r DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY treasure %oom "BT THE NATURAL HISTORY O F FISHES AND SERPENTS, including Sea-Turtles, Cr u stage ous, and ^HELL Fishes, WITHTHEIR MEDICINAL USES. BY R. BROOKES, M.D. Author of the General Pra£fici of Fbyfic- VOL. III. LONDON, Printed for J. Newbery, at the Bible and Sun, in St. Paul's Church- Yard. MDCCLXIIL 1/-3. C O N T E NTS. Introduction. Chap. I. (^ F FiJJ:)es in general^ Page I II. vy Of Fijhes of the Cetaceous Kind, III. Of Fijhes of the Cartilaginous Kind, 23 *III. Of cartilaginous fat Fifoes, 35 IV. Of anomalous Fijhes^ a- kin to the Car- tilaginous, 46 V. Of O'viparous Fijhes, nvhich are gene- rally honey, and have Spines in the Flejh, 48 VI. Of flat Fijhes, ivith longer Bodies, 5 2 VII. Of Fijhes of the Eel Kind,, that nvant the Belly Fins, 5 3 VIII. Of Fijhes that nvant the Belly Fins, 68 IX. Of spinous or Bmey Fijhes, that ha^vi f oft flexible Skins on their Backs, 82 X. Of Fijhes of the Tunny Kind, 90 XI. Of Fijhes of the Trout Kind, 97 XII. Of Slippery Fijhes of the Eel Kind, 110 XIII. Of Fijhes that ha^ve two hlack Fins, and ivhofe Belly Fins unite in one, 1 2 1 XIV. Offmall Fijhes, that ha-ve tivo Fins on the Back, ain. Such a purfuit as this may probably be the caufe of the annual return of herrings and pilchards to our own coafls, where they come in an abundance that to fome may appear incredible ; nothing being more common on the coaHs of Ccrnn-vall^ than to take five or fix thcufand hogfiieads of pilchards at one Tingle inclcfure. This return of fifh to the Brhijh Coafls, is, however, of no very long continuance, for about an hundred and fifty years ago, the herring fhoals were found along the northern coafts of Ger- many, but thofe they have fince forfaken, and in thofe places where the Germans once caught them in immenfe quantities, there are at prefent, with- out any vifible reafon, none to be found. Thus we find another analogy between thefe and terreftrial animals. As in birds, fo fome forts of thefe may be called fifh of pafTage, and others in- digenous. The herring firft has its flation towards the north of Scotland, from whence they make their way regularly every year, and at length arrive in the Britijh Channel. Their voyage is performed with the utmofl regularity. The time of their de- parture is fixed from the month of June to JuguJ}, and they afTemble always together, before they fet out. There are never any flragglers from the gene- ral body, for when they have pafl any place, there are HISTORY OF FISHES. xvii are none left remaining. It would be vain to af- iign the caufe of thefe migrations. Whether it pro- ceeds from the- fear of purfuers, or from a defire of propagating their kind in greater fecurity ; whether they find pleafure in the change, or whether this long voyage is undertaken in qaeft of food, is a fubjed that might fupply much conjefture,- and lit- tle fatisfadion. Certain it is, their numbers are aftonifhing ; they fatisfy, in their paiTage, the rapa- city of all the voracious kinds, and when they ar- rive at their appointed llatlons, they there fall to the fhare of man, and make the food of the poor, for a certain feafon, throughout all Europe. But this confumption, how great foever, only ferves to counterbalance their furprizing fecundity, which would, oiherwife, overftock the element affigned them for their fupport. The number of ^g%^ con- tained In the roe of a fingle cod, and computed by Lei.venboek, amounted to nine millions three hundred and forty four thoufand; which, if permitted in every individual to come to maturity, would rather obflrudl than replenifh nature. But two wife purpofes are anfwered by this amazing encreafe ; it preferves the fpecies whatever may happen, and ferves to furniih the furviving fifti with a fuilenance, adapted to their conformation. They feem all, except the cetaceous kind, entirely divefled of thofe parental pleafures and follicitudes which fo firongly mark the charaders and condudt of the more perfedl terreftn'al animals. They do not ufe coition ; for tho' the male fometimes feems to join bellies with the fem.ale, yet as he is unfurnifhed with the inftruments of generation, his only end by fuch an adion is to emit his impregnating fluid upon the eggs, which at that time fall from her. His at- tachment feems rather to the eggs, than the female; he purfues them often, as they float down along the ftream, and carefully im.pregnates them one after the other. Sometimes the females dig holes in the bottoms of rivers and ponds, and there depofit their fpawn. I xviii INTRODUCTION TO THE fpawn, which are impregnated by the male as be- fore. All fiih have a peculiar feafon to depofite their fpawn. They in general chufe the hotteft months in fummer, and prefe^ fuch waters as are fome.vhat tepified by the rays of the fun. They then leave the deepeft parts