to drive off an intruder. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 37r] beasts/beast260.htm Bees are the smallest of birds. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 29r] beasts/beast260.htm Bees fly around a pair of typical medieval bee hives. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 29v] beasts/beast260.htm Bees swarm around a hive. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 151v] beasts/beast260.htm Bees are the smallest of birds. They are born from the bodies of oxen, or from the decaying flesh of slaughtered calves; worms form in the flesh and then turn into bees. The man is perhaps releasing bees into a hive. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 58r] beasts/beast260.htm Two bees fly in a starry sky. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 21r] beasts/beast260.htm Bees are the smallest of birds, and live in community, choose the most noble among them as king, have wars, and make honey. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 89r] beasts/beast260.htm Bees fly in orderly formation into their hives. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 75v] beasts/beast260.htm Delta-winged bees fly around three hives. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 69v] beasts/beast260.htm It is not clear what is happening in this odd image. On the right, bees fly into their hive. On the left, a man waves a sickle while a woman carries something wrapped in a cloth. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 111v] beasts/beast260.htm The bittern is a bird that puts its beak in the water or into reeds and makes a booming noise. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 78v] beasts/beast4723.htm A bittern at the water's edge. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 158r] beasts/beast4723.htm A generic bird representing the blackbird. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 153v] beasts/beast531.htm A suitably black blackbird. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 95r] beasts/beast531.htm Though painted blue, this is a blackbird. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 105v] beasts/beast531.htm An ordinary blackbird. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast531.htm A blackbird sings in a cage. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "This bird sings for only two months in a year, and is that much more precious for the rarity and beauty of its melody". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 92v] beasts/beast531.htm The immense size of the boa can be seen as it wraps itself around a tree. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 55r] beasts/beast274.htm The boa, an enormous snake that kills cows by sucking out all their milk. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 42v] beasts/beast274.htm The boa, an enormous snake that kills cows by sucking out all their milk. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 122v] beasts/beast274.htm The enormous snake called the boa, here shown with two legs. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 33v] beasts/beast274.htm The boa feeds on cattle, but not by swallowing them; instead it sucks the milk from a cow's udder, sometimes taking so much that the cow dies. This boa seems to be more carnivorous. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94v] beasts/beast274.htm The snake called boa, which feeds on cattle, but not by swallowing them; instead it sucks the milk from a cow's udder, sometimes taking so much that the cow dies. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 86r] beasts/beast274.htm A hairy wild boar with tusks pointing up and down. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 23v] beasts/beast197.htm A wild boar. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 8v] beasts/beast197.htm Boars feeding in the forest, and being hunted. [British Library, Cotton Tiberius B. v, Folio 7r] beasts/beast197.htm A hairy wild boar. This is the only colored animal drawing in this manuscript. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 86r] beasts/beast197.htm A fierce wild boar with tusks. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 45v] beasts/beast197.htm A dog chases a boar. Marginal illustration. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 78 D 40, Folio 84r] beasts/beast197.htm A wild boar with tusks and a hairy back [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 20r] beasts/beast197.htm A fat boar. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast197.htm A mean-looking wild boar with a curly tail. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 15r] beasts/beast197.htm An enormous wild boar is speared by a hunter. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83r] beasts/beast197.htm Two brightly colored wild boars. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 36v] beasts/beast197.htm A hunter spears a wild boar. The boar is putting up a good fight; it has knocked one of the hunters down and gored a dog. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 38v] beasts/beast197.htm Two wild boars with big tusks. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 30v] beasts/beast197.htm Two wild boars graze in a field. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 25v] beasts/beast197.htm A bonnacon defending itself against a hunter by ejecting excrement. The horns of the beast are too curved to be useful for defense. As in many such images, the hunter holds a shield to deflect the bonnacon's dung, which would otherwise burn him. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 10r] beasts/beast80.htm A bonnacon, with its useless, curly horns, defends itself from three hunters by spraying them with excrement. One of the hunters had the foresight to bring a shield. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 11r] beasts/beast80.htm Two hunters flee from a bonnacon, which is defending itself with its only weapon, its dung. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 8r] beasts/beast80.htm A bonnacon ejecting dung, though there is no hunter in sight. The beast's horns are not drawn according to the description; they should be curved so they are useless for fighting. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 47v] beasts/beast80.htm The bonnacon's horns are too curved to be useful for fighting, so it uses its only weapon, its acrid dung, which it sprays on the hunter. Alas, it is too late; the hunter has already hit the bonnacon with an arrow. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 5r] beasts/beast80.htm The bonnacon's horns, being curled back, are useless for defence, so it discharges its dung at an attacker. In this case the ploy has failed; the hunter has hit the beast with an arrow. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 16r] beasts/beast80.htm A bonnacon, not being threatened, does not use its most effective weapon. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 6v] beasts/beast80.htm To defend itself, the bonnacon sprays dung at the disgusted hunters. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 78r] beasts/beast80.htm A bonnacon sprays a hunter with its only weapon, its firey dung; the hunter is not pleased. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 24v] beasts/beast80.htm The bonnacon's curled horns are useless for defence, so it deploys its only weapon, its spray of burning dung. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 37r] beasts/beast80.htm Becuase its horns are too curled over to be dangerous, the bonnacon can only defend itself by spraying its burning dung at its attackers. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 16r] beasts/beast80.htm The hunters have come prepared with shields, so the bonnacon's primary weapon has failed to save it from the spear. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 18r] beasts/beast80.htm A bonnacon sprays a hunter with dung, and seems perturbed that its primary weapon has not saved it. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 92v] beasts/beast80.htm A bonnacon sprays dung on three knights, who have unfortunately forgotten their shields. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 10r] beasts/beast80.htm A quite ordinary red bull. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 23v] beasts/beast198.htm A beautifully drawn bull. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 32r] beasts/beast198.htm A bull in a traditional pose. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 87v] beasts/beast198.htm A bull, obviously male, with curved horns. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 20r] beasts/beast198.htm A grinning bull with horns shaped like a lyre. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 70r] beasts/beast198.htm A bull from a herbal. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 80v] beasts/beast198.htm An ordinary, but happy, bull. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 15r] beasts/beast198.htm A long horned bull. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83v] beasts/beast198.htm A large bull. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83v] beasts/beast198.htm An elegant bull looks backwards anxiously. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 41v] beasts/beast198.htm This is actually a cow, not a bull. A female bull? [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 41v] beasts/beast198.htm Not actually a bull - a cow (female bull?) nursing a calf. Images of cows are not common in bestiaries. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 30v] beasts/beast198.htm A cow (i.e. female "bull") feeds her calf. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 25v] beasts/beast198.htm A caladrius with no sick person in sight. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 7r] beasts/beast143.htm Showing both possibilities, one caladrius looks at the sick king, meaning he will recover, while the other looks away, meaning the king will die. [Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 254, Folio 27r] beasts/beast143.htm A rather oversized caladrius looks toward the sick man in bed, indicating that he will survive his illness. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 33v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks toward the sick man, indicating that he will live. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 89v] beasts/beast143.htm The caldrius looking away from the sick man, indicating that he will die. The man's companions look on in dismay. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 90r] beasts/beast143.htm A caladrius stands at the foor of a sick man's bed, looking toward him to indicate he will recover. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 8v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks toward the sick king, meaning that he will survive the illness. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 40r] beasts/beast143.htm The image shows both predictions of the caladrius: the person in the lower bed will live, but the one in the upper bed will die. The expressions on the faces of the sick people also shows that one is recovering while the other is not. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 98] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius (which should be white) looks toward the sick man, indicating that he will recover. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Lyon, MS P.A. 78, Folio 36r] beasts/beast143.htm A mostly white caladrius (it should be all white), with the beak and feet of a duck. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 156r] beasts/beast143.htm The all-white caldrius sits on the bed of a sick man; by looking away, the bird predicts that the man will die. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 28v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius, an all white bird that predicts whether a sick person will recover. The sick person is not visible, so we don't know if the bird is looking toward or away from him. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 79v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks away from the sick man, meaning he will die; his companion on the right is already grieving. At the left, a man is in the act of catching a caladrius with a net. The bird does not seem to raise any objection. It stands upon a wall under a building which is intended for the palace of a king, as explained by the legend above: Ubi caladrius comprehenditur in domibus regum (here the caladrius is caught in the house of the king). [Koninklijke Bibliotheek van Belgie, Bibl. Roy 10074, Folio 143r] beasts/beast143.htm In this complex image both the characteristics and symbology of the caladrius are illustrated. The caladrius is shown looking at the sick man, meaning he will recover (to the obvious delight of the onlookers); the bird is also shown flying up toward the sun with the sickness. Moses is is shown at the right teaching a group of Jews about unclean beasts. Above is a figure of Christ with arms outstretched in the form of a cross. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek van Belgie, Bibl. Roy 10074, Folio 143r] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks away from the sick man, meaning he will die. [British Library, Harley MS 3244] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks at the sick man, meaning he will recover. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix] beasts/beast143.htm Covering both possibilities in one illustration, one caladrius looks at the sick man, meaning he will recover, while another looks away, meaning he will die. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 132] beasts/beast143.htm If the caladrius looks at the sick man, it will take on its sickness and fly away with it; the man will recover. If the caladrius looks away, the man will die. This image illustrates both possibilities. [Bodleian Library, MS. Canon. Ital. 38, Folio 52r] beasts/beast143.htm A caladrius looks at a sick man, meaning he will recover. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 24r] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks at the sick man, meaning he will recover. The caladrius also draws the sickness into itself and prepares to fly away with it. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 142r] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius, which should be all white, looks at a sick man who seems pleased with the news that he will recover. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 21v] beasts/beast143.htm In the top panel, the caladrius looks away from the sick man, indicating he will die. In the bottom panel, the caldrius looks toward the much happier man, who will recover. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 106v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius, an all white bird. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 157v] beasts/beast143.htm An all white caladrius inexplicably carries or bites a branch. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 242v] beasts/beast143.htm Caladrius, white as it should be but looking more like a goose. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 77a] beasts/beast143.htm In the upper panel, the caldrius looks at the sick man, taking away his illness and showing he will live. In the lower panel, the caladrius looks away from the sick man, meaning he will die. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 116v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks at the sick man, meaning he will recover. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 7v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks toward the sick king, meaning he will recover. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 132, Folio 65v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks toward the sick man, so he knows he will recover. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 60v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks toward the sick man, which means he will recover, making the woman very happy. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 1v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius is an all-white bird that lives in the king's house. If it looks into the face of a sick man, it means that he will live, but if the caladrius looks away, the sick man will die of his illness. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 63v] beasts/beast143.htm The caldrius is a white bird that lives in the house of kings. It can predict whether a sick person will recover; this one looks toward the king, meaning he will get well. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 69r] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius is a white bird that can foretell if a sick person will get weel. Here the bird looks away from the man, meaning he will die. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 15v] beasts/beast143.htm The caldrius looks toward the sick ma, meaning he will recover. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: So if the loved one turns away from him, the author despairs and dies of love. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 91v] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius is a white bird that can foretell if a sick person will get well. This one looks toward the sick king, meaning he will recover. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 100r] beasts/beast143.htm The caladrius looks toward the sick king, meaning he will recover. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 63r] beasts/beast143.htm This caladrius is foretelling that the sick king will recover; the king is pleased. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 18r] beasts/beast143.htm A camel with two humps. [Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 254, Folio 9r] beasts/beast208.htm A camel with one hump. The curled pen strokes just visible on its neck may be later scribbles, of which there are many in the manuscript. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 24v] beasts/beast208.htm A two humped camel. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 9r] beasts/beast208.htm A camel of the one-hump Bactrian variety, which are stronger than the Arabian two-hump kind. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 48r] beasts/beast208.htm A camel of the two-hump Arabian variety, which are not as strong as the one-hump Bactrian kind, but are more numerous. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 47v] beasts/beast208.htm A one humped camel, the Bactrian variety. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 21r] beasts/beast208.htm The single hump on this camel marks it as being of the Bactrian type. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 24r] beasts/beast208.htm This camel has only one hump, marking it as the more numerous Arabian variety. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 15v] beasts/beast208.htm The Bactrian camel, which has two humps and is strong. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83v] beasts/beast208.htm An ape rides backwards on a Bactrian camel. Apes were often used to mockingly represent humans. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 26r] beasts/beast208.htm A two humped Bactrian camel. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 78r] beasts/beast208.htm A Bactrian camel, which has two humps and is strong. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 16r] beasts/beast208.htm A curled-up cat. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 28v] beasts/beast213.htm A cat showing great interest in a mouse. [British Library, Additional MS 11283, Folio 15r] beasts/beast213.htm A male cat on the prowl. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 58v] beasts/beast213.htm Three cats, one holding a mouse, with a mouse below. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 30v] beasts/beast213.htm A cat licking its paw. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 37v] beasts/beast213.htm A cat playing with a mouse. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 190r] beasts/beast213.htm A cat holds wool for a woman winding thread. [British Library, Stowe MS 17, Folio 34r] beasts/beast213.htm A fierce cat, not the ordinary pet. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 64v] beasts/beast213.htm A spooky cat playing with a ball. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 24v] beasts/beast213.htm Two odd cats. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 85r] beasts/beast213.htm A cat watches a mouse. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 18r] beasts/beast213.htm Four cats chase mice, or they could be kittens. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 46v] beasts/beast213.htm Cats chasing mice. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 35v] beasts/beast213.htm Three cats walk in single file. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 13r] beasts/beast213.htm Three cats do what cats do: play with mice, take an unhealthy interest in caged birds, and sleep. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 51r] beasts/beast213.htm A sneaky cat. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 86v] beasts/beast213.htm Two cats, one with a mouse. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 29v] beasts/beast213.htm A cat eats a mouse. In the spirit of "You are what you eat", the cat looks rather like a mouse. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 95r] beasts/beast213.htm A cat stalks a mouse in a hole. Marginal illustration. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, Folio 131r] beasts/beast213.htm Birds nest in a cedar tree. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 99v] beasts/beast8486.htm A centaur turns back to fire an arrow, in the classic pose of the "Parthian shot". [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 5v] beasts/beast384.htm The centaur Chiron with the goddess Diana/Artemis holding two plants of the genus Artemisia. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 18r] beasts/beast384.htm Centaury was supposed to have been used medicinally by the centaur Chiron, who is shown here holding a sprig of Centauria Maior. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 23r] beasts/beast384.htm Centaur fighting with a dragon. Stone carving, Westmister Abbey, London, c. 1250. [] beasts/beast384.htm A centaur with a bow. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 164r] beasts/beast384.htm A centaur shoots an arrow at a dragon-like beast. Misericord (number 17); Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, England; third quarter of 13th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 13] beasts/beast384.htm A centaur holding a snake; why is not known. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 10v] beasts/beast384.htm The centaur has the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a human. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 116v] beasts/beast384.htm The centaur Chiron with the goddess Diana/Artemis holding two plants of the genus Artemisia. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 17v] beasts/beast384.htm A centaur holds the plant curmel (Centauria maior). [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 23r] beasts/beast384.htm A centaur prepares to shoot a grotesque, a man-beast-snake hybrid creature. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 115v] beasts/beast384.htm The cerastes, a very flexible snake with horns. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 123v] beasts/beast532.htm A cinnamologus bird in a cinnamon tree, glaring at the man who is trying to knock its nest down to get the valuable cinnamon it contains. Full page image. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 38v] beasts/beast242.htm The cinnamologus bird sits on its nest made out of twigs from the cinnamon tree. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 79v] beasts/beast242.htm The cinnamologus bird builds its nest with cinnamon twigs; the hunter knocks the nest down with a stone from his sling to get the valuable spice. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 31v] beasts/beast242.htm The cinnamalogus builds its nest from the fruit of the cinamon tree, on branches too high and weak to support a man's weight, so to get the cinamon men knock down the nest. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 24v] beasts/beast242.htm The cinnamolgus bird builds its nest out of cinnamon branches, too high for hunters to reach. To get the highly prized cinnamon, hunters attempt to knock down the nest with slings. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 52r] beasts/beast242.htm The cinnamologus builds its nest from the fruit of the cinnamon tree. Men who want the cinnamon throw stones at the nest to knock it down. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 17v] beasts/beast242.htm The cinnamalogus is a bird that lives in Arabia. It builds its nest using the fruit of the cinnamon tree, which men value greatly. The men who want to cinnamon cannot climb the tree to reach the nest, because the nest is too high and the tree branches too delicate, so they throw lead balls to knock down the cinnamon. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 71v] beasts/beast242.htm An elegant cock (rooster) crowing. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 46r] beasts/beast258.htm A crowing cock. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 59r] beasts/beast258.htm A red cock (rooster) looking skywards. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 146v] beasts/beast258.htm An elegant cock. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 41r] beasts/beast258.htm An elegant cock with a red crest. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 36v] beasts/beast258.htm An arrogant cock with a crest that looks like a crown. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 88v] beasts/beast258.htm A crowing cock. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 134r] beasts/beast258.htm The cock is a bird that can tell time. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 28v] beasts/beast258.htm A small cock with a red crest. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 156v] beasts/beast258.htm A proud cock. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 156r] beasts/beast258.htm A white cock or rooster, the kind lions are said to be afraid of. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 102r] beasts/beast258.htm A white cock, the kind lions are afraid of. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 156v] beasts/beast258.htm The cock (rooster) has the intelligence to tell time and so knows when to crow. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 57r] beasts/beast258.htm Cock crowing. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "Cock crows at dawn and dusk, which are like both day and night together; this is like love which is neither all hope nor all despair. But the writer is near despair, and has no more hope of his lady's love, so he must sing loudest at the last, just as the cock who sings oftenest at dawn and in the day, must force himself to sing even louder at night". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 87v] beasts/beast258.htm A strutting cock. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 5] beasts/beast258.htm An elegant cock. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 85v] beasts/beast258.htm Two cocks prepare to fight. Marginal illustration. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, Folio 128r] beasts/beast258.htm The confining frame around the coot may be the artist's attempt to show that this bird always stays in one place. No other image in this manuscript has a frame like this. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 36r] beasts/beast239.htm The coot builds its nest in the middle of water or on a stone surrounded by water. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 109v] beasts/beast239.htm The coot builds its nest in the middle of water or on a stone surrounded by water, and eats fish. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 110r] beasts/beast239.htm The coot builds its nest in the middle of water or on a stone surrounded by water. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 10v] beasts/beast239.htm A coot, not showing any of its usual characteristics. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 30r] beasts/beast239.htm A hawk-like coot brings a fish to the young one in the nest. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 84v] beasts/beast239.htm A coot, doing nothing in particular. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 23v] beasts/beast239.htm A coot about to eat something. It is not clear what the outline behind the bird is meant to represent. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 109r] beasts/beast239.htm A coot with a large, oddly shaped beak. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 249v] beasts/beast239.htm A blue and red coot, dancing. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 65r] beasts/beast239.htm A coot stands with wings raised inside a building; this may be an allusion to its habit of staying in one place. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 154r] beasts/beast239.htm A coot preens its feathers in a tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 67v] beasts/beast239.htm The coot is an intelligent bird; unlike other birds it does not fly about, but stays in one place. It builds its nest in the middle of water or on a stone surrounded by water. When it sees a storm coming it returns to its nest or dives under the water. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 61r] beasts/beast239.htm A crane with one leg raised, indicating that it is on watch duty. The "object" below its claw is actually damaged and repaired partchment. The red patch on the head is quite accurate; several species of crane have such a patch of red. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 32v] beasts/beast234.htm Cranes flying in order, following their leader. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 124r] beasts/beast234.htm When cranes sleep, one stands guard; if it falls asleep, the stone dropping from its claw will wake it. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 123v] beasts/beast234.htm Cranes confronting their enemies, the pygmies, with whom they are constantly at war. This story is taken from Pliny. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 42v] beasts/beast234.htm Four cranes sleep, while one stands guard. The guard stands on one leg, the other clutching a stone; if he falls asleep the stone will drop, waking him. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 39r] beasts/beast234.htm A blue crane, lacking the usual red cap. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 151v] beasts/beast234.htm An odd blue crane with very short legs. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 49v] beasts/beast234.htm A watchful crane guards three others as they sleep. He stands on one leg, holding a stone with the other, so that if he falls asleep the stone will drop and wake him. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 40r] beasts/beast234.htm A crane (note the patch of red on its head) reaching for fruit. [British Library, Additional MS 70000, Folio 65r] beasts/beast234.htm A standing crane, with a hint of the usual cap. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 40r] beasts/beast234.htm A crane, lacking the usual red cap. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 87v] beasts/beast234.htm A crane, with its correctly drawn red cap. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 27v] beasts/beast234.htm A crane with the usual red cap. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 155v] beasts/beast234.htm A long-necked crane with a very sharp beak. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 21r] beasts/beast234.htm A long legged crane walks in water. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 104v] beasts/beast234.htm When cranes gather to sleep, one always stands guard; the guard holds a stone in its claw so that if it falls asleep the stone fall and wake it. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 86r] beasts/beast234.htm Three cranes sleep while one stands guard; if the guard falls asleep the sound of the stone in its claw falling will wake it. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 50r] beasts/beast234.htm Cranes sleeping, with one standing guard. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "Each one watches in turn while the others sleep, keeping awake by holding stones in his claws (because then they cannot stand properly and therefore cannot sleep). An example of caution and foresight" [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 95r] beasts/beast234.htm A crane with the usual red cap. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 6] beasts/beast234.htm When cranes sleep, one stands guard. The guard holds a stone in its claw; if it falls asleep the stone will fall, waking the crane. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 57r] beasts/beast234.htm When cranes have to sleep, one of them stands guard with a stone clutched in a claw; if the guard falls asleep the stone will fall and wake him. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 62r] beasts/beast234.htm A scary cricket in a cage. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The cricket sings himself to death; the poet finds he so loses himself in his song, that the better he sings the less his song comforts him; therefore he writes of his love instead". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 88v] beasts/beast4801.htm A pair of very oddly drawn crickets (krillum). [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 87r] beasts/beast4801.htm An odd mammalian crocodile, with paws and ears. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 7r] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile swallowing a hydrus which is emerging from the crocodile's side, thus killing it. The artist clearly had never seen a crocodile, but he has followed the text in giving it fierce teeth and claws. The beast is very similar to the other crocodile in this manuscript (folio 14v). [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 61v] beasts/beast146.htm A dog-like crocodile devouring a man, after which it will weep. The beast is shown as being larger than a man, and is very similar in form to the other crocodile in this manuscript (folio 61v). The significance of the band around its middle is not clear. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 14v] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile spending the night in the water. (?) [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 102v] beasts/beast146.htm A two-legged crocodile with a fish tail. Its head is on upside down. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 64r] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile, seen from above. This is one of two similar crocodile images in this manuscript; the other (folio 48r) is a line drawing. This image was probably the original for the copy in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23, Folio 48v] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile eating a person. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 12v] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile, seen from above. This is one of two similar crocodile images in this manuscript; the other (folio 48v) is colored. