1-46 History of Nature. [BooK IX. 



was as big as a Barrel that would contain fifteen Amphorae ; 

 and its Beards (for I quote the exact Words of Trebius^) a 

 Man could scarcely encompass with both his Arms; they were 

 full of Protuberances like Clubs, and thirty feet long. The 

 Cavities or Cups, and hollow Vessels, were like great 

 Basins ; and the Teeth were conspicuous for their size. The 

 Remains were preserved for a Wonder, and weighed seven 

 hundred Pounds. The same Author affirmeth that Sepiae 

 also, and the Loligo, have been cast upon that Shore, full as 

 big. Indeed, in our Sea, Loligines are taken of five Cubits 

 long, and Sepiae of two : and these do not live above two 

 Years. 1 



Mutianus reporteth, that himself saw in Propontis ano- 

 ther kind, having the Likeness of one carrying a Ship : that 

 it was a Shell-fish, with a Keel like that of a Barge, with a 

 Poop turned inward ; the Prow with a Beak. Within this 

 lay hid the Nauplius, an Animal resembling a Sepia, only to 

 play with it for Company. And this was done in two Ways : 

 for when it is calm, the Passenger would put down its Feet, 

 and row as with Oars ; but if the Breeze invited, it would 

 stretch out the same to serve for a Rudder ; and then the 

 Cavity of the Shell would be spread to the Wind. So one of 

 them takes, a Pleasure to carry, and the other to direct; and 

 they unite to sink the Shell : though both are destitute of 

 Sense ; unless, indeed, Misfortune be intended to Man : a 

 sad Presage, as is well known to Sailors. 



Locustae 2 (being of that Kind which wanteth Blood) are 

 defended with a brittle Crust. For five Months they lie hid. 



1 -/Elian relates some accounts of enormous Polypi : B. xii. c. 6. One 

 dragged into the sea an eagle that had attempted to seize it ; B. vii. c. 1 1 . 

 Wern. Club. 



3 This seems a general name for long-tailed Crustaceans, including 

 the Lobsters and Crawfishes. But when applied to a distinct species, the 

 Carabos of the Greeks and Locusta of the Latins is the genus Palinurus, 

 Cuv., of which P. quadricomis was, probably, that which Tiberius em- 

 ployed to lacerate the face of the fisherman at Capri : its shell being 

 covered with prominent spines. Astacus (A. marinus) is the common 

 Lobster. Wern. Club. 



