Were/are the rabbits invasive? Pliny the Elder reports on biocontrol

Gaius Plinius Secundus (23 AD – August 25, 79 AD), better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian. The Natural History (Latin: Naturalis Historia) is an encyclopedia published circa AD 77–79 [1]

The translation from book 8 chapter 81 is mine and quite literal; the latin original is copied from a page that is part of a website belonging to Bill Thayer.[2]

Lessons on biocontrol, overpopulation and even perhaps invasive species impact on ecosystem services from 2000 years ago

lxxxi    

217       Et leporum plura sunt genera.

There are many kinds of hares.

in Alpibus candidi, quibus hibernis mensibus pro cibatu nivem credunt esse;

in the Alps there are white ones which people think feed on snow during the winter months;

certe liquescente ea rutilescunt annis omnibus,

for certainly as it thaws there they grow reddish [in color] the rest of the year,

 et est alioqui animal intolerandi rigoris alumnum.

but somehow the animal is nourished in the intolerable cold.

leporum generis sunt et quos Hispania cuniculos appellat,

And there is a type of hare which the Spanish call 'cuniculi' [rabbit].[3]

fecunditatis innumerae famemque Baliarum insulis populatis messibus adferentis.

its fecundity is uncountable and brought famine to the Balearic Islands [Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera] during harvest time.

 — (Fetus ventri exectos vel uberibus ablatos, non repurgatis interaneis, gratissimo in cibatu habent; laurices vocant) —

— (They have a very pleasing food [dish] which [is made] either by cutting the unborn rabbit from the [mother's] womb or removing the plentiful just born young without washing the intestines. They call [the dish] laurices.) —

218       certum est Baliaricos adversus proventum eorum auxilium militare a Divo Augusto petisse.

Indeed the Balearians petitioned Divine Augustus for military aid against this increase of them [rabbits]

magna propter venatum eum viverris gratia est;

a great favorite for hunting it is with a ferret;[4]

iniciunt eas in specus, qui sunt multifores in terra — unde et nomen animali —,

they put them into the holes, which are the many entrances in the earth  — from where comes the name[5] —    

atque ita eiectos superne capiunt.

and thus when they are driven up above, they are captured.

Archelaus auctor est,

Archelaus is the authority for:

quot sint corporis cavernae ad excrementa lepori, totidem annos esse aetatis;

as many tunnels of the warren there may be for the excrement of the hare, so many years old it is.

varius certe numerus reperitur.

a varying number indeed [of years] will be discovered.

idem utramque vim singulis inesse ac sine mare aeque gignere.

The same writer [says that within the rabbit] is the singular power to procreate equally both with and without a male.

219       benigna circa hoc natura innocua et esculenta animalia fecunda generavit.

       For all of this, nature obligingly generates harmless and edible fecund animals

lepus, omnium praedae nascens, solus praeter dasypodem superfetat,

The hare, born a prey for all, alone, save for the dasypodem,[6] able to conceive anew while still with young,

aliud educans, aliud in utero pilis vestitum, aliud inplume, aliud inchoatum gerens pariter.

one coming forth, another hairy in the uterus, one bald, another equally ready to be born.

nec non et vestes leporino pilo facere temptatum est, tactu non perinde molli ut in cute, propter brevitatem pili dilabidas.

There is a temptation to make cloth from the rabbit fur, however, it is not soft to the touch of the skin because the short hairs fall part.

Europena rabbit - image from wikipedia

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliny_the_Elder

[2] http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Pliny_the_Elder/8*.html

[3] Oryctolagus cuniculus  Synonyms: Lepus cuniculus Linnaeus, 1758

[4]  Mustella furo Linn.

[5] cuniculi - a complex of tunnels

[6] no idea what a dasypodem is  perhaps a poetical reference to a soft footed rabbit, which makes no sense, but I digress.

The Next Pope's Name Will Be ... FRANCIS I - updated in hindsight

UPDATED - obviously I did not see Francis I the coming - Francis the name of the founder of the Jesuit order and St Franmcis the rebuilder of a broken church 3/13/13

           
 In a few weeks there will be a new Bishop of Rome. In English speaking countries he will be referred to as the Pope. Most speakers of English will have no idea that the word pope is merely is a mispronunciation of the Italian word for father, the Father, Il Papa. In many families where English is spoken small children ask for papa's guidance all the time. 

               More mysterious is the business of Papal names. Why is it that Albino Luciani goes into the Conclave and, upon election, comes out John Paul I?

               The Papal names have meanings, are symbolic and transmit expressions of the faith and the thinking of those who bear the weight of history. The names can tell us indirectly and to some small extent the direction towards which the new Pontiff may be looking.