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23, Folio 48r] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile, seen from above; the artist, who clearly did not know what a crocodile looked like, has given it a human face. This image is probably a copy of that in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4, Folio 96v] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile (looking like a floppy-eared dog) swallows a hydrus, which will eat its way out of the beast's side. Misericord; Chichester Cathedral, Chichester, England; ca. 1330. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 43] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile has had its body invaded by a hydrus, which is eating its way out the crocodile's side. The crocodile's head being upside down is probably an allusion to its ability to move its jaws in an unusual way. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 248r] beasts/beast146.htm A swimming crocodile. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 43r] beasts/beast146.htm An odd, winged crocodile has almost finished swallowing a man. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 9v] beasts/beast146.htm The peculiar beast attacking the man, with its bear-like body and bird wings and beak, is a crocodile, which will weep once it has eaten the man. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 110v] beasts/beast146.htm A lion-like crocodile confronts a winged serpent/dragon. This is probably intended to be the hydrus, which is seen at the left exiting the crocodile's body. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 14969, Folio 31r] beasts/beast146.htm A most peculiar crocodile eating a man, who presumably stuck the knife in the beast in an attempt to avoid becoming lunch. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 80r] beasts/beast146.htm A peculiar crocodile eats a man, after which it will shed tears. This crocodile has a serrated back ridge, the body of a mammal, and bird's feet. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 70r] beasts/beast146.htm A crocodile eats a man. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The beast eats a man wherever it finds one, and then in repentance weeps and cries for the rest of its life. So if after the lady has killed and devoured him by his love, he hopes she will repent that she has let him go" [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 99r] beasts/beast146.htm At the top, a crocodile eats a man, after which it will weep. Below, a crocodile catches fish. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 24r] beasts/beast146.htm A very odd crocodile eats a man. The crocodile has stripes, the paws of a cat, and hair on its head. After it finishes the man it will cry "crocodile tears". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 96v] beasts/beast146.htm A crow rampant, or perhaps walking. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 43r] beasts/beast252.htm The crow does not begin to feed its young until they turn black, and it can identify them as its own. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 129v] beasts/beast252.htm When the crow finds a corpse, it first pecks out the eye. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 130r] beasts/beast252.htm A generic bird representing the crow. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 27r] beasts/beast252.htm An ordinary crow. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 34v] beasts/beast252.htm A pair of crows. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 81r] beasts/beast252.htm A crow raising its wings. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 154r] beasts/beast252.htm A crow, walking. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 55r] beasts/beast252.htm A crow looks to the sky. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 79v] beasts/beast252.htm A man with glowing cross-nimbus stands behind mountain. This is from the prophet Amos: 'I saw a man standing on a wall of adamant and in his hand was an adamant stone in the midst of the people of Israel' (Amos, 7:7). [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 11r] beasts/beast534.htm A diamond, shown as a four-leaved shape. The artist is unlikely to have actually seen one. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 255v] beasts/beast534.htm A happy man finds a diamond. No harm can come to a house containing a diamond; not even demons can enter. A person who possesses a diamond can overcome both men and beasts. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 117r] beasts/beast534.htm Three diamonds (the almond-shaped objects) lie embedded in stylized earth. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 165v] beasts/beast534.htm Dippers (here called martinetas) dive into a stream to catch fish. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 60r] beasts/beast9028.htm A dipsa not displaying any of its known attributes. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 55v] beasts/beast275.htm The dipsa, a snake so small it is not seen before it is stepped on, and so poisonous anyone it bites dies before he feels the bite. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 42v] beasts/beast275.htm The dipsa, a small snake with a poison so deadly that it kills before the bite is felt. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 123v] beasts/beast275.htm A racey-looking dog, perhaps a greyhound? [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 53r] beasts/beast181.htm Part 3 of the King Garamantes cycle: The king's dogs attack his enemies and free their master. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 19v] beasts/beast181.htm Part 2 of the King Garamantes cycle: The king's dogs run to his rescue. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 19r] beasts/beast181.htm Part 1 of the King Garamantes cycle: The king is captured by his enemies and taken away. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 18v] beasts/beast181.htm A dog mourning the murder of its master, and possibly pointing out the murderer. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 18r] beasts/beast181.htm Two attributes of the dog: in the top image a dog stands in water, presumably having just dropped the meat it was carrying to get the meat it thought it saw; in the bottom image, two dogs lick woulds to heal them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 22v] beasts/beast181.htm A mad dog attacks a bald man wielding a sword, who is also being bitten by a snake. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 13v] beasts/beast181.htm The mad dog (white with blue head) has bitten the man at the right, who is being treated by a doctor. The hen at the top is a diagnostic indicator; if its appetite is good, it is an omen of recovery. This is similar to the story of the caladrius. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 16r] beasts/beast181.htm A running dog with a collar. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 88v] beasts/beast181.htm The King Garametes cycle: King Garametes is captured by his enemies; his dog search for him, find him, and attack his captors. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 16r] beasts/beast181.htm A pair of dogs, possibly greyhounds? [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 48v] beasts/beast181.htm Two dogs, possibly greyhounds or other hunting dogs. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 49r] beasts/beast181.htm A dog with an elegant red collar. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 15v] beasts/beast181.htm Two dog stories combined: at the right, a dog refuses to leave his murdered master; at the left, a dog identifies the murderer. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 16v] beasts/beast181.htm A pair of watchdogs accompanying a soldier. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 48v] beasts/beast181.htm A dog, possibly a greyhound. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast181.htm King Garamantes, captured by his enemies, is rescued by his dogs. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 31r] beasts/beast181.htm In this unusual image, one dog acts as a shepard guarding sheep, while another stays with its master. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 8v] beasts/beast181.htm A dog from a herbal. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 81v] beasts/beast181.htm A lean and hungry dog. [Universiteitsbibliotheek Leiden, BPL 1283, Folio 57r] beasts/beast181.htm King Garamantes, captured by his enemies, is rescued by has pack of dogs. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 30v] beasts/beast181.htm "Le chien qui mengue sa vomissure" - The dog eats its own vomit. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that as the dog returns to its vomit and re-eats it, so he would like to have swallowed his pleading word after they left his mount. The woman replies that as the dog vomits surplus food and re-eats it in time of need, so must she preserve her honor and keep for herself the good she has. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 20v] beasts/beast181.htm "Le chien qui garde le tresor son signeur" - The dog guards its master's treasure. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 20r] beasts/beast181.htm Dogs are useful to humans in several ways, including helping in the hunt. This pack is chasing a stag, a rabbit, and an unidentified blue beast. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 112v] beasts/beast181.htm King Garametes, captured by his enemies, is rescued by his dogs. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 12r] beasts/beast181.htm A dog refuses to leave the side of its dead master. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 12v] beasts/beast181.htm A resting dog. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 12r] beasts/beast181.htm King Garamantes has been captured by his enemies. The king's dogs have not yet arrived to rescue him. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 8v] beasts/beast181.htm An illustration of the story of King Garamedes, captured by his enemies and rescued by his dogs. The dogs seem not to have arrived yet. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 81v] beasts/beast181.htm Various kinds of dogs. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 81v] beasts/beast181.htm This image illustrates two natures of the dog: on the right, a dog stays with his wounded master; on the left, a dog attacks a man to show he is the guilty one. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 81v] beasts/beast181.htm Four handsome dogs in formation. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 81r] beasts/beast181.htm King Garamantes, captured by his enemies, will be rescued by his dogs. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 27r] beasts/beast181.htm Six dogs entering and swimming accross a river. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 27r] beasts/beast181.htm At the top, a dog attacks the man who killed his master, thus pointing out the guilty. At the bottom, the faithful dog refuses to leave the body of its dead master. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 28r] beasts/beast181.htm A man waves a sword at a rabid dog. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 12r] beasts/beast181.htm A man prepares to defend himself from a rabid dog. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 38r] beasts/beast181.htm The mad dog has bitten the man at the right, who is being treated by a doctor. The hen at the top is a diagnostic indicator; if its appetite is good, it is an omen of recovery. This is similar to the story of the caladrius. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 14v] beasts/beast181.htm A dog sees its master killed; the dog refuses to leave its master's body; the dog identifies the killer. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 22r] beasts/beast181.htm Three elegant dogs stand ready. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 25r] beasts/beast181.htm King Garamantes is kidnapped by enemies; the king's dogs find him and attack the kidnappers; the king leads his dogs home. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 21v] beasts/beast181.htm A dog eating his vomit. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: The author says he can do the same and swallow his words a hundred times. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 89r] beasts/beast181.htm Two scenes from the story of King Garamantes: The king is captured by his enemies; the king's dogs find him and attack the enemies. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 25v] beasts/beast181.htm In the first panel, a dog sees his master killed. In the second panel the faithful dog refuses to leave its master's body. In the third panel the dog identifies its master killer in a crowd. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 26r] beasts/beast181.htm A dog waits patiently at his master's feet. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, Folio 131r] beasts/beast181.htm This series of illustrations seems to be a confusion of several dog attributes. A dog appears to attack a man who tries to drive him off with a club; the man dies and is buried; the dog brings food (?) to the grave. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 23r] beasts/beast181.htm A fierce dolphin eating a small fish. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 60v] beasts/beast284.htm A man in a boat plays a musical instrument while dolphins, attracted to the music, swim below. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 42v] beasts/beast284.htm A dolphin depicted as a large fish. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 104v] beasts/beast284.htm A plain gray dove. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 43v] beasts/beast253.htm Doves flying into a dovecote. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 117v] beasts/beast253.htm Doves flying out of a dovecote. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 118r] beasts/beast253.htm A white dove walking. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 60v] beasts/beast253.htm Doves shelter in a peridexion tree. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 9v] beasts/beast253.htm Doves in a peridexion tree, safe from a menacing dragon. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 9v] beasts/beast253.htm A generic dove. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 27v] beasts/beast253.htm A multi-colored dove in a red circle. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 135v] beasts/beast253.htm An ordinary white dove. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 34v] beasts/beast253.htm Two of the many colors of the dove. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 81v] beasts/beast253.htm Two doves biting at foliage. Misericord (number 30); Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, England; third quarter of 13th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 6] beasts/beast253.htm A pink dove. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 96r] beasts/beast253.htm Three doves. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 96v] beasts/beast253.htm Two doves, rubbing beaks. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 153r] beasts/beast253.htm Doves, billing and cooing. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 253v] beasts/beast253.htm A pair of doves. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 96r] beasts/beast253.htm Three images of the dove, brown, black and white. The colors have mystical significance. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 3] beasts/beast253.htm Two doves in a dovecote. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 80r] beasts/beast253.htm A multi-colored dove sits at the center of a circular diagram, where its mystical significance is explained. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 2] beasts/beast253.htm The three scriptural doves: the black dove of Noah (Gen. 8:6-12); the multi-coloured dove of David (Ps.67); the white dove which hovered above Christ at the moment of baptism (Matt.3:16). [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 5r] beasts/beast253.htm A dragon, unable to catch the doves in the peridexion tree because the tree and its shadow are harmful to dragons. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 49r] beasts/beast262.htm A two-legged dragon with feathered wings. It has a long tail, in which its strength lies. This dragon is similar to the one found on folio 3v in this manuscript. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 50r] beasts/beast262.htm Dragon fighting with a centaur. Stone carving, Westminster Abbey, London, c. 1250. [] beasts/beast262.htm A large dragon with two pairs of wings, breathing fire. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 59r] beasts/beast262.htm A man with an axe attacks a very small dragon and a very large scorpion. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 14v] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon attacks an elephant by wrapping around it. [St John's College (Oxford) Library, MS. 61, Folio 61r] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon attacks its enemy the elephant by wrapping it in its coils. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 93r] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon attacking an elephant, trying to kill it with its coils. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 58v] beasts/beast262.htm A large dragon attacks a small elephant. The elephant has an odd trunk and cloven hooves. [British Library, Sloane MS 278, Folio 57r] beasts/beast262.htm A green dragon coils around. [Yale Center for British Art, HHB, Folio 17v] beasts/beast262.htm A fierce green dragon. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 39r] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon with horns and enormous feet. This image is probably a copy of that in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4, Folio 94v] beasts/beast262.htm A colorful dragon flying over the sea. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 104r] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon with a horn and very large feet. This image was probably the original for the copy in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23, Folio 47v] beasts/beast262.htm A red-winged dragon looking fierce. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 124r] beasts/beast262.htm A man with sword attacks a dragon. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 40r] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon fights with a lion, while two other dragons watch. This combination is unusual, though the meaning is clear: the lion is Christ, the dragon is Satan, and the lion is winning the fight. Misericord; Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle, England; early 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 62] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon with four legs and bat wings. Misericord; Cartmel Priory, Cartmel, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 59] beasts/beast262.htm A fire breathing dragon battles its enemy the elephant. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 114v] beasts/beast262.htm This dragon appears on the same page as a peridexion tree, though there are no doves and the dragon seems uninterested. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 30v] beasts/beast262.htm A colorful fire-breathing dragon of the two legged kind. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 7v] beasts/beast262.htm From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The dragon never bites anyone but licks them with its tongue, poisoning everything his tongue touches. So do many false-speaking people, who lightly pass on to others what they have heard from one". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 104v] beasts/beast262.htm This dragon flying over water is a reference to the elephant protecting itself from the dragon by giving birth in water. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "[The author] advises that he who will protect himself from evil must try and guard against all kinds of evil and falsehood, for those who protest their truthfulness most strongly, are often least to be believed, and many are lost believing such assurances" [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 105r] beasts/beast262.htm A dragon with an oddly coiled tail breathes fire. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 22v] beasts/beast262.htm A dromedary, drawn more like a horse, with cloven hooves. The parchment has been repaired and part of the image is missing. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 25r] beasts/beast209.htm A man rides a dromedary. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 48r] beasts/beast209.htm A dromedary, looking more like an ass or horse. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 21v] beasts/beast209.htm The dromedary is a kind of camel, but smaller and swifter than the usual kind. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 48r] beasts/beast209.htm The dromedary is a kind of camel, but smaller and swifter than the usual kind. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 16r] beasts/beast209.htm The dromedary is a kind of camel, but smaller and swifter than the usual kind. It can travel a hundred Roman miles or more in a single day. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83v] beasts/beast209.htm The dromedary is a kind of camel, but smaller and swifter than the usual kind. It can travel a hundred Roman miles or more in a single day. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 43r] beasts/beast209.htm A naked man holding a wand rides a dromedary. What this is intended to represent is unknown. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 26v] beasts/beast209.htm An ordinary duck. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 46v] beasts/beast259.htm A duck with proper webbed feet. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 36v] beasts/beast259.htm A pair of ducks, probably intended to be male and female. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 76v] beasts/beast259.htm A duck with webbed feet. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 29r] beasts/beast259.htm Ducks swimming and diving. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 157v] beasts/beast259.htm A happy blue duck. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 57v] beasts/beast259.htm Ducks feeding in the water. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 86v] beasts/beast259.htm An eagle in an aristocratic pose. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 9v] beasts/beast232.htm Eagle bringing fish to three young, who stare into the sun. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 8r] beasts/beast232.htm A stern eagle, rampant, with a keen eye. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 31v] beasts/beast232.htm When the eagle is old and its wings are heavy and its eyes dim, it seeks a clear fount of water (as here), and soars straight above it, so high that it burns its wings and eyes in the sun, and then drops into the water and bathes three times, and its youth is renewed. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 92v] beasts/beast232.htm The eagle tests its young by exposing their eyes to the rays of the sun; any that look away are rejected. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 93r] beasts/beast232.htm A white eagle looks toward the sun. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 243v] beasts/beast232.htm Bird with wings spread, beak like a parrot, with "aquila" written above. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 10v] beasts/beast232.htm An upright, haughty eagle. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 38v] beasts/beast232.htm This image combines two attributes of the eagle in one picture. A cheerful sun (with ears and hair!) has already burned away the eagle's old feathers, and the eagle is diving toward the water. It is also breaking off its too-long beak on the cliff. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 22] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle with long, hooked beak, looking backward. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 159v] beasts/beast232.htm The eagle flies toward the sun to burn off the scales from its eyes and its old feather, thus restoring its youth. The circle at the bottom is probably the pool it will dive into. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Lyon, MS P.A. 78, Folio 37v] beasts/beast232.htm An elegant green eagle with raised wings. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 139r] beasts/beast232.htm A sharp-eyed eagle looking for prey. [British Library, Sloane MS 278, Folio 41r] beasts/beast232.htm A fierce eagle. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 37r] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle flies up to the region of the sun to burn off its old feathers and the scales from its eyes, then dives into a pool to renew itself. At the left the eagle catches a fish. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 38r] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle, labeled "aquila". [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23, Folio 74r] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle staring upwards, presumably at the sun. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 74r] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle standing on a hill. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 26v] beasts/beast232.htm An elegant eagle. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 134r] beasts/beast232.htm Eagle looking skyward. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 8] beasts/beast232.htm This is a composite image showing the attributes of the eagle. On the left it is shown catching fish, while on the right it is flying up to the sun to burn off its old feathers (while also staring into the sun), then diving down into a pool to renew its youth. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 35v] beasts/beast232.htm "L'aygle qui aguise son bec pour miex menger" - The eagle sharpens its beak so that it can eat better. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that the eagle's beak stands for the pride that stands in the way of love, and by shattering it one unlocks the fortress of the tongue and so can grant favor. The woman replies that pride is good when it guards what should be guarded. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 29v] beasts/beast232.htm "L'aygle qui se laisse cheoir en l'aygue pour renouveler ses plumes" - The eagle renews its feathers by diving into water. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 12r] beasts/beast232.htm "L'aygle qui souslieve l'air ses faons o les ongles" - The eagle carries its young in its talons. The eagle makes its young look into the sun; those who cannot do so it rejects. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 26v] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle, having renewed itself in water, looks up at the sun. [Burgerbibliothek Bern, Codex Bongarsianus 318, Folio 74r] beasts/beast232.htm An unremarkable eagle. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 20r] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle with a large hooked beak. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 108v] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 150r] beasts/beast232.htm The eyes of the eagle are so strong that it can stare into the sun without harm. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 85v] beasts/beast232.htm From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "When the old eagle's beak grows long so that he cannot eat, he dashes the tip of it against the hardest stone he can find. The eagle's beak signifies pride which is against love". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 104r] beasts/beast232.htm An eagle with spread wings. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 143v] beasts/beast232.htm Eagles have eyes that are so strong that they can stare at the sun without harm. When they get old they fly up to the sun to burn off old feathers, then dive into a pool, like the bird in the middle. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 48r] beasts/beast232.htm When an eagle is old, its eyesight dims and its feathers and wings become heavy. To rejuvinate itself, the eagle flies up to the region of the sun, which burns away the mist over its eyes and burns off its old feathers. The eagle then plunges three times into water, and its youth is restored. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 57v] beasts/beast232.htm The eys of the eagle are so strong that it can stare at the sun without harm. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 20v] beasts/beast232.htm An urchin, drawn as an unremarkable fish. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 64v] beasts/beast422.htm The echeneis slows down a ship by clinging to its hull. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 114v] beasts/beast422.htm A elephant with a chain through its trunk carries a castle full of soldiers on its back. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 15v] beasts/beast77.htm Male and female elephants in the water, baby just born, being menaced by a dragon. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 6v] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant with a tower or "castle" on its back, carrying soldiers. The elephant has four tusks and cloven hooves. The writing at the left of the elephant is later scribbling, and has no relation to the image. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 6v] beasts/beast77.htm The elephant give birth while up to its belly in water, to protect itself from its enemey, the dragon. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 118v] beasts/beast77.htm Persian and Indian soldiers build wooden towers on the back of elephants and fight from there. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 119r] beasts/beast77.htm A dragon menaces a herd of elephants. The female elephant is standing in water to give birth so the dragon cannot get her child. The humanoid figure at the bottom is a mandrake, which the elephants need to be able to mate. [British Library, Sloane MS 278, Folio 48v] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant is attacked from below by its enemy the dragon. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 35v] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant, the first seen in England; the animal was a present from King Louis IX of France to King Henry III. The illustrator most likely saw this elephant himself. [British Library, Cotton Nero D. i, Folio 169v] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant with a "castle" full of soldiers on its back. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 39r] beasts/beast77.htm The elephants here are standing near water (where the female will give birth), just visible in the lower right corner. The female is offering a mandrake plant to the male; he is reaching for it. The plant does not have the humanoid appearance often attributed to the mandrake. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 13] beasts/beast77.htm In India, soldiers fight from a castle mounted on the back of an elephant. The tusks of the elephant come out of its trunk rather than its mouth. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 12r] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant with what appears to be a hairy back. The tusks correctly come out of the mouth. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 88r] beasts/beast77.htm Knights attack two elephants. From the Romance of Alexander. [British Library, Royal MS 15 E. vi, Folio 16v] beasts/beast77.htm This elephant has generally the right features, but it is oddly proportioned. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 54r] beasts/beast77.htm This elephant has been carved with great accuracy, suggesting that the carving was done sometime after 1255, when the first elephant arrived in England, a gift from the French King Louis IX to King Henry III. Misericord (number 44); Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, England; third quarter of 13th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 28] beasts/beast77.htm A stretched elephant bends under the weight of the castle on its back. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 5v] beasts/beast77.htm Natives of India present four elephants to Alexander the Great. [British Library, Royal MS 20 B. xx, Folio 82v] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant, with a castle on its back, tramples a dragon. [Trinity College Library, O.2.14, Folio 60r] beasts/beast77.htm On the left, two elephants, one perhaps eating the mandrake plant; on the right, Adam and Eve are warned not to eat the forbidden fruit, depicting the symbolism of the elephant. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 14969, Folio 59r] beasts/beast77.htm A heraldic elephant, from the heraldic treatise of Sir William Comings, Marchemont Herald of Scotland and Lyon King of Arms, dated 1494. [British Library, Harley MS 6149] beasts/beast77.htm A heraldic elephant, on a brass to John Onley (1512 CE) in Withington Church, England. [] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant with a castle full of soldiers. The elephant does not usually have a helmet, as shown here. [Arnamagnaanske Institut, AM 673a 4o] beasts/beast77.htm A small elephant carries a stone castle on its back, from which soldiers threaten knights on horseback. The small size of the elephant relative to the horses is probably because of lack of space on the page. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant carries an enormous castle on its back, braced with timbers and held on by an elaborate mesh of straps. [Westminster Abbey Library, MS 22] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant carries a stone castle, complete with a tower. [Corpus Christi College (Cambridge) Library, MS 53] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant and castle on a carved wooden poppy-head in South Lopham Church, Norfolk. The trunk is very strange, and there are no tusks. [] beasts/beast77.htm A heraldic elephant and castle on a roof boss at Canterbury Cathedral Cloister, 14th century. The heraldic shield shows the arms of Jerusalem. [] beasts/beast77.htm Elephant and castle on a misericord at Beverley Minster. The elephant appears to be driven by an ape or a man. [] beasts/beast77.htm Wood carving of an elephant and castle (or howdah) on a poppy-head at Willian Church, Herts. [] beasts/beast77.htm A strange, crouching elephant with castle on a bench end at Christchurch Priory, Hants. Many of the animal carvings there have this general form. [] beasts/beast77.htm A carved wooden elephant with a very tall and elaborate castle on a poppy-head in Ripon Cathedral Church. The elephant has its trunk wrapped around a man. [] beasts/beast77.htm A very fine elephant and castle on a misercord in St. Mary's Church, Beverley. [] beasts/beast77.htm A carved wooden elephant and castle on a bench divider in Chester Cathedral Church. The trunk and tusks have broken off. [] beasts/beast77.htm A carved wooden elephant and castle on a misericord at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The carving is about 130 cm across. [] beasts/beast77.htm A carved wooden elephant on a poppy-head decoration at Denston, Suffolk. The elephant is shown sitting, as are the other carved animals at this location, and has an odd duck-bill trunk. [] beasts/beast77.htm Carved stone elephants on a column capital at Aulnay-de-Saintonge, France (12th century). [] beasts/beast77.htm "L'olifant qui trebuche pour l'arbre qui est sy" - The elephant leans on a tree when it sleeps. