296 
The Natural Hiftory of the Book Ix. 
About two Inches lower appear three cartilaginous Protuberances of a 
blunt conic Form. ; ‘ 
Two of thefe are about an Inch and an half long, on whofe Extremi- 
ties appear the Eyes, furrounded by two bluifh Circles. 
The Third, which ftands between thefe, is near as thick as a large 
Swan’s Quill, and two Inches long ; the Extremity of it ending in a 
Mouth, which, when the Fifh doth not feed, is ftrongly contracted. 
Somewhat below thefe, in the Male, appears the Penis. 
When the Tail-part, which is gritty, and fomewhat fandy, is taken. 
away, the reft of the Fifh, being fry’d, eats like Tripe, but fhorter, {weeter, 
and more lufcious. 
The empty Shell, efpecially thofe that are thin, is made ufe of, inftead 
of Sounding-Horns or Bells, to call out the Slaves to their Work in the 
Morning ; for the Tip-end of the Shell being broken off, till the Cavity 
appears of about the Bignefs of a Mouth-Piece to a French-Horn, they 
blow into it, and it founds fo loud, that it may be heard in a calm Morn- 
ing, above a Mile off. 
It feems that thefe were made ufe of as early as the Time of the Ro- 
mans ; for Perfius fays, 
Buccina jam prifcos cogebat ad arma Quirites. 
Neither was the Ufe of the Fifh unknown to the Romans ; which ap- 
pears by the following Lines. 
Lubrica nafcentes implent conchylia lune. 
Sed non omne mare eft generofe fertile tefe. 
Murice Baiano melior Lucrina peloris. 
Hor. 
------ wiles pellent obftantia concha. 
Hor. 
Manilius likewife very well defcribes their burying themfelves in ‘the 
Sand; which they do during the Winter Months, 
Sic fubmerfa fretis concharum, & carcere claufa. 
Thefe are found in great Plenty at the Bottom of the Sea, in about 
five or fix Fathom Water, in moft of our Bays; but chiefly to the Lee- 
ward of the Ifland, efpecially in the Summer-Months. : 
. If the Day is windy, the Divers cannot well fee them from their 
oats. : . 
To remedy this rippling of the Water, they fprinkle a Spoonful of Oil 
upon the Surface of it. 
This 
ul 