               Here is my subjective, personal review of some possibilities for the next Bishop of Rome. I am interested in your thoughts, comments and critiques of my list. The names are in no particular order. For sure let me know if I got the numbering wrong.

Let me know your favorite name and why

1.     Peter II                             Not likely; too much baggage (The "Prophecies" of Saint Malachy) and the air of presumption (Tu es Petrus) unimaginable in this gathering of Cardinal-bishops and Cardinal-priests. For some reason, the odds-makers think I am totally uniformed as they have set the current odds for the name Peter for the next Pope at 1/1, not going to happen - bet on it, even odds.

2.     Leo XIV                             At 14 to 1, Leo is a good bet for a Latin American Pope, or non European Cardinal. For that matter Leo XIV is a good choice for any strong determined Roman Bishop, just look at Leo I, the Great. The last Leo, number XIII, is "known for intellectualism,the development of social teachings with his encyclical Rerum Novarum and his attempts to define the position of the Churchwith regard to modern thinking." Such a choice would send strong message about future roles of the Church in the 21st century specifically aimed at the needs of the 99%.

3.     John Paul III                   A reasonable choice and most likely for a new Pope who will not try to rock the Church, who will toe the line and do the hard work necessary to carry on Vatican II.

4.     Paul VII                            Reasonable choice for the Arch-bishop of Milan if elected. Paul VI was the hard working determined manager of Vatican II and one time Cardinal from Milan.

5.     Victor IV                          Great name for a non European choice especially for an African Pope. Victor I, among his many accomplishments, was instrumental in confirming the "practice of alwayscelebrating Easter on Sunday."

6.     Benedict XVII                Possible, but I think not likely. The renunciation/resignation/abdication controversy which swirls around the present Pontiff may preclude many from selecting the name Benedict XVII. That said there is much good will and respect for the current holder of the Pope and there may be an inclination to show a continuation of his policies. I suspect that a new name will allow some of the challenges attached to his reign to be subordinated to the novelty of a new pastor.

7.     Sylvester IV                    Not likely though good name for European (French cardinal perhaps reflecting to the re-invigoration of the church in the late 10th century under Sylvester II, one time teacher of an emperor and Archbishop of Rhiems)

8.     Stephen XI/XII             Not likely given not only the minor problem of the numbering of Popes named Stephen, but the possible and inevitable rise of the specter of the Cadaver Synodhttp://www.law.uga.edu/dwilkes_more/his31_cadaver.html of Pope Stephen VI/VII.

9.     Pius XIII                           The election of very conservative or a very progressive Cardinal might find this wonderful name used. The former to send a signal; the latter to cover an only-Nixon-can-go-to-China possibility. The name Pius could provide some historic cover for a Pope determined to preserve the Church as is, or to bring change.

10.  Gregory XVII                  Comes with historic baggage including the resignation controversy as well as the attempt to ban trains in the 18th century by another Pope Gregory. Pope Gregory XVI ensured that the Church would not soon elect a monk as Patriarch of the West.

11.  John XXIV                        Good choice for a young dynamic Cardinal who grew up in a Vatican II church and is ready to move forward...there is a wee bit of chaos surrounding the numbering of the Popes John as there was never a John XX and the first John XXIII, Baldassarre Cossa, of who it is said was an "undeniably secular andambitious, his moral life was not above reproach, and his unscrupulous methodsin no wise accorded with the requirements of his high office ... the heinouscrimes of which his opponents in the council accused him were certainly gravelyexaggerated."

12.  Clement XV                     Nice choice for a Pope who promises to hold the line whatever that may be. The last Clement went after the Jesuits with such vigor that a Lutheran princess turned Orthodox Autocrat had to shelter them from his wrath of a Franciscan.

13.  Innocent XIV                 Not likely - too much opportunity for lampooning in an English speaking world.

14.  Eugene V                         An excellent choice to signal a renewal of ecumenical collaborations with Orthodoxy and the rest of Christendom, this name will most likely remain unused.

15.  Boniface X                       Not likely, but interesting choice based on the Latin meaning of the name - doer of good, which by the way is what Eugene sort of means in Greek. Boniface VIII's action concerning his predecessor who resigned also reduce the probability that we shall have a Boniface the Tenth.

16.  Mark II                             An interesting possibility that might be interpreted as a return to Apostolic traditions and pastoral mission.

17.  Alexander IX                  Not likely for historical baggage, unless some connection to family, saint or mentor.

18.  Sixtus (Xystus) VI       A great choice if the intent is to restructure the bureaucracy of  and administration of the Church, but difficult choice in the age of twitter - Sixtus the Sixth does not roll of the tongue easily for the denizens of the internet and factoid news.

