BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 179 



made mention of the Islands Chelidoniae in Asia, situated in 

 a Sea full of Rocks under the Promontory ; and here this 

 Fish is in Abundance; and they are rapidly taken in one 

 Manner. For the Fisherman goes in a small Boat for cer- 

 tain Days together, to a certain Distance in the Sea, with 

 his Garments of one Colour, at one Hour, and there he 

 casteth his Bait. But whatever is thrown from the Boat 

 becomes an Object of Suspicion to the intended Prey; and 

 what it feareth it, guards against ; until at length, after this 

 has been often practised, one Anthias, enticed by the Repe- 

 tition, seizeth the Bait. The Fisherman carefully notes this 

 one Fish as the Foundation of his Hope, and the Enticer of 

 others that will be caught. And that is no hard Matter for 

 him to do, because for some Days that Fish alone dares to 

 come to the Bait. At length he meets with some others, 

 and by little and little he is better accompanied, until in the 

 End he brings with him large Sculls, so that now the oldest 

 of them being so well accustomed to know the Fisherman, 

 they will snatch Meat out of his Hand. Then he thrusteth 

 forth an Hook with the Bait, somewhat beyond his Fin- 

 gers, and flieth upon them more truly than catcheth them, 

 with a short Snatch ; seizing them from the Shadow of the 

 Ship, in such a Manner as not to scare the others away. 

 It is important to Success that he should know the first 

 Enticer, that he may not take him. The Fisherman spareth 

 him, that he may fly to some other Flock. It is reported 

 that one contentious Fisherman, out of Ill-will, captured this 

 Captain-fish which led the rest into the Snare, for he was 

 well known : but when the Fisherman recognised him in the 

 Market in the Possession of a fellow-Fisherman, regarding 

 himself as wronged, he brought his Action for the Damage, so 

 that the other was condemned. Mutianus adds, that the Fine 

 was ten Pounds. The same Anthiae, if they see one of their 

 Fellows caught with a Hook, are reported to cut the Line with 

 the serrated sharp Spines which they have upon their Back ; 

 and that one which hangeth at it, stretcheth it out straight, 

 that it may be cut asunder more easily. But the Sargus, if 

 he find himself taken, rubs the Line against a Rock. 



