This manuscript is bound in two volumes.

Volume 2 contains the Novus Physiologus (folio 156r-185r), a version of the Physiologus unlike the other Latin versions. The text is in verse.

On folio 239r-245r is a text called Antiquus phisiologus, with the incipit Tres leo naturas et tres habet inde figuras... (see Additional Description 3). This appears to be the Latin verse Physiologus attributed to Theobaldus (Orban, page 3).

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From Orban, 1989:

The only textual witness of the Novus Phisiologus that we know of is manuscript 2780 from the Darmstadt library, where the tradition of the Novus Physiologus begins on page 156 without a title, but with a capital initial. The title of the work is mentioned in the Explicit on page 185 with the simple words Explicit Novus Physiologus. It is a work that, despite its title, cannot be counted among the Latin versions of Physiologus known to us; In contrast to the old Latin Physiologus, our Novus Physiologus leaves the trees and stones aside, whereas in the descriptive and also in the allegorically explanatory part he discusses the animals recorded by him, as in the Latin Physiologus, in much more detail and in greater detail than in the Latin Physiologus is concerned: The Novus Physiologus provides countless data of which the Latin Physiologus is completely unaware. Because our work omits some of the animals treated by the Latin Physiologus and, on the other hand, takes into account animals that did not find a place in the Latin Physiologus, the Novus Physiologus also makes a selection with its own thematic program.

Additional Descriptions

Additional description 1
Additional description 2
Additional description 3 (page 29-30)

Editions and Facsimiles

Printed editions

Orban, Novus phisiologus: nach Hs. Darmstadt 2780