Collection of funny depictions of animals in old zoology papers!
All images are collected from the sources linked and edited by me unless stated otherwise.
Names are given simply for categorising. I name them from the page where they are found, but might be wrong.
All information is from my own reading of the text. Everything might be, or might not be, true or false.
All sources are open and free to be used, unless stated otherwise on their site.
Camelopardali
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.1), p.147, Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: Camelopardali refers to the old name of giraffes in Latin, though noted in this book is that the name giraffe was used at the time by arabic speakers. The name comes from the greek words for camel (kamēlos) + spotted (pardalis). The author discusses how the camelopardali was not considered food to him, but it's meat was 'strange enough to try'.
Castore
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.1), p.309, Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: The castor is the Latin name for beaver. The author speaks about it's fur, colouration, and tail.
Hystrice
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.1), p., Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: TBA
Ichnevmone
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.1), p.566, Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: The Latin name for the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon). It's behaviour of attacking and eating snakes is noted in the book. The author also mentions the ichneumon being fed the same as cats and dogs, implying the keeping of them as pets.
Lupo
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.1), p.634, Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: The name lupo is 'a name common to all quadrupeds which attack man with their teeth and claws, bite, tear, and sometimes kill, as lions, wolves, tigers, and the like' as noted by the book. The image appears to be depicting a wolf, specifically.
Monocerote
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.1), p.689, Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: The monocerote is the Latin word for what we today would call a unicorn. The author seems to be aware of the fantastical nature of the animal, and references the possibility of people confusing characteristics of different animals. He notes that it is 'strange that the beast is foreign and spread all over the world to us, and has never been brought to Europe".
At the time it was possible that publishers motivated authors to include fantastical creatures such as the monocerote to boost sales. Gessner was known to check facts meticulously, making it more than possible that publishers included entries like the monocerote without his approval.
Ponticus
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.1), p.741, Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: Ponticus appears to be a word used for rodents by the author. The image depicts a squirrel.
Salamandra
Source: Historiae Animalium (Lib.2), p.81, Conradi Gesneri (1585-1604)Additional Info: The authour discusses the naming of the salamander in multiple languages, including: Hebrew, Greek, German, and Arabic. There is also a discussion on the phylogenetics of the salamander. The author also mentions the image to be an older depiction of the salamander.