BOOK X, xc. 195-XC11. 197 



them flee far away, but most of all the blood of 

 fishes. The polyp cannot be dragged away from 

 the bait " ; but when a sprig of marjoram is brought 

 near to it, it at once darts away from the scent. soise of 

 Purple-fish also can be caught by means of things ^"^^" "' 

 with a foul smell. As to the rest of the animal class spedei. 

 who could have any doubt ? Snakes are driven 

 away by the stench of burnt stag's horn, but espe- 

 cially by that of styrax-tree gum ; the scent of 

 marjoram or Ume or sulphur kills ants. Gnats seek 

 for sour things and are not attracted by sweet 

 things. 



All creatures have the sense of touch, even those Touchand 

 that have none of the othei-s ; it is possessed even '*''*" 

 by molluscs, and also, among land animals, by worms. 

 XCI. I am incUned to beUeve that aU possess the 

 sense of taste also ; for why are different species 

 attracted by different flavours ? In the matter of 

 taste nature's handicraft is outstanding : some 

 creatures catch their prey with their teeth, others 

 with their claws, others snatch their food with the 

 curve of the beak, others root it up with the flat of 

 the beak, others dig it out with the point ; some 

 suck it in, others Uck it, sup it up, chew it, gulp it 

 down. Nor is there less variety in the service 

 rendered by their feet, in snatching, tearing asunder, 

 holding, squeezing, hanging, or incessantly scratching 

 the earth. 



XCII. Wild goats and quails, the most peaceful vanetiesoi 

 of creatures, grow fat, as we have said, on poisons,* "«'""<"'• 

 but snakes batten on eggs, serpents having a 

 remarkably skilful trick — they either gulp the eggs 

 down whole, if their throats have grown large enough 

 to hold them, and then break them inside them by 



417 



