THE KRAKEN. 329 



a short time it begins slowly to sink again, and then the danger is as 

 great as before ; because the motion of his sinking causes such a swell 

 in the sea, and such an eddy or whirlpool, that it draws everything 

 down with it, like the current of the river Male. 



" As this enormous sea-animal in all probability may be reckoned 

 of the Polype, or of the Starfish kind, as shall hereafter be more fully 

 proved, it seems that the parts which are seen rising at its pleasure, 

 and are called arms, are properly the tentacula, or feeling instruments, 

 called horns, as well as arms. With these they move themselves, and 

 likewise gather in their food. 



" Besides these, for this last purpose the great Creator has also 

 given this creature a strong and peculiar scent, which it can emit at 

 certain times, and by means of which it beguiles and draws other fish 

 to come in heaps about it. This animal has another strange property, 

 known by the experience of many old fishermen. They observe that 

 for some months the Kraken or Krabben is continually eating, and in 

 other months he always voids his excrements. During this evacuation 

 the surface of the water is coloured with the excrement, and appears 

 quite thick and turbid. This muddiness is said to be so very agree- 

 able to the smell or taste of other fishes, or to both, that they gather 

 together from all parts to it, and keep for that purpose directly over 

 the Kraken ; he then opens his arms or horns, seizes and swallows his 

 welcome guests, and converts them after due time, by digestion, into 

 a bait for other fish of the same kind. I relate what is affirmed by 

 many ; but I cannot give so certain assurances of this particular, as I 

 can of the existence of this surprising creature ; though I do not find 

 anything in it absolutely contrary to Nature. As we can hardly 

 expect to examine this enormous sea-animal alive, I am the more 

 concerned that nobody embraced that opportunity which, according 

 to the following account once did, and perhaps never more may, offer, 

 of seeing it entire when dead." 



The lost opportunity which the worthy prelate thus 

 lamented, with the true feeling of a naturalist, was made 

 known to him by the Rev. Mr. Friis, Consistorial As- 

 sessor, Minister of Bodoen in Nordland, and Vicar of the 

 college for promoting Christian knowledge, and was to the 

 following effect : 



" In the year 1680, a Krake (perhaps a young and foolish one) came 

 into the water that runs between the rocks and cliffs in the parish of 



