648 PLINY's NA.TUTIAL HISTOEY. [Book X. 



water in a ship's hold, and more especially upon scenting the 

 blood of fish. 



The polypus cannot possibly be torn away from the rock to 

 which it clings ; but upon the herb cunila^^ being applied, the 

 instant it smells it the fish quits its hold. Purples also are 

 taken by means of fetid substances. And then, too, as to the 

 other kinds of animals, who is there that can feel any doubt? 

 Serpents are driven away by the smell of harts' horns, and 

 more particularly by that of storax. Ants, too, are killed by 

 the odours of origanum, lime, or sulphur. Gnats are attracted 

 by acids, but not hj anything sweet. 



(71.) All animals have the sense of touch, those even which 

 have no other sense ; for even in the oyster, and, among land 

 animals, in the worm, this sense is found. 



CHAP. 91. DIVERSITIES IX THE FEEDING OF ANI:m:ALS. 



I am strongly inclined to believe, too, that the sense of taste 

 exists in all animals ; for why else should one seek one kind 

 of food, and another another ? And it is in this more especially 

 tliat is to be seen the wondrous power of E"ature, the framer of 

 ail things. Some animals seize their prey with their teeth, 

 others, again, with their claws ; some tear it to pieces with their 

 hooked beak ; others, that have a broad bill, wabble in their 

 food ; others, with a sharp nib, work holes into it ; others suck 

 at their food ; others, again, lick it, others sup it in, others chew 

 it, and others bolt it whole. And no less a diversity is therj 

 in the uses they make of their feet, for the purpose of carrying, 

 tearing asunder, holding, squeezing, suspending^'- their bodies, 

 or incessantly scratching the ground. 



CHAP. 92. (72.) ANIMALS WHICH LIVE ON POISONS. 



Eoe-bucks and quails ^^ grow fat on poisons, as we have" al- 

 ready mentioned, being themselves the most harmless of ani- 

 mals. Serpents will feed on eggs, and the address displaye I 

 by the dragon is quite remarkable. — For it will either swallow 

 the egg whole, if its jaws will allow of it, and roll over anl 

 over so as to break it within, and then by coughing eject the 

 shells : or else, if it is too young to be able to do so, it will 



^^ A species of origanum. 



^- As in the case of tlie galgulus, mentioned in c. 50. 



^^ See c. 53 of the present Uook, as to quails. 



