Curious Creatures in Zoology by John Ashton

(8 User reviews)   4335
By Charlotte Girard Posted on Dec 26, 2025
In Category - Adventure
Ashton, John, 1834-1911 Ashton, John, 1834-1911
English
Hey, I just read this wild book you'd love! It's called 'Curious Creatures in Zoology,' and it's basically a tour through the weirdest animal stories people believed before science straightened things out. We're talking about mermaids, unicorns, and dragons presented as real history. The main mystery isn't about the creatures themselves, but about us: why were we so convinced these things were real for centuries? It's a hilarious and sometimes mind-boggling look at how imagination and tall tales shaped our understanding of the natural world. Perfect for a fun, slightly bizarre read.
Share

Read "Curious Creatures in Zoology by John Ashton" Online

This book is available in the public domain. Start reading the digital edition below.

START READING FULL BOOK
Instant Access    Mobile Friendly

Book Preview

A short preview of the book’s content is shown below to give you an idea of its style and themes.

the Lemuridæ; and the interval is not wide from these to the Simiadæ. The Simiadæ then branched off into two great stems, the New World, and Old World monkeys; and from the latter, at a remote period, Man, the wonder and glory of the Universe, proceeded.” * * * * * “We have thus far endeavoured rudely to trace the genealogy of the Vertebrata, by the aid of their mutual affinities. We will now look to man as he exists; and we shall, I think, be able partially to restore during successive periods, but not in order of time, the structure of our early progenitors. This can be effected by means of the rudiments which man still retains, by the characters which occasionally make their appearance in him through reversion, and by the aid of morphology and embryology. The various facts to which I shall here allude, have been given in the previous chapters. The early progenitors of man were no doubt once covered with hair, both sexes having beards; their ears were pointed and capable of movement; and their bodies were provided with a tail, having the proper muscles. Their limbs and bodies were also acted on by many muscles, which now only occasionally reappear, but are normally present in the Quadrumana.... The foot, judging from the great toe in the fœtus, was then prehensile; and our progenitors, no doubt, were arboreal in their habits, frequenting some warm, forest-clad land. The males were provided with great canine teeth, which served them as formidable weapons.” In fact, as Mortimer Collins satirically, yet amusingly, wrote:-- “There was an APE, in the days that were earlier; Centuries passed, and his hair became curlier, Centuries more gave a thumb to his wrist,-- Then he was MAN, and a POSITIVIST.” [Illustration] The accompanying illustration, which seems to embody all the requirements of Darwin, as representing our maternal progenitor, is from an old book by Joannes Zahn, published in 1696--and there figures as “Ourani Outains.” [Illustration] Darwin says that the men of the period wore tails, and if they were no longer than that in this illustration (which is copied from the same book), they can hardly be said to be unbecoming--still that is a matter for taste--they are certainly more graceful than if they had been rat-like, or like a greyhound, or toy terrier. Many old authors speak of tailed men in Borneo and Java, and not only were men so adorned, but women. Peter Martyr says that in a region called Inzaganin, there is a tailed race--these laboured under the difficulty of being unable to move them like animals--but as he observes, they were stiff like those of fishes and crocodiles--so much so, that when they wanted to sit down, they had to use seats with holes in them. Ptolemy and Ctesias speak of them, and Pliny says there were men in Ceylon who had long hairy tails, and were of remarkable swiftness of foot. Marco Polo tells us: “Now you must know that in this kingdom of Lambri[1] there are men with tails; these tails are of a palm in length, and have no hair on them. These people live in the mountains, and are a kind of wild men. Their tails are about the thickness of a dog’s.” Many modern travellers have heard of hairy and tailed people in the Malay Archipelago, and Mr. St. John, writing of Borneo, says that he met with a trader who had seen and felt the tails of a race which inhabited the north-east coast of the island. These tails were about four inches long,...

This is a limited preview. Download the book to read the full content.

Ever wonder what people thought about the animal kingdom before nature documentaries and zoology textbooks? John Ashton's 'Curious Creatures in Zoology' is your answer. It's not a story with a plot in the traditional sense, but a collection of historical accounts, myths, and traveler's tales about animals that, let's be honest, probably never existed. The book walks you through centuries of belief, presenting manticores, barnacle geese (thought to grow on trees!), and phoenixes with the same serious tone a modern book might use for lions and tigers.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a total delight because it doesn't mock the past. Instead, it lets the old stories speak for themselves, and the effect is both charming and fascinating. You get to see how gaps in knowledge were filled with incredible creativity. It's a powerful reminder that our current 'facts' are built on a long, weird history of getting things wonderfully wrong. Reading it feels like having a coffee with a very enthusiastic, slightly eccentric historian who's dug up the strangest files in the library.

Final Verdict

If you love history, folklore, or just enjoy really odd trivia, this book is for you. It's also great for anyone who likes their non-fiction with a strong dose of wonder and a few laughs. It's not a dry scientific text; it's a celebration of human curiosity in all its misguided glory. Think of it as the weirdest museum tour you'll ever take, from the comfort of your couch.



🔖 License Information

There are no legal restrictions on this material. Knowledge should be free and accessible.

Sandra White
1 year ago

This is one of those stories where it creates a vivid world that you simply do not want to leave. One of the best books I've read this year.

Joseph Lopez
1 year ago

Very helpful, thanks.

Betty Jones
1 year ago

Having read this twice, the atmosphere created is totally immersive. A valuable addition to my collection.

Charles Lopez
9 months ago

This is one of those stories where the flow of the text seems very fluid. Absolutely essential reading.

Patricia Flores
5 months ago

Finally a version with clear text and no errors.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (8 User reviews )

Add a Review

Your Rating *
There are no comments for this eBook.
You must log in to post a comment.
Log in


Related eBooks