Chap. 48 ] THE VARIOUS KINDS OF POLYPI. 
421 
Embracing his body, it counteracts his struggles, and draws 
him under with its feelers and its numerous suckers, when, as 
often is the case, it happens to make an attack upon a ship- 
wrecked mariner or a child. If, however, the animal is turned 
over, it loses all its power ; for when it is thrown upon the 
back, the arms open of themselves. 
The other particulars, which the same author has given, 
appear still more closely to border upon the marvellous. At 
Carteia,^^ in the preserves there, a polypus was in the habit of 
coming from the sea to the^" pickling-tubs that were left 
open, and devouring the fish laid in salt there — for it is quite 
astonishing how eagerly all sea- animals follow even the very 
smell of salted condiments, so much so, that it is for this rea- 
son, that the fishermen take care to rub the inside of the wicker 
fish-kipes^^ with them. — At last, by its repeated thefts and 
immoderate depredations, it drew down upon itself the wrath 
of the keepers of the works. Palisades were placed before 
them, but these the polypus managed to get over by the aid of 
a tree,^^ and it was only caught at last by calling in the as- 
sistance of trained dogs, which surrounded it at night, as it 
was returning to its prey ; upon which, the keepers, awakened 
by the noise, were struck with alarm at the novelty of the 
sight presented. First of all, the size of the polypus was enor- 
mous beyond all conception ; and then it was covered all over 
that the polypus, which they call the chatrou^ is a most formidable enemy to 
swimmers and divers ; for when it has embraced any of the limbs with its 
tentacles, it adheres with such tenacity, that it is quite impossible for a 
person to disengage himself, or to move any of his limbs. 
^9 In Spain ; see B. iii. c. 3. iElian, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 13, tells a 
similar story about a polypus at Puteoli. 
Lacus large tubs used in the process of pickling. This story, 
Cuvier observes, is only surpassed by those told by the Norwegians relative 
to the " kraken" of their seas, which, according to some versions of the fable, 
is a polypus of such vast size, that sailors have sometimes mistaken it for 
an island. 
^1 "Nassis.** The "nassa*' was a contrivance for catching fish by 
the junction of osier or willow rods. It was probably made in the shape 
of a large bottle with a narrow mouth, and placed with the mouth faciilg 
the current. Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. iv. c. 8, states, that the fishermen, 
when they were desirous of bringing the fish out of their holes, were in the 
habit of rubbing the mouth of the holes with salted flesh. 
^2 Oppian, Halieut. B. i. c. 310, tells a story of a polypus, of the 
ozaena species, that was in the habit of cHmbing trees, and plundering the 
fruit. 
