170 History of Nature. [BoOK IX. 



harder; and they cannot be taken there alive. The Ara- 

 neus 1 is equally as dangerous a Creature; and inflicts Injury 

 with the Point of a Spine on its Back. But in no Place is 

 there any one more detestable than is the Dart or Ray that 

 projecteth upon the Tail of the Trygon, which we call Pasti- 

 naca; 2 which ray is five Inches long. If it be struck into 

 the Root of a Tree, it killeth it ; it pierces Armour like a 

 Dart, with the Force of Iron and the Injury of Poison. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

 Of the Diseases of Fishes. 



WE do not hear that all Sorts of Fishes are subject to Dis- 

 eases, as other Beasts, and even those that are wild. But 

 that this or that Fish may be sick appeareth evidently from 

 the wasting we see in them ; whereas others of the same Sort 

 are taken exceedingly fat. 



CHAPTER L. 

 The wonderful Manner of their Breeding. 



IN what Manner they breed, the Inquiry and Wonder of 

 Mankind will not suffer me to put off to another Oppor- 

 tunity. Fishes couple by the rubbing of their Bellies one 

 against another ; which they perform with such Celerity as 

 to deceive the Sight. Dolphins and other Whales have no 

 other Way, but they are somewhat slower. The Female 

 Fish, in the Time of coupling, followeth the Male, striking 

 his Belly with her Snout. In the like Manner, about 

 Spawning Time, the Males follow the Female, devouring 

 their Spawn. But this coupling of theirs is not sufficient of 



1 Trachinus viper a, Cuv. Wern. Club. 



2 Ch. xxiv. JElian makes the destructive property of the spine of the 

 Fire-flair the subject of several chapters ; but if he or our author had 

 had recourse to experiment, they might have soon ascertained the error 

 of the popular opinion. It is capable, however, of inflicting serious lace- 

 ration, when the tail is twisted about an object ; and the creature is well 

 aware of the way to render it a formidable weapon. Wern. Club. 



