i73 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



moft remarkable part. This has two large eyes, and a mouth like 

 a bird's beak ; above which there ftand eight long arms, or horns, 

 like a ftar, and each horn is octangular, and cover 7 d with a number 

 of fmall round balls, which are fomething larger than a pin's head. 

 There are at the back part of the head two of thefe horns, twice 

 as long as the reft, and broader towards the end. On each fide 

 of the body there are two ikinny membranes, with which the 

 animal covers itfelf all over, being firft rolled together ; and it 

 is faid that it can raife itfelf above the furface of the water, and 

 leap pretty high, making ufe of thefe membranes like wings. 



From this defcription we may conclude, that nature produces 

 but few animals of fo extraordinary a ftru&ure in the feveral parts. 

 The interior conftrufiion of this creature is not lefs wonderful : 

 7 when it is opened there is found hardly any flefh within the ikin ; 

 there runs a long and flat bone the whole length of the back, in- 

 fhape almoft like the blade of a knife. This bone is known at 

 the apothecaries by the name of Os Sepise, as has been mentioned 

 before in the article of Whales ; that Fifh being greatly plagu'd 

 by this little creature. The fore-part of the body or Ikinny bag, 

 above-mentioned, is quite filled with a black fluid, which being 

 feen through the Ikin, makes the Fifh appear of a blue colour, 

 though the fluid is of a fine black, and may ferve for ink to 

 write with. When they are in danger thefe creatures difcharge 

 this black fluid. Hence they are called Spute, or Spoite, which 

 makes the water all round them appear black and muddy ; and 

 thus the creature makes his efcape, by rendering itfelf, as it were 

 by magic, invifible to his purfuers. 



This is a wonderful gift of nature, for the prefervation of a 

 creature otherwife quite unarmed and helplefs *. If any of this 

 black fluid happens to drop upon one's hand, it burns like a 

 cauftic j and this fenfation doubtlefs would be more violent, if it 

 was to get into the eyes. The fame liquor is very good to dip 

 a bait in for a fifhing-hook, and the whole Fifh is excellent for 

 that purpofe, which is the only »fe chat is generally made of it. 

 Concerning this Fifh's method of breeding, a very creditable cor- 

 refpondent has given me a furprifing account, that is agreeable 

 to its other properties. This gentleman, and many more wife- 

 General' Collection of Voyages and Travels, as alio in the London Magazine for 

 March, 1750, p. 120, there is a print of this Fifh, by the name of the Ancornet, or 

 Scuttle-fim, where the tail, under the fharp pointed end, fpreads itfelf wide on both 

 iides, and forms a fort of a crefcent. 



* Contra metum & vim fuis fe armis quseque defendit. Cornibus Tauri, Apri 

 dentibus, morfu Leones. Alias fuga fe, alias occultatione tntantur. Attramenti effu- 

 fione Sepias, torpore Torpedines, &c. Cicero de Nat. Deor. Lib. ii. c. 50. 



nefies^ • 