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that as the elephant gives birth in water to hide the child from the dragon, so if the woman wants her love to be hidden she should not delay her lover excessively or he will, dragon-like, do something rash. The woman replies that she wishes all women would guard themselves as the elphant does against the "dragon" of despairing men. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 19r] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant from a herbal. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 81v] beasts/beast77.htm Male and female elephants, ready to mate, find some mandrake, which the female requires. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 163v] beasts/beast77.htm Male and female elephants, the female just having given birth in the water where she and her young are safe from the dragon threatening them on the shore. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 163v] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant with a large trunk and small ears. [Universiteitsbibliotheek Leiden, BPL 1283, Folio 57r] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant, the first seen in England; the animal was a present from King Louis IX of France to King Henry III. The illustrator most likely saw this elephant himself. [British Library, Cotton Julius D. VII, Folio 114r] beasts/beast77.htm The elephant gives birth in the water, to protect its child from its enemy the dragon. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 13v] beasts/beast77.htm In the upper register, soldiers fight from a castle on the elephant's back. In the lower register, the elephant has fallen, and lacking joints in its legs, cannot get up. Large elephants try to lift it, but fail; a small elephant succeeds. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 11v] beasts/beast77.htm Soldiers fight from a castle on an elephant's back. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 8r] beasts/beast77.htm Persian and Indian soldiers build wooden towers on the back of elephants and fight from there. Here, as is common, the artist has put a stone castle on the elephant's back. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 115r] beasts/beast77.htm The female dragon gives birth in water, while the male stands guard on the shore, the prevent attack by a dragon. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 114v] beasts/beast77.htm A elephant with stone castle on its back. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 255r] beasts/beast77.htm This version of the elephant has its trunk emerging from its forehead. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119r] beasts/beast77.htm A mother elephant standing in water in water shields her new-born child from a dragon. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 4v] beasts/beast77.htm This elephant is being attacked by its enemy the dragon, which is suffocating it. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 78r] beasts/beast77.htm The female elephant gives birth in the water to be safe from the dragon, which watches malevolently from shore. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 10r] beasts/beast77.htm In the east, soldiers fight from castles on the backs of elephants. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 77r] beasts/beast77.htm From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The only animal the elephant fears is the dragon; when the female is about to five birth she wades into the Euphrates (or a lake) because the burning nature of the dragon means it cannot bear water. The water signifies caution, because like a mirror it shows danger from every direction and from far away". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 105r] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant carries a castle full of soldiers on its back, attached with starps and wooden scaffolding. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 23r] beasts/beast77.htm An elephant with extravagant ears has a large castle starepped to its back. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 19v] beasts/beast77.htm Soldiers ride on an elephant. The one in front has a rope leading to the elephant's trunk, and wields a flail. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 11v] beasts/beast77.htm Elephant and castle, with the soldiers in the castle appearing to be inside the elephant, and another soldier lashing about with a flail. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 87v] beasts/beast77.htm A well drawn falcon. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 85r] beasts/beast5110.htm The geographer and map-maker Ptolemy holding a falcon. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 85v] beasts/beast5110.htm A falcon. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 151r] beasts/beast5110.htm A gyrfalcon. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 157r] beasts/beast5110.htm The man and woman hold the fire stones. As long as the stones are separate, there is no fire, but when brought together they ignite. The image shows the moralization: men and women kept separate are safe from sin, but when they are brought together, lust ignites. [St John's College (Cambridge) Library, A.15, Folio 103v] beasts/beast536.htm Called in the text "male and female stone", this image show the fire stone as the usual man and woman burning with lust. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 242r] beasts/beast536.htm Fire stones burst into flames when brought close together, which is an allegory for lust between man and woman. Here the artist has made that meaning explicit. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 112v] beasts/beast536.htm When fire stones are brought too close together, they burst into flames. This symbolizes the lust that will burn whan a man and a woman are too close together. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 33v] beasts/beast536.htm The fire stones, which burst into flame if brought too close together, are here represented as a naked man and woman burning with lust. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 141v] beasts/beast536.htm When two fire stones are brought close together, they burst into flame. Here the stones are represented as a man and woman, who have gotten too close and are burning with lust. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 3v] beasts/beast536.htm Fire stones burn when brought close together, which represents the lust that results from men and women being together. In the top panel, the naked woman and man look at each other in some consternation, each holding a fruit, perhaps to signify the unfortunate incident in the Garden of Eden. In the lower panel, they have succumbed to lust, and the stones have burst into flame. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 103v] beasts/beast536.htm A fish of indeterminate type. This illustration preceeds the introduction to fish in the manuscript, so is probably intended to represent fish in general. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 59r] beasts/beast411.htm A variety of sea creatures including a seahorse, eels, and several hybrids. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 68r] beasts/beast411.htm A salmon leaps out of the water. [British Library, Royal MS 13 B. viii, Folio 23r] beasts/beast411.htm A variety of fish, swimming onto the manuscript page. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 39r] beasts/beast411.htm A happy fox. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 50v] beasts/beast179.htm Fox pretending to be dead to lure two birds. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7v] beasts/beast179.htm A fox, escaping with a farmyard goose. This illustration may be based on the Reynard the Fox stories. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 16r] beasts/beast179.htm The fox luring birds to within its reach by pretending to be dead. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 99v] beasts/beast179.htm The fox, having lured birds to it, catches and eats one of them. The bird looks like a rooster. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 100r] beasts/beast179.htm The fox plays dead to lure birds to their doom. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 7v] beasts/beast179.htm A deceitful fox pretending to be dead, to lure birds into its reach. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 47r] beasts/beast179.htm The fox has lured several birds within reach; some of them are already pecking at his body. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 78] beasts/beast179.htm The fox plays dead to lure birds to where it can catch them. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 246v] beasts/beast179.htm In a reversal of the usual scene, a fox is carried off by geese. This is probably Reynard the Fox, condemned by the king, being carried to the gallows. [British Library, Royal MS 10 E. iv, Folio 49r] beasts/beast179.htm A fox pretends to be dead to deceive two birds into coming close enough to catch. [British Library, Sloane MS 278, Folio 53r] beasts/beast179.htm A fox carries off a stolen goose. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 31r] beasts/beast179.htm A fox in costume as a monk preaches to barnyard fowl. This is probably a satirical commentary on preaching monks abusing their congregations. [British Library, Stowe MS 17, Folio 84r] beasts/beast179.htm A running fox, with a long, bushy tail. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 85r] beasts/beast179.htm Two scenes from the story of Reynard the Fox. At the left, Reynard dressed as a bishop preaches to a flock of geese; at the right, Reynard has stolen a goose. [British Library, Royal MS 10 E. iv, Folio 49v] beasts/beast179.htm A running fox with a properly bushy tail. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 72v] beasts/beast179.htm A fox playing dead to lure birds within its reach has caught one. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 13v] beasts/beast179.htm On the left is the traditional image of the Wheel of Fortune. At the right, foxes, one in monk's robes and another as a king, mock the the people with a Wheel of Fortune of their own. Marginal illustration. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 78 D 40, Folio 33r] beasts/beast179.htm The fox plays dead to lure birds within reach; at the right the fox has caught one of the birds. Misericord; Chester Cathedral, Chester, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 37] beasts/beast179.htm The fox has stolen a goose and is running off with it slung over his back, while the goose's owner gives chase. At the right, the fox enjoys his stolen goose; on the left, two foxes conspire. Misericord; Beverly Minster, Beverley, East Yorkshire, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 37] beasts/beast179.htm A fox has a goose by the neck, as another goose watches. Misericord; Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle, England; early 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 37] beasts/beast179.htm A scene from the tales of Reynard the Fox. Reynard, condemned to hang by King Noble, is on the gallows; the geese pull on the rope. In the left supporter, we see Reynard's crime as he attacks two geese; in the right supporter Bruin the bear removes the noose from Reynard's neck. Misericord; Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 75] beasts/beast179.htm A scene from the tales of Reynard the Fox. Reynard has finally been brought to trial for his crimes. King Noble and the Queen (lions, at right) have condemned Reynard (below them) to hang. The bear, the wolf, the goose and the cat (left to right at center) and the squirrel (top) all help to prepare the gallows. Misericord; Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 74] beasts/beast179.htm A scene from the tales of Reynard the Fox. Reynard has tricked Tybert the cat, telling him that there are mice in the priest's barn, knowing that the priest has placed a trap. The cat goes through the hole the fox shows him, and is caught. The priest (who is naked), his wife, and his servant run out and beat the cat, who retaliates by leaping "between the priest's legs and with claws and teeth fastened on him and mauled him grievously." Reynard in the background laughs at the chaos he has caused. Misericord; Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 72] beasts/beast179.htm A scene from the tales of Reynard the Fox. Reynard has tricked his sometimes friend Bruin the bear into putting his head into a split log, by telling him he will find honey there. Reynard then pulls out the wedge keeping the split open, and Bruin is trapped. Alerted by the noise the bear makes, people come and beat Bruin mercilessly, while Reynard laughs in the background. Misericord; Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 71] beasts/beast179.htm In the upper register the fox pretends to be dead, to lure birds; in the lower register the fox has caught one of the unwary birds. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 26v] beasts/beast179.htm The fox plays dead to lure birds within its reach. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 110r] beasts/beast179.htm A fox plays dead to lure birds within reach. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 10v] beasts/beast179.htm In this two part image, the fox first plays dead to lure birds within reach, then catches the birds. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 80r] beasts/beast179.htm The fox plays dead to lure birds to within reach of its jaws. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 11v] beasts/beast179.htm A fox plays dead to lure birds to their doom. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 23r] beasts/beast179.htm A fox plays dead to lure four birds to within its reach. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 149r] beasts/beast179.htm A fox runs off with a cock, while a woman carrying a distaff gestures angrily. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, Folio 71v] beasts/beast179.htm This image shows two phases of the fox's hunting strategy. It rolls in red mud to simulate blood, and lies on its back pretending to be dead; when birds land on or near, it catches and eats them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 26r] beasts/beast179.htm A fox plays dead to lure birds to their doom, while other foxes watch from their burrows. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 23r] beasts/beast179.htm This image shows frogs both on the land and in the water. The land frogs have the sun shining on them; the water frogs are in the rain. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 93] beasts/beast537.htm A frog with teeth. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 134v] beasts/beast537.htm A giraffe, called here "Camelus pardalis", a variation on "Camelopardalis" or "camel-leopard". The artist clearly had no idea what the beast looked like, so he drew a camel with an unusual head and neck. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 50v] beasts/beast4722.htm A goat with jagged horns. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 50v] beasts/beast163.htm A goat flees from a gesturing man. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 3v] beasts/beast163.htm This image is intended to be the wild goat (Caprea), though it looks more like a deer. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 13r] beasts/beast163.htm A goat eating a vine. The background may be intended to suggest a mountainside. The text says that the goat greatly loves to eat in high places, and mounts up on the rocks. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 19v] beasts/beast163.htm Goats like to live and graze on high mountains. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 105r] beasts/beast163.htm Goats like to eat in high places. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 31v] beasts/beast163.htm Goats can see over great distances whether approaching men are harmless travellers or hunters; these two are fleeing a hunter. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 104v] beasts/beast163.htm A bearded brown goat. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 55r] beasts/beast163.htm A long-necked goat called "aries". [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 34v] beasts/beast163.htm A goat on a hillside, another eating a tree or vine. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 46v] beasts/beast163.htm The goat like to live on high mountains. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 248v] beasts/beast163.htm A wild goat (caper). [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 13v] beasts/beast163.htm A goat eating on a hill. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 11r] beasts/beast163.htm A wooly goat with a beard. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 51r] beasts/beast163.htm Goats nibble on the leaves of a stylized tree. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 14r] beasts/beast163.htm A yellow goat with horns and a beard. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 120r] beasts/beast163.htm The wild goat loves to live and feed in high places. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 8v] beasts/beast163.htm The wild goat (caprea) likes to live on high mountains. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 111v] beasts/beast163.htm Goats also like pastures in valleys. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 79r] beasts/beast163.htm The wild goat likes to live and feed on high hills. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 79r] beasts/beast163.htm Goats like to live and feed on high mountains. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 153r] beasts/beast163.htm Goats like to live and feed on high mountains. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 17v] beasts/beast163.htm Goats like to live and feed on high mountains. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 18r] beasts/beast163.htm Goats like to live and feed on hight mountais. Here the prophet Amos watches them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 165r] beasts/beast163.htm The prophet Amos tends three long horned goats. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 68r] beasts/beast163.htm Wild goats like to live and feed on high mountains. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 20v] beasts/beast163.htm Two wild goats intertwine their horns. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 20v] beasts/beast163.htm A goat eats leave from a tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 74v] beasts/beast163.htm A grey goose, looking pensive. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 60v] beasts/beast538.htm A goose with webbed feet and an orange beak. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 155r] beasts/beast538.htm A grey goose. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 38v] beasts/beast538.htm A long-necked goose with a large orange beak. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 76r] beasts/beast538.htm A goose standing in the water. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 106v] beasts/beast538.htm Four brightly colored geese. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 65v] beasts/beast538.htm Geese yell at a fox who has killed one of their number. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 83v] beasts/beast538.htm A goose with webbed feet. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast538.htm A nicely drawn griffin, though the front feet are paws rather than the more usual bird claws. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 26v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin has caught an unfortunate pig. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 15v] beasts/beast151.htm A proud, strutting griffin. [Bibliotheque de la Faculte de Medecine, H. 437, Folio 227r] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin, rampant. The front part is an eagle, the back part a lion. The text says the griffin has four feet, but the artist has given it eagle's claws. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 8r] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin illustrated in tiles, in the 12th century La Cattedrale di Bitonto. [] beasts/beast151.htm A knight attacks a griffin, which has killed his horse. [British Library, Additional MS 24686, Folio 18r] beasts/beast151.htm An elegant griffin holds a hooved animal, probably an ox or cow. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 7v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin rampant, in heraldic style. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 48v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin rampant, in heraldic style. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 160v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin has captured a man. This image was probably the original for the copy in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23, Folio 46r] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin has captured a man. This image is probably a copy of that in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4, Folio 91r] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin in a standard heraldic pose. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 87r] beasts/beast151.htm A magnificent griffin attacks a generic beast. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 5r] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin with horns. Misericord; Cartmel Priory, Cartmel, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 60] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin with large ears. Misericord; Limerick Cathedral (St. Marys), Limerick, Ireland; late 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 61] beasts/beast151.htm Misericord at Norwich Cathedral of a man, attired in tight-fitting 'cote', attacking a griffin which has seized a sheep. ["Animals in English wood carvings", Figure 25] beasts/beast151.htm A golden griffin, with bird claws on its front legs and lion claws on its back legs, showing a distinct separation between its eagle and lion parts. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 156v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin rampant. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 4r] beasts/beast151.htm A golden griffon, rampant and roaring. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 136, Folio 21v] beasts/beast151.htm The griffin, a powerful hunter, has caught a sheep. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 77r] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin gently holds a boar, which looks at his captor with considerable dismay. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 36v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin, with wings appearing to grow from its front claws, snacks on a man's head. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 19r] beasts/beast151.htm As a griffin attacks a horse, the horse fights back; the griffin looks surprised. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 11v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffin in a heraldic pose. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 11v] beasts/beast151.htm A griffon with an enormous beak prepares to eat a horrified man. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 87r] beasts/beast151.htm A hare eats a herb. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 49v] beasts/beast4725.htm A running hare, with long, sharp claws. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 84r] beasts/beast4725.htm Four golden hares are arranged in a decorative pattern that shares their ears. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 26v] beasts/beast4725.htm A timid hare serves as a manuscript line ending. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, Folio 35r] beasts/beast4725.htm A harpy, a fierce bird with a human face. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 75r] beasts/beast5107.htm An oddly-drawn hawk. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 3r] beasts/beast249.htm An un-hawk-like hawk. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 26r] beasts/beast249.htm A brown hawk, showing determination and courage. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 42r] beasts/beast249.htm A sparrowhawk (right) facing a dove (left) [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 135r] beasts/beast249.htm A small green hawk, perhaps the sparrowhawk. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 141r] beasts/beast249.htm A standing hawk. The French handwriting at the bottom of the page calls this "La huppe" (hoopoe), though the text calls it accipiter. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 39v] beasts/beast249.htm A man on horseback holds and feeds a hawk. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 159r] beasts/beast249.htm A hawk with another bird held in its claws. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 76v] beasts/beast249.htm A fine picture of a hawk. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 33v] beasts/beast249.htm A hawk tears at a piece of meat. Marginal illustration. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, Folio 38r] beasts/beast249.htm A blue hawk preparing to fly. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 98r] beasts/beast249.htm A male hawk. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 151v] beasts/beast249.htm An oddly drawn hawk, looking more like a goose. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 53v] beasts/beast249.htm A hawk at the center of a cross. The hawk is sometimes used as a figure of Christ. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 3] beasts/beast249.htm A woman holds a hawk (sparrowhawk) while gesturing to the child and other adult, who hold drums. Perhaps they are supposed to beat the drums to scare the ducks into the air where the hawk can attack them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 76v] beasts/beast249.htm A hawk at the center of a cross, surrounded by text. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 7v] beasts/beast249.htm A goat with long back-swept horns and somewhat human face. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 23r] beasts/beast196.htm A bearded goat with long horns. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 35r] beasts/beast196.htm A he-goat, obviously male, with a beard. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 20r] beasts/beast196.htm An obviously male, lustful he-goat, with blood hot enough to disolve diamond. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 15r] beasts/beast196.htm A proud and lusty he-goat. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 8r] beasts/beast196.htm The he-goat is so lustful a beast that the heat it his blood dissolves diamond. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83r] beasts/beast196.htm The blood of the he-goat is so hot it can melt diamond. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 40v] beasts/beast196.htm The he-goat is a lascivious beast, known for its lusty nature. This nature makes the he-goat so hot that its blood can disolve diamond. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 36v] beasts/beast196.htm The hedgehog gathers grapes on its spines so it can carry them home to its children. [J. Paul Getty Museum, MS. Ludwig XV 3, Folio 79v] beasts/beast217.htm Indistinct spiny beast, probably a hedgehog, in a tree/vine, another (?) on the ground. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7v] beasts/beast217.htm A hedgehog with spines on its back. Unusually, the beast is not carrying grapes on its spines. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 29v] beasts/beast217.htm A hedgehog using its spines to fend off attacking dogs. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 98r] beasts/beast217.htm A hedgehog with grapes (or possibly apples) stuck to its spines; it will carry the fruit to its young. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 97v] beasts/beast217.htm A hedgehog on a vine, with its spines covered with grapes. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 45v] beasts/beast217.htm A spiny hedgehog, lacking the usual grapes or apples impaled on its spines. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 57r] beasts/beast217.htm A prickly hedgehog. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 25r] beasts/beast217.htm A spiny hedgehog. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast217.htm Hedgehogs gather fruit on their spines so they can carry it home. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 31v] beasts/beast217.htm The hedgehog rolls on apples or grapes to make the fruit stick to its spines, so it can carry the food back to its young. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 85r] beasts/beast217.htm A hedgehog gathers apples on its spiny back. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 245v] beasts/beast217.htm This hedgehog has loaded fruit - grapes or apples - on its spines so it can carry the food back to its family. Note the curly tail; the artist seems to have taken the "hog" part of the name literally. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 18v] beasts/beast217.htm A hedgehog gathers grapes on its spines to take back to its children. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 147v] beasts/beast217.htm The hedgehog rolls on grapes to gather them on its spines, so it can carry them home. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 10v] beasts/beast217.htm The hedgehog picks up fruit on its spines, so it can bring food to its family. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "So it is protected by being armed on all sides, just like some people who cannot be approached from any side" [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 98v] beasts/beast217.htm Hedgehogs climb grape vines while others roll on the fallen grapes to stick them to their spines, so they can carry the food home to their families. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 52v] beasts/beast217.htm Hedgehogs gather apples on their spines so they can carry the fruit home. This is one of two variations; in the other, hedgehogs gather grapes in the same way. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 30r] beasts/beast217.htm A hawk-like hercinia. The image is not colored, perhaps to suggest that the feathers are glowing brightly. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 39r] beasts/beast539.htm A hercinia bird, its brightly glowing feathers here represented with gold. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 31v] beasts/beast539.htm The hercinia, a bird found in the Hercynian forest in Germany, has feathers that glow so brightly they can be used as beacons. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 24v] beasts/beast539.htm The hercinia is a bird that is born in the Hercynian forest in Germany, from which it takes its name. It serves as a beacon for travellers because its feathers glow so brightly in the dark that they light up the path. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 52v] beasts/beast539.htm The hercinea is said to be a bird from the forests of Germany, whose feathers glow so brightly they let travellers see their way at night. This bird's feathers seem to have lost their shine. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 72r] beasts/beast539.htm The hercinia is a bird that is born in the Hercynian forest in Germany, from which it takes its name. It serves as a beacon for travellers because its feathers glow so brightly in the dark that they light up the path. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 17v] beasts/beast539.htm A heron walking. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 7r] beasts/beast540.htm Three superimposed herons eating an eel, perhaps showing the bird's feeding habits. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 41r] beasts/beast540.htm A long-necked blue heron. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 155v] beasts/beast540.htm An well drawn heron. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 75v] beasts/beast540.htm This blue bird is the heron, though it looks nothing like one. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 106v] beasts/beast540.htm Herons are either grey or white, and get their food from the water. The heron at the left appears to be pulling a worm from its tail; this is not mentioned in the text. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 64v] beasts/beast540.htm A long necked heron escapes its frame. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast540.htm The hoopoe is a bird with a crest on its head. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 8v] beasts/beast243.htm An adult hoopoe being rejuvinated by having its feathers groomed by three young birds, its children. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 39r] beasts/beast243.htm The hoopoe, its health renewed by the care of its young, flys with its new feathers. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 95r] beasts/beast243.htm When the hoopoe gets old, its young care for it, plucking out the old feathers. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 94v] beasts/beast243.htm A crested hoopoe with two crested young. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 10r] beasts/beast243.htm Hoopoe children care for their parents when they get old. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 244r] beasts/beast243.htm A hoopoe with a crest on its head, as noted by Pliny. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 157v] beasts/beast243.htm A hoopoe, with a crest as described by Pliny and Isidore. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 36v] beasts/beast243.htm The young of the hoopoe, in gratitude for the care they received, care for their parent in its old age, grooming it by removing old feathers. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 32r] beasts/beast243.htm A hoopoe, not showing any of its legendary attributes. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 101v] beasts/beast243.htm The hoopoe is a bird with a crested head. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 28v] beasts/beast243.htm The young of the hoopoe care for their parents in their old age, in gratitude for the care their parents gave them. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 24v] beasts/beast243.htm "Ly hupelot qui nourrissent leur mere quant ele est vielle" - The hoopoe cares for its mother when she is old. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that as the hoopoe give as much care for their parents as their parent gave them, so the love between him and the woman would be equal. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 28v] beasts/beast243.htm The hoopoe, shown with its usual crested head. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 107v] beasts/beast243.htm The hoopoe, a crested bird. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 160v] beasts/beast243.htm Hoopoes care for the parents when they are old. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "When the parent birds are old, the young birds preen their feathers for them and keep them warm and feed them. So will [the author] always care for his lady if she will warm and nourish him". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 103v] beasts/beast243.htm The hoopoe is said to be a filthy bird that collects human dung and builds its nest with it, and eats bad-smelling excrement. It also likes to live around tombs. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 63v] beasts/beast243.htm When their parents are old, the hoopoe children care for them, bringing food and cleaning feathers. