The ninth Booke of 



Ch ap. xi. C 



^ Mc frfl devifed the cleaving of Tortoife fhsl'.sinto thm 

 plates like fannell, 



THc firfl man that invented the cutting of Tortoife fhclls into thin plates, thcrwith to feel* 

 bed^jtablcsjcupboards^and prefles, was Carhilm Pollio^z mm verie ingenious and invcn- 

 ti¥«of fuchtoics^rvingtoroiotandfupcrfluous expenfc. 



Chap. xii. 



^ A diviftonofmter heap into their fcverall kinds, 



THe creatures that breed and live in the water, bee not all covered and clad alike : for fomc ^ 

 have askin over them,and the fame hairie, as the Scales and Water horfcs. Others have 

 but a bare skin^as the Dolphins.There be againe that have a ftiell like a barke, as the Tor- 

 toifes : and in others, the fhell is as hard as the flint^and luch be thcoyfters,mufcIes,cockles,3nd 

 winkles. Some be covered with crufts or hard pills, as the locufts; others have befides them, 

 (harpe prickes, as the Vrchins. Some be skaled,as filhes : others are rough-coated,as the Soles, 

 ? and with their skins folkc ufe to polifli and fmooth wood and y vorie . Some have'a tender and 

 loft skin,as Lampreys : others none at all, as the Pourcuttle or Pourcontrell. 



Chap, xiii, | 

 ^ Of the Sea-calfe^or Seak. 



& *THe great Whales, called Priftis and Balaena, bring forththeir young alive, and pcrfed li- 

 1^ ving creatures : likewilc all thofe that are covered with haire,as the Sca^alfe or Scale. She 

 calveih on the dric land as other cattaile : and whenfoever fhe calvcth , the gleancth after- 

 wards as kinc doe. The female is tied and lined to the male, like as bitches to dogges :fhee never 

 bringeth morethan two at once ; and fhe giveth milke at her dugs and papsjto her young. Shec 

 bringeth them to the fea notbefore they be twelve daies old,and then fhc traincth and acquain- 

 teth them to fwimme and kccpe the water ordinarily.Thefe Seales be hardly killcd,unleffe a man 

 dalli out their braines. In their fleepe, they feemt to low or blea, and thereupon they be called K 

 Sea-calves.Docibletheybeandapttolearn»whatfoevcristaughtihem. They will ialutefolke . 

 with a kind of countenance and regard : alfo with a voice fuch as it is, refembling a certain rude 

 and rumbling noife. If a man call them by their name,they will turn again, and in their language 

 anfwer.Thercisnolivingcreatureflcepethmorcfoundly than they. The finnes which theyule 

 to fwimme withall in the lea, ferve their turns in ftead of feet to go upon,when they be on land. 

 Their skinnes, after they be flaiedfrom their bodies, reteineftill aproprietieandnatureof the 

 feas 5 for ever as the water doth ebbe,thcy are more rugged, and the hairesor briftlcs ftandup. 



^ Moreover,thcir right finnes or legs are thought to have a power and vertue toprouoke fleepe, if 

 they be laid under ones beds head. 



Chap, xiiii.* 



of fijhes that be mthout haire^ hovo they breed ^ and how many 

 forts there be of them. 



OF fuch creatures as want haires,two onely there be that bring forth their young with life i 

 and namely, the Dolphin and the Viper. Of fifhes, properly fb called, there be 74 kinds ? 

 befides thofe that have rough cruftieskins,which I count not ; whereof there be 30 forts. 

 Of every one of them in particular, we will fpeake elfe-where, and at another time : for now wee 

 are to treat of the natures of the chiefe and principall. 



Chap* xv* 



^ of the names and natures of many ffhes . 



T^He Tunies arc exceeding great fiflies : we have feene fome of them to weigh fifteen talents^ 

 and the taile to be two cubits broad and a fpan.In (onie frefli rivers alfo^ there be fifh found 



- m 



