BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 165 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

 Of the Scolopendrce, Vulpes, and the Glanis. 



THE Scolopendrae 1 are like those of the Land which they 

 call Centipedes. Wlien this Creature hath swallowed an 

 Hook, it vomits up its Entrails, until it hath delivered itself 

 of the Hook, and then it suppeth them in again. But the 

 Vulpes marinse, 2 in the like Danger, swallow down more 

 and more of the Line, until it conies to the weakest Part, 

 which it can easily gnaw asunder. The Fish called Glanis 

 is more cautious ; it bites the Back of the Hook, and does 

 not devour the Bait, but nibbles it away. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

 Of the Fish called Aries. 



THE Ram 3 attacks like a Robber ; for sometimes it hides 

 itself under the Shade of large Ships in the salt Sea, 

 where it waiteth for any Man whom the Pleasure of Swim- 

 ming may invite within its Reach ; at other Times it 

 lifteth its Head above Water, to spy any small Fishing- 

 boats, arid then it slily swimmeth close to them, and 

 sinketh them. 



CHAPTER XLV. 



Of those that have a third Nature, and are neither Animals 

 nor Plants : also of Urticce and Sponges. 



I TRULY am of Opinion, that those which are neither 

 Animals nor Plants, but possess a third Nature, or are com- 



1 The creatures referred to appear to be Holothuriae, and chiefly of 

 the class Cucumariae ; which, when near death, eject their entrails, but 

 without the power of re -absorbing them. But the name Scolopendras 

 more properly applies to marine worms : Nereides. Wern. Club. 



3 Squalus vulpes, Lnw.Carcharias vulpus, Cuv. The Sea Fox, or 

 Thrasher. Wern. Club. 



3 See Chap. v. p. 108. Wern. Club. 