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 145r] beasts/beast243.htm The hoopoe is said to be a filthy bird that collects human dung and builds its nest with it, and eats bad-smelling excrement. It also likes to live around tombs. It is further said that if the blood of the hoopoe is rubbed on a sleeping man, devils will try to strangle him. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 85r] beasts/beast243.htm When the hoopoe get old and their eyes grow dim, their children come to care for them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 17v] beasts/beast243.htm When the hoopoe get old and their eyes grow dim, their children come to care for them. The children pull out the old feathers and lick the mist off their parents' eyes, rejuvinating the old birds. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 72r] beasts/beast243.htm A hoopoe with a crest. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 8] beasts/beast243.htm A fierce horse, definitely a stallion. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 26v] beasts/beast212.htm A very elegant and proud horse. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 54r] beasts/beast212.htm A horse, harnessed and saddled for riding. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 90v] beasts/beast212.htm A crudely-drawn horse. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 18r] beasts/beast212.htm A fierce horse showing its teeth. Some horses can recognize an enemy in battle and attack by biting. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 55v] beasts/beast212.htm A horse running on a hillside. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 22v] beasts/beast212.htm A spotted blue horse. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast212.htm A horse runs in the forest. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 84r] beasts/beast212.htm Four elegant horses, one having fallen. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 27r] beasts/beast212.htm Two very fine horses. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 17r] beasts/beast212.htm A proud and elegant horse. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 44r] beasts/beast212.htm A spirited and finely-drawn horse. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 32v] beasts/beast212.htm Four spirited horses, one of which has fallen. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 46r] beasts/beast212.htm The hydros is a water snake that causes those bitten to swell up, the cure for which is the dung of an ox. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94r] beasts/beast1933.htm A hydrus being swallowed by a crocodile, and eating its way out. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 4r] beasts/beast272.htm A crocodile swallowing a hydrus which is emerging from the crocodile's side, thus killing it. This image appears in the manuscript under the crocodile entry. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 61v] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus, swallowed by a crocodile, eats its way out through the crocodile's side, from which blood flows. The crocodile's head is oddly twisted around. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 21r] beasts/beast272.htm This image is an example of the confusion surrounding the name hydrus. The text says it is a snake called ydrus that lives in the Nile, and that its bite is cured by ox dung ("Est animal in Nilo flumine quod dicitur Ydrus in aqua vivens... quod fimo bovis remedietur"). Living in the Nile is correct for the hydrus, but the use of ox dung as a cure belongs to another water snake, the hydros. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 54r] beasts/beast272.htm The text calls this beast idra and says it is the enemy of the crocodile ("Hic Ydrus satis inimicus cocodrillo est...). However, confusing the hydrus with the hydra of the Hercules legend, it also says it has multiple heads ("Idra draco multorum capitum qualis fuit in Lerna insula..."). [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 54r] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus, enemy of the crocodile, has entered the crocodile's mouth and is emerging (with three heads) from its side. Drawing the hydrus with three heads indicates a confusion with the hydra of the Hercules legend, which was said by some to be a many-headed water snake. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 104r] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus, having entered the mouth of a very odd crocodile, eats its way out of the beast's side. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 12v] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus, called here a water snake, swims away from a man in a boat. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 62r] beasts/beast272.htm The hydrus, having entered through the crocodile's mouth, eats its way out the crocodile's side, killing the beast. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 42r] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus, shown as an unusual mix of mammal and snake. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 118v] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus has crawled into the open mouth of a strange winged crocodile, and is emerging from the crocodile's side. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 110v] beasts/beast272.htm The hydra, a multi-headed beast of classical mythology, was often confused with the hydrus, a serpent that attacks crocodiles. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 33r] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus swimming, probably looking for a crocodile to invade. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 33r] beasts/beast272.htm A very large and elaborate hydrus crawls into the mouth of a crocodile, and weaves its way in and out of the crocodile's side before exiting. The crocodile's head is upside down because it is said to be able to move its upper jaw, something the artist apperantly thought impossible with the head the right way up. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 152v] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus has crawled into a crocodile's mouth and is eating its way out. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 15v] beasts/beast272.htm From the Bestiaire d'Amour: The hydrus so hates the crocodile that when it sees one asleep it rolls itself in mud and slips down the crocodile's throat. The crocodile wakes, swallows the hydrus and is killed by it. The hydrus with its many heads is the man with as many loves as he has other acquaintances". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 99v] beasts/beast272.htm The hydrus crawls into the open mouth of the crocodile, then eats its way out the crocodile's side. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 83v] beasts/beast272.htm A hydrus, here confused with the hydra of Greek legend. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "If one head is cut off, two more will grow in its place. Also the hydrus so hates the crocodile that when it sees one asleep it rolls itself in mud and slips down the crocodile's throat. The crocodile wakes, swallows the hydrus and is killed by it. The hydrus with its many heads is the man with as many loves as he has other acquaintances". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 99r] beasts/beast272.htm A spotted hyena. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 5v] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena eating a corpse in a tomb. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 9r] beasts/beast153.htm The hyena mimics the human voice outside a house and, when the owner opens the door, springs upon him. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 103v] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena eating a corpse found in a tomb. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 103r] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena approaching what may be a gate to a graveyard. The beast has something in its mouth; it may be a bone (a human spine?), or it may be intended to suggest the fortune telling stone the hyena is said to have. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 34r] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena has broken open a tomb and is eating the corpse inside. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 11v] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena drags a woman's corpse from a tomb. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 10r] beasts/beast153.htm A snarling hyena. The human corpse that usually is shown with this beast is missing. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 59v] beasts/beast153.htm At the top, a hyena being hunted. At the bottom, a hyena pulls a corpse from a grave so it can eat it. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 7v] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena eats a human corps. Misericord; Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle, England; early 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 43] beasts/beast153.htm A most peculiar two-legged hyena. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119r] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena has eaten a human corpse, saving the head for last. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 247v] beasts/beast153.htm This pink, horned, bull-like creature is supposed to be a hyena, about to eat a human corpse. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 111r] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena pulls a human corpse from a tomb for a meal. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 6r] beasts/beast153.htm The hyena likes to visit graveyards, where it pulls human corpses from tombs and eats them. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 78r] beasts/beast153.htm Hyenas live near tombs and eat the dead bodies they find there. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 14v] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena wearing a spotted collar and belt vomits elegantly; neither attribute is found in the usual tales of this beast. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 151v] beasts/beast153.htm The hyena is sometimes male, sometimes female, and haunts tombs, where it eats corpses. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 17v] beasts/beast153.htm The hyena likes to stay near graveyards and eat the corpses it digs up there. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 15r] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena eats a human corpse in a tomb. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 13v] beasts/beast153.htm A hyena eats a human corpse in a tomb. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 9v] beasts/beast153.htm An ibex jumping from a mountain. It can land on its very strong horns and be unharmed. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 9r] beasts/beast154.htm An ibex, demonstrating that its horns are so strong it can use them to break its fall if it jumps off a cliff. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 59r] beasts/beast154.htm An ibex, chased by a dog, leaps head first off a hill, knowing its strong horns will break its fall. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 7r] beasts/beast154.htm An ibex, attacked by hunters, jumps off a mountain to escape, and lands safely on its strong horns. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 10r] beasts/beast154.htm A carved image of an ibex (or goat) on a Norman stone baptismal font in a church at Thames Ditton, a village south west of London. See Druce for a discussion of this object. ["The Symbolism of the Goat on the Norman Font at Thames Ditton"] beasts/beast154.htm An ibex falls from a mountain and lands safely on its strong horns. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 6r] beasts/beast154.htm The horns of the ibex are so strong that if it jumps from a mountain it can land on its horns and be unharmed by the fall. This one has jumped with great enthusiasm. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 112r] beasts/beast154.htm The ibex has horns so strong that if it falls off a mountain and lands on its horns, it will be unhurt. Its horns may not save it from the lion that is about to pounce. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 77v] beasts/beast154.htm The horns of the ibex are so strong that it can leap head first off a mountain, land on its horns, and be unharmed. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 33r] beasts/beast154.htm The horns of the ibex are so strong that when persued by hunters it can fling itself headfirst off a hill, land on its horns, and be unhurt. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 14v] beasts/beast154.htm The horns of the ibex are so strong that when it falls it can land on them and be unhurt. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 9v] beasts/beast154.htm An ibis picking up dead fish on the shore. It cannot reach the fish in the water because it cannot swim. Another ibis is feeding its young in the nest. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 35r] beasts/beast342.htm The ibis is the dirtiest of birds because it feeds on corpses. It cannot get to the clean fish in deep water because it does not know how to swim, and makes no effort to learn. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 99r] beasts/beast342.htm The ibis dwells on the shores of lakes or the sea. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 98v] beasts/beast342.htm A tall bird with long neck, identified as the ibis, but looking more like an ostrich. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 10r] beasts/beast342.htm The ibis is a dirty bird the feeds of corpses (here, apparently, a fox that played dead once too often) and fish. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 246r] beasts/beast342.htm An ibis with beak open, perhaps calling? [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 90v] beasts/beast342.htm An ibis feeds it chicks in a nest perched in an absurdly small tree. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 29v] beasts/beast342.htm According to the manuscript rubric and text next to this image, this is the ibis, and is possibly a reference to the habit of the ibis of purging itself. However, the pose is exactly the one usually shown by the pelican reviving her chicks with her blood, and streamers of blood can be faintly seen falling on the chicks, so perhaps the artist was confused. The manuscript has a similar image for the pelican on folio 25r. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 22v] beasts/beast342.htm The ibis stays near the edge of the water, looking for dead fish or other carion to eat. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 109r] beasts/beast342.htm The ibis is the dirtiest of birds because it feeds on corpses. Snakes flee from the ibis, which also feeds on snake eggs. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 64r] beasts/beast342.htm The ibis stays near the edge of the water, looking for dead fish or other carion to eat. It is the dirtiest of birds because it feeds on corpses. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 148r] beasts/beast342.htm The ibis stays near the edge of the water, looking for dead fish or other carion to eat. It is the dirtiest of birds because it feeds on corpses. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 66r] beasts/beast342.htm A jaculus with the head of a bird, suggesting that it is a snake that can fly. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 54v] beasts/beast273.htm The jaculus is a flying snake that hides in trees; when an animal walks beneath, the jaculus drops down on it. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 124v] beasts/beast273.htm The jaculus, a snake that can fly. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 42v] beasts/beast273.htm The jaculus is a flying serpent that hides in trees to ambush prey that walks beneath. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 33v] beasts/beast273.htm The jaculus is a serpent that can fly. It hides in a tree until an animal (or a man) passes underneath, and then it throws itself down on the animal and kills it. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94v] beasts/beast273.htm The jaculus is a serpent that can fly. It hides in a tree until an animal passes underneath, and then it throws itself down on the animal and kills it. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 86r] beasts/beast273.htm A multi-colored jay with a crest on its head. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 154v] beasts/beast543.htm The jay, a noisy bird. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 90r] beasts/beast543.htm This badly damaged picture illustrates the jay. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 106r] beasts/beast543.htm A hunter shoots an arrow into a jay in a tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 64v] beasts/beast543.htm The jay or jackdaw is a noisy bird. It lives in forests and flies from tree to tree, singing noisily. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 68r] beasts/beast543.htm A peculiar spikey jay. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast543.htm A kingfisher with webbed feet, shown near the water. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 36v] beasts/beast240.htm Two kingfishers looking at the fish in the water. Bottom margin illustration. [British Library, Royal MS 13 B. viii, Folio 11r] beasts/beast240.htm A kingfisher, called "alcion", not showing any of its usual characteristics. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 30v] beasts/beast240.htm The sea grows calm when the kingfisher (halcyon) builds its nest. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 77r] beasts/beast240.htm The manuscript rubric and text for this image describes the alcyon (kingfisher), though it looks more like a duck. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 22v] beasts/beast240.htm The kingfisher or halcyon, with oddly long beak. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 51v] beasts/beast240.htm At mid-winter, when the sea storms are strongest, the kingfisher lays its eggs in the sand on the shore. For seven days the kingfisher hatches the eggs, and for an additional seven days it nourishes them. During those fourteen days the sea remains calm, unnaturally for the season. Sailors know that during this time they will not be threatened by storms, and call this the "halcyon days" after the Latin name of the kingfisher, halcyon. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 69v] beasts/beast240.htm A hawkish kite. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 6r] beasts/beast544.htm A kite with a sharp hooked beak. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 152r] beasts/beast544.htm The kite is not able to catch woodland birds, so it lies in wait for domestic birds and young birds, one of which it has caught here. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 93v] beasts/beast544.htm A kite with a sharp, hooked beak. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 158r] beasts/beast544.htm The kite is a rapacious bird that feeds on carrion. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 104v] beasts/beast544.htm The kite is extremely rapacious, always flying near where meat is prepared. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 6] beasts/beast544.htm The kite is extremely rapacious. It is not able to catch woodland birds, so it lies in wait for domestic birds and young birds. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 88v] beasts/beast544.htm A small, wooly sheep, representing the lamb. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 23r] beasts/beast195.htm A lamb with its mother. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 19v] beasts/beast195.htm Lambs, a pair. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 14v] beasts/beast195.htm Two lambs. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83r] beasts/beast195.htm A leopard, looking more like a lion. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 23r] beasts/beast547.htm A spotless leopard. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 61r] beasts/beast547.htm The leopard is the offspring of a lion and a pard. It is a fast beast, shown here chasing a stag, as a camel and another beast look on. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 7r] beasts/beast547.htm A grinning leopard, the illicit offspring of a lion and a pard. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 2v] beasts/beast547.htm The leopard is the result of an illicit mating of a lion (leo) and a pard. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 75r] beasts/beast547.htm A leopard, a cross between a lion (leo) and a pard. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 35v] beasts/beast547.htm The leopard is the illicit offspring of a lion (leo) and a pard. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 6v] beasts/beast547.htm The leucrota has an extremely wide mouth, that stretches from one ear to the other. It does not have individual teeth, but only a single bone where teeth should be. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 7r] beasts/beast160.htm The mouth of this leucrota stretches from ear to ear, but the artist has given it individual teeth instead of the single bone it is said to have instead of teeth. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 14v] beasts/beast160.htm This leucrota does not show its distinguishing features: a mouth that stretches from ear to ear and a solid bone instead of teeth. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 12v] beasts/beast160.htm This leucrota is not showing his ear-to-ear teeth. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 9v] beasts/beast160.htm The leucrota has a mouth that stretches from ear to ear. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 79v] beasts/beast160.htm The leucrota, a beast from India with a mouth that stretches from ear to ear. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 47v] beasts/beast160.htm Three attributes of the lion: the lion likes to be on high hills; the lion has one less cub each year; the lion licks (or breathes) life into his cubs. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 10v] beasts/beast78.htm Three attributes of the lion: lion eating an ape to cure illness; lion sparing a prostrate man; lion afraid of a cock. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 10r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion roars over its cubs, to bring then to life. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 1r] beasts/beast78.htm A fearful lion faces a creaky-wheeled cart and a cock. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 2v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion turning away in fear from a white cock and the creaking wheels of a cart. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 10r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion hunts other beasts. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 1v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion spares a sick or injured man lying on a bed. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 2r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion faces man with club or staff. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 2v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion attacks what appears to be a giraffe, but is probably intended as something else. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 1v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion, on seeing hunter, erases its tracks with its tail. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 2r] beasts/beast78.htm Two lions with a living cub. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 3r] beasts/beast78.htm Two lions on top of a hill. Between them is their cub, which was born dead; the lions are roaring to bring the cub to life. [J. Paul Getty Museum, MS. Ludwig XV 3, Folio 68r] beasts/beast78.htm Three lions. The lion on its back may be a dead cub, with the lion at the left being its father breathing or roaring life into it. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 14r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion subduing an odd beast - perhaps partly eaten? [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 7r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion attacking a beast, which may be an ass; the text says that the lion when hungry devours the ass, which resists and brays. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 5r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion, tail between legs, facing a man with an ax and a club. The lion may be erasing its tracks with its tail, or may be, as the text says, trembling when it first sees a man. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 13v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion sleeping with its eyes open. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 1v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion breathing or roaring life into its two cubs. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 1v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion being hunted by a man on horseback. The lion may be erasing his tracks with his tail. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 8r] beasts/beast78.htm A hunting lion drawing a circle with its tail, and driving other animals into the circle. The animals do not dare to cross the circle and so become the lion's prey. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 6v] beasts/beast78.htm The lion and lioness lick their three cubs to bring them to life. [Rossiiskaia Natsionalnaia Biblioteka, Q.v.V. 1, Folio 9r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion threatening a man. The lion is slow to anger, becoming so only if it is hurt. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 87r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion breathing life into its cub, which was born dead. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 86v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion sleeping with its eyes open. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 86r] beasts/beast78.htm The lion erasing its track with its tail, to elude the pursuing hunter. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 85v] beasts/beast78.htm The lion and lioness lick their three cubs to bring them to life. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 8r] beasts/beast78.htm The male and female lions both have somewhat human heads; this is not uncommon in lion images. The lion cub is dead, as indicated by the way it is lying on its back, but is reviving as both its father and mother breathe on it. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 5] beasts/beast78.htm The lion is shown in the mountains; with a snarl he looks back toward a pursuer, his tail extended to wipe out his tracks. To the left a cave can be seen, the lion's den. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 1] beasts/beast78.htm A lion wearing a crown to indicate it is the king of the beasts. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 1r] beasts/beast78.htm Two lions lick their cubs to bring them to life. More commonly the lion roars over the dead cub. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 6r] beasts/beast78.htm A curly maned lion with enormous claws and a tail ending in a leaf shape. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 87r] beasts/beast78.htm Lions licking cubs, probably bringing them to life. [British Library, Additional MS 70000, Folio 39v] beasts/beast78.htm A male lion. This manuscript also has a separate illustration of a female lion. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 59v] beasts/beast78.htm A female lion. This manuscript also has a separate illustration of a male lion. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 59v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion with a saintly smile. The small beast in front of the lion appears to be some sort of pig. This image is probably a copy of that in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4, Folio 85v] beasts/beast78.htm A smiling lion. The small beast in front of the lion appears to be some sort of pig. This image was probably the original for the copy in manuscript Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 128 C 4. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 72 A 23, Folio 44r] beasts/beast78.htm A fierce male lion. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 60r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion fights with a dragon. Misericord; Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 23] beasts/beast78.htm A well carved lion. Misericord (number 36); Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, England; third quarter of 13th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 23] beasts/beast78.htm A lion, head turned backward, with a cub on either side. Misericord; Ripon Cathedral, Yorkshire, England; late 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 23] beasts/beast78.htm A proud lion. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast78.htm Lion erasing his tracks with his tail. [Burgerbibliothek Bern, Codex Bongarsianus 318, Folio 7v] beasts/beast78.htm "le lyon qui fait revivre ses lyonciaus" - The lion revives its dead cubs. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that in the same way the woman can revive him from his love-death. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 18r] beasts/beast78.htm The lion sleeps with its eyes open. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 1r] beasts/beast78.htm The lion erases its tracks with its tail so hunters cannot follow. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 1r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion and lioness from a herbal. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 80v] beasts/beast78.htm "le lyon qui dort et s'a les iex ouvers" - The lion sleeps with its eyes open. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 32r] beasts/beast78.htm "le lyon qui cuevre la trace de ses pies o sa queue" - The lion erases its tracks with its tail. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that a wise man does likewise, so that when he must do something which might cause others to blame him, he ensures the act will never be known. The woman replies that it would be better to right the wrong before it is discovered. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 17r] beasts/beast78.htm The lion is the king of the beasts. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 118v] beasts/beast78.htm Two lions lick and breathe on a cub, while the two very sad lions in front ignore the whole thing. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 139v] beasts/beast78.htm The lion sleeps with his eyes open. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 4r] beasts/beast78.htm In the upper register, the lion spares the lives of former captives. In the lower register, the lion shows his fear of the cock. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 5v] beasts/beast78.htm A man forces open the jaws of a lion. This probably illustrates the biblical story of David defending his flocks. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 241r] beasts/beast78.htm A sad lion. The odd spikey shape above its back does not appear to be its tail, though what it is meant to be is not clear. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 109v] beasts/beast78.htm A lion takes a heraldic pose. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 1r] beasts/beast78.htm A fierce lion. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 75r] beasts/beast78.htm Lions roar over their dead cub to revive it. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 241v] beasts/beast78.htm The three natures of the lion: When hunted, it erases its tracks with its tail; the cubs are born dead and after three days the father roars over them to bring them to life; they always sleep with their eyes open. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 1v] beasts/beast78.htm A stylized lion, rampant. [Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen, Cod. Sang. 217, Folio 28] beasts/beast78.htm A lion looks at a hooded man. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "If the lion sees the man first, the man loses his voice - if the man sees the lion first, the lion loses his strength and courage. This is like the difference between the love of man and woman". The text here is incorrect, giving the story of the wolf instead of the lion. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 88r] beasts/beast78.htm Three attributes of the lion: A sick lion cures itself by eating an ape; it will not attack a prostrate man and allows captive men to depart; it is afraid of the sight of the white cock. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 2r] beasts/beast78.htm A lion eats a sheep, looking away from the man. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "If the lion looks at him, it is afraid and ashamed of being afraid. It looks away, and the man can pass quite close as neither look at each other. So with love, which passes first through the eyes". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 90v] beasts/beast78.htm The lion's cubs are born dead; after three days the father comes and roars over them, and brings them to life. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: The author asks his love to recall him to life [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 96v] beasts/beast78.htm The lion sleeps with its eyes open. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 5v] beasts/beast78.htm When persued, the lion earses its tracks with its tail. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "If the lion cannot defend himself and has to flee, he rubs out his tracks with his tail. So with man; if he does something culpable, he should do it so as not to be found out". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 95v] beasts/beast78.htm When hunted, the lion erases its tracks with its tail. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 5r] beasts/beast78.htm The lion is the king of beasts. Lion cubs are born dead, and come to life when their father roars over them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 6r] beasts/beast78.htm Three attributes of the lion: When a lion is sick it eats an ape and is made well; lions will spare a prostrate man; lions are afraid of the white cock. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 6v] beasts/beast78.htm The lion is the king of the beasts. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 16r] beasts/beast78.htm When a lion sees that it is being hunted, it erases its tracks with its tail. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 82v] beasts/beast78.htm In a story not usually included in the bestiary, Androclus removes a thorn from the paw of a lion; later, when Androclus is condemned to death by lion by the Romans, the lion recognizes him and licks his wounds. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 83v] beasts/beast78.htm This saura has not entered a crack in a wall, but is perhaps looking to the east at the rising sun. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 56r] beasts/beast277.htm The lizard called lacertus, apparently hanging from a ceiling. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 56r] beasts/beast277.htm A small green lizard called "lacertus", clinging to the ceiling. