Chap. 68.] THE SEA-NETTLE. 453 



to the land insect which we call a centipede, if it chances to 

 swallow a hook, will vomit forth all its intestines, until it has 

 disengaged itself, after which it will suck them in again. The 

 sea-fox 31 too, when exposed to a similar peril, goes on 

 swallowing the line until it meets with a weak part of it, 

 and then with its teeth snaps it asunder with the greatest ease. 

 The fish called the glanis 32 is more cautious ; it bites at the 

 hooks from behind, and does not swallow them, but only strips 

 them of the bait. 



(44.) The sea -ram 33 commits its ravages just like a wary 

 robber ; at one time it will lurk in the shadow of some large 

 vessel that is lying out at sea, and wait for any one who may 

 be tempted to swim ; while at another, it will raise its head 

 from the surface of the water, survey the fishermen's boats, 

 and then slily swim towards them and gink them. 



CHAP. 68. (45.) BODIES WHICH HAVE A THIRD NATURE, THAT 



OF THE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE COMBINED THE SEA-NETTLE. 



Indeed, for my own part, I am strongly of opinion that there 

 is sense existing in those bodies which have the nature 34 of 

 neither animals nor vegetables, but a third which partakes of 

 them both : sea- nettles and sponges, I mean. The sea-nettle i5 

 wanders to and fro by night, and at night changes its locality. 

 These creatures are by nature a sort of fleshy branch, 36 and are 

 nurtured upon flesh. They have the power of producing an 



is in reality of the class of worms that have red blood, or annelides, such, 

 for instance, as the Nereides of larger size. These having on the sides ten- 

 tacles, which bear a strong resemblance to feet, and sharp jaws, might, he 

 says, be very easily taken for scolopendrae. They have also a fleshy trunk, 

 often very voluminous, and so flexible that it can be extended or withdrawn, 

 according to the necessities of the animal. It is this trunk, Cuvier thinks, 

 that gave occasion to the story that it could disgorge its entrails, and then 

 swallow them again. 



31 This fish, Cuvier says, was doubtless a species of squalus ; which have 

 the power, in consequence of the sharpness of their saw-like teeth, of cutting 

 a line with the greatest ease. It is mentioned by Aristotle, B. ix. c, 62 ; 

 ^Elian, Var. Hist. B. i. c. 43 ; and Oppian, Halieut. B. iii. 1. 144. 



32 The fish that has been previously ^mentioned in c. 17 of this Book, 

 under the name of silurus. 



33 Aries." The Delphinus orca of Linnaeus. See c. 4 of the present 

 Book. 34 The zoophytes, or the zoodendra. 



a5 The wandering urticae, or sea-nettles, are the Medusa? of Linnaeus ; 

 the stationary nettle is the Actinia of the same naturalist. 

 30 " Carnosae frondis his natura." 



