BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 141 



and, moreover, that it hath the Virtue, if preserved in Salt, of 

 drawing up Gold that is fallen into even a very deep Well, 

 if let down so as to touch it. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

 Of the Variety in the Nature of Fishes. 



THE Maense 1 change their Colour; for these Fishes being 

 white in Winter, become black in Summer. Also the Phycis 2 

 is subject to Alteration ; being all the Year besides white, 

 but in the Spring speckled. This is the only Fish that 

 buildeth a Nest 3 with Sea-weed, and spawneth in this Nest. 

 The Hirundo 4 flieth: truly almost in the same manner as the 

 Bird so called. The Milvus doeth the same. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



Of the Fish called the Lucerna, and the Draco Marinus 

 (Sea Dragon). 



THERE is a Fish that cometh above the Water, called 

 Lucerna, 5 for the Resemblance it hath to a Light; for it 

 thrusteth forth its fiery Tongue out of the Mouth, and in 

 calm Nights giveth Light. There is Fish that raiseth Horns 

 above the Sea, almost a Foot and a half long ; which there- 

 fore took the Name Cornuta. 6 Again, the Draco Marinus 



1 Sparus mcena. LINN. Mana vulgaris. Cuv. Wern. Club. 



2 Cuvier says it was a Goby; perhaps Gobius niger, or G. capita. 

 Martial says, 



" In Venice, where the joy of feasts is priz'd, 



The Goby is the supper's chief." Wern. Club. 



3 The particulars of British fishes which construct nests may be seen 

 in the Editor's "Illustrations of Instinct," c. 15. Wern. Club. 



4 Exocoetus exiliens. Cuv. The Flying Fish. Milvus, trigla volitans. 

 LINN. Dactylopterus volitans. Cuv. The Flying Gurnard. Wern. 

 Club. 



5 Trigla hirundo. LINN. The Tub-fish. Wern. Club. 



6 Peristf.dion malarmat. Cuv. Mailed Gurnard. Draco marinus, 

 Trachinm draco. LINN. Wiever. Wern. Club. 