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 43r] beasts/beast277.htm A kind of lizard called "saura". When it goes blind with age, it looks at the rising sun to regain its site. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 43r] beasts/beast277.htm A lizard seen from above. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 125r] beasts/beast277.htm A yellow lizard. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 120r] beasts/beast277.htm When the lizard goes blind, it goes to an opening in a wall that faces east, looks to the rising sun, and receives light. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 115v] beasts/beast277.htm When the lizard goes blind, it goes to an opening in a wall that looks toward the east, looks to the rising sun, and receives light. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 34v] beasts/beast277.htm A two-toned lizard. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 34r] beasts/beast277.htm On the left is a lizard, on the right is the salamander. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94v] beasts/beast277.htm A lizard sheds its skin. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 95r] beasts/beast277.htm When the lizard goes blind, it goes to an opening in a wall that faces east, looks to the rising sun, and receives light. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 84v] beasts/beast277.htm A kind of lizard called anguis. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 22r] beasts/beast277.htm This lizard is called lacertus, and for some reason has a bird beak and ears. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 86v] beasts/beast277.htm This winged lizard is called saura. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 87r] beasts/beast277.htm A lynx urinating to produce a precious stone. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 6r] beasts/beast135.htm A dog-like lynx; note the cloven hooves. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 50v] beasts/beast135.htm A lynx, looking more like a dog. The odd perspective of the tree in the foreground is common in this manuscript. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 5r] beasts/beast135.htm A urinating lynx produces the magical stone Lapis lyncurius. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 4r] beasts/beast135.htm The lynx, whose urine hardens into a precious stone. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 76v] beasts/beast135.htm A blue lynx, running. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 36r] beasts/beast135.htm The lynx's urine hardens into a precious stone called Lapis lyncurius or lynx stone. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 8r] beasts/beast135.htm The magpie is said to hang from branches and chatter annoyingly. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 26r] beasts/beast248.htm A magpie, rampant. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 41v] beasts/beast248.htm An appropriately colored magpie, oddly posed. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 98v] beasts/beast248.htm Two magpies, noisy birds that can form words. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 53v] beasts/beast248.htm Magpies are like poets in that they have a voice which can express words with distinct sounds, like human speech. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 76r] beasts/beast248.htm A hunter tries to shoot noisy magpies in a tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 48v] beasts/beast248.htm The mandrake shrieks when torn from the ground; anyone who hears the plant's cry dies or goes mad. To safely get the roots, men tie a hungry dog to the plant by a cord and a piece of meat placed beyond its reach. To reach the meat the dog will tug at the cord and pull up the plant, while its master remains safely out of hearing. The mandrakes are shown head down with their hair forming the roots, a position also shown in BibliothNationale de France, fr. 14969. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 119v] beasts/beast1098.htm The roots of the mandrake plant are useful in medicine. Here a male and female pair are presented to physicians. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 120r] beasts/beast1098.htm A female mandrake, presumably already torn from the ground. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 67r] beasts/beast1098.htm A mandrake is chained to a dog. When the dog runs away, the mandrake will be pulled out of the ground. [British Library, Harley MS 1585, Folio 57r] beasts/beast1098.htm Male and female mandrakes are shown head-down, with their hair forming the roots, an unusual position. (This position is also shown in an illustration in British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii.) The dog tied to the male plant lunges toward the man, who holds food and stays out of earshot. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 14969, Folio 61v] beasts/beast1098.htm A mandrake stands over and is tied to a white dog, which will pull the plant from the earth. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 45r] beasts/beast1098.htm A mandrake is tied to a dog, which will pull the plant from the earth. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 49r] beasts/beast1098.htm A female mandrake plant. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 57r] beasts/beast1098.htm Male and female mandrakes with their roots still in the ground. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 255v] beasts/beast1098.htm A manticore, with the body of a lion and the face of a man. Its tail is curved over its back like a scorpion's. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 15v] beasts/beast177.htm The manticore has the face of a man. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 7r] beasts/beast177.htm A manticore with a somewhat human face, a lion's body, and a scorpion's tail. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 13r] beasts/beast177.htm A manticore: lion body, human face. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 64r] beasts/beast177.htm A strangely friendly seeming manticore. Misericord; Limerick Cathedral (St. Mary's), Limerick, Ireland; late 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 64] beasts/beast177.htm The manticore, a man's head on a lion's body. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 24v] beasts/beast177.htm This manticore has the usual lion body and human head, but no scorpion tail. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 10r] beasts/beast177.htm This manticore has has an only vaguely human face. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 80r] beasts/beast177.htm An orange manticore grins with nasty teeth. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 38v] beasts/beast177.htm A fierce and fuzzy manticore. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 20v] beasts/beast177.htm A fierce manticore bares its teeth and shows its scorpion tail. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 22v] beasts/beast177.htm The manticore is a composite beast from India, with a blood-colored lion's body, the face of a man with blue eyes, and a tail resembling the sting of a scorpion. It can leap great distances and is very active. It eats human flesh. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 25r] beasts/beast177.htm This manticore, with its scorpion tail, appears to be wearing a crown. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 18v] beasts/beast177.htm A manticore with the face of a man and enormous teeth. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 88v] beasts/beast177.htm A vain mermaid, admiring herself in a mirror. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 60r] beasts/beast283.htm A mermaid with an elegant long blue tail. [British Library, Royal MS 10 E. iv, Folio 47r] beasts/beast283.htm A mermaid with a mirror and a comb, a symbol of pride or luxury. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 70v] beasts/beast283.htm A mermaid, with multiple fins on her fish tail. In her right hand she holds a fish, a traditional Christian symbol for the soul, possibly indicating the soul ensnared throug temptation. Her left hand is broken off, but probably held a mirror, the symbol for pride. Misericord (number 46); Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, England; third quarter of 13th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 7] beasts/beast283.htm A mermaid suckles a lion. The symbolic meaning of this (if any) is unknown. Misericord; Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 11] beasts/beast283.htm A smiling mermaid holds a mirror and a hairbrush (?), a symbol of pride or vanity. Misericord; Ripon Cathedral, Yorkshire, England; late 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 9] beasts/beast283.htm A mermaid, flanked by fearsome fishes or dolphins. In her right hand she holds a mirror; her left hand is broken off, but probably held a comb. These were symbols of pride or vanity. Misericord; St Laurence Church, Ludlow, Shropshire, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 9] beasts/beast283.htm A mermaid with two tails holds a mirror in her left hand and a comb in her right hand. This is a common symbol for pride or vanity. Misericord; Cartmel Priory, Cartmel, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 7] beasts/beast283.htm A mermaid preening and holding a mirror, a symbol for pride or vanity. Misericord; Westminster Abbey, London; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 11] beasts/beast283.htm A merman, dressed as a monk, holds a fish. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 26r] beasts/beast283.htm Winged mermaid and mermen with snake-like tails. [Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Barb. gr. 438, Folio 26r] beasts/beast283.htm A mole with large claws, to allow it to dig in the earth. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 29r] beasts/beast216.htm A reasonably realistic mole. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 25r] beasts/beast216.htm A pair of chubby moles. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 70v] beasts/beast216.htm An entirely black mole. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 18v] beasts/beast216.htm A mole digs in the earth. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 85r] beasts/beast216.htm A fat flat mole, seen from above. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 47r] beasts/beast216.htm A mole comes out of a hole. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The mole is blind, with eyes under his heart, but he makes up for it by his acute hearing. So with all of the senses; if one is defective there is always another which surmounts it. Also the mole lives purely in earth, being one of those animals which live only in one element". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 93r] beasts/beast216.htm The mole lives in constant darkness, and so is blind. It digs in the earth, eating roots and piling up soil. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 51v] beasts/beast216.htm An all black monocerus (not unicorn) looks fierce. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 6v] beasts/beast165.htm A monocerus (looking more like a lion) with a long, sharp horn on its forehead, chases a smaller beast. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 3r] beasts/beast165.htm A monocerus with a very long, curved horn and cloven hooves, drawn much as described in the text. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 13r] beasts/beast165.htm A white monocerus with a very long horn. It is a horse-like variety, with paws instead of hooves. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 15r] beasts/beast165.htm A monocerus, a fierce beast with a long horn, often confused with the unicorn. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 71r] beasts/beast165.htm The monocerus, a fierce beast with a long, spiral horn. This manuscript also has an image for the unicorn. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 11v] beasts/beast165.htm A reclining monocerus, judging by the long horn and absence of a maiden, though it could be a unicorn. Misericord; Beverley Minster, East Yorkshire, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 50] beasts/beast165.htm A monocerus with an enormous horn on a poppy-head at Westwell (Kent). ["Animals in English wood carvings", Figure 14] beasts/beast165.htm An elegant blue monocerus stands looking not so fierce. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 22r] beasts/beast165.htm This is the monocerus, not the unicorn (which also appears in this manuscript). The monocerus is a fierce beast. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 21r] beasts/beast165.htm A monocerus with a massive horn. This manuscript also has an image of the unicorn and maiden. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 8v] beasts/beast165.htm The monocerus is a fierce beast that cannot be caught or tamed. This manuscript also has an illustration of the unicorn. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 79r] beasts/beast165.htm This beast is most likely the monocerus rather than the unicorn, since there is a unicorn image on the previous page. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 108v] beasts/beast165.htm A relatively crude drawing of a monocerus, compared to the other images in this manuscript. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 17r] beasts/beast165.htm A long, fat mouse with a worried expression. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 28v] beasts/beast214.htm Two fuzzy black mice. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 58v] beasts/beast214.htm A ratty mouse. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 38r] beasts/beast214.htm A mouse on a hill. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 24v] beasts/beast214.htm A pair of mice, looking more like rabbits. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 65r] beasts/beast214.htm Two mice nibble at cheese rounds. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 85r] beasts/beast214.htm A mouse nibbles a wafer marked with a cross. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 47r] beasts/beast214.htm A pair of sniffing mice. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 87r] beasts/beast214.htm A mouse steals wafers. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 51r] beasts/beast214.htm A relaxed mouse lying on a tiled floor. [] beasts/beast214.htm A newt (stellio) with spots on its back. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 56v] beasts/beast906.htm The newt (stellio) gets its name from the shining spots like stars (stella) on its back. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 43r] beasts/beast906.htm The newt (stellio) gets its name from the shining spots like stars (stella) on its back. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 34v] beasts/beast906.htm The newt gets its name (stellio) from the shining spots like stars (stella) on its back. It is said to be the enemy of scorpions, and the sight of it paralyses them with fear. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 87r] beasts/beast906.htm Like many birds in this manuscript, this nightingale is drawn as a generic bird. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 26v] beasts/beast546.htm A blue nightingale, rampant, looking much like a hawk. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 42r] beasts/beast546.htm A nightingale, singing. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 34r] beasts/beast546.htm A nightingale on its nest. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 93r] beasts/beast546.htm At dawn the nightingale sings so enthusiatically that it almost dies. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 54r] beasts/beast546.htm A nightingale sits on her nest. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 78v] beasts/beast546.htm A hoofed beast, identified as the onager, walks through trees. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7v] beasts/beast211.htm An onager braying, which it does 12 times to signal the spring equinox. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 26r] beasts/beast211.htm The single male onager (wild ass) in a herd examines a newly born foal, and, if it is a male, castrates it from fear of rivalry. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 105v] beasts/beast211.htm The single male onager (wild ass) in a herd examines a newly born foal, and, if it is a male, castrates it from fear of rivalry. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 106r] beasts/beast211.htm An onager braying, which it does 12 times to signal the spring equinox. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 49v] beasts/beast211.htm The onager, a wild ass, runs through the forest. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 84r] beasts/beast211.htm An onager (wild ass) looking suitably wild. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 90r] beasts/beast211.htm The onager (wild ass) brays 12 times to signal the spring equinox. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 65v] beasts/beast211.htm Two onagers (wild asses) on a hillside. Note the odd perspective of the upper onager; such perspective is common in this manuscript. The black stripe on their backs may represent the black cross found on some donkeys. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 22r] beasts/beast211.htm A wild ass called onager. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 248v] beasts/beast211.htm The wild ass called the onager. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 16v] beasts/beast211.htm A strange blue onager, the wild ass. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119r] beasts/beast211.htm On March 25 the onager brays twelve times to signal the spring equinox; he brays both in the night and the day, and the number of brays marks the hour. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 111r] beasts/beast211.htm A green onager brays, something they do twelve times to signal the spring equinox. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 19r] beasts/beast211.htm The wild ass called onager, walking toward a tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 153r] beasts/beast211.htm The onager (wild ass). Unusually the name is inscribed on the gold leaf, perhaps to distinguish it from the similar illustration of the domestic ass on the same page. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 32r] beasts/beast211.htm An onocentaur (half man, half ass) with a bow looks at a siren. These two are often illustrated together. [J. Paul Getty Museum, MS. Ludwig XV 3, Folio 78r] beasts/beast550.htm An onocentaur with an ax tucked into his fancy belt. The significance of the beast's gesture is unknown. The hat it is wearing resembles a Phrygian cap. The onocentaur is described on folio 32v of this manuscript, but the illustration appear on folio 29r. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 29r] beasts/beast550.htm An onocentaur: half human, half ass. This one appears to have only one eye. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 66r] beasts/beast550.htm This odd creature is an onocentaur, a hybrid of the wild ass (onager) and a man; it is shown with hands where the front legs normally would be. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119r] beasts/beast550.htm The onocentaur is half man and half onager, the wild ass. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 110r] beasts/beast550.htm The onocentaur is a monstrous cross between an onager and a man. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 147r] beasts/beast550.htm Two onocentaurs (half man, half onager) have torn a man in half; two other men attack them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 10r] beasts/beast550.htm Ospreys hover over water and dive in whan they see fish. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 59v] beasts/beast9024.htm This beast is identified as an ostrich; clearly the artist had no idea what it should look like. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 5v] beasts/beast238.htm An ostrich with cloven hooves, placing its egg on the sand. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 35v] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich's stomach is so strong, it can eat anything, even iron horseshoes and nails. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 114r] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich (with the usual feet of a camel) lays its eggs on the ground, and makes an attempt to fly, though it cannot. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 113v] beasts/beast238.htm A strange ostrich, with a body more like a dragon than a bird. It has the required camel's feet, and is carelessly laying its eggs on the sand. It does this when it sees the star Virgilia (the Pleiades) rising; the star can be seen in the upper right. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 34v] beasts/beast238.htm A wonderful though oddly-drawn ostrich, not showing any of its usual attributes (hooved feet, etc.). [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 148r] beasts/beast238.htm An ostrich, unusually white but with the usual cloven hooves, piles up eggs instead of burying them in the sand. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 30r] beasts/beast238.htm The cloven-hoofed ostrich eats an iron horseshoe while ignoring its egg behind it, which is being warmed by the sun. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 23r] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich abandons its egg in the sand, and relies on the sun to hatch it. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "So a tiny bit of happiness will sustain [the author] like the sun even if he is abandoned. But no nourishment is as good as that of one's own mother. If his lady will nourish him with her love, he will be as loyal as the peacock, the stork and the hoopoe are to their parents". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 103r] beasts/beast238.htm A dual view of the ostrich, showing three of its characteristics: it has feet like a camel; it lays its eggs when it sees the star Virgilia (the Pleiades) rising; and it carelessly leaves its eggs in the open, letting the sun hatch them. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 42v] beasts/beast238.htm "L'otrusce qui ne couve ses oes fors du soleil seulement" - The ostrich does not care for her eggs but leaves them for the sun to hatch. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that he is the egg that is hatched by nobody, and might be lost without the joys of the heart. The woman replies that if she were to put her trust in him as the ostrich does with the sun, he would treat her badly. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 28r] beasts/beast238.htm The rubric says it's an ostrich; clearly the illustrator did not know what it was supposed to look like since it has none of the usual attributes. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 252r] beasts/beast238.htm An ostrich carrying an iron horseshoe. Ostriches were said to be able to eat anything, even iron. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 159v] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich can digest anything, even an iron horseshoe. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 103r] beasts/beast238.htm An ostrich leaves its egg to be hatched by the warmth of the sun. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 14970, Folio 21v] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich has hooved feet. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 159r] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich has feet like the hooves of a camel, and lays its eggs when it sees the star Virgilia (the Pleiades) rising. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 8v] beasts/beast238.htm An ostrich with hooves looks to the star Virgilia (the Pleiades), lays its eggs when it sees the star rising, and leaves them buried in the sand for the sun to hatch. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 25r] beasts/beast238.htm In this two part image, the ostrich sees the star Virgilia (the Pleiades) rising (top), so it knows it is time to lay its eggs, but then (bottom) it carelessly buries the eggs and leaves them for the sun to hatch. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 34r] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich is a bird with hooves and ears. It looks up to see if the star Virgilia (the Pleiades) is rising so it knows when to lay its eggs. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 5] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrichhas feet like a camel's. It lays its eggs when it sees the star Virgilia (the Pleiades) rising. It is careless of its eggs; it lays them on the ground and covers them with sand, then leaves them to hatch on their own, warmed by the summer sun. Here the sun stands in for the star Virgilia. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 67r] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich can eat anything, even iron. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 14r] beasts/beast238.htm The ostrich lays its eggs when it sees the star Virgilia (the Pleiades) rising. It is careless of its eggs; it lays them on the ground and covers them with sand. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 46v] beasts/beast238.htm A common owl. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 40r] beasts/beast245.htm An owl with a hooked beak. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 2v] beasts/beast245.htm An owl being mobbed by other birds. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 128v] beasts/beast245.htm An owl being mobbed and driven away by other birds. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 129r] beasts/beast245.htm An un-owl-like bird, identified as the nicticorax or night owl. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 10v] beasts/beast245.htm A long-beaked owl spreads its wings. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 21v] beasts/beast245.htm An owl being harrassed by other birds. The owl has the usual hook-nose humanesque face, meant to represent the Jews, who were said to be like the owl in living in darkness. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 47r] beasts/beast245.htm The owl is perched in the shade. The prominent hooked beak of the owl was compared to the hooked nose of the Jews, a feature which was often grossly exaggerated in medieval manuscript illustrations; the Jews were said to have rejected Christ because they prefer darkness to light. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 83] beasts/beast245.htm A very strange owl, with the usual hooked beak, as well as very unusual cloven hooves. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Lyon, MS P.A. 78, Folio 37r] beasts/beast245.htm The owl called the bubo. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 154r] beasts/beast245.htm An owl (the nicticorax) with the beak of a hawk. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 145r] beasts/beast245.htm Two owls: Noctua, the night owl, and Bubo, the eagle owl. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 46v] beasts/beast245.htm An owl called "bubo" in its usual pose. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 78r] beasts/beast245.htm The kind of owl called "noctua". [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 32v] beasts/beast245.htm The kind of owl called "nocticorax" (night raven). [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 96r] beasts/beast245.htm An owl surrounded by either small birds (which mob owls) or mice (which owls feed on). Misericord; Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 47] beasts/beast245.htm An owl being mobbed by other birds. Misericord; Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, England; late 14th century. [English Church Woodwork: a Study in Craftsmanship During the Medieval Perio..., page 190] beasts/beast245.htm The rubric says this is "ulula", owl, though the bird shown is not much like an owl. It is possibly a misplaced illustration. [British Library, Additional MS 8785, Folio 54v] beasts/beast245.htm An owl. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 158r] beasts/beast245.htm The kind of owl called nicticorax, the night raven. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 101r] beasts/beast245.htm A white owl. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 160v] beasts/beast245.htm A hook-nosed owl. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 153r] beasts/beast245.htm This is the kind of owl called bubo. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 105v] beasts/beast245.htm The owl called noctua, the night-owl, that lives in the walls of ruined houses and shuns the light. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 25r] beasts/beast245.htm An owl with an almost human face, possibly to suggest that the owl symbolizes the Jew. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 243r] beasts/beast245.htm Four owls pose on rocks, one holding the corpse of a rodent. The white owl peeking past the brown one may be that one's young. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 64r] beasts/beast245.htm The owl called nicticorax, the night-raven. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 143v] beasts/beast245.htm The kind of owl called nictocorax, the night-raven. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 62r] beasts/beast245.htm A strange looking owl. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 18r] beasts/beast245.htm These un-owl-like birds are screech owls (ulula), so called for their mourning and lamentation. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 84v] beasts/beast245.htm The kind of owl called bubo. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast245.htm The kind of owl called the night raven. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 5] beasts/beast245.htm An owl of the kind called bubo (screech owl) is mobbed by smaller birds, including a magpie. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 73v] beasts/beast245.htm Two night-owls (noctua), one clutching a small animal in its claws. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 73r] beasts/beast245.htm The kind of owl called nicticorax, the night-owl. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 12r] beasts/beast245.htm A large red ox. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 24r] beasts/beast199.htm A happy ox with elegant horns. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 10r] beasts/beast199.htm Four oxen pull a plow while two men guide them. [British Library, Cotton Tiberius B. v, Folio 3r] beasts/beast199.htm An ox, looking almost identical to the bull in this manuscript. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 20v] beasts/beast199.htm A happy ox, bursting out of his frame. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 47r] beasts/beast199.htm An ox wants to be with its usual partner when pulling a plow, and they will roar if separated. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 15v] beasts/beast199.htm A palm tree with three large leaves. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 98v] beasts/beast8483.htm A palm tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 10r] beasts/beast8483.htm The panther's sweet breath attracts all other beasts. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 250r] beasts/beast79.htm A panther breathes on other adoring beasts, while a dragon recoils in fear. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 3r] beasts/beast79.htm A panther breathing out a sweet odor, which has attracted other beasts. The dragon fears the panther and cannot stand the odor, so it is fleeing. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 17v] beasts/beast79.htm A multi-colored panther, risen from its three-day sleep, roaring and breathing out a sweet odor. Below the panther a dragon is trying to hide in a hole. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 3v] beasts/beast79.htm The panther, sleeping for three days after a feast. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 108v] beasts/beast79.htm The panther, after its three day sleep, breathes out a sweet scent that attracts the other beasts. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 109r] beasts/beast79.htm A panther attracting beasts with its breath. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 37r] beasts/beast79.htm The multi-colored panther attracts other beasts with its sweet breath. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 76r] beasts/beast79.htm A multi-colored panther attracts other beasts with its sweet breath. The dragon should not be there, since it is supposedly repelled by the panther. The odd perspective of the tree in the foreground is common in this manuscript. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 3r] beasts/beast79.htm This panther's multi-colored coat matches the normal description, but its head is very unusual. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 67r] beasts/beast79.htm "Les bestes qui sieuvet la pantiere pour la doussour de s'alainne et le serpent qui s'enfuit" - The beasts follow the panther because of the sweetness of its breath, but the serpent (dragon) is afraid. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that he has been captured by the senses of hearing, sight and smell, but if he had experienced the other two - taste by kissing and touch by embracing - he would die. The woman replies that she fears the panther, because to be drawn to the man would wound her. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 14v] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts other beasts with its sweet breath. The serpent (or dragon) looks on in fear. [Burgerbibliothek Bern, Codex Bongarsianus 318, Folio 76r] beasts/beast79.htm An odd, orange, prancing panther. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 118v] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts other beasts with its sweet breath, including a unicorn, bear and stag. [Bodleian Library, MS. Canon. Ital. 38, Folio 60v] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts all beasts with its sweet breath, except the dragon, which tries to hide in a hole. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 2r] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts other beasts with its breath, while the frightened dragon tries to hide in a hole in the ground. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 154v] beasts/beast79.htm The multi-colored panther's breath attracts other beasts, including a stag and a camel, while the fearful dragon hides in a hole. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 7r] beasts/beast79.htm The panther's sweet breath frightens the dragon, causing it to try to hide in a hole. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 249v] beasts/beast79.htm The panther, here looking more like a deer, is a multicolored beast that attracts other animals to it with its sweet breath. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 114r] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts other beasts to it with its sweet breath. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 2v] beasts/beast79.htm The panter attracts other beasts with its sweet breath, but the dragon tries to hide from fear of the panther. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 20r] beasts/beast79.htm A panther, without its usual colors and with no adoring beasts. