Describes a collection of beasts in the twelfth century pointing out the human qualities they possess. Also introduces fantasy examples of beasts which were thought to have haunted the Dark Ages. Includes lengthy footnotes with literary, scientific, and historical material illustrating the bestiary catalog.

"This Dover edition, first published in 1984, is an unabridged republication of the edition first published by G.P. Putnam's Song, N.Y., in 1954"--T.p. verso.