HALIEUTICA, IV. 600-628 



erect, even as farmers fence all round with close-set 

 stakes the hedge that runs about a vineyard : a 

 great trouble for robbers ; and none could enter in, 

 since the stakes bar the way. Even so no one would 

 readily touch the Sargues nor lay a hand upon them, 

 for their dark spines bristle about them with close- 

 set jutting points. But the skilful man should dive 

 speedily under the hidden places of the sea and 

 observe the Sargues all round— where lies the head 

 and where the tail — and putting his hand over their 

 heads he should gently stroke " their spines above 

 and press and bend them down. The Sargues remain 

 just as they were, clustered together and unmoving, 

 trusting in their sharp defences. Then the man takes 

 two of them, one in either hand, and comes to the 

 surface again, having accomphshed a deed of utmost 

 cunning. 



The rock-haunting Sciaena, when fear comes upon 

 its heart, rushes eagerly to the reefs and enters some 

 hollow round hole or cleft, or creeps under the sea 

 grasses or the wet weeds ; for it does not study to 

 find such shelter as might admit its whole body and 

 protect it, but seeks only to defend its head, and 

 hiding head and eyes hopes because it does not see 

 to escape the attack of one who sees. Even so in 

 the woods the Antelope, when the ravenous Lion 

 attacks it, turning down its head protects itself with 

 a vain defence and hopes itself unseen, till the deadly 

 beast rushes upon it and rends it, while it remains of 

 like mind as before nor lifts its head, but even while 



* Ael. i. 23 0r]f>u)VTai 5e (ot (rapyoi) Kai airb x^'-P^^t ^o*' ''"'S Taj 

 aKo.vda'i, ij iyetpovffLP et's to taiTOis afivvfiv, eis to accitw fi^pos 

 a-rS ye rrji K€<pa\rj$ tjijI'XV KaTdyuv elra acXiVj, /cat iriicras tQiv 

 TrerpOsv iKairiffr], ets As iavroiii vrip rod \aOelv (hdovffw. 



2g 449 