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 17r] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts other beasts with its sweet breath, but the dragon, fearing the panther, tries to hide in a hole. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 21r] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts all beasts with its sweet breath, except for the dragon, which fears the panther and tries to hide. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 7v] beasts/beast79.htm The panther attracts beasts with its sweet breath, while the terrified dragon tries to hide. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 13r] beasts/beast79.htm A panther (looking remarkably like a horse) attracts other beasts to it with its sweet breath. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 6v] beasts/beast79.htm A panther confronts a cowering dragon. The adoring beasts that normally surround the panther are not shown. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 84v] beasts/beast79.htm A parandrus with its long, branching horns and cloven hooves. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 15v] beasts/beast178.htm A parandrus, showing its bear-like color and long, branched antlers. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 13v] beasts/beast178.htm The parandrus, which can change its appearance, is colored like a bear but has the head of a stag. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 10r] beasts/beast178.htm The parandrus is a beast that can conceal itself by changing its appearance. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 80r] beasts/beast178.htm The parandrus is a beast from Ethiopia that can change its appearance. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 39r] beasts/beast178.htm A pard with a spotted coat. The image is badly worn. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 3r] beasts/beast116.htm A male and female pard attacking a sheep. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 37r] beasts/beast116.htm A pard looks out in a heraldic pose. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 2v] beasts/beast116.htm A pard, lacking its usual spots. The offspring of a pard and a lion is the leopard. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 67r] beasts/beast116.htm A pard chases a rabbit over the hills. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 2r] beasts/beast116.htm The pard looks out of its frame. The pard mates with the lion to produce the leopard. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 6r] beasts/beast116.htm The pard is extremely swift; it kills its prey with a single leap. The offspring of a pard and a lion (leo) is the leopard. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 9v] beasts/beast116.htm A parrot, rampant. It is wearing a collar of bells (?), suggesting it is a captive bird. It is of the three-toed variety, which has a mean disposition. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 33v] beasts/beast235.htm A green parrot with the usual red collar. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 99v] beasts/beast235.htm A green parrot, lacking the usual collar. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 28r] beasts/beast235.htm A green parrot, lacking the usual red collar. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 21v] beasts/beast235.htm A green parrot with a very long tail. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 50v] beasts/beast235.htm The parrot is a bird from India that can be taught to speak. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 15v] beasts/beast235.htm A pair of parrots. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 63r] beasts/beast235.htm A parrot in a tree, with the usual red band around its neck. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 52v] beasts/beast235.htm A pair of parrots as a marginal illustration. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 43r] beasts/beast235.htm The parrot is a bird found in India that can be taught to speak like a man. It learns better when it is young, but if it will not learn one must hit it over the head with an iron bar. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 17v] beasts/beast235.htm A flying partridge. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 26r] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge with three young, which appear to be still loyal. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 8r] beasts/beast247.htm A brown partridge. The second bird may be a young one that is leaving to find its true mother. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 41r] beasts/beast247.htm A covey of partridge rising from a field of corn. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 111v] beasts/beast247.htm A covey of partridge being caught by a man with a drop-net. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 112r] beasts/beast247.htm A spotted partridge. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 59r] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge steals an egg from a nest, to raise as her own. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 48r] beasts/beast247.htm Four partridges, with a crouching dog below. Possibly two of the birds are previously stolen young returning to their true parents. The significance of the dog is unknown. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 48r] beasts/beast247.htm The partridge may be in the process of stealing eggs from another bird's nest, or may be caring for those she already stole. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 35] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge with odd spotted green wings. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 157r] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge, looking more like a hawk. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 40r] beasts/beast247.htm A lone partridge. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 33r] beasts/beast247.htm Two identical partridges "kissing", perhaps illustrating one of their attributes, that males sometimes mate with each other. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 33r] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge, not looking much like the real thing. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 98r] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge, doing nothing in particular. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 25v] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge, doing nothing in particular. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 107r] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge, not doing anything in particular. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 251r] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 158v] beasts/beast247.htm The partridge steals the eggs of other birds and hatches them, but she gains nothing from this, for as soon as the young birds hear the voice of their true mother they fly to her. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 53r] beasts/beast247.htm The partridge steals the egs of other birds and hatches them, but she gains nothing from this, for as soon as the young birds hear the voice of their true mother they fly to her. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 23v] beasts/beast247.htm A partridge with one wing raised. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 157v] beasts/beast247.htm Chicks recognize their true mother and turn away from the partridge parents that stole them as eggs. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 8r] beasts/beast247.htm A red partridge, doing nothing in particular. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 65v] beasts/beast247.htm The herbal this image is from says that partridges can be used in the treatment of various eye problems. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 88v] beasts/beast247.htm The partridge is a deceitful bird that steals eggs from the nests of other birds. The theft is futile because when the chicks hatch and hear their true mother's call, they run to her. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 75v] beasts/beast247.htm The partridge is a bird that steals eggs from the nests of other birds. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 102r] beasts/beast247.htm The partridge steals eggs from other birds, but when they hatch they hear their true mother calling and return to her. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "So [the writer says] that anyone else who loves him will lose him, as he will always be true and return to his true love whenever she calls". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 102v] beasts/beast247.htm A golden partridge, strutting. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast247.htm Four partridges hang out with a white beast, probably a dog. The purpose of all this is obscure; the text says nothing about it. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 75r] beasts/beast247.htm A peacock with a rather small tail. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 46r] beasts/beast257.htm A peacock with a "crown" and eyes on its tail feathers. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 9r] beasts/beast257.htm A peacock and a peahen; the peahen has no "eyes" on her tail. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 125r] beasts/beast257.htm Two peacocks; note the "eyes" on their tails. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 124v] beasts/beast257.htm A life-like peacock with its tail displayed. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 47] beasts/beast257.htm A multi-colored peacock with a head crest, but lacking the usual "eyes" on its tail. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 158v] beasts/beast257.htm A magnificent peacock, with the requisite eyes on its tail. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 36r] beasts/beast257.htm A magnificent peacok, with the requisite "eyes" on its tail. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 97v] beasts/beast257.htm A peacock shows off its large, glorious tail. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 28v] beasts/beast257.htm A peacock proudly displays its tail. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 54v] beasts/beast257.htm A peacock displaying its tail feathers. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 159r] beasts/beast257.htm The peacock has a long green tail adorned with eyes. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 108v] beasts/beast257.htm A self-satisfied peacock shows off its plumage. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 57r] beasts/beast257.htm Since the peacock's tail is its primary feature, the artist has chosen to emphasize it. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 72r] beasts/beast257.htm An elegant peacock with the required crested and spotted tail feathers. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 8] beasts/beast257.htm The peacock's head is like a snake, its breast is saphire colored, it has red feathers in its wings, and has a long green tail adorned with eyes. If it receives praise for its beauty, it raises its tail, leaving its rear parts bare. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 84v] beasts/beast257.htm A man dives for the stone called pearl. [Burgerbibliothek Bern, Codex Bongarsianus 318, Folio 77r] beasts/beast548.htm At dawn the oyster opens and takes in the rays of the stars, the moon and the sun, and also swallows dew, and from these come the pearl. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 117v] beasts/beast548.htm The stone called oyster produces pearls. At dawn the oyster opens and takes in the rays of the stars, the moon and the sun, and also swallows dew, and from these come the pearl. The virgin Mary is related to the pearl because of the purity of both. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 34r] beasts/beast548.htm The pearl (mermecolion or conchus) is shown as a bivalve shellfish under water. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 166v] beasts/beast548.htm The mother pelican cuts open her breast, reviving the two young ones by allowing them to drink her blood. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 144v] beasts/beast244.htm A pelican on its nest, cutting open its breast to sprinkle blood on its young, to thus revive them. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 39v] beasts/beast244.htm The mother pelican revives her dead young by cutting open her own breast and feeding them her blood. One of the small birds has a blood drop in its beak. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 91r] beasts/beast244.htm Mother pelican looking at her young. It is not clear if they are about to peck her, provoking her to kill them, or if they are already dead. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 90v] beasts/beast244.htm Pelican in her piety. Stone carving. Inset in pulpit Aldington, Kent. [] beasts/beast244.htm Two scenes: young pelicans attack their mother the mother pierces her breast to spill blood on her young. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 9r] beasts/beast244.htm At the left, the pelican kills one of its young, while two others shelter under her wing. At the right, the pelican revives its young with her own blood. One of the other young birds drags the third, still dead, toward the mother, an unusual addition to this scene. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 46r] beasts/beast244.htm The young pelicans appear to be about to drink the blood of their mother; some versions of story say that she feeds them her blood. The pose of the mother bird is known as "the pelican in her piety." 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 30] beasts/beast244.htm The mother pelican uses her own blood to revive her dead chicks. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Lyon, MS P.A. 78, Folio 36v] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican revives her young with blood from her own breast. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 32r] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican cuts open her own breast to rain blood on her chicks, thus reviving them. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 96v] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican sheds its own blood to revive its young. Misericord supporter; Beverley Minster, East Yorkshire, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 45] beasts/beast244.htm Pelican chicks peck at their parents, which will cause a deadly response. The bird on the left has assumed the "pelican in her piety" pose, though the chicks have not yet been killed. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 143r] beasts/beast244.htm "Le pellican qui s'ocist pour resusciter ses faons" - The pelican kills itself to resurrect its young. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that when he first met the woman she was so kind to him that he thought he could speak of his love, but when he did she "cut him dead" with her words, and he begs her to revive him with her heart. The woman replies that to lose her honor would be a kind of death, and not everyone has a pelican as a parent. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 18v] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican revives her young with her own blood. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 101r] beasts/beast244.htm A pelican prepares to revive her already lively chicks with her own blood. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 243r] beasts/beast244.htm A pelican drips blood on her chicks to revive them. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 158v] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican revives her chicks with her own blood. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 25r] beasts/beast244.htm In this two part scene, the pelican first kills her young in anger, then revives them with her own blood. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 115v] beasts/beast244.htm This image illustrates the three stages of the pelican story: The pelican chicks peck their mother; she grows angry and kills the chicks; she regrets her anger and opens her own breast to feed her blood to the dead chicks, reviving them. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 61v] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican pierces her breast with her beak to revive her chicks with her blood. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 17v] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican mother rivives her chicks with her blood. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: The author says that if his beloved will open her side and pour out her sweet heart and goodwill on him, he too will be revived. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 97r] beasts/beast244.htm A mother pelican feeds her blood to her young, thus reviving them. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 5] beasts/beast244.htm Pelican chicks peck at their mother; in her anger, she kills them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 96v] beasts/beast244.htm On the left, the pelican's checks peck at her until she gets angry and kills them. Later she regrets her anger and revives the chicks with her own blood. Unusually, the blood is not shown. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 46v] beasts/beast244.htm As young pelicans grow, they begin to strike their parents in the face with their beaks. Though the pelican has great love for its young, it strikes back and kills them. After three days, the mother pierces her side or her breast and lets her blood fall on the dead birds, and thus revives them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 72v] beasts/beast244.htm A mother pelican feeds her own blood to her chicks to revive them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 11v] beasts/beast244.htm The pelican's chicks peck at her; in her anger she kills them; later she regrets her action and revives the chicks with her blood. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 40v] beasts/beast244.htm A peridexion tree, sheltering doves from a menacing dragon. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 58v] beasts/beast263.htm A peridexion tree keeps the doves who stay in it safe from the dragon, which has caught an unwary bird. The doves hang from the tree in the way the barnacle goose is said to. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Douai, MS 711, Folio 38v] beasts/beast263.htm A peridexion tree shelters doves in its shadow, protecting them from the dragon. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Lyon, MS P.A. 78, Folio 51r] beasts/beast263.htm The peridexion tree shelters a dove; another dove has left its protection and is attacked by a dragon. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 38v] beasts/beast263.htm Two doves shelter in the shade of the peridexion tree, where they are safe from the dragon. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 254r] beasts/beast263.htm This unfinished drawing is of the peridexion tree, which shelters doves from the dragon. It is not clear what the demonic figure at the left represents. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 30v] beasts/beast263.htm The doves in the peridexion tree are safe from the dragon, who cannot enter its shadow. One careless dove left the tree and is being eaten. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 10r] beasts/beast263.htm The peridexion tree shelters doves which stay in its branches, but the dragon (which is afraid of the tree) catches any who wander away. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 912, Folio 11r] beasts/beast263.htm A peridexion tree shelters doves in its branches, safe from the dragon that shies away from the tree. One foolish dove has left the tree and is caught. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 22r] beasts/beast263.htm Doves perch in a peridexion tree, where they are safe from the dragons waiting below. The dragons cannot catch the doves unless they leave the tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 91v] beasts/beast263.htm A peridexion tree keeps doves in its branches safe from the dragon. The ones on the ground are dommed. This image is odd in that the dragon seems to be trying to crawl through a slit in the tree, much as the snake is said to when it needs to shed its skin. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 22r] beasts/beast263.htm Doves roost in a peridexion tree, safe from the dragons below, except for two that have foolishly landed on the dragon's tails. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 71v] beasts/beast263.htm A multi-colored phoenix stands on its burning nest. [Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 254, Folio 27r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix with glowing feathers arranging the fire that will burn it to ash. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 37r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix rising from the still-glowing ashes of the fire that consumed its previous incarnation. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 37v] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix, presumably freshly risen from the flames. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 7v] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix, burning itself to ash on its pyre, as the priest of Heliopolis watches. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 93v] beasts/beast149.htm The new phoenix born from the ashes of the old; the priest of Heliopolis greets its rebirth. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 94r] beasts/beast149.htm A crested bird, identified as the phoenix. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 8v] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix first gathers aromatic branches for its funeral pyre, then burns itself up. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 49v] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix burning in its funeral fire. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 45r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix gathers branches to build its funeral fire. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 45r] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix is not exhibiting the life-renewing behavior ascribed to it in the text, but it is a most elegant crested bird. The usual illustration of the phoenix shows it either burning or rising from the ashes. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 41] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix burns on its funeral pyre. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 244r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix, looking more like a goose, showing none of its fiery habits. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 156v] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix on its funeral pyre. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Lyon, MS P.A. 78, Folio 38r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix with a magnificent long crest burns itself to ash. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 31r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix with a magnificent long crest builds its funeral pyre from small sticks. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 30v] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix with a crown-like crest burns itself up in its funeral pyre. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 83v] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix burns itself up. Misericord; Westminster Abbey, London, England; early 16th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 3] beasts/beast149.htm After 500 years of life, the phoenix burns itself to ash. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 24r] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix gathers wood and prepares its funeral pyre. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 23v] beasts/beast149.htm "Le feniex qui s'art et de sa sendre naist uns autres" - The phoenix is consumed and another is born from the ashes. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 13r] beasts/beast149.htm After 500 years of life, the phoenix burns itself and rises renewed from the ashes. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 107r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix in its funeral pyre. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 155v] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix with golden wings. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 77b] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix preens its feathers. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 144r] beasts/beast149.htm When the phoenix reaches the age of five hundred years, it flies to a frankincense tree and fills its wings with spices. The phoenix then lights a fire and is consumed by it. The next day a small, sweet-smelling worm is found in the ashes. On the second day the worm has transformed into a small bird, and on the third has the form of the phoenix again. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 62v] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix is on its funeral pyre, ready to burn. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 17r] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix on its funeral pyre, which was lit by the rays of the sun above. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 68r] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix burns on its funeral pyre, from which it will be reborn. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 70v] beasts/beast149.htm The phoenix builds a nest of wood and spices to serve as its funeral pyre. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 17r] beasts/beast149.htm A phoenix gathers aromatic twigs as it prepares its funeral pyre. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 70r] beasts/beast149.htm A quail with an oddly long beak. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 45v] beasts/beast256.htm A generic bird representing the quail. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 28v] beasts/beast256.htm A dark green quail. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 157r] beasts/beast256.htm An ordinary quail. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 36r] beasts/beast256.htm A pair of quail eating grain seeds. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 82v] beasts/beast256.htm Quails migrate over the sea at the end of summer. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 107v] beasts/beast256.htm Two quail in the grass. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 153v] beasts/beast256.htm A quail, strutting. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 56v] beasts/beast256.htm An modest quail. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast256.htm The leader of the quail flock is ortygometra, or "mother of quails." Quails seek a leader from another species of bird, because when the ortygometra is near the ground, it is attacked by the hawk. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 82v] beasts/beast256.htm Several rabbits on a hill riddled with their tunnels. A white hunting animal (dog?) enters one of the tunnels. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 176v] beasts/beast4483.htm Two rabbits, one appearing to thumb his nose at the other. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 53r] beasts/beast4483.htm The rabbit is a wild and lithe beast that is hunted by dogs. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 94v] beasts/beast4483.htm Two rams butt heads. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 16r] beasts/beast194.htm A wooly ram with curled horns. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 22v] beasts/beast194.htm A white ram. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 54v] beasts/beast194.htm Rams butt heads. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 35v] beasts/beast194.htm Rams were the first animals to be sacrificed on alters. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83r] beasts/beast194.htm A blue ram. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 39v] beasts/beast194.htm A raven in flight. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 43r] beasts/beast251.htm A raven, one of a number of birds in this manuscript that all look the same. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 27r] beasts/beast251.htm A raven preparing to fly. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 59r] beasts/beast251.htm A raven, beak open, perhaps calling. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 145v] beasts/beast251.htm A shaggy raven, looking more like a hawk. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 40v] beasts/beast251.htm A raven, with appropriately large beak. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 34r] beasts/beast251.htm A pair of ravens. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 80v] beasts/beast251.htm "Le corbel qui menjue la cervele dou mort" - The raven eats the brains of the dead (through the eyes). In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that at first love captures a man through his eyes. The woman agrees that love captures through the eyes, but because it then takes the intelligence (the brain) this is really a sign of hate. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 6v] beasts/beast251.htm "Le corbel qui ne vient nourrir ses poucins tant com il sont blanc" - In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that when he was naked of the woman's love she was right to reject him, but once he was clothed with her love she should have nurtured him. The woman replies that they conflict in habit and in will. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 6r] beasts/beast251.htm A grim raven. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 101r] beasts/beast251.htm A raven. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 154v] beasts/beast251.htm Ravens refuse to feed their young until their feather grow and become black, and the parents can recognize them as their own. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 79r] beasts/beast251.htm The herbal this image is from says that the eggs of ravens can be used to darken ones hair. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 88v] beasts/beast251.htm The raven will not will not recognize her chicks until they have grown black feathers like their father. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: The author tells his love that so long as he was unclothed by her love she paid no heed to him. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 90r] beasts/beast251.htm A not very accurate representation of the raven. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 5] beasts/beast251.htm A raven in an octagonal frame. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 12v] beasts/beast251.htm A reptile with diamond-shaped markings along its spine, identified as the salamander. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 6r] beasts/beast276.htm This image shows two attributes of the salamander: it is unharmed by the fire its tail is in; and its presence has so poisoned the apple tree that the man eating an apple from it is dying. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 55v] beasts/beast276.htm This salamander has poisoned all of the fruit in the apple tree, merely by climbing up into it. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 117r] beasts/beast276.htm According to the normal sequence of beasts, this should be the salamander, though why it is biting a dragon is not clear. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 116v] beasts/beast276.htm A salamander, unharmed by the fire. A cold breath is coming from its mouth. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 35v] beasts/beast276.htm Salamanders crawl unharmed through fire. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 33v] beasts/beast276.htm A salamander unharmed in the fire. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 126r] beasts/beast276.htm A salamander in an apple tree. The salamander's poison is so strong that it makes deadly anything it touches, thus poisoning all of the fruit on the tree. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 43r] beasts/beast276.htm The salamander is so poisonous that anyone who eats fruit from a tree it has touched will die. [Burgerbibliothek Bern, Codex Bongarsianus 318, Folio 78r] beasts/beast276.htm The salamander does not fear fire, and is so cold it can extinguish the flames. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 112r] beasts/beast276.htm The salamander is not harmed by fire. The object in its mouth may be fruit; it is said that the salamander is so poisonous that if it climbs an apple tree the fruit will become deadly. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 34v] beasts/beast276.htm This beast is labeled as a salamander in the manuscript, though it is nothing like the usual salamander illustration. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 253v] beasts/beast276.htm A salamander crawls into a well, poisoning the water. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 95r] beasts/beast276.htm The text says this salamander is a reptile, but its body is more like that of a cat. The wings are unusual, though another winged cat-like salamander appears in BibliothNationale de France, fr. 1444b (folio 253v). [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 161r] beasts/beast276.htm While one salamander lives happily in fire, another climbs an apple tree. The salamander's poison is so deadly that the man is sickened by eating an apple from the tree. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 27v] beasts/beast276.htm Salamanders can crawl through fire without being burned. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 55r] beasts/beast276.htm Salamanders are so poisonous that if they climb into a fruit tree, the fruit will become deadly enough to kill a man. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 84v] beasts/beast276.htm A winged sawfish with fish tail, paws and a beast head, catching fish. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7r] beasts/beast147.htm A winged sawfish with fish tail, paws and a beast head, catching fish, with men in a boat rowing away. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 7r] beasts/beast147.htm A serra racing against a ship, and putting it in peril by stealing the wind from its sails. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 89r] beasts/beast147.htm The serra as a winged sea-beast running over the tops of the waves. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 88v] beasts/beast147.htm A pair of sawfish. The one on the left is rising into the air to race against the ship. The sailor is pointing to the limp sail, to show that the wings of the sawfish have blocked the wind. The beast on the right has tired and returned to the sea to eat fish. That one also has spiny "saw teeth" on its tail. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 43v] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish (with no saw) races a ship, while the sailors appear to pray. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 42v] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish races against a ship, attempting to take the wind from its sails. [British Library, Sloane MS 278, Folio 51r] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish, lacking its saw but displaying the magnificent wings it uses in its races with sailing ships. