A bestiary is a (usually) illustrated compendium of beasts. People have a natural curiosity about the creatures with which they share the planet. Often, survival depended on hunting or cultivating animals. The study of animals has been with mankind for as long as humans have been around.
The Medieval bestiary that became popular in 12th Century England and France was unlike other texts, however. Scholars believed that animals were put on Earth to teach humans moral lessons. The authors of the magnificently illuminated manuscripts borrowed the basic knowledge of animals from ancient texts then liberally modified and adjusted the information so it would fit with their purposes.
Especially Interesting Beasts
Leopard The offspring of a mating between a lion and a pard
Bee Bees are the smallest of birds, and are born from the bodies of oxen
Spider The spider is an aerial worm that takes its nourishment from the air
