CURIOUS CREATURES. 259 



" The Polypus cannot possibly be torn away from the 

 rock to which it clings ; but upon the herb cunila being 

 applied, the instant it smells it, the fish quits its hold. 

 ... All animals have the sense of touch, those even 

 which have no other sense; for even in the oyster, 

 and, among land animals, in the worm, this sense is 

 found. I am strongly inclined to believe, too, that the 

 sense of taste exists in all animals ; for why else should 

 one seek one kind of food, and one another ? " 



ZOOPHYTES. 



Writing on the lower phases of Marine Animal life, 

 he says : " Indeed, for my own part, I am strongly 

 of opinion that there is sense existing in those bodies 

 which have the nature of neither animals nor vegetables, 

 but a third, which partakes of them both : sea-nettles, 

 and sponges, I mean. The Sea Nettle wanders to and 

 fro by night, and at night changes its locality. These 

 creatures are by nature a sort of fleshy branch, and are 

 nurtured upon flesh. They have the power of producing 

 an itching, smarting pain, just like that caused by the 

 nettle found on land. For the purpose of seeking its 

 prey, it contracts, and stiffens itself to the utmost pos- 

 sible extent, and then, as a small fish swims past, it 

 will suddenly spread out its branches, and so seize and 

 devour it. At another time it will assume the appear- 

 ance of being quite withered away, and let itself be 

 tossed to and fro, by the waves, like a piece of sea-weed, 

 until it happens to touch a fish. The moment it does 

 so, the fish goes to rub itself against a rock, to get 

 rid of the itching : immediately upon which, the nettle 

 pounces upon it. By night also it is on the look-out 



