I 



%6§ 



The ninth Boofee of 



G 



Chap. lvIi. 

 ^OfZafteifipes. 



THeophraflw alfo tcllcth ftr^nge wonders ofccrtain kinds offifliesjwhich are abbui Babylon^ 

 where there be many places lubje(5t to the inn undations of Euphrates and other rivers^ and 

 wherein the water ftandeth, after that the rivers are returned within their bankes : in which 

 the fifhrcmainc in certaine holes and caves.Some of thcm(raith he)ufetoiirueforth a land for 

 food and rcleefe^going upon their finncs in lieu of feetjand wagging their tailes ever as they go. 

 And if any chafe them, or come to take them, they will retire backe into their ditches aforefaid^ 

 * i^r ihe fea ^"^ ^^crc make head and ftand againft them. They are headed like to the *fea Frog, made in H 

 iJivelL other parts as Gudgeonsjand guilled in manner of other fi{hes.Moreover,ihat about Heraclea 

 and Cromna,and namely ncare the river Lycus, and in many other quarters of the kindome o£ 

 PontuSjtherc is one kind above the reft that ever haunteth rivers fides, and the utmoft edges of 

 the water : making her felfe holes under the bankes^and within the land wherein (bee livetbjyea , 

 even when the bankes are drie,and the rivers gathered into narrow channels.By reafon whereof 

 they ate digged forth of the earth : and as they fay that find thcm,alivc they bee,as may appcarc 

 by movingand ftirringof their bodies.Neere unto the abovefaid Heraclea and the river Lyc us, 

 when it is fallen and the water ebbejthere be fifties breed of theeggesand fpawne left upon the 

 mud and fandjwho in fecking for their food,doe ftirre and pant with their little guils:which they 

 life to doe when they want no water,but cVen then when as the river is full. Which is the reafon \ 

 alfo that yeeles live a long time after they be taken foorth of the water.Hee affirmeth moreover, 

 that the cgs of fifhes lying upon the drie land, will come to their maturitie and perfedion, and 

 namely thofe of the Tortoifes. AHo,that in the fame countrey of Pontus,there bee taken fifties 

 upon the yce, and gudgeons eipecially, which fhew not that they bee alive, but by their ftirring 

 and leaping when they come to be fodden in bote caudrons.Hcreof may fome reafon yet be ren- 

 dredjalthough the thing be flraunge and wonderfulL The fame authour avoucheth,that in Pa- 

 phiagonia there be digged out of the ground certaine land fillies that be excellent good meat, 

 and moft delicate : but they be found in drie places remote from the river,and whither no waters 

 flowjwhereby they arc forced to make the deeper trenches for to come by them. Himfelfe mar- 

 velleth how they ftiould engender without the helpe of moifture. Howbeit, hee fuppofeth that K 

 there is a certaine minerall and naturall force thereinjfuch as wee fee to fweat out in pitSjfor as 

 mifchasdiverfcof them have fifhes found within them. Whatlbeveritis, furelylefle wonder- 

 fliU this isjconfidering how the Moldwarpes livc(a creature naturally keeping under the ground) 

 unlefle haply we would fay that fifhes wcic of the fame nature that earth woimes be of. 



Chap, ivni* 

 }^ OftheMiceofHilus. 



BVt the innundationofNiluscleareth all thefc matters:the overflowing whereof is foad^ 

 mirablejand fo farrc pafleth all other wonders, that we may'beleevc thefethings. For when £ 

 as this river falleth and returnethagainc intohischannell, amanmayfind upon the mud 

 yongMice halfe madcj proceeding from the generative vertue of water and earth together .-ha- 

 ving one part of their bodie living alreadie, but the reft as yet mifliapenjand no better than the 

 vcricearthi 



Chap, tiX. 



^ of the fijh Anthias^ and how hee is taken, 



IThinkc it not meet to conceale thatjwhich I perceive many doe beleevc and hoId,as touching 

 the fifli Anthias.VVc have in our Cofinographie made mention of die Iflands C hcldoni^e in 

 Afia, fituate in a fea full of rocks under the promontorie of Taurus 5 among which are found M 

 great ftore of thefe fifhes : and much fifhing there is for them jbut they are fuddainely takenjand 

 ever after one fort.For when the time ferveth,there goeth forth a fiflier in a fmall boat or barge, 

 for certaine daies together,a prctie way into the (ca, clad alwaies in apparel! of one and the fame 

 colour^at one hourcjand to the fame place ftill,wherc he cafteth foith a bait for the fift:i. B ut the 



fifti 



