_ Q. Why do beasts move their ears, and not men? A. Because there is a certain muscle near the under jaw which doth cause motion in the ear; and therefore, that muscle being extended and stretched, men do not move their ears, as it hath been seen in divers men; but all beasts do use that muscle or fleshy sinew, and therefore do move their ears.
       Q. Why is rain prognosticated by the pricking up of asses' ears? A. Because the ass is of a melancholic constitution, and the approach of rain produceth that effect on such a constitution. In the time of rain all beasts prick up their ears, but the ass before it comes.
       Q. Why have some animals no ears? A. Nature giveth unto everything that which is fit for it, but if she had given birds ears, their flying would have been hindered by them. Likewise fish want ears, because they would hinder their swimming, and have only certain little holes through which they hear.
       Q. Why have bats ears, although of the bird kind? A. Because they are partly birds in nature, in that they fly, by reason whereof they have wings; and partly they are hairy and seem to be of the nature of mice, therefore nature hath given them ears.
       Q. Why have men only round ears? A. Because the shape of the whole and of the parts should be proportionable, and especially in all things of one nature; for as a drop of water is round, so the whole water: and so, because a man's head is round, the ears incline towards the same figure; but the heads of beasts are somewhat long, and so the ears are drawn into length likewise.
       Q. Why hath nature given all living creatures ears? A. 1. Because with them they should hear. 2. Because by the ear choleric superfluity is purged; for as the head is purged of phlegmatic superfluity by the nose, so from choleric, by the ears. _

Aristotle's Book...Concerning The State Of Man's Body
Of The Head
Of The Eyes
Of The Nose
Of The Ears
Of The Mouth
Of The Teeth
Of The Tongue
Of The Roof Of The Mouth
Of The Neck
Of The Shoulders And Arms
Of The Hands
Of The Nails
Of The Paps And Dugs
Of The Back
Of The Heart
Of The Stomach
Of The Blood
Of The Urine
Of The Gall And Spleen
Of Carnal Copulation
Of The Seed Of Man And Beasts
Of Hermaphrodites
Of Monsters
Of The Child In The Womb
Of Abortion And Untimely Birth
Of Divers Matters
The Problems Of Marcus Antoninus Sanctipertias
The Problems Of Alexander Aphrodiseus