154 THE HISTOET OF ANIMALS. [B. VI. 



3. Th<? same thing also occurs in the malacia; for the 

 male sepia sprinkles the ova of the female as they are de- 

 posited; and it is reasonable to suppose that the other 

 malacia do the same, although it has only been observed in 

 the sepia. They produce their ova near the land, the cobii 

 deposit them upon stones, and that which they produce is 

 flat and sand-like. The rest do the same, for the parts near 

 the land are warmer, and provision is more abundant, and 

 there is better protection for their young against larger 

 fish, for which cause very great numbers deposit their ova 

 near the river Thermodon, in the Pontus, for the place is 

 sheltered and warm, and the water is sweet. 



4. The majority of viviparous fish reproduce once in 

 a-year, except the small phycides, 1 which reproduce twice 

 a-year. The male phyces differs from the female, being 

 darker-coloured and having larger scales. All other fish 

 produce from seed, and emit ova ; but that which is called 

 the belone, at the season of reproduction bursts asunder, 

 and in this way the ova escape ; for this fish has a division 

 beneath the stomach and bowels, like the serpents called 

 typhlin. 2 When it has produced its ova, it survives, and 

 the wound heals up again. 



5. The development of the ovum is alike, both in those 

 that are internally and those that are externally oviparous. 

 For it takes place at the extremityof the ovum, and it is en- 

 closed in a membrane. The eyes are the first part that is con- 

 spicuous ; they are large and spherical ; so that it is plain that 

 they are mistaken who say that the mode of development re- 

 sembles that of vermiform creatures, for in them the order 

 is different, and the lower parts are formed first, and after- 

 wards the head and eyes. When the ovum is taken away, 

 they assume a circular form, and for some time continue to 

 grow without taking in any food, by absorbing the moisture 

 of the ovum. They afterwards derive their nutriment, as 

 long as they continue growing, from the water of the river. 



6. When the Pontus is cleansed, something is floated 

 out into the Hellespont which is called fucus. It is of a 

 yellow colour. Some say that it is naturally a plant. This 

 takes place at the beginning of summer. The oysters and 

 email fish which live in these places feed upon this fucus ; 



1 MugiL Some species of mullet. 2 Lacerta apus. 