of the ocean, which are always mod cold, approach the coalts, or fwim up the rivers of frefh water, which are warm by being fliallow. _When they have depofited their burthens, they thea return to their old Rations, and leave their Ipawn, when come to maturity, to Ihift for themfelves. Thefe at firft efcape by their minutenefs and agility. They rife and fink much fooner than grown fifli, and can fwim in much fhallower water. But with all thefe advantages, fcarce one in a thoufand furvives the various dangers that furround it ; the very male and female, that have given it life, are equally dan- gerous and formidable with the rert, for every filh is the declared enemy of all it is able to devour. Some kinds of filhes are found to contain the parts of both fexcs in one individual ; thus there have been dilcovered hermaphrodite carps, breams^ and roaches ; but there is a kind of fifh, not yet taken . notice of, which, whether male or female, has the parts of generation double, 'f hefe are the cruftaceous kinds, fuch as lobrters and crabs, which differ from teftaceous, or fliell-filh, in this, that the crult, or coat, with which they are covered, may be bent inwards, orotherwife bruifed, without breaking. Thus do thefe animals feem diiferent from all other ; for as we have cur mufcles fupported by bones on the infide, thefe, on the contrary, have theirs without. As they are not defigned for fwimming, however, they have no air bladders, as other filli, but creep along the bottom, and devour whatcner they feize, not excepting each other. They regularly once a year, and about the beginning of I\Iay, cait their old (hell, and Nature fupplies them with a new one. Some days before this nccelTary change, the animal ceafes to take it* ufual HISTORY OF FISHES. xix ■ufaal food. Juft before carting its fhell it rubs its legs again ll each other, and ufes other violent mo- tions of" the body. It then fwells itfelf in an unufual manner, and by this the (hell begins to divide at its junctures, between the body and the tail. After this, by the fame operation, it diiengages itfelf of every part, one after the other, each part of the joints burfling longitudinally till the animal is quite at liberty. This operation, however, is /o violent and painful, that many of them die under it ; chofe which furvive are feeble, and their naked mufcfes foft to the touch, being covered with a thin mem- brane, but in lefs than two days this membrane har- dens in a furprizing manner, and a new fhell, as impenetrable as the former, fupplies the place of that laid aflde. Such is the life of thefe animals in their own ele- ment ; but with refpeft to the ufe they a:e oif to man, their fielh ferves him for aliment, their fat for oil, their fkins for different purpofes ; of their founds we make ifinglafs, and the flony concretions which are V found in their bodies, were once thought to conduce to his health in medicine. Of frefh water fifh, thofe that have been fed in fwift and rapid rivers are reckoned moil wholelbme ; thofe which feed in ponds, or muddy llagnated lakes, are gene- rally wo; fl, as their flefh contrails a flavour from the place where they are bred. Luxury, however, has gone vail lengths in improving the flavour and fat of fifh, by callration, but it would ill become one, who lays claims to humanity, to inftruft gluttony in this vile art of torturing animals : Thephilofopher (hould ever (lop, when his labours begin to open new avenues to fenfuality. Thofe who have attempted accuracy in claffing the produftions of Nature, have only embarraded their works by their endeavours to arrange them me- thodically. To what order of beings the ferpent, for inflance, may be referred, whether to the fifhes, the lizard, or the infe<^s, is not yet fettled among Natura- XX I N T R O D U C T I O N. &:c. Naturalifts. The Aibjeft of their arrangement, how- ever, is of no great importance, it being fufficient for all the purpofes of utility and information, if they are accurately defcribed. Like fifhes, they may be divided into the viviparous and oviparous ; of the former are all of the viper kinds, of the latter thofe of the common fnake. The former, in our ov/n country, contain a poifon lodged under each fang in the upper jaw; the latter are no way venomous. With us they grow to no great length ; but in the warm latitudes of America they are fometimes feen from twelve to twenty four feet long. It would be vain to attempt affigning the ufes of moft of thefe noxious and formidable reptiles. Tho* the flefh of the viper has been converted to falutary purpofes in medicine, yet in the countries where they abound, man is found to fufFer more from their noxious qualities, than he is benefited by their medi- cinal virtues. Providence, however, in fome meafure feems to fecure him from the dangers of thofe which are moll fatal : The rattle