CURIOUS CREATURES. 233 



have always a sense of the Seas, and when the Sea 

 goes forth, they will stand up like Bristles. The right 

 Fin hath a soporiferous quality to make one sleep, if 

 it be put under one's head. They that fear Thunder, 

 think those Tabernacles best to live in, that are made 

 of Sea-Calves Skins, because onely this Creature in the 

 Sea, as an Eagle in the Ayr is safe and secure from the 

 Stroke of Thunder. ... If the Sea be boisterous and 

 rise, so doth the Sea Calfe's hair : if the Sea be calm, 

 the hair is smooth ; and thus you may know the state 

 of the Sea in a dead Skin. The Bothnick Marriners 

 conjecture by their own Cloaths, that are made of these 

 Skins, whether the Sea shall be calm, and their voyage 

 prosperous, or they shall be in danger of Shipwreck. 

 . . . These Creatures are so bold, that when they hear 

 it thunder, and they see it clash and lighten, they are 

 glad, and ascend upon the plain Mountains, as Frogs 

 rejoyce against Rain." 



A very fine piece of casuistry is shown, in " the 

 perplexity of those that eat the flesh of Sea-Calves in 

 Lent" and it seems to be finally settled that, according 

 to " the men of a more clear judgment, rejecting many 

 Reasons, brought on both sides, do say, and prove, that 

 when the Sea-Calf brings forth on the shore, if the 

 Beast driven by the Hunter, run into the Woods, men 

 must forbear to eat of it in Lent, when flesh is for- 

 bidden ; but if he run to the Waters, one may fairly eat 

 thereof." 



Gesner, in giving this delineation of a Sea-Horse, 

 openly says that it is the Classical horse, as used by 

 Neptunus ; but Olaus Magnus declares that " The Sea 

 Horse, between Britany and Norway, is oft seen to have 

 a head like a horse, and to neigh ; but his feet and 



