34 MOLLUSCA. 
handed down from the ancient Greeks and Romans. 
The classics frequently allude to them as among 
the greatest delicacies. At the nuptial feast of 
TIphicrates a hundred Polypi and Sepie were served 
up. Among the Greeks generally they were dis- 
euised with various condiments and sauces; and 
the Poulpe, or Many-feet, (Polypus, the Octopus 
of modern zoology) was the most highly esteemed. 
Dr. Johnston quotes the “ good old story” of Phil- 
oxenus in illustration of the gourmand taste for 
this ill-looking Cephalopod. 
“Of all fish-eaters, 
None, sure, excell’d the Lyric bard, Philoxenus. 
"Twas a prodigious twist! At Syracuse, 
Fate threw him on the fish call’d ‘ Many-feet.’ 
He purchased it, and drest it; and the whole, 
Bate me the head, form’d but a single swallow. 
A crudity ensued—the doctor came, 
And the first glance inform’d him things went wrong. 
And ‘ Friend,’ quoth he, ‘if thou hast aught to set 
In order, to it straight ;—pass but seven hours, 
And thou and life must take a long farewell.’ 
‘T’ve nought to do,’ replied the bard, ‘all’s right 
And tight about me. , é : 
: : ; : : I were loath, howe’er, 
To troop with less than all my gear about me ;— 
Good doctor, be my helper then to what 
Remains of that same blessed Many-feet. 
> 99 
Snails appear to have found equal favour with 
the ancients. The Romans were accustomed to 
keep these animals in snail-sties, or Cochlearia, 
where they fattened them with nutritive pastes 
artificially made. The species was probably the 
Helix pomatia, which is considerably larger than 
our garden snail, but the dimensions which they 
are said to have attained under these favourable 