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 109r] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish, with its body as the "saw", races a ship. [Biblioteca Ambrosiana, MS E. 16 sup., Folio 33v] beasts/beast147.htm A large fish with wings fore and aft soars over a sailing ship. One sailor points at the sawfish, while the other points forward with one hand and down toward the sea with the other. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 69r] beasts/beast147.htm A dragon-like sawfish with webbed feet and the requisite enormous wings attacks a ship. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 14969, Folio 21r] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish drawn as a bird faces a ship with an angry-seeming prow. The saw teeth are perhaps represented by the sharp points on the trailing edge of the creature's wings. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 14970, Folio 4r] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish attacks a ship, grasping one of its ropes with an untypical arm. The sawfish has a demoniic face; the sailors look worried. [British Library, Cotton Vespasian A. vii, Folio 6r] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish with a crest and back of sharp saw teeth. This example shows the sawfish after it has given up the race with the ship, and has dived back into the sea to catch fish. [British Library, Harley MS 3244] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish (lacking any evidence of a saw) races a sailing ship. [British Library, Additional MS 8785] beasts/beast147.htm An indistinct sawfish floats below or beside a ship; since they fish and the ship are pointed in opposite directions, it seems the race is over. The man in the bow of the ship appears to be reading or preaching from a book. [Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal, fr. 3516] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish with just a hint of saw teeth on its back, and with a beak like a bird. [Westminster Abbey Library, MS 22] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish, looking like a winged lizard or dragon, holds two fish. The points on the trailing edges of its wings perhaps suggest the saw teeth of the legend. [J. Paul Getty Museum, MS. Ludwig XV 3] beasts/beast147.htm On odd beaked sawfish with pronounced saw teeth on its back. [Fitzwilliam Museum, J. 20] beasts/beast147.htm Sawfish (serra) flying fast. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 242r] beasts/beast147.htm A surprised-looking sawfish flies up from off the bottom of the manuscript page. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 37r] beasts/beast147.htm The sawfish is a sea monster with enormous wings. This one, looking like a bird rather then the more usual fish, has wings but no saw. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 113v] beasts/beast147.htm An unusual sawfish, with no saw. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119v] beasts/beast147.htm A winged sawfish races against a sailing ship. [J. Paul Getty Museum, MS. 100, Folio 46v] beasts/beast147.htm A sawfish (serra) catching fish. It uses its wings to race sailing ships. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 141v] beasts/beast147.htm The sawfish is a flying fish that likes to race sailing ships. When it sees it cannot win it gives up and dives back into the ocean. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 69r] beasts/beast147.htm The sawfish is a flying fish that likes to race sailing ships; when it sees it will lose, it dives back into the sea. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "So the poet's lady keeps her loves only so long as she wishes. He reassures her that even when she has discarded him he will be as the turtle-dove". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 101v] beasts/beast147.htm A scitalis with "marvelous markings" on its back, and a stunning red collar. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 53v] beasts/beast271.htm The scitalis is a serpent with such marvelous markings on its back that its appearance stuns the viewer. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 41v] beasts/beast271.htm The scitalis is supposed to have stunningly beautiful markings on its back; this one does not. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 33r] beasts/beast271.htm The snake on the left is the scitalis; its heat is so great that it sheds its skin even in the winter. The one on the right is the cerastes, which has horns; it hides in the sand so that only its horns show and animals, thinking the horns are food, come close and are killed. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94r] beasts/beast271.htm This odd beast, with its horns, spiny back, two legs and hooves, is supposed to be the scitalis, a serpent with such marvelous markings on its back that its appearance stuns the viewer, slowing the person down so that they are caught. The artist has taken liberties with the description. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 85v] beasts/beast271.htm A scorpion drawn as a lizard, though the text describes it as a worm. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 58v] beasts/beast281.htm A lizard-like scorpion with six legs. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 126v] beasts/beast281.htm Illustrating the entry for the plant called plantain in a herbal, a man defends himself from a scorpion and a dragon-like viper (adder). Plantain was said to cure the bite of both creatures. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 13r] beasts/beast281.htm A fat sea-pig swimming with other fish. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 61r] beasts/beast417.htm A sea-pig, called here "Porcus marinus". [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 119r] beasts/beast417.htm A small but deadly snake called the seps. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 55r] beasts/beast270.htm A snake called seps, whose poison is so deadly that it consumes both the body and the bones. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 42v] beasts/beast270.htm The poison of the seps is deadly, consuming both the body and the bones. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 34r] beasts/beast270.htm The poison of the seps (the snake on the left) is deadly, consuming both the body and the bones of those it bites. The snake on the right is the dipsa, so small it is not seen before it is stepped on, and so poisonous anyone it bites dies before he feels the bite. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94v] beasts/beast270.htm The seps is a small snake. Its poison is deadly, consuming both the body and the bones of those the seps bites. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 86v] beasts/beast270.htm Four sheep graze on a hill. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 16r] beasts/beast193.htm A woolly sheep with cloven hooves. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 22v] beasts/beast193.htm Sheep graze on a hillside while one shepherd plays pipes and the other points to a star. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 87v] beasts/beast193.htm Sheep in a pen. One of them is being sheared, another is being milked. [British Library, Additional MS 42130, Folio 163v] beasts/beast193.htm An ordinary wooly sheep. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 66v] beasts/beast193.htm A sheep, lookintg like it has just been sheared. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 19r] beasts/beast193.htm Sheep on a hillside. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 35v] beasts/beast193.htm A rather ordinary sheep. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 14v] beasts/beast193.htm Sheep and a belled ram. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 83r] beasts/beast193.htm Sheep graze and nurse their lambs. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 35v] beasts/beast193.htm A flock of sheep is led by a bell-wether. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 73v] beasts/beast193.htm A siren with a fish tail and wings. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 6r] beasts/beast246.htm A siren, half woman, half fish. Her arms have been replaced with wings. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 40v] beasts/beast246.htm A winged snake from Arabia called siren. This is not the siren that is half human, half bird or fish. The text says "In Arabia autem serpentes albi sunt cum alis, que Sirine vocantur" (from Isidore 12, 4:29). [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 55r] beasts/beast246.htm A two-tailed siren. Stone carving at the 12th century Cattedrale di Bitonto. [] beasts/beast246.htm Two sirens, having put the sailors to sleep with their song, now attack them. As is typical of drawings of the siren, the division between the woman top half and the bird or fish bottom half is distinct, as though the woman is wearing a beast suit. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 97r] beasts/beast246.htm Two sirens, their song putting a ship full of sailors to sleep. This image shows the confusion between the siren and the mermaid: The creature on the right is looking at herself in a mirror, one of the mermaid's attributes. The image also shows the difference in opinion on whether the siren is half bird or half fish, the artist here choosing to show both. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 96v] beasts/beast246.htm A happy siren holds two fish. The artist includes all possibilities for the form of the siren by giving it a fish tail as well as wings and bird's feet. The look of a human wearing a beast suit is common for human-beast hybrids. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 21v] beasts/beast246.htm A siren. The artist has solved the problem of whether a siren should have the lower body of a bird or a fish by giving this siren bird's feet and a fish tail. The text says the siren "has the make of a woman down to the waist, and the feet of a falcon, and the tail of a fish." [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 37r] beasts/beast246.htm A mermaid-like siren, fish in hand, sinks a dragon-prowed boat to drown the sailors. The sailor on the right has his fingers in his ears to block the siren's call. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 47v] beasts/beast246.htm On the left a siren drags a sailor to his watery doom. On the right an onocentaur shoots an arrow. These two beasts were often described together. [British Library, Sloane MS 278, Folio 47r] beasts/beast246.htm A siren, here shown as half woman, half fish. The image appears in the manuscript section on birds, showing the confusion as to whether the siren was half fish or half bird. This creature is called "sirene" in the manuscript, distinguishing it from the mermaid. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 32v] beasts/beast246.htm In this depiction of the siren, the artist could not decide between the descriptions that says she has a fish tail and those that say she has the feet of a bird, so he has drawn both. Another siren with both fish tail and bird feet is found in Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8 [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 109v] beasts/beast246.htm Two sirens, holding a stone or a drum over a mask or head, which may refer to the legend of sirens dragging sailors under the sea. The siren at the right is female and wears a barbette and fillet on her head; the siren on the left is male and wears a coif, typical male headwear at the time. Misericord (number 33); Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, England; third quarter of 13th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 7] beasts/beast246.htm A siren; note the feathers below her waist, distiguishing her from the mermaid. She holds a mirror in her left hand; her right hand is broken off, but probably held a comb. The comb and mirror were a symbol of pride or vanity. Misericord; Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle, England; early 15th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 9] beasts/beast246.htm A rosy-cheeked sire, with fish tail and possibly wings, enchants three horrified sailors, one apparently praying for deliverance. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119r] beasts/beast246.htm A siren holds two fish, having put two sailors to sleep with her song. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 28v] beasts/beast246.htm A siren of the bird-bodied variety. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 25v] beasts/beast246.htm A siren lures sailors with her song while a second one attacks. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 245v] beasts/beast246.htm Two sirens have lured these sailors to their doom; one holds the ship. They are called syrene in the rubric next to the illustration, but they can be distinguished from mermaids in any case by context. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 116v] beasts/beast246.htm Two sirens play instruments while a third sings. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 10r] beasts/beast246.htm Three sirens, two holding fish. The artist could not decide which description to follow - half bird or half fish - so illustrated both. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 17r] beasts/beast246.htm The text refers to this siren as "demonic". [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 147r] beasts/beast246.htm Three winged sirens entice a boat full of sailors. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 138r] beasts/beast246.htm Two kinds of sirens: The one on the left has wings, a fish tail and webbed feet; the ones on the right have wings, bird tails and bird claws. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 138v] beasts/beast246.htm Three sirens have put the sailors to sleep with their song, and prepare to attack. The sailor at the left seems awfully blissful, considering his fate. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 74v] beasts/beast246.htm A siren holds a comb and a fish. The artist clearly knew little about female anatomy. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 65v] beasts/beast246.htm This is the snake called syren, not the siren that is half woman and half bird. The name siren (or syren) has also been used for a snake with wings; Isidore says that in Arabia there are winged snakes called sirens whose bite is followed by death before pain. This description seems to be a combination of that of the dipsa and the jaculus. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 86r] beasts/beast246.htm A snake with three rings or knots on its body, perhaps suggesting the "three natures of the serpent." [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 57r] beasts/beast264.htm Adam and Eve receive fruit from a winged serpent. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 6v] beasts/beast264.htm A generic snake with ears. This image illustrates the introduction to snakes in this manuscript. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 49v] beasts/beast264.htm Snakes flee from naked men but attack clothed men. The artist has drawn this "snake" to resemble a deer. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 127v] beasts/beast264.htm Snakes attack clothed men but flee from naked men. The artist has drawn this "snake" to resemble a deer. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 128r] beasts/beast264.htm An ordinary green snake. [British Library, Harley MS 3244, Folio 59r] beasts/beast264.htm The serpent is going toward water; there is no way to tell if it has left its venom behind. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 68] beasts/beast264.htm The serpent is shedding its skin as it crawls through a hole in the rock. The serpent has distinct ears, a feature commonly found in bestiary illustrations. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 50] beasts/beast264.htm This image reverses the usual account, where the serpent flees from a naked man; the naked man here is fleeing from the serpent while the serpent is fleeing the clothed man. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 60] beasts/beast264.htm The serpent is protecting its head in the coils of its body. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 64] beasts/beast264.htm A man holding the herb Verminatia (vervain, Verbena officinalis) strikes a snake with his sword. Vervain has long been used as a cure for snakebite. A very similar image appears in other herbals, including Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462 and British Library, Harley 1585. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 15v] beasts/beast264.htm When attacked, the serpent protects its head. [Burgerbibliothek Bern, Codex Bongarsianus 318, Folio 12v] beasts/beast264.htm A spotted snake, called here a "phalangia". [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 50v] beasts/beast264.htm A twisty spotted snake with ears. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 50v] beasts/beast264.htm A kind of snake called here a "regulus", which is the Latin name for the basilisk. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 39v] beasts/beast264.htm To renew its youth, the snake fasts until its skin becomes loose, then it crawls through a narrow crack and sheds its old skin. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 43v] beasts/beast264.htm A type of snake called "sirene", from Arabia. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 42v] beasts/beast264.htm A man spears a snake. Very similar images are found in several other manuscripts. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 21r] beasts/beast264.htm A snake sheds its skin by crawling through a narrow gap. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 64r] beasts/beast264.htm This odd beast, idenified in the text as snake called regulus, appears to have six legs. Regulus is another name for the basilisk, which this is clearly not, though it does follow the basilisk in the manuscript. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 31v] beasts/beast264.htm To renew its youth, the snake fasts until its skin becomes loose, then it crawls through a narrow crack and sheds its old skin. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 35r] beasts/beast264.htm A typical snake with wings and legs. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 34r] beasts/beast264.htm A serpent, drawn with legs, as they often are. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 94v] beasts/beast264.htm A serpent will flee from a naked man, but will attacked a clothed man. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 95r] beasts/beast264.htm Two snakes, one of which has caught a rabbit. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 95r] beasts/beast264.htm A snake (called 'Wivre' in text) recoils in fear of a naked man. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "So the lover is at first naked and vulnerable from being in love, but later is clothed in his pride at being loved and gains courage from this". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 89v] beasts/beast264.htm A man spears a snake. Similar images are found in several manuscripts. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 21r] beasts/beast264.htm A man holding the herb Vervain (Verminatia) spears a serpent with a sword. Vervain has long been used as a cure for snakebite. A very similar image appears in other herbals, including British Library, Sloane 1975 and Harley 1585. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 14v] beasts/beast264.htm This image illustrates the plant Carrying Adderwort or snakeweed (Basilica or polygonum bistorta), which the text says protects from several kinds of snakes. The roots sometimes assume the form of a bear's paw. Note the snake at the right, with a crest and spitting venom; this may be intended as the basilisk. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 48r] beasts/beast264.htm To regain its youth, the snake fasts until its skin becomes loose, then it crawls through a narrow crack and sheds its old skin. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 87v] beasts/beast264.htm A flock of sparrows forages on the ground. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 87r] beasts/beast9068.htm A six legged spider spins a web. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 130r] beasts/beast551.htm A stag eats its enemy, the snake. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 4r] beasts/beast162.htm Four stags crossing a body of water. Each stag rests its head on the back of the one in front of it. [Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 254, Folio 10r] beasts/beast162.htm Two proud stags with large antlers. [Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 254, Folio 10r] beasts/beast162.htm A proud stag. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 49r] beasts/beast162.htm A large red stag. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 12r] beasts/beast162.htm A reclining stag with large antlers. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 11r] beasts/beast162.htm Four stags walking in a stream, probably based on Psalms 42:1: "As the stag longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God" as quoted in the Physiologus. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 115v] beasts/beast162.htm A stag renewing its youth by eating a snake. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 116r] beasts/beast162.htm A stag trampling a snake that it has drawn out of its hole. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 21v] beasts/beast162.htm A stag attacking a serpent or dragon. [British Library, Additional MS 24686, Folio 12r] beasts/beast162.htm The stag has caught a serpent and is eating it. The stream can be seen at the lower left; the stag is in a valley in the mountains. The stag's horns have the required three branches. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 17] beasts/beast162.htm A stag flees a hunting dog. [British Library, Additional MS 24686, Folio 17v] beasts/beast162.htm A stag with large horns. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 14v] beasts/beast162.htm A stag rearing up. [British Library, Stowe MS 17, Folio 205r] beasts/beast162.htm A prancing stag. Bottom margin illustration. [British Library, Royal MS 13 B. viii, Folio 10v] beasts/beast162.htm A kind of deer called here a "capra silvati". [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 85v] beasts/beast162.htm A stag, with a long neck and large, branched antlers. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 83r] beasts/beast162.htm A kind of deer called "caprea". The odd perspective of the foreground tree is common in this manuscript. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 10v] beasts/beast162.htm Hunting scene: A hunter and his dogs pursue a stag. The stag's tongue hangs out from the effort of the chase. Marginal illustration. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 78 D 40, Folio 177r] beasts/beast162.htm A proud stag with large antlers. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 52r] beasts/beast162.htm A stag with a face in its antlers, illustrating the conversion of St. Hubert of Li, the patron saint of hunters. Hubert's horse and dogs look on. The Catholic Encyclopedia says of Hubert: "On Good Friday morn, when the faithful were crowding the churches, Hubert sallied forth to the chase. As he was pursuing a magnificent stag, the animal turned and, as the pious legend narrates, he was astounded at perceiving a crucifix between its antlers, while he heard a voice saying: 'Hubert, unless thou turnest to the Lord, and leadest an holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into hell'." The crucifix has here been replaced with a face. Marginal illustration. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 78 D 40, Folio 66v] beasts/beast162.htm A running stag. The odd perspective of the foreground tree is common in this manuscript. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 9v] beasts/beast162.htm A stag biting a snake. Misericord supporter; Ely Cathedral, England; mid 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 32] beasts/beast162.htm A female deer. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast162.htm When a stag feels ill it finds and eats its enemy, the snake, then goes to a stream to drink, and is cured. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 160r] beasts/beast162.htm In the upper register, a stag is wounded by a hunter's arrow. Below, the stag eats the herb dittany, causing the arrow to come out. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 14v] beasts/beast162.htm "Le cerf qui vait au brueil de la fontainne pour soi medeciner" - The stag goes to the fountain to be cured (after eating a snake). The stag is not mentioned in the the Bestiaire d'amour. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 13v] beasts/beast162.htm "Le cerf qui se couche en la fourmiere pour renouveler sa viele pel" - The stag lies on ants in order to renew its skin. (This is a very uncommon attribute said of the stag.) Neither the stag or ant are mentioned in the Bestiaire d'amour. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 12v] beasts/beast162.htm When stags must cross a river to find food, they swim in line with one stag's head resting on the rear of the one in front; when the front stag tires, it moves to the end of the line to rest. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 112r] beasts/beast162.htm In this hunting scene, two stags are chased by a dog. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 7v] beasts/beast162.htm A two part illustration of the stag. Top: the stag teaches its young to flee over high places. Bottom: the stag prepares to eat a lizard-like snake. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 253r] beasts/beast162.htm A stag runs through the forest. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 78v] beasts/beast162.htm A stag and a does walk in a forest. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 30r] beasts/beast162.htm A stag drinks at a stream, accompanied by a female deer. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 17v] beasts/beast162.htm Two stags with a doe and fawns. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 20r] beasts/beast162.htm A running stork. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 34v] beasts/beast236.htm A stork, head raised, calling? [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 2r] beasts/beast236.htm The storks are presumably parent and child. The lack of clear identification of which is parent and which is child or of which bird is feeding the other may be deliberate, to show that the parent first cares for the child and the child later reciprocates by feeding the aged parent. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 106] beasts/beast236.htm Long necked stork standing with one claw raised. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 153r] beasts/beast236.htm A stork eating an eel, or perhaps its enemy the snake. [British Library, Royal MS 13 B. viii, Folio 11r] beasts/beast236.htm A stork swallowing a fish. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 80r] beasts/beast236.htm A well-drawn stork with a long orange beak. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 29r] beasts/beast236.htm A stork with raised wings. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 134r] beasts/beast236.htm A long-necked stork. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 22r] beasts/beast236.htm A stork. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 154r] beasts/beast236.htm Storks are named after the rattling noise they make by striking their beaks. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 105r] beasts/beast236.htm A strok has caught a frog. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 51r] beasts/beast236.htm Storks are named after the noise they make, which is not from their voice but from the rattling of their beaks. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 7] beasts/beast236.htm A stork eats a frog. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 64r] beasts/beast236.htm A swallow in flight as seen from above. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 45r] beasts/beast255.htm A long-tailed swallow. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 6r] beasts/beast255.htm A black swallow with oddly attached wings. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 61r] beasts/beast255.htm Swallows building a nest; swallows in the nest. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 52v] beasts/beast255.htm A swallow, not very life-like. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 152r] beasts/beast255.htm Two swallows in the air. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 91r] beasts/beast255.htm A swallow in flight. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 35v] beasts/beast255.htm The swallow is noisy, flies in circles, and takes its food from the air. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 105r] beasts/beast255.htm An elegant black swallow; the artist has captured the speedy nature of the bird very well. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 28r] beasts/beast255.htm A swallow flying. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 157r] beasts/beast255.htm A swallow flis to its nest with white a piece of food or medicine in its mouth. If its chicks go blind, the swallow can cure them. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 96r] beasts/beast255.htm A swallow showing the proper forked tail. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 6] beasts/beast255.htm A swallow catching and eating insects as it flies. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "It eats while flying. Swallows are not attacked by birds of prey; so also do some people love, on the wing, and cannot be held by love". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 98r] beasts/beast255.htm Swallows fly to the nests they have built under the eves of a house. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 81v] beasts/beast255.htm A swan with a long neck. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 34v] beasts/beast237.htm A long-necked swan. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 8v] beasts/beast237.htm A swan floating on water and eating a fish. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 41v] beasts/beast237.htm A white swan with webbed feet. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 158r] beasts/beast237.htm A well-drawn swan with large, webbed, black feet. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 29r] beasts/beast237.htm A good drawing of a long-necked white swan. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 79v] beasts/beast237.htm A swimming swan. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 134r] beasts/beast237.htm "Le cigne qui chante melodieusement devant sa mort" - The swan sings most marvelously when it is going to die. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that he fears the swan's death if he sings his best, and so he writes in prose instead of poetry. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 3r] beasts/beast237.htm A rather ugly swan. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 22r] beasts/beast237.htm An elegant swan. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 155r] beasts/beast237.htm A swan swimming. It is not clear what the birdlike outline behind it is supposed to represent. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 107v] beasts/beast237.htm Three swans singing in response to the musicians. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The better the swan harmonises with the harp, the more certain he is to die soon; for this reason the poet has left off singing and sends to his love in writing". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 88r] beasts/beast237.htm A swimming swan has caught a fish. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 49v] beasts/beast237.htm The swan sings sweetest when it is about to die. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 71r] beasts/beast237.htm A fat swan with black, webbed feet. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 8] beasts/beast237.htm A swan catching fish. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 65v] beasts/beast237.htm A swordfish, with the whole fish shaped like a sword, and here called "Gladius maris" or "sea gladiator". [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 106v] beasts/beast1966.htm A swordfish pierces a boat with its snout, while sailors pray. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 43r] beasts/beast1966.htm A mother tiger is distracted by a mirror in which she thinks she sees her stolen cub, while the hunter escapes with the cub. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 12v] beasts/beast131.htm A hunter stealing a tiger cub. The mother tiger, distracted by a mirror, is not shown. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 2v] beasts/beast131.htm The tiger, mistaking its reflection in the glass for its cub, stops the pursuit, allowing the man to escape with the cub. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 28r] beasts/beast131.htm When the tiger catches up to the man who has stolen her cub, the man throws down a mirror or glass sphere; the tiger, seeing her own reflection and thinking it is her cub, stops to retrieve it. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 123r] beasts/beast131.htm The tiger pursues the man who has stolen her cub; the cub is just visible in the man's cloak. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 122v] beasts/beast131.htm A colorfully-spotted tiger thinks she sees her stolen cub in the mirror, and stops to examine it. The knight rides away with the stolen cub, and readies another mirror in case the tiger resumes the pursuit. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Douai, MS 711, Folio 2r] beasts/beast131.htm The mother tiger looks in a mirror where she thinks she sees her cub, while the hunter escapes with the real cub. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 2r] beasts/beast131.htm A multi-colored tiger looks in a glass sphere, and thinking it is her stolen cub allows the hunter to escape with the cub. The colors are more like those usually ascribed to the panther. [British Library, Additional MS 11283, Folio 2r] beasts/beast131.htm In an unusual depiction of the story of the tiger, the beast sees itself in a mirror apparently hung from a tree, while the cub at the bottom right is ignored. The hunter who stole the cub is nowhere to be seen. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 69v] beasts/beast131.htm The hunter has stolen the tiger's cub and is riding off with it, with the tiger in pursuit. The hunter, to slow the tiger down, drops a mirror in its path. The tiger, seeing its reflection in the mirror, thinks it sees its cub, and stops to retrieve it. The hunter prepares to drop another mirror in case the tiger resumes the pursuit. The tiger at the right is probably there only for symmetry. Misericord; Chester Cathedral, Chester, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 26] beasts/beast131.htm The hunter, having stolen the tiger's cub, drops a glass sphere; the tiger thinks she sees her cub in it, and stops. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 2r] beasts/beast131.htm The man has stolen the tiger's cub. To delay the tiger so he can get away, he throws down a mirror. The tiger sees herself in the mirror, and thinking the reflection is her cub, gives up the chase. [Bodleian Library, MS. Canon. Ital. 38, Folio 61r] beasts/beast131.htm The tiger, fooled into thinking the mirror is her cub, fails to catch the hunter. