Book 1X. Iandof BARBADOS. 
fecuring itfelf from Danger ; which, as the Ink-Fifh, is dire@ed, at the 
Approach of its Enemy, to emit this purple Liquor, which, being zau- 
fous and offenfive, annoys and beats off its Affailant. a 
The Larcrt Concu. 
Buccinum maximum, ‘labro maxime patente purpureo, clavicula muricata: 
nah Lift. Hift. Conchyl. 
HIS kind of Fith is of two Sorts, diftinguithed by the Thicknefs 
or Thinnefs of their Shell. 
That with the thinneft Shell is generally the largeft, and the other the 
moft ponderous. 
The Outfide is of a brownifh White, fludded at uncertain Diftances 
with blunt-knobbed Protuberances. 
The Infide is finely polifhed ; and its Colour, near the Extremity, of a 
pale Red ; farther in, of adeep Maiden’s-bluth. 
The Head of the Fifh is guarded with a black horny Beak; or Tongue. 
This, being extended out of the Shell, and fixed in the Sand, by a 
{trong mufcular Motion, drags the Fifh with its cumberous Weight of 
Shell after it. 
Ariftotle and Pliny are of Opinion, that the Ufe of this Beak, in fome 
of the Conch Kind, is-to pierce thro’ other leffer Shell-Fifh, which they 
prey upon. 
Though this may be one of their Ways of. Feeding, yet they are fel- 
dom deftitute of Food at lefs Trouble; for there grows upon the Out= 
fide of their Shells a fine whitifh Mofs. This, in all Probability, is no lefs 
agreeable to them, than the green broad-leaved Mols is to the Tortoi/e ; for 
the whole Fifh (except the Tail, which remains in the Shell) is feen to 
come out of it to feed upon this Mofs, which it licks very.clean from the 
Shell; fo that they always carry fome Part of their Food along with 
them. 
They are likewife to be met with feeding, after great Floods, in the 
Sea, oppolite to deep Gullies, or Rivers ; for as. thefe Torrents’ generally 
carry a great Quantity of Land-Fruit, Leaves, and fuch Feces, into the 
Sea ; the Conchs are often feen to feed upon them. 
They are evidently Male and Female. The Penis of the Male is 
above two-Inches long. 
The horny Beak above-mentioned is near two Inches in Length, and 
three Quarters of an Inch broad, fharp-pointed, and fomewhat crooked. 
This is fortified with a flrong middle Rib, and faftened to a tough 
cartilaginous Neck, as thick as one’s Thumb. ‘- : 
The upper Part of this, by feveral crofs Indentings, is made as‘ rough 
as a Rafp : It is with this Part that it licks, or rather fcrapes off, the Mofs 
that grows upon its own Shell. 
Aaaa About 
275 
