Aelian's On the Nature of Animals

De Natura Animalium is the sole surviving work of Claudius Aelianus, a sort of pundit born near what is now Rome in the 2nd century AD. It's a patchwork collection of stories about animals that Aelian may not have believed but found interesting or entertaining enough to write down. Briskly and cleverly written, his brief stories show animals having an intelligence and code of honor that Aelian hopes humans can aspire to. His work's rarely been translated into English—this selection shows his fanciful wit, compiled with a helpful introduction by researcher and encyclopedist Gregory McNamee. 

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)