164 History of Nature. [BooK IX. 



in some Places a Crab, an Attendant upon him for his Vic- 

 tuals. The Pinna gapes abroad, and showeth to the rittle 

 Fishes her Body within, which has no power of seeing. They 

 make a close Attack on it; and as their Boldness increases 

 with their Impunity, they enter and fill the Shell. The Sen- 

 tinel discerns this Opportunity, and giveth Token of it by a 

 gentle Pinch. She shuts her Mouth, and crusheth whatever 

 is within ; and then she delivers its proper Share to her 

 Companion. 1 This Fact causes me to be so much the more 

 surprised, that there are some who are of Opinion that 

 Creatures of the Water have no Understanding. The Tor- 

 pedo knoweth her own Power, while she herself is not be- 

 numbed. She lieth covered over and hidden in the Mud, 

 ready to catch those Fishes which, as they unsuspiciously 

 swim over her, she strikes with Numbness. There is no 

 Meat that in Tenderness is to be preferred to the Liver of 

 this Fish. Nor is the Craftiness of the Rana less than this ; 

 which is the same that is called the Fisher in the Sea. She 

 lifts up the Horns which stand erect a little before the Eyes, 

 so as to project above the Mud which she hath stirred up ; 

 and so attracts the little Fishes which gather about her, 

 until they come so near as to enable her to seize them. In a 

 similar Manner the Squatina and Rhombus lie concealed, 

 and stretch out their Fins, which they move about, as if they 

 were some little Worms; and the Fish called Raia does the 

 same. For the Pastinaca lieth in wait like a Thief in a 

 Corner, ready to pierce the Fishes that pass by with a sharp 

 Spine, which is his Dart. It is a Proof of the Craftiness of 

 this Fish, that whilst they are the most sluggish of Fishes, 

 they are found to have in their Belly the Mugil, which is 

 the swiftest of all Fishes. 



1 " The pinna and the crab together dwell, 

 For mutual succour, in one common shell. 

 They both to gain a livelihood combine ; 

 That takes the prey, when this has given the sign. 

 From hence this crab, above his comrade fam'd, 

 By ancient Greeks was pinnatores nam'd." 



OPPIAN : Halicut, lib.ii. 1. 186, et seq. Wern. Chib. 