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 3v] beasts/beast131.htm The tiger pursues the man who stole her cub, while he tries to distract her with a mirror. It is not clear what, if anything, the faint skecth at the top is supposed to represent. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 2r] beasts/beast131.htm The tiger chases the hunter as he rides away with her cub, but she is distracted by the mirrors the hunter throws down, thinking her reflection is her cub. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 75v] beasts/beast131.htm A tiger looks at its image in a mirror attached to a tree. Usually the mirror is shown on the ground, where the hunter has tossed it after capturing the tiger's cub. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 18v] beasts/beast131.htm To delay the tiger whose cub he has stolen, the hunter drops a mirror in her path; the tiger, seeing her reflection and thinking it is her cub, stops chasing him. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 35r] beasts/beast131.htm The tiger's cub has been stolen, and to distract the tiger the hunter has thrown down a glass ball or mirror. The mother sees her reflection, thinks it is the cub, and stops. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 6r] beasts/beast131.htm A tiger looks in a mirror while her cub is being stolen. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: So was the writer caught by the first sight of his beloved. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 94r] beasts/beast131.htm The hunter has stolen the tiger's cub, and to slow down her pursuit throws down a mirror (or glass sphere). The tiger sees herself in the mirror, thinks it is her cub, and stops. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 8r] beasts/beast131.htm The tiger's cub has been stolen. In the upper image, the tiger examines her image in a mirror; thinking the reflection is her cub she pauses in her persuit of the hunter. In the lower image the hunter, looking pleased with his success, rides off with the cub. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 6v] beasts/beast131.htm A long, thin torpedo fish. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 63v] beasts/beast285.htm A flying turtledove, seen from above. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 44r] beasts/beast254.htm This turtledove is mourning the loss of its mate, and will never again sit on anything green. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 115r] beasts/beast254.htm The turtledove has only one mate, to which it is always faithful; if that mate should die, it will never take another. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 114v] beasts/beast254.htm Body of a bird, identified as the turtledove (head missing due to bad page trimming). [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 10r] beasts/beast254.htm The turtledove sitting in a leafless tree. One attribute of the turtledove is that if her mate dies she will never again perch on anything green. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 38] beasts/beast254.htm The turtledove, mourning her lost mate, will only perch in dead trees. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 27v] beasts/beast254.htm An ordinary turtledove. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 35r] beasts/beast254.htm A pair of turtledoves. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 100v] beasts/beast254.htm "La turterele qui est dolante pour son malle qu'ele a perdu" - The turtledove mourns the husband she has lost. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that if he were to lose the woman he would not look for another. The woman replies that if she were ever to lose her honor she would never again have happiness. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 26r] beasts/beast254.htm A turtledove. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 159v] beasts/beast254.htm A pair of nondescript turtledoves. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 252v] beasts/beast254.htm The turtledove mourns her lost mate. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 99r] beasts/beast254.htm Turtledoves mate for life; if one dies, the other will never take another mate. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 66r] beasts/beast254.htm A turtledove at the center of a cross. The dove often represented the Holy Spirit. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 4] beasts/beast254.htm From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "The turtle-dove when widowed, lives for ever after alone in memory of her first love, and will not turn to another. So will [the author] behave to the memory of his lady". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 102r] beasts/beast254.htm Turtledoves mate for life; if one of them dies, the other will never take another mate. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 81r] beasts/beast254.htm A turtledove on a nest at the center of cross, surrounded by text. [Bodleian Library, MS. Lyell 71, Folio 9v] beasts/beast254.htm A unicorn lays its head on a maiden's lap. Unlike in many images, the man appears to be trying to capture the unicorn, rather than killing it. [Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 254, Folio 17r] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn with its head in a virgin's lap, being speared by a hunter. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 3r] beasts/beast140.htm A goat-like unicorn, its head in the lap of a maiden, being speared by a hunter. The hunter is wearing a Phrygian cap. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 3466 8o, Folio 15r] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn being speared by a hunter, with its head in the lap of a maiden who looks remorseful. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 5v] beasts/beast140.htm The unicorn is the enemy of the elephant, and here is attacking one. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 100v] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn, seduced by a maiden and suckling at her breast, is speared by a hunter. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 101r] beasts/beast140.htm A goat-like unicorn, embraced by a woman, is attacked by three hunters. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 6v] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn, its head in the lap of a naked woman, is speared by an armored knight. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 10v] beasts/beast140.htm A hunter spears an odd brown unicorn, while the maiden seems to be surprised. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 246v] beasts/beast140.htm A girl holds a goat-like unicorn by its horn while a man attacks it with a sword. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Douai, MS 711, Folio 4r] beasts/beast140.htm A frowning girl holds a unicorn while a knight in chain mail armor spears it. This manuscript also has an illustration of the monocerus. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 76v] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn fights with two bears, a scene not described in any bestiary. [British Library, Royal MS 10 E. iv, Folio 157r] beasts/beast140.htm A resting unicorn of the goat-like variety. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 34r] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn, head in maiden's lap, attacked by two hunters. [British Library, Additional MS 70000, Folio 55r] beasts/beast140.htm Two armored knights slay a unicorn while a maiden holds its horn. The unicorn is oddly drawn, looking like a lion with a horn. [British Library, Sloane MS 278, Folio 46r] beasts/beast140.htm A maiden holds the unicorn by its horn while gesturing to the hunter, who is bloodily killing the beast with a sword. This manuscript also has an image for the monocerus. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 4v] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn has put its head in the maiden's lap; the hunter has not yet attacked. This manuscript also has an illustration for the monocerus. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 63r] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn suggestively places it horn in the maiden's lap. The hunter has already hit the unicorn with an arrow; the unicorn looks annoyed. Unusually, the maiden holds a mirror in which her face can be seen. A maiden (or mermaid) holding a mirror is usually a symbol of pride or vanity. Marginal illustration. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 78 D 40, Folio 149v] beasts/beast140.htm A maiden has her hand on a unicorn's head, while the unicorn lifts one hoof to her. The hunter (soldier) has already hit the unicorn with an arrow and prepares to throw a spear. A rabbit looks on from the bushes. Unusually, the maiden holds a mirror in which her face can be seen. A maiden (or mermaid) holding a mirror is usually a symbol of pride or vanity. Marginal illustration. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 78 D 40, Folio 41r] beasts/beast140.htm A maiden has lured a unicorn to her; the soldier has speared it. Unusually, the maiden holds a mirror in which her face can be seen. A maiden (or mermaid) holding a mirror is usually a symbol of pride or vanity. Marginal illustration. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 78 D 40, Folio 9r] beasts/beast140.htm Another trusting unicorn expires on a maiden's lap. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 3r] beasts/beast140.htm The unicorn with its head in the maiden's lap, attacked by a soldier. The dragons looking on from the supporters are not usually associated with the unicorn. Misericord; Chester Cathedral, Chester, England; late 14th century. [Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords, page 50] beasts/beast140.htm "L'unicorne qui s'endort ou gyron la pucele et li venerres l'ocit en dormant" - The unicorn sleeps in the lap of the maiden and the hunter kills it. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says Love could not catch him, until the woman's sweetness caused him to sleep and be killed by despair. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 14r] beasts/beast140.htm A thin-necked green unicorn. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 118v] beasts/beast140.htm In this beautiful marginal illustration, the unicorn turns to confront his killer, while the maiden seems to protest the killing. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366, Folio 55v] beasts/beast140.htm This odd bear-like unicorn trusted the maiden, and was stabbed by the hunter. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 110v] beasts/beast140.htm A hunter spears a unicorn that has trustingly come to a maiden. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 3v] beasts/beast140.htm A maiden with a mirror, a symbol of luxury or pride, holds a goat-like unicorn while the hunter spears it. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 15213, Folio 74v] beasts/beast140.htm The maiden holding this oddly furry unicorn seems to be admonishing the hunter who spears it. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 18r] beasts/beast140.htm A blue unicorn is held by a maiden while hunters kill it. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 12v] beasts/beast140.htm "The animal the Greeks call monocerus". This is the usual illustration of the maiden and the unicorn. The maiden appears to be pointing at the horn. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 14r] beasts/beast140.htm An unusual image of the unicorn, seduced by the maiden, being captured rather than being killed. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 4v] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn, here called rinoceros, is attacked by a hunter. The maiden seems to be trying to protect the unicorn, or perhaps protests the attack. In keeping with the name rinoceros, the beast has its massive horn on its nose. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 149v] beasts/beast140.htm A naked maiden holds an angry-looking unicorn while a hunter spears it. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 132, Folio 70r] beasts/beast140.htm The unicorn looks imploring up at the maiden as the hunters attack; the maiden looks grim. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 10v] beasts/beast140.htm Another unicorn is speared after trusting the faithless maiden. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 10v] beasts/beast140.htm A very long unicorn, lured by a maiden, is speared by a hunter. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 7v] beasts/beast140.htm The unicorn, lured by a maiden, is speared by one hunter while an unusual blue man with an axe threatens further mayhem. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 14v] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn in a maiden's lap, as a soldier stabs it with a spear. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: So was the author enslaved by love. Like the most cruel of beasts, who when he smells a virgin kneels humbly before her, he, the proudest of men, is humbled before his love. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 94r] beasts/beast140.htm A unicorn (with a horn sticking up from the top of its head) looks imploringly at the treacherous maiden, as the hunter wields his spear. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 86r] beasts/beast140.htm Two vipers mating. The female (with the red head) bites off the head of the male, while the young eat their way out of the female's side. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 51v] beasts/beast267.htm The male viper inserts his snout into the mouth of the female, who bites it off and so conceives her young. The viper, a snake, is shown here as a four-footed beast. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 126v] beasts/beast267.htm The viper's young eat their way out of their mother's womb through her side, killing her. The viper, a snake, is shown here as a dog-like beast. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 127r] beasts/beast267.htm The viper's young emerge from the gash they have torn in her side. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 93r] beasts/beast267.htm Two vipers mating. The female viper conceives by taking the male's head in her mouth. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 128r] beasts/beast267.htm The female viper conceives by taking the male's head in her mouth. She then bites off his head and he dies. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 40r] beasts/beast267.htm "La vuivre qui tue l'omme vestut et a poour de l'omme nu" - The viper kills a clothed man but flees a naked man. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that when he first knew the woman she was gentle and somewhat frightened of him, but once she knew he loved her she attacked him with her words. The woman replies that she did not cloth him with her love, and since he is naked of it she rightly fears him. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 5r] beasts/beast267.htm "La vuivre qui tue son pere et sa mere ains qu'ele naisse" - The viper kills its father and mother before it is born. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that the behavior of the viper shows the kind of man the woman should avoid, one who destroys her honor through gossip. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 24v] beasts/beast267.htm The female viper conceives by taking the male's head in her mouth. She then bites off his head and he dies. When the young are ready to be born, they bite through their mother's side, and she dies. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 10448, Folio 119v] beasts/beast267.htm Young vipers are born by eating their way out of their mother's side, killing her. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 31v] beasts/beast267.htm The female viper conceives by taking the male's head in her mouth. She then bites off his head and he dies. When the young are ready to be born, they bite through their mother's side, and she dies. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 113v] beasts/beast267.htm The female viper conceives by taking the male's head in her mouth. She then bites off his head and he dies. When the young are ready to be born, they bite through their mother's side, and she dies. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 80r] beasts/beast267.htm A rather pretty vulture. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 32r] beasts/beast233.htm A sad-looking vulture. [Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 189, Folio 5r] beasts/beast233.htm A large vulture, looking very much like the eagle in this manuscript. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 39r] beasts/beast233.htm A vulture eating a dead animal. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 26] beasts/beast233.htm A vulture with a large eye, perhaps indicating its remarkably accute vision. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Troyes, MS 177, Folio 150v] beasts/beast233.htm A rather handsome vulture. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 27r] beasts/beast233.htm A rather handsome vulture. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 101v] beasts/beast233.htm A blue vulture. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 104r] beasts/beast233.htm A keen-eyed grey vulture. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 20v] beasts/beast233.htm A vulture with an odd beak. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Reims, ms. 993, Folio 160r] beasts/beast233.htm The vulture flies slowly but very high, and can sense corpses across the seas and in high mountains, and can smell carrion three days journey away. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 86r] beasts/beast233.htm An unusually elegant vulture stands on the corpse of a wild boar. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 59r] beasts/beast233.htm Two vultures in a classic pose. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 48v] beasts/beast233.htm A very well fed vulture. [Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54, Folio 6] beasts/beast233.htm Vultures nibble on small, dead animals. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 61r] beasts/beast233.htm A vulture flies toward a dead horse. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 106r] beasts/beast233.htm Two rather pretty vultures in a fairly common pose. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 56r] beasts/beast233.htm A dog-like or lion-like weasel. [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 5v] beasts/beast150.htm A long red weasel. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 29r] beasts/beast150.htm A well-drawn weasel. [British Library, Additional MS 11283, Folio 15r] beasts/beast150.htm The weasel carries its young from place to place in its mouth. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 113r] beasts/beast150.htm The weasels on the left are conceiving through the mouth; at the right the weasel gives birth through the ear. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 112v] beasts/beast150.htm Two brown weasels, intent on something offstage. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 58v] beasts/beast150.htm A long, thin weasel. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 38r] beasts/beast150.htm A weasel. Bottom margin illustration. [British Library, Royal MS 13 B. viii, Folio 10v] beasts/beast150.htm Called in the text the "varius", this is most likely the weasel. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 35v] beasts/beast150.htm A long, thin weasel. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 65r] beasts/beast150.htm A long, thin weasel on the hunt. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 24v] beasts/beast150.htm "La moustoile qui emporte ses faons de loelle les a enfantes" - The weasel moves her children from where she gave birth. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 7v] beasts/beast150.htm "La moustoile enfante par la bouche et consoit par l'oreille" - The weasel gives birth by the mouth and conceives by the ear. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that when women have heard many fair words they feel bound to give their love, but then deliver a refusal by mouth. The woman replies that one must be careful of what one conceives through the ear to avoid giving birth to something dangerous. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 7v] beasts/beast150.htm A very small weasel. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 18v] beasts/beast150.htm The weasel is a dirty animal that must not be eaten. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 112v] beasts/beast150.htm A long thin weasel. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 85r] beasts/beast150.htm The weasel is a long, thin beast. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 251v] beasts/beast150.htm A weasel and its children attack a bird-billed snake, probably meant to be a basilisk. The weasel is the only animal that can defeat the basilisk. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 8r] beasts/beast150.htm A weasel with young hunts a mouse, while a second weasel (lloking a lot like a squirrel) eats an egg or a nut. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 602, Folio 24r] beasts/beast150.htm Three weasels walking with noses in the air. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 30v] beasts/beast150.htm A weasel, running. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 158r] beasts/beast150.htm A pair of leaping weasels. [British Library, Sloane MS 1975, Folio 87r] beasts/beast150.htm The weasel, skilled in medicine, can bring her dead cubs back to life. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: The author, dead of love, knows that there is a medicine that will cure him, but not what it is [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 96v] beasts/beast150.htm A weasel gives birth through her mouth to three cubs. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "So are some women who after they have heard so much flattery that they should love the speaker, they turn and say quite different sorts of things". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 91r] beasts/beast150.htm A weasel climbs a hill. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 29v] beasts/beast150.htm A wether, a strong kind of sheep, with curled horns. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 19v] beasts/beast552.htm A type of goat called the wether, with curly horns. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 14v] beasts/beast552.htm The wether is stronger than other sheep, and has worms in its head. When wethers are excited by an itch they strike one another with great force. [Bodleian Library, MS. e Mus. 136, Folio 6v] beasts/beast552.htm The wether is stronger than other sheep, and has worms in its head. When wethers are excited by an itch they strike one another with great force. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 40r] beasts/beast552.htm A whale swallows fish. [British Library, Sloane MS 3544, Folio 42v] beasts/beast282.htm Fishermen, thinking the whale is an island, have tied their boat to it and built a cooking fire on its back. The whale is diving and taking the boat with it. The whale is also attracting fish to its mouth with the sweet scent of its breath. [J. Paul Getty Museum, MS. Ludwig XV 3, Folio 89v] beasts/beast282.htm A whale with a ship full of sailors alongside. The sailors, one of which appears to be a soldier, have supposedly mistaken the whale for a island. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 59v] beasts/beast282.htm A long-snouted whale, called "balena". [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 61r] beasts/beast282.htm This boat full of sailors is looking for land, but will find a whale instead. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 110v] beasts/beast282.htm The sailors have mistaken a whale for an island, because the whale has floated at the surface so long that its back has become covered with sand. The sailors have built a fire, which will cause this rather small whale to dive, drowning the sailors. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 111r] beasts/beast282.htm A magnificent many-finned whale catches fish, while misguided sailors, thinking it to be an island, try to land on its back. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 86v] beasts/beast282.htm A four-footed whale catches fish, while a boat load of men waits to land on its back. This image may represent an attempt by the artist to show that the beast is a sea turtle; the Latin names "Aspidochelone" and "Aspido testudo" mean "asp-turtle". [Merton College Library, MS. 249, Folio 8r] beasts/beast282.htm A whale catches a fish while two sailors attempt to land their ship on its back. The sailors appear to be pointing at the text of the Latin name of the whale, balena. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 151, Folio 80v] beasts/beast282.htm A whale drawn as a fat, toothy fish. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, 76 E 4, Folio 73r] beasts/beast282.htm Sailors have mistaken a whale for an island, and have moored their boat to it. One sailor has made a fire and is cooking something. The whale has enticed fish into its mouth. [British Library, Harley MS 4751, Folio 69r] beasts/beast282.htm The rubric above this image says it is the "cete" or whale, in which case it illustrates the story of the sailors mistaking a floating whale for an island and landing on it. The "whale" looks very similar to illustrations of the sawfish (serra), as does the image as a whole, so perhaps the artist was confused or intended to illustrate both. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1444b, Folio 250v] beasts/beast282.htm "La balainne qui plunge les mariniers en la mer" - The whale plunges the sailors into the sea. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that this is what happens to most who become lovers; the whale drowning the sailors shows that one should trust least that which seems most trustworthy. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 30r] beasts/beast282.htm Jonah is swallowed by the whale. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 36v] beasts/beast282.htm A sailor, mistaking a whale for an island, has landed on it and built a fire to cook his soup. The heat of the fire will cause the whale to dive, taking the sailor to his doom. Using a bellows to intensify the flames can only make things worse for the sailor and the whale. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 118r] beasts/beast282.htm Sailors, mistaking a whale for an island, have landed on it; the man in the center is chopping wood for a fire. The whale has lured fish to its mouth with its sweet breath. [Bodleian Library, MS. Laud Misc. 247, Folio 157r] beasts/beast282.htm Sailors have landed on a whale, mistaking it for an island. The fire will soon cause the whale to dive, drowning the sailors. The whale is also catching fish which were attracted by its seet breath. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 167, Folio 7v] beasts/beast282.htm Whales lie at the surface for so long that sand accumulates on their backs; this one has grass growing there. Sailors, mistaking the whale for an island, have landed on it. While two sailors work with the rigging, another handles the rudder and a fourth keeps watch in the castle, the fifth fans their campfire with his cloak. The whale seems unaware of all this activity and goes on catching fish, but as soon as it feels the heat of the fire it will dive, taking the foolish sailors to their doom. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764, Folio 107r] beasts/beast282.htm A fishy whale, looking nothing like an island, hosts two boatloads of silly sailors, one of whom sits on the image frame trying to cook a meal. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 88, Folio 28r] beasts/beast282.htm A wolf creeps up on alarmed-looking sheep in a pen, while the shepard and his dog sleep. [Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 254, Folio 19v] beasts/beast180.htm A grey wolf, spotted. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1462, Folio 52v] beasts/beast180.htm An alert blue wolf. The pen marks near its neck and around its mouth are later scribblings. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 16v] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf approaches a pen full of sheep. [British Library, Royal MS 12 C. xix, Folio 19r] beasts/beast180.htm If a wolf sees a man before the man sees the wolf, the man will lose his voice. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 121r] beasts/beast180.htm If a man sees a wolf before the wolf sees the man, the wolf can no longer be fierce. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 120v] beasts/beast180.htm Scenes from the Irish legend of the wolf that talked with the priest of Ulster, recorded by Gerald of Wales. [British Library, Royal MS 13 B. viii, Folio 17v] beasts/beast180.htm When the wolf goes to take a sheep from a fold, it moves against the wind. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 121v] beasts/beast180.htm The wolf has stolen a sheep; the famer and his dog are in hot pursuit. [British Library, Royal MS 2 B. vii, Folio 122r] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf, trying to silently approach the sheep, bites its own foot for making noise. [Bibliotheque Municipale de Chalon-sur-Saine, MS 14, Folio 85v] beasts/beast180.htm A not very realistic wolf. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7, Folio 87r] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf threatens three very upset sheep. [British Library, Additional MS 11283, Folio 9r] beasts/beast180.htm Above: A wolf with cubs. Below: Knowing that wolves will not attack a naked man, the man has removed his clothes. He is also banging rocks together, a further deterent to attack. [British Library, Royal MS 12 F. xiii, Folio 29r] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf attacks a sheep. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 62r] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf stalking a sheep and a goat. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 14v] beasts/beast180.htm A snarling white wolf. [Huntington Library, HM 27523, Folio 228r] beasts/beast180.htm "Le leu qui fait enroer l'omme quant il le voit premierement" - The wolf overcomes the man if it sees him first. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that because he revealed his love for her first, she knew him before he could see her, and so he has lost his voice. The woman replies that the man is indeed the wolf, and since he saw her first she finds it difficult to say anything to counter his words. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 3v] beasts/beast180.htm "Le leu qui trenche son pie pour issir dou piege" - The wolf will mutilate itself to escape the trap. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 15v] beasts/beast180.htm "Le leu qui vait querre sa proie loing de sa louviere et mort son piet qui fait noise" - The wolf hunts its prey near a house and bites its foot if it makes a noise. In the Bestiaire d'amour the man says that if the woman realizes her words betray her love for the man, she will use words to disguise the fact. The woman replies that if she actually loved the man, she would say so most passionately. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, fr. 1951, Folio 4v] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf carries off a sheep. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 14429, Folio 113r] beasts/beast180.htm According to the manuscript text this should be the wolf. However, it is not any of the usual illustrations of the wolf, looking more like a common illustration of the lion roaring to give life to its cubs; perhaps, as sometimes happened, the artist drew the wrong beast. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 11r] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf approaches a sheep pen. If the wolf accidentally makes a noise, he will bite the offending foot to punish himself. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 80v] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf has snuck up on a herd of sheep. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 25r] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf bites its own leg because it stepped on a twig. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: "A woman's love has these natures: she cannot give herself except completely; she loves most when her lover is far away and least when he is near; and if her words run ahead of her and her lover knowns he is loved in return, she tries to conceal by words what she has revealed". [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 89r] beasts/beast180.htm A wolf threatens four angry-looking sheep in a fold. [Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511, Folio 23v] beasts/beast180.htm woodpecker cutting a hole in a tree. 16th century engraving by Pieter van der Borcht. [Sancti Patris nostri Epiphanii, episcopi Constantiae Cypri, Ad Physiologum...., page 102] beasts/beast553.htm A woodpecker with the correct style of beak. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 98v] beasts/beast553.htm The woodpecker can reopen its nest hole if it is plugged, through the use of a particular herb. From the Bestiaire d'Amour: The nest has been stopped up with a plug, which will fall out on application of this herb. The author knows not what herb it is, so he cannot unlock his beloved's side to take her heart for his own. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 97v] beasts/beast553.htm A pair of colorful worms. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 58r] beasts/beast280.htm Two worms rising out of the soil. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 136r] beasts/beast280.htm The worm is born without intercourse from flesh, wood or earth, though it is sometimes born from a egg. Worms inhabit the earth, water, air, flesh, wood, leaves, or clothing. [Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 308, Folio 93r] beasts/beast280.htm A yale with one horn forward for fighting, the other held back in reserve. [Kongelige Bibliotek, Gl. kgl. S. 1633 4o, Folio 16v] beasts/beast142.htm A yale with one moveable horn pointed forward for battle, the other held back in reserve. This yale also has tusks. [Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 56v] beasts/beast142.htm A yale showing its moveable horns; one is held forward for fighting, the other held back as a reserve in case the first one breaks. It has the jaws of a boar, complete with tusks. [Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 B 25, Folio 14r] beasts/beast142.htm A yale points its flexible horns in two directions, one forward to fight with, the other in reserve. [Rossiiskaia Natsionalnaia Biblioteka, Q.v.V. 1, Folio 4] beasts/beast142.htm The horns of the yale are flexible and can point in any direction. [Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 533, Folio 7v] beasts/beast142.htm The yale has horns that it can point forward or back. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B, Folio 10v] beasts/beast142.htm The yale can point its horns in any direction. [Bibliotheque Nationale de France, lat. 3630, Folio 80v] beasts/beast142.htm The yale has flexible horns; it can point one forward for fighting and keep the second pointed back to use in case the first is broken. [Morgan Library, MS M.81, Folio 39r] beasts/beast142.htm