Page:Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian.djvu/182

163 It seems, accordingly, probable that the fable, though with a different bird for its subject, emanated from the Indians, and spread onward even to the Greeks. For the Brachmanes say that a prodigious time has elapsed since the Indian hoopoe, then in human form and young in years, performed that act of piety to its parents. (6.) In India there is an animal closely resem- bling in appearance the land crocodile, and some- where about the size of a little Maltese dog* It is covered all over with a scaly skin so rough altogether and compact that when flayed oif it is used by the Indians as a file. It cuts through brass and eats iron. They call it the phattagea (pangolin or scaly ant-eater) (8.) The Indian sea breeds sea-snakes which have broiid tails, and the lakes breed hydras of immense size, but these sea-snakes appear to inflict a bite more sharp than poisonous. (9.) In India there are herds of wild horses, and also of wild asses. They say that the mares submit to be covered by the asses, and enjoy such coition, and breed mules, which are of a reddish colour and very fleet, but impatient of the yoke and otherwise skittish. They say that they catch these mules with foot-traps, and then take them to the king of the Prasians, and that if they are caught when two years old they do not refuse to be broken in, but if caught when beyond that age they differ in no respect from sharp-toothed and carnivorous animals. Digitized by Google