BOOK IX-] History of Nature. ] 27 



this is thought to happen because they see better with their 

 right eye ; and yet neither of them by Nature is dull. Within 

 the Channel of the Thracian Bosphorus, by which the Pro- 

 pontis is joined to the Euxine, in the very Straits of the 

 Firth that clivideth Asia from Europe, near to Chalcedon on 

 the Side of Asia, there is a Rock, exceedingly bright, and 

 shining in such a manner from the Bottom of the Sea 

 to the Top, that the Tunnies are instantly affrighted at the 

 Sight ; and to avoid it, they rush with Violence in whole 

 Flocks towards the Cape overagainst Byzantium : which 

 Cape on this Account beareth the Name of Auricornu 

 (Golden Horn). And therefore it is, that all the Fishery is 

 at Byzantium ; and there is great Scarcity at Chalcedon, 

 although the Breadth of the Passage between them is not 

 more than half a Mile. They wait for the North Wind, that 

 by the aid of the Waves they may pass out of the Pontus ; 

 but the only taking of them at Byzantium is when they enter 

 into the Pontus. In Winter they do not wander ; but wher- 

 ever they are then found, there they remain for the Winter, 

 and until the Spring Equinox. Many a Time they accompany 

 the Ships that proceed under Sail, and it is a wonderful 

 pleasant Sight to see them from the Stern, for Hours together, 

 and for the Space of several Miles, and not terrified even 

 though the Sailors strike at them with the Trident. 1 Some 

 People make a Distinction between those that follow the 

 Ships under Sail and Tunnies, and call them Pompili. 2 

 Many of them pass the Summer in the Propontis, and 

 never enter into the Pontus. Solse 3 likewise do the same, 



1 Familiarly termed Grayns by sailors of our day ; who still use the 

 instrument, skilfully fitted with a line which causes it to become reversed 

 when the blow is struck, by which means the struggles of the prey only 

 cause it to become the more securely fixed. Wern. Club. 



2 This has been mistaken for the Pilot-fish, Naucrates Ductor ; but 

 the true Pompilus is the Centrolophus Pompilus, Cuv. YARRELL'S British 

 Fishes, vol. i. The Black-fish. Wern. Club. 



3 Pleuronectes solea. LINN. Solea vulgaris. Cuv. Rhombus is the 

 Turbot. Pleuronectes Rhombus. LINN. Phombus maximus. Cuv. 

 Wern. Club. 