19.  Urban IX                          Would perhaps send interestingly conflicting messages about religion and science given the last Pope Urban was the Friend and Silencer of Galileo...the name itself means of the city, think urbane, and could send a unifying message to the congregations of an urbanizing world.

20.  Julius IV                           Not likely even though Julius II is a personal favorite of mine.

21.  Felix V                              Unlikely choice...means happy in Latin, and might make sense if Latin were still taught in the land of Twitter and Nod, but alas only thoughts of a cat are likely to arise.

22. Celestine VI                     As unlikely as Peter II or for that matter Boniface IX see above. Celestine V's attempt at abdication or resignation turned out poorly for him; others of that named died soon after election of natural causes it is presumed.

23.  Nicholas VI                       Not likely, in fact highly improbable in an English speaking world where every December confusion on twitter is likely to ensue

24. Linus II                             Steve comments (and makes a good point) that "A pope who calls himself Linus II is likely to shake things up, and start over from the beginning."

25. Callixtus IV                        Also spelled in Callistus, the dual spelling is enough to assign this name a very low probablity. The fact that nothing explicitedly relevant to our problems today (such as teaching Emperors their place in the universe, or qualifications of schismatics needed to return) lowers the potential for this name to nigh unto zero.

There are of course many others like Hadrian (Adrian), Anacletus, Zephyrinus and Hilarius II, 

perhaps even Telesphorus the Second. 

If your favorite is not on here let me know what it is and why it should be..

Nota bene: Some related subject matter sites of interest

• POLL: What name will (not should) the next Pope choose?
• Adventures in Popedom: A new Roman Catholic Pope selects his own name
• here is a list of all 80 possible names for Benedict XVI’s successor
•  7 Names The New Pope Should Avoid

  

Webinar - Miracle Plant; Dangerous Beauty; An Invasive Species - A Kudzu Primer - The Story of a Species; the History of Invasion in the US

Miracle Plant; Dangerous Beauty; An Invasive Species - A Kudzu Primer - The Story of a Species; the History of Invasion in the US

Wed, February 13, 12pm – 1pm

Registration is free - seating is limited 

Description

Speaker John Peter Thompson Miracle Plant; Dangerous Beauty; An Invasive Species - A Kudzu Primer - The Story of a Species; the History of Invasion in the US A Kudzu Primer describes the species and explains the history of the introduction and establishment of the miracle plant that ate the Confederacy and is moving onward and upwards into Canada. The presentation looks at changing social, political, and scientific understanding that frame the current invasive species conversation and debate. We will track the species and discuss environmental, ecological, agricultural and horticultural concepts from 1665 to the present using Kudzu as the theme but more broadly showing the context that outlines today's points of view. We will mention such high points as the first plant ban in 1726 and the famous 1876 Exhibition as well as attempts to actually grow kudzu and the tremendous problems that were faced in trying to establish the reluctant guest at first. To register, click on more details and click on the registration link https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/657517127

Miracle Plant; Dangerous Beauty; An Invasive Species - A Kudzu Primer

Miracle Plant; Dangerous Beauty; An Invasive Species - A Kudzu Primer - The Story of a Species; the History of Invasion in the US

Wed, February 13, 12pm – 1pm

Calendar	ipcwebsolutions@gmail.com
Description	Speaker John Peter Thompson Miracle Plant; Dangerous Beauty; An Invasive Species - A Kudzu Primer - The Story of a Species; the History of Invasion in the US A Kudzu Primer describes the species and explains the history of the introduction and establishment of the miracle plant that ate the Confederacy and is moving onward and upwards into Canada. The presentation looks at changing social, political, and scientific understanding that frame the current invasive species conversation and debate. We will track the species and discuss environmental, ecological, agricultural and horticultural concepts from 1665 to the present using Kudzu as the theme but more broadly showing the context that outlines today's points of view. We will mention such high points as the first plant ban in 1726 and the famous 1876 Exhibition as well as attempts to actually grow kudzu and the tremendous problems that were faced in trying to establish the reluctant guest at first. To register, click on more details and click on the registration link https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/657517127

Goddess revered, O Earth, of all nature Mother, engendering all things and re-engendering

Copied from the Blog Laudator Temporis Acti

Friday, February 01, 2013

Precatio Terrae

Precatio Terrae (tr. J. Wight Duff and Arnold M. Duff): 

