HALIEUTICA, II. 158-181 



and swiftly the hollow vessel claps too above him 

 and, for all his endeavour, he can no more escape 

 from the strong cover, till the boy seizes and kills 

 him, mocking the while his prey ; even so over the 

 man's head the deadly fish extends, preventing him 

 from rising to the surface, until breath leaves him 

 and he gasps out his life amid the waves ; where 

 the Ox-ray of evil name sets about him and feasts 

 upon him, having by his \viles captured a difficult 

 prey. 



And one who observes a Crab among the mossy 

 ledges will praise and admire him for his cunning 

 art. For to him also hath Heaven given wisdom to 

 feed on Oysters, a sweet and unlaborious food. The 

 Oysters open the bars of their doors and lick the 

 mud, and, in their desire for water, sit wide open in 

 the arms of the rocks. The Crab « on the other hand 

 takes a pebble from the beach and, moving sideways, 

 carries it clutched in his sharp claws. Stealthily he 

 draws near and puts the stone in the middle of the 

 Oyster. Then he sits by and makes a pleasant feast. 

 And the Oyster, though fain, is unable to shut his 

 two valves, but gapes perforce until he dies and gluts 

 his captor. 



A hke craft is practised also by the reptile Star- 



« Cambridge X.H. iii. p. Ill "Crabs crush the young 

 shells with their claws, and are said to gather in bands and 

 scratch sand or mud over the larger specimens, which makes 

 them open their shells. " 



297 



