BOOK IX. Lxviii. 146-LXIX. 149 



derived from both, possess sense-perception — I mean 

 jelly-fish and sponges. 



Jelly-fish roam about and ehange their place by 

 night. These have the natm*e of a fleshy leaf, and 

 they feed on flesh. The itch they cause has a biting 

 power, just like that of the land nettle. Consequently 

 this creature di'aws itself in as stifHy as possible and 

 when a little fish swims in front of it spreads out its 

 leaf and enfolding it devours it. In other cases it 

 looks as if it were withering up, and allows itself to 

 be tossed about by the waves Hke seaweed, and 

 attacks any fish that touch it as they try to scrape 

 away the itch by rubbing against a rock. The same 

 creature by night hunts for scallops and sea-urchins. 

 When it feels a hand approach it, it changes colour 

 and draws itself together. When touched it sends 

 out a burning sting, and if there is a moment's 

 interval hides. It is reported to have mouths in its 

 root and to evacuate its excretions by a nai-row tube 

 througli its topmost parts. 



LXIX. We are informed that there are three Thesponge 

 kinds of sponge : a thick and very hard and rough '^arieiils' 

 one is called goat-thorn sponge, a less thick and "'"'■ 

 softer one loose-sponge, and a thin one of close 

 texture, used for making paint-brushes, Achilles 

 sponge. They all grow on rocks, and feed on shells, 

 fish and mud. These creatures manifestly possess 

 intelligence, because when they are aware of a sponge- 

 gatherer they contract and make it much more 

 diflicult to detach them. They do the same when 

 much beaten by the waves. The tiny shells found 

 inside them clearly show that they live by eating 

 food. It is said that in the neighbourhood of Torone 

 they can be fed on these shell-fish even after they 



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