Dr. Zachary Grey, in his edition of _Hudibras_, vol. i. p. 125., relates
the following anecdote:
"Mr. Jacob Bobart, Botany Professor of Oxford, did, about forty years
ago (in 1704), find a dead rat in the Physic Garden, which he made to
resemble the common picture of dragons, by altering its head and tail,
and thrusting in taper sharp sticks, which distended the skin on each
side till it mimicked wings. He let it dry as hard as possible. The
learned immediately pronounced it a dragon, and one of them sent an
accurate description of it to Dr. Maliabechi, Librarian to the Grand
Duke of Tuscany: _several fine copies of verses_ were wrote upon so
rare a subject, but at last Mr. Bobart owned the cheat: however, it was
looked upon as a masterpiece of art, and as such deposited in the
anatomy schools (at Oxford), where I saw it some years after."
Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." inform me where I can procure the
_several_ fine copies of verses, or where they are to be seen, and any
other particulars relating to Jacob Bobart?
Where can I procure copies of the following, mentioned in Wood's _Athenæ
Oxon._, vol. iii. p. 757.:
"Poem upon Mr. Jacob Bobards Yew-man of the Guards to the Physic
Garden, to the tune of the 'Counter-Scuffle.' Oxon. 1662."
On one side of a sheet of paper.
Also:
"A Ballad on the Gyants in the Physic Garden in Oxon, who have been
breeding Feet as long as Garagantua was Teeth."
On one side of a sheet of paper.