GG PLINY'S NATURAL IIISTOllY. [Book XXXII. 



glaucus^ 3 never makes its appearance in summer, that the pom- 

 piltis 24 always accompanies vessels iu their course, and that. 

 the chrorais 2 * makes its nest iu the water. The hclops, lie 

 says, is unknown to our waters; from which it would appear 

 that those are in error who look upon it as identical with our 

 acipenser. 26 Many persons have given the preference to the 

 helops before all oilier fish, in point of flavour. 



There are several fishes also, which have been mentioned by 

 no author ; such, for instance, as the one called "sudis" by 

 the Latins, and "sphyrene" by the Greeks, names which in- 

 dicate the peculiar form of its muzzle. 27 It is one of the very 

 largest kinds, but rarely found, and by no means of inferior 

 flavour. " Perna," too, is the name given to a kind of shell- 

 fish, found in vast numbers in the vicinity of the islands of the 

 Euxine. These fish are found firmly planted in the sand, re- 

 sembling in appearance the long shank* 8 of a hog. Opening 

 wide their shells, where there is sufficient space, they lie in 

 wait for their prey ; this opening being not less than a foot in 

 breadth, and the edges of it garnished around with teeth 

 closely set, much resembling the teeth of a comb in form. 

 AVithin the shell, the meat consists of a vast lump of flesh. 

 I once saw, too, a fish called the "hyaena," 89 which had been 

 caught off the island of JEnaria. 20 



In addition to these animals, there are certain excretions 

 thrown up by the sea, which do not merit any further notice, 

 and indeed ought to be reckoned among the sea-weeds, rather 

 than looked upon as animated beings. 



SUMMARY. llemcdies, narratives, and observations, nine 

 hundred and ninety. 



32 



ROMAN AUTHORS QUOTED. Licinius Macer, 81 Trebius Niger, 



23 See B. ix. c. 25. 5t See B. is. c. 47. 



25 See B. ix. c. 42. 



* See B. ix. c. 27. Ajasson is of opinion that the " helops " is the 

 Russian sturgeon, the " acipenser," the common sturgeon. 



27 llescmbling a " stake " in appearance. It hag heen suggested that 

 this is the Ksox sphynena. 



2- " IVrua." llard<uin says that from the diminutive of this, " per- 

 nula," the modern word * pearl" is derived. 



2 * A sort of "tursio," JDalechamps says. See B. ix. c. 11. 



30 See B. iii..c. 12. 8l See end of B. xix. 32 See end of B. Tiii. 



