De Natura Animalium (On the Nature of Animals) is a collection of anecdotes about animals, often with a moralizing purpose. Written in Greek, probably in the early third century CE, the work provides insights into how animals were perceived in the Roman Empire. This first volume contains the first seven books of seventeen. While not a systematic zoological treatise, "De Natura Animalium" offers a fascinating glimpse into the animal world as understood by a learned observer of antiquity. The text reflects both direct observation and the transmission of folklore and legend, making it a valuable source for understanding the cultural history of animals.

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