Chap. 55.] 
HOW PEAELS AEE FOUND. 
433 
CHAP. 55. HOW PEAELS AEE FOUIirD. 
The fish, as soon as ever it perceives the hand,^^ shuts 
its shell and covers up its treasures, being well aware that it is 
for them that it is sought ; and if it happens to catch the hand,-^ 
it cuts it o& with the sharp edge of the shell. And no punish- 
ment is there that could be more justly inflicted. There are 
other penalties added as well, seeing that the greater part of 
these pearls are only to be found among rocks and crags, while 
on the other hand, those which lie out in the main sea are ge- 
nerally accompanied by sea-dogs. And yet, for all this, the 
women will not banish these gems from their ears ! Some 
writers say,^^ that these animals live in communities, just like 
swarms of bees, each of them being governed by one remark- 
able for its size and its venerable old age while at the same 
time it is possessed of marvellous skill in taking all due pre- 
26 Isidorus of Charax, as quoted by Athenaeus, B. iii. ; and JElian, 
Hist. Anim. B. x. c. 20, make similar statements. Eondelet, in his treatise 
on Testaceous Fishes, B. i., complains of Pliny using the word " videt," 
sees," in the present passage ; but, as Hardouin says, he only uses it in 
a free sense, meaning, is aware of the approach of," or '*has a perception 
of" 
27 Isidorus of Charax, in Athenaeus, B. iii., tells a similar story ; but 
modifies it by saying that the fish sometimes cuts ofi* the fingers of the 
divers, and not the hands. 
28 Canes marini." He calls by this name the same animal that a little 
further on he describes by the name of " canicula," dog-fish alluding, 
probably, under that name to various species of the shark. Procopius, in 
his book, De Bell. Pers. B. i. c. 4, has a wonderful story in relation to this 
subject. He says, that the sea-dogs are wonderful admirers of the pearl- 
fish, and follow them out to sea ; that when the sea-dogs are pressed by 
hunger, they go in quest of prey, and then return to the shell-fish and gaze 
upon it. A certain fisherman, having watched for the moment when the 
shell-fish was deprived of the protection of its attendant sea-dog, which 
was seeking its prey, seized the shell-fish, and made for the shore. The 
sea-dog, however, was soon aware of the theft, and making straight 
for the fisherman, seized him. Finding himself thus caught, he made a 
last effort, and threw the pearl-fish on shore, immediately on which he was 
torn to pieces by its protector. 
29 Such, for instance, as Megasthenes, quoted by Arrian in his Indica, 
and ^lian. Hist. Anim. B. xv. c. 8. 
30 Hardouin suggests that a preferable reading to "vetuslate," would 
be venustate," by its beauty ; and indeed, iElian, in the corresponding 
passasre. Hist. Anim. B. XV. c. 8, says, that the chief is reniarkable for its 
size, and the extreme beauty of its colours." 
VOL. !!• r F 