Goddess revered, O Earth, of all nature Mother, engendering all things and re-engendering them from the same womb, because thou only dost supply each species with living force, thou divine controller of sky and sea and of all things, [5] through thee is nature hushed and lays hold on sleep, and thou likewise renewest the day and dost banish night. Thou coverest Pluto's shades and chaos immeasurable: winds, rains and tempests thou dost detain, and, at thy will, let loose, and so convulse the sea, [10] banishing sunshine, stirring gales to fury, and likewise, when thou wilt, thou speedest forth the joyous day. Thou dost bestow life's nourishment with never-failing faithfulness, and, when our breath has gone, in thee we find our refuge: so, whatsoe'er thou bestowest, all falls back to thee. [15] Deservedly art thou called Mighty Mother of Gods, since in duteous service thou hast surpassed the divinities of heaven, and thou art that true parent of living species and of gods, without which nothing is ripened or can be born. Thou art the Mighty Being and thou art queen of divinities, O Goddess. [20] Thee, divine one, I adore and thy godhead I invoke: graciously vouchsafe me this which I ask of thee: and with due fealty, Goddess, I will repay thee thanks. Give ear to me, I pray, and favour my undertakings: this which I seek of thee, Goddess, vouchsafe to me willingly. [25] All herbs soever which thy majesty engendereth, for health's sake thou bestowest upon every race: entrust to me now this healing virtue of thine: let healing come with thy powers: whate'er I do in consonance therewith, let it have favourable issue: [30] to whomso I give those same powers or whoso shall receive the same from me, all such do thou make whole. Finally now, O Goddess, let thy majesty vouchsafe to me what I ask of thee in prayer.

Dea sancta Tellus, rerum naturae parens,
quae cuncta generas et regeneras indidem,
quod sola praestas gentibus vitalia,
caeli ac maris diva arbitra rerumque omnium,
per quam silet natura et somnos concipit,    5
itemque lucem reparas et noctem fugas:
tu Ditis umbras tegis et immensum chaos
ventosque et imbres tempestatesque attines
et, cum libet, dimittis et misces freta
fugasque soles et procellas concitas,    10
itemque, cum vis, hilarem promittis diem.
tu alimenta vitae tribuis perpetua fide,
et, cum recesserit anima, in te refugimus:
ita, quicquid tribuis, in te cuncta recidunt.
merito vocaris Magna tu Mater deum,    15
pietate quia vicisti divom numina;
tuque illa vera es gentium et divom parens,
sine qua nil maturatur nec nasci potest:
tu es Magna tuque divom regina es, dea.
te, diva, adoro tuumque ego numen invoco,    20
facilisque praestes hoc mihi quod te rogo;
referamque gratis, diva, tibi merita fide.
exaudi , quaeso, et fave coeptis meis;
hoc quod peto a te, diva, mihi praesta volens.
herbas, quascumque generat maiestas tua,    25
salutis causa tribuis cunctis gentibus:
hanc mihi permittas medicinam tuam.
veniat medicina cum tuis virtutibus:
quidque ex his fecero, habeat eventum bonum,
cuique easdem dedero quique easdem a me acceperint,    30
sanos eos praestes. denique nunc, diva, hoc mihi
maiestas praestet , quod te supplex rogo.

2 sidus codd.: indidem Baehrens: in dies Buecheler: sidera Schneider: saecula Goetz
3 tutela codd.: vitalia Baehrens: tutelam omnibus Schneider
5 capit codd.: concipit Baehrens: captitat Schmidt
7 inmensus A: inmensos BCD: inmensum Schneider
8 contines codd.: attines Baehrens
10 solem codd.: soles Baehrens
12 et alimenta codd.: tu alimenta Baehrens
13 te codd.: tete Baehrens
15 nomina codd.: numina Schneider
17 tu A: tum BCD: tuque Baehrens: tu es Schneider
17 vere A: ver et BC: vero D: vera es Baehrens: vera et Schneider
18 nec maturatur quicquam codd.: nil maturatur Baehrens: nec moritur quicquam Schneider
22 gratias ACD: graciam B: gratis Baehrens
22 merito codd.: merita Baehrens
23 me suppl. Baehrens
25 tua maiestas codd.: maiestas tua Schneider
27 nunc suppl. Baehrens
28 veni ad me cum A: veniat me cum BCD: veniat medicina cum Baehrens: veni veni ad me Buecheler
29 quidquid codd.: quidque Baehrens
31 eosdem praestes codd.: eos praestes denique Baehrens
32 tua suppl. Riese

See John I. McEnerney, "Precatio Terrae and Precatio Omnium Herbarum," Rheinisches Museum für Philologie 126 (1983) 175-187, who regards 25-32 as prose and offers his own text.