Beast

Sources : Leucrota

Pliny the Elder [1st century CE] (Natural History, Book 8, 30): ...the leucrocota, swiftest of wild beasts, about the size of an ass, with a stag's haunches, a lion's neck, tail and breast, badger's head, cloven hoof, mouth opening right back to the ears, and ridges of bone in place of rows of teeth — this animal is reported to imitate the voices of human beings. - [Rackham translation]

Gaius Julius Solinus [3rd century CE] (De mirabilibus mundi / Polyhistor, Chapter 27.26; 53.34): [Chapter 27.26] In a part of Aethiopia, the hyena mates with lionesses. From these unions, monsters named “corocottae” are born. This creature also feigns the voices of men. It never moves the pupils of its orbs, but stares, gazing without blinking. It its mouth it has no gums, and one continual tooth. In order that this is never blunted, it is by nature closed up in a sort of casket. [Chapter 52.34] The leucocrota excels all beasts in speed. It is the size of a wild ass, and has the haunches of a stag. It has the breast and legs of a lion, the head of a badger, and cloven hooves. Its mouth gapes from ear to ear, and it has continual bone in place of teeth. This is its shape: in voice it imitates the sound of men speaking. - [Arwen Apps translation, 2011]

Aberdeen Bestiary [circa 1200 CE] (folio 12r): In a part of Ethiopia the hyena mates with the lioness; their union produces a monster, named crocote. Like the hyena, it too produces men's voices. It never tries to change the direction of its glance but strives to see without changing it. It has no gums in its mouth. Its single, continuous tooth is closed naturally like a casket so that it is never blunted.

Thomas of Cantimpré [circa 1200-1272 CE] (Liber de natura rerum, Quadrupeds 4.27, 4.62): [Thomas describes the leucrota under two names, corochrotes and leucrocota.] [Quadrupeds 4.25] Corochrotes is a beast, as Solinus and Jacobus say, that imitates the voices of men like a hyena. It never closes his eyes. There is no gum in the mouth, but one and permanent tooth, which, as if it never erupts, is naturally closed in the manner of a capsule. This beast is said to be conceived from a dog and a wolf. [Quadrupeds4. 62] Leucrocota, as Jacobus and Pliny say, is a beast that exceeds all other beasts in speed. It has a body like that of an ass, the haunches of a deer, the chest and legs of a lion, the head of a camel, but a large gap in the mouth that extends to the ears. It has cloven hooves. Instead of teeth it has a solid bone in its mouth; and it imitates the voices of men. - [Badke translation/paraphrase]