304 FISHES AND FISHING. 



ent parts of his " Halieuticks," and most curious 

 qualities attributed to it, we do not correctly know 

 this fish, the preke: " he has eight long legs or fibres, 

 four on each side of his head, which serve him to 

 crawl, cling to the rocks, and entangle his prey." 

 The above poet says, book iv., verse 335, 



" With all the transports of an eager spouse, 

 Th' enamored preke gallants Minerva's houghs. 

 Surprizing singularity of love ! 

 That brutal souls a leafy fair should move, 

 And fishes court the daughter of the grove." 



In the following lines it is stated, that where near 

 the shore an olive tree is found, with swelling berries 

 and luxuriant boughs, the preke will ascend it and 

 remain. 



" But when remiss exhausted nature lies, 

 Back to the sea the languid crawler hies, 

 Satiate with love and vegetable joys." 



The Grecian fishermen avail themselves of the 

 propensities and passions of fish, for loading a bough 

 of the olive-tree with lead, they drag it along deeply 

 depressed, at the stern of their boat. The preke en 

 twines himself amongst the branches, allows himself 

 to be drawn into the boat, and only relinquishes his 

 hold of the bough with his life. 



Another curious passion in fish is, that ofthesargo, 



