8 



The tafle thereof is mighty palateable, and like no other 

 living thing. It is mucous in its humours, &quot;GLUTINOSUS 

 CIBUS,&quot; and pafseth readily down the gullet or meat-pipe, and 

 the much eating thereof doth fatten the body and fortify and 

 comfort the fpirits. It is defended, externally, by two lamel- 

 lated ihells or valves, whereof the under or convex one ad- 

 hereth at times to rocks at the bottom of the fea, or to an 

 other individual, and, as fome maintain, doth not move there 

 from, but is nourifhed and comforted thereat by the influxion 

 of the tide that bringeth it food and nutriment ; while others 

 contend that it hath the power of tardy motion or gradefcence, 

 and creepeth, or proceedeth by little and little, saltatorially. 



The outer (hells are hinged or incardinated at the bafe, and 

 indurate and fcaly, SQUAMOSO CORPORE; not denticulated like 

 the fcallop, or fpiral as the periwinkle, but CICATRICOSUS, full 

 of chops and gaihes, the which, if handled heedleflly, may cut 

 one, for Pliny fays &quot;NECTUTUM EST QUOD CICATRICOSUM.&quot; 



This creature hath a heart and vefsels for the conduit of the 

 blood ; and it is fympathetic and herdeth with its kind ; and, as 

 Gomefms maintained!, doth, like other fifhes, pine away for 

 love, and wax lean. Even so love tyranifeth, yea, even in 

 dumb creatures ! And what saith Virgil ? 



&quot; ET GENUS ^QUOREUM, PECUDES, PICT^EQUE VOLUCRES 

 IN FURIAS IGNEM QUE RUUNT ; AMOR OMNIBUS IDEM.&quot; 



And likewife well, Propertius : 



&quot; HlC DEUS, ET TERRAS, ET MARIA ALTA DOMAT.&quot; 



