412 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book IX. 



the frog. 92 In this number, also, the squall 93 ought to be included, 

 although they are not flat fish. Aristotle was the first to call 

 these fish by the one generic name of (rsXa^?j, 94 which he has 

 given them : we, however, have no mode of distinguishing them, 

 unless, indeed, we choose to call them the " cartilaginous *' 

 fishes. All these fish are carnivorous, 95 and feed lying on their 

 backs, just as dolphins do, as already 96 noticed ; while the other 

 fishes, 97 too, are oviparous, this one kind, with the exception of 

 that known as the sea-frog, is viviparous, like the cetacea. 98 



CHAP. 41. (25.) THE ECHENEIS, AND ITS USES IN ENCHANT- 

 MENTS. 



There is a very small fish 99 that is in the habit of living 

 among the rocks, and is known as the echeneis. 1 It is believed 

 that when this has attached itself to the keel of a ship its pro- 



naeus, which probably obtained this name on account of the width of the 

 pectoral fins, and its peculiar shape. 



92 Bdrpaxog aXitvQ, the sea-frog, the Lophius piscatorius of Linnaeus, 

 and the baudroie of the French. Cuvier remarks, that though there is 

 little solidity or firmness in the bones of this animal, it is not properly a 

 cartilaginous fish. 



93 This is borrowed from Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. v., who, however, says, 

 Kai TravTct ra ya\tudr) ; from which Massarius, Turnebus, and Hippolytus 

 Salvianus are inclined to read "galei," instead of " squali." Both terms, 

 however, Hardouin says, are used to denote the genus which the French, 

 call " chiens de mer," "dog-fish." 



94 It is curious that Aristotle, though he was the inventor of this name, 

 has nowhere stated in what it originated. Galen, De Alim. Fac. B. iii. 

 c. 36, says that it is cnro TOV raXag x aj/ > from the fact of their shining at 

 night. 



95 Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. viii. c. 5, and De Part. Anim. B. iv. c. 13. 



96 In c. 7 of the present Book. 



97 Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 8. 



98 Cuvier says that it is true that the sea-frog is oviparous ; but it is 

 far from being the case that all the cartilaginous fishes but it are viviparous. 

 The rays, for instance, produce large eggs of a square shape, and enveloped 

 with a very hard horny shell. Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. viii. c. 5, and B. 

 ii. c. 16, makes the same exception as to the sea- frog or frog-fish. 



99 This is also from Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. ii, c. 17. Oppian also 

 mentions it, Halieut. B. i. 1. 223, et seq., but he gives it all the character- 

 istics of the modern lamprey. 



1 This is the Echeneis remora of Linnaeus, Cuvier says. It has upon 

 the head an organ, by means of which it can attach itself to any body. 

 It is thus enabled to fasten to ships and larger fishes ; but as for staying a 

 ship, it has not, as Cuvier remarks, the slightest power over the very small- 

 est boat. All the eloquence, therefore, which Pliny expends upon it, in B. 

 xxxii. c. 1, is entirely thrown away. 



