BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 145 



between the Shells ; but not close to the Body of the Fish, 

 lest if it felt it, it might be thrown out again ; and thus they 

 carry on their Attacks in Security, so as to get out the 

 Flesh ; for although the Cockles close their Shells, it is in 

 vain, because of the Wedge between them : so great is the 

 Subtilty of Creatures which otherwise are very dull in their 

 Faculties ! Moreover, Trebius Niger affirmeth that there 

 is no other Creature so dangerous to destroy a Man in the 

 Water ; for it catcheth him fast in its Embrace, and sucks 

 him with the Cups, so that it exhausts him with the Num- 

 ber of its drawing Instruments, at such a Time as it has 

 obtained an Advantage over those which are shipwrecked, 

 or are engaged in diving. But if it be turned upside down, 

 its Strength is soon gone ; for then they stretch themselves 

 out on their Back. And truly also, all Creatures in the 

 Sea are attracted by their Smell, which is the Cause that 

 Fishermen besmear their Traps with them. 



Other Things which this Author hath related may seem 

 rather like something monstrous ; for he affirmeth, that at 

 Carteia there was one which used to go from the Sea into 

 their open Cisterns, among their Ponds, and there rob them 

 of their salt Fish ; and this Thievery was so enormous and 

 long continued, that it gat itself the great Displeasure of 

 the Keepers. Fences were erected to stop the Passage, but 

 these it passed over by means of a Tree ; nor could it have 

 been taken but by the Sagacity of the Dogs : for as it was 

 returning one Night, they set upon it on all Sides, and so 

 raised the Keepers, who were affrighted at the strange 

 Sight. For, first of all, it was of unheard-of bigness; then 

 its Colour was covered over with the Pickle, and the Stink 

 was horrible. Who would have looked for a Polypus there, 

 or have known it in such a condition ? They thought they 

 had to encounter with some Monster : for with its terrible 

 Vapour it drove away the Dogs; and with the Ends of its 

 long Tendrils it would lash them ; sometimes with its 

 stronger Arms it knocked them, as with Clubs ; so that it 

 was with Difficulty they were able to kill it with several 

 three-pronged Spears. Its Head was shown to Lucullus, and 



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