246 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



for their Fat, which they have in great plenty and 

 abundance. For the Fisher-men purge it, by boyling it 

 like flesh, on the fire, and they sell it to anoint leather, 

 or for Oyl to burn in Lamps, to continue light, when 

 it is perpetual darkness. Wherefore the first Monster 

 that comes, is of a round form, in Norway called Swam- 

 fisck, the greatest glutton of all other Sea-Monsters. 

 For he is scarce satisfied, though he eat continually. 

 He is said to have no distinct stomach ; and so what 

 he eats turns into the thickness of his body, that he 



appears nothing else than one Lump of Conjoyned Fat. 

 He dilates and extends himself beyond measure, and 

 when he can be extended no more, he easily casts out 

 fishes by his mouth because he wants a neck as other 

 fishes do. His mouth and belly are continued one to 

 the other. But this Creature is so thick, that when 

 there is danger, he can, (like the Hedg-Hog) re-double 

 his flesh, fat and skin, and contract and cover himself; 

 nor doth he that but to his own loss, because fearing 

 Beasts that are his Enemies, he will not open himself 



