420 pliny's natural history. [Book TX. 



ozaena,*^ being so called from the peculiarly strong smell 

 exhaled by the head ; *^ in consequence of which, the mu- 

 raense^* pursue it with the greatest eagerness. The polypi 

 keep themselves concealed for two months in the year ; they 

 do not live beyond two^^ years, and always die of consump- 

 tion, the females even sooner, ^^ and mostly after bringing 

 forth. I must not omit here the obseiwations which L. Lu- 

 cullus, the proconsul of Baetica, made with reference to the 

 polypus, and which Trebius Niger, one of his suite, has pub- 

 lished. He says that it is remarkably fond of shell-fish, and 

 that these, the moment that they feel themselves touched by 

 it, close their valves, and cut off the feelers of the polypus, 

 thus making a meal at the expense of the plunderer. Shell- 

 fish are destitute of sight, and, indeed, all other sensations but 

 those which warn them of hunger and the approach of danger. 

 Hence it is, that the polypus lies in ambush*'' till the fish opens 

 its shell, immediately upon which, it places within it a small 

 pebble, taking care, at the same time, to keep it from touch- 

 ing the body of the animal, lest, by making some movement, 

 it should chance to eject it. Having made itself thus se- 

 cure, it attacks its prey, and draws out the flesh, while the 

 other tries to contract itself, but all in vain, in consequence of 

 the separation of the shell, thus effected by the insertion of 

 the wedge. So great is the instinctive shrewdness in animals 

 that are otherwise quite remarkable for their lumpish stu- 

 pidity. 



In addition to the above, the same author states, that there 

 is not an animal in existence, that is more dangerous for its 

 powers of destroying a human being *^ when in the water. 



*2 From old), " to emit an odour." This was a small kind of polypus. 



♦3 Cuvier remarks that, in this Chapter, there are many details relative 

 to the polypus, that have not been observed by modern naturalists ; but 

 they may have been observed by the Greeks, upon whose shores and islands 

 the animal was much more frequently to be found than in the west of 

 Europe. 



** Oppian, Halieut. B. ii. 1. 260, describes the battles of these animals 

 with the polypus. He also says, B. iii. c. 198, that they are attracted by 

 the smell of the flesh of the polypus, and so are easily taken. 



*5 Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. ix. c. 59. 



"6 Oppian, Plalieut. B. i. 1. 551, says, that they hardly live a year; and 

 .Elian, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 28, states to a similar effect. 



^'^ Basil attributes a similar craftiness to the crab ; Hexaem. Horail. vii. 



*s The fishermen at the present day, upon the coast of Normandy, say 



