420 
plint's natubal histobt. 
[Book IX. 
ozsena,*^ being so called from the peculiarly strong smell 
exhaled by the head;^^ in consequence of which, the mu- 
raenaB^* pursue it with the greatest eagerness. The polypi 
keep themselves concealed for two months in the year ; they 
do not live beyond two*^ years, and always die of consump- 
tion, the females even sooner,*^ and mostly after bringing 
forth. I must not omit here the observations which L. Lu- 
cullus, the proconsul of Esetica, made with reference to the 
polypus, and which Trebius Mger, one of his suite, has pub- 
Hshed. He says that it is remarkably fond of shell-fish, and 
that these, the moment that they feel themselves touched by 
it, close their valves, and cut off the feelers of the polypus, 
thus making a meal at the expense of the plunderer. Shell- 
fish are destitute of sight, and, indeed, all other sensations but 
those which warn them of hunger and the approach of danger. 
Hence it is, that the polypus lies in ambush*^ till the fish opens 
its shell, immediately upon which, it places within it a small 
pebble, taking care, at the same time, to keep it from touch- 
ing the body of the animal, lest, by making some movement, 
it should chance to eject it. Having made itself thus se- 
cure, it attacks its prey, and draws out the flesh, while the 
other tries to contract itself, but all in vain, in consequence of 
the separation of the shell, thus effected by the insertion of 
the wedge. So great is the instinctive shrewdness in animals 
that are otherwise quite remarkable for their lumpish stu- 
pidity. 
In addition to the above, the same author states, that there 
is not an animal in existence, that is more dangerous for its 
powers of destroying a human being when in the water. 
*2 From o^a>, "to emit an odour." This was a small kind of polypus. 
*3 Cuvier remarks that, in this Chapter, there are many details relative 
to the polypus, that have not been observed by modern naturalists ; but 
they may have been observed by the Greeks, upon whose shores and islands 
the animal was much more frequently to be found than in the west of 
Europe. 
Oppian, Halieut. B. ii. 1. 260, describes the battles of these animals 
with the polypus. He also says, B. iii, c. 198, that they are attracted by 
the smell of the flesh of the polypus, and so are easily taken. 
*5 Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. ix. c. 59. 
^6 Oppian, Halieut. B. i. 1. 551, says, that they hardly live a year; and 
^lian, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 28, states to a similar effect. 
Basil attributes a similar craftiness to the crab ; Hexaem. Homil. vii* 
*8 The fishermen at the present day, upon the coast of Normandy, say 
