The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Antonio Pigafetta (1491 - 1534)

Scholar, explorer, and chronicler of Magellan's circumnavigation, in which he participated Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Pigafetta Authority - early modern
 Relevant locations: Lived at or near Venice, Veneto
 References in Documents:
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

This Creature is said (c) to breed only in the Island Bouro. Yet that which the Brasilians (d) Joh. de Læt, out of Lerius.call the Tajacuguitas, (d) may be the same. As also Pigafeta's Porcus Quadricornis. There are Swine, saith he, (e) in the Philippick Islands, (e) Cited by Aldrovandus. with two, three, and four Horns. He might mistake the two Tusks for Horns; and from those which he saith had but two or three, they might be violently broken off.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

The HOOF of a Solidungulous Animal. It was brought from Angola. Perhaps of a kind of Zebra there, answering to the Indian described by Pigafeta. 'Tis much about the shape of a Horse's, but not so big; two inches and ½ broad, two inches long, and as much in height. Somewhat thick and strong. For the greatest part, blackish; but just before yellowish, and half transparent. Within this is contained another young one (together with its inclosed Bone) all over of a yellowish colour. The Zebra, Indica, (a)(a) Aldrovandus. is in all his parts like a Mule, saving that it is not barren.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

The BIRD of PARADISE. By the Natives of the Molucca Islands (where they breed, and by whom they are worshipped,) called MANUCODIATA, i. e. The Bird of God. Because they know not from whence they come; and for their beauty. From his swift flight to and again, the Indians, in their Language, call him a Swallow. Marggravius reckons up several sorts of them, and describes them all. The least kind, Clusius calls the King. Because (as he saith, from the report of the Dutch Mariners) as they fly together, about 30 or 40 in a flock, he always keeps higher than the rest.) Besides the smallness of his Body, in respect to what his copious Plumes shew him; the long Feathers which grow upon his sides under his Wings, and are extended thence a great way beyond his Tail; and the two long Strings or Quills which grow upon his Rump, do most remarkably distinguish him from all other Birds. He is elegantly figur'd in Calceolarius's Musæum, with the Title of Chamæleon Æreus.

Antonius Pigafeta was the first that brought this Bird, or any certain knowledge of him into Europe. (c) (c) Clusius. Before which, he was believed, not only by the Vulgar, but by Naturalists, (amongst whom Scaliger (d) See Exerc. 228. S. 2.(d) was one) that they had no Legs, but always flew up and down suspended in the Air, by the help of their Wings and Tail spread all abroad. According to which silly fancy, he is also pictur'd in Gesner.

Agreeable to this conceit, it is likewise commonly thought, and by Georgius de sepibus, who describes the Musæum Romanum, is affirmed, that those two long Quills that grow upon the top of this Birds Rump, being at his pleasure twined or wrapped round about the boughs of Trees, serve quietly to suspend him. Whereas, as Mr. Wray hath also rightly observed, (a) (a) Willoughb. Ornith. not being Muscular, it is impossible they should be of any such use. His hooked Claws shew him to be a Bird of Prey; and he ordinarily flys at Green-Finches, and other little Birds, and feeds on them. (b) (b) Bont. H. N. l. 5. The Tarnacenses shoot them down with Darts. (c)