BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 171 



itself to accomplish Fecundity, unless when the Eggs are 

 cast; both Male and Female between them, by turning it 

 over, sprinkle it with a vital Power. But in such a Multi- 

 tude of Eggs this living Power doth not fall on all of 

 them ; for if it did, all Seas and Lakes would be full of 

 Fishes : for there is not one of these Females but conceiveth 

 an inconceivable Number. 



CHAPTER LI. 



More concerning the Generation of Fishes, and which of them 

 produce Eggs. 



THE Eggs of Fishes grow in the Sea, some of them ex- 

 ceedingly soon, as those of the Muraenee : others are some- 

 what later. Flat Fishes, 1 which have no Tails and sharp 

 Prickles, when they couple, come over one another, like 

 Tortoises. The Polypi fasten one of their Strings to the Nose 

 of the Female. The Sepiae and Loligo with their Tongues, 

 clasp one another with their Arms, and swim one contrary 

 to the other: they also produce their Eggs from the Mouth. 

 But the Polypi couple with their Heads downwards to the 

 Ground. The other soft Animals couple, Back to Back, as 

 Dogs. This is the Case with Locustae, Squillee, Cancri, at the 

 Mouth. Frogs lie on one another : the Male with the Fore- 

 feet clasping the Arms of the Female, and with the Hind- 

 feet the Haunches. They bring forth very small Bits of 

 black Flesh, which they call Tadpoles, only distinguished 

 by having Eyes and a Tail. Soon after their Feet are 

 framed, and their Tail is divided into hinder Parts. It is 

 wonderful that, after they have lived six Months, they are 

 dissolved into Slime, no Man seeth how; and afterward with 

 the Rains in the Spring, they are restored to their former 

 State, as they were first shaped, by an unknown Way of 

 Proceeding, although it happeneth in this Way every Year,. 

 Mussels and Pectens also, are produced of themselves by 

 Nature in the Sands : those which are of a harder Crust, as 



1 Pleuronectidae. Wern. Club. 



