MURANA—PRAISE OF KATIPOZ 263 
“ noble conger 
From Sicyon’s bay, the conger which the God 
Of the deep sea doth bear aloft to Heaven 
Fit banquet for his brethren.” ! 
8. The xémpoc—by some identified with the Aer, by some 
translated the ‘‘ Sea-Hog.’’ Neither scientifically, nor in my 
list can I place this fish; it was apparently unknown to the 
Romans. 
Of the fish as Caper, except in Ennius,? ‘‘ Caproque apud 
Ambracienses,’’ and Pliny, XI. 112, “ et is qui caper vocatur,”’ 
Latin literature is silent. Nor do these two quotations aid, 
because the first occurs in the poet’s imitation or translation 
of Archestratus (Apul., Apol., p. 384), while Pliny simply 
transliterates Aristotle’s xampoc.3 
Of its right to be near the top of the list, the words of 
Nonnius bear high proof: ‘‘ Among the fishes which the Greeks 
sought with mad desire, and at any cost to procure, was first 
and foremost the xdzpoc, which, though called Afer, was 
unknown to the Romans.”’ 
Archestratus 4 outdoes even himself in his eulogy of this 
fish, for he straightly enjoins any one lucky enough to be in 
Ambracia, 
“ Buy it at once, and let it not escape you, 
Not if you buy it at its weight in gold ; 
Else will the indignation of the gods 
O’erpower you: for ’tis the Flowér of Nectar.” 
The immediate sequel to these lines is of interest. The 
poet, transported from earth to heaven at the thought of his 
favourite dainty, describes it in wording which recalls the most 
solemn rites of Hellenic religion. There were certain foods 
reserved for communicants. There were mysteries which 
none but advanced initiates might witness. There were objects 
of peculiar sanctity borne by virginal ministrants. There 
1 Philemon, ap. Athen., 7. 32. 
2 Hedyphagetica. The reading is most uncertain. 
3 In N.H., 11.13, andIV.9. This cannot be our boar-fish which is marine, 
whereas Aristotle talks of it being in the river Achelotis. It may possibly 
be another name for the Glanis. 
4 In Athen., 7. 72. 