fnake, for inftance, whofe bite is mortal, warns him of its vicinity, by found- ing its rattles : The moft formidable avoid his ap- proach, and feldom attack him without former pro- vocation. In fome countries the ferpent kind are even rendered ufeful, and, like cats, employed for the purpofes of deftroying domellic vermin. Whe- ther Providence intended that all things fhould be for man's ufe, is a queftion we cannot refolve, as we are ignorant of the defigns of Providence. It is fufficient for us to know, that by granting us fuch fuperior powers to all other animals, it has, in fad, rendered fuch of them as we think proper to em- ploy, entirely fubfervient to all the purpofes of our pleafures, or neceffities. ne ( xxi ) The tnxjo follo^toing articles beings hy mijiakef omitted in their proper place, the Reader hvHI excufe our in- fer ting them here. THE Indian Snake is long and black, fmall, and fpotted with black and white on the back ; the fcales of the back are variegated with white, brown, and black. It raifes its head, which is very elegant, towards the birds it preys on, as reprefented in the plate. Its whole belly to the extremity of the tail is fpotted with black. It has been called the Flying Serpent, becaufe it darts on its prey as fwift as an arrow. The green and large fpotted Lizard is a native <^^ America. Its whole body is elegantly fpotted ; its thin fmall fcales, of a fea green colour, are regu- larly marked, with blackifh fpots, round and ob- long, mixed with whitiili eyes elegantly difpofed. It is thus fpotted from the head to the extremity of the tail, on its thighs and feet. The tail is very large, and often bent in a remarkable manner. It is encircled with ringlets, and all over fpotted with black, terminating in a fmall Iharp point. This is the male Lizard. The female is like it in fize, fhape, and fpots, except that it has not on the upper part of the body the whitifh eyes mixed with the black fpots ; its belly is different, be- ing marked with round black fpots. Its tail is larger than the male ; it is long, encircled with ringlets, and is marked with oblong fpots placed crofs-ways on it. Erratum. In the Index, for — o^ jEfculapius, read Snake of jE/culapius, THE NATURAL HISTORY O F WISHES. C H A p. I. Cf T'ljhes In gemral. jT^^^gC?^ I S H E S in general may be div^'ded into tJiofe 3^ J^ that have lungs and thofe that have giUs, •w- V? though they both ferve for refpiration ; of ^ V^W vJ the firft fort are the cetaceous kind, by fome" ^M^y;^ hyperbolically called Sea Monfters ; for they d« not all deferve that name. Thnfe that refpire through gills may be fubdivided into the cartilaginous, which are alfc viviparous; and thofe that produce fpavvn. Thefe laft are diftinguiflied by the name of fpinous ; that is, they are provided with fmall fliarp bones, to lupport and Hrengthen their mufcles ; whereas the carti- laginous, fuch as the Scate and Thornback, have only a fort of grilHes, which are fo foft they are eaten by^ Ibme. The fpinous fort generate without coition ; in- fiead of which the females dig holes in the bottoms of rivers, ponds, and other watery places, wherein they de- pofit their fpavvn ; upon which the male immediately after emits his impregnating fluid, in order to render the fpawn prolifick. However, this divilion is not ftriftly true; f:r there are fome fpinous or bony nlh which are Vol. fIL B vivipa- 2 THE NATURAL HISTORY viviparous, or bring forth their young alive ; among which fome think the Eel may be placed, though this is uncertain; for after all the inquiry which has been made, it has not yet been difcovered in what manner they generate. There are fome fifh which produce large eggs after the manner of birds, with the yolk and white, that are hatched in their bodies before they are excluded ; and this is proper to the cartilaginous kind. Others arc oviparous, or bring forth a great quantity of fpawn; which being a kind of little eggs, are hatched by the natural warmth of the water. The increafe of thefe is alraoft incredible, lor Levccnhook has computed that there are no lefs than 93440CO eggs in a fmgle Cod. Hence it ceafes to be a wonder that every fpecies is pre- ierved, notwithftanding they are continually preying upon, and devouring each otlier. The flat fifh in particular conceal ihemfelves in the mud, which they relemble ia colour, till the fpawning of ot)ier fiih is over, and then they feize upon the eggs and feed upon them. If it was not for this practice, and the devouring of the fry, the ocean itfelf would not be large enough to contain the prodigious number of hih that would otherwife come to maturity. The ihape of moll fiih is much alike ; for they taper a little at the head, and by that means are able to tra- verfe the fluid they inhabit with greater eafe. The tail is extxeamly fleAible, and in this lies their greatoft llrength ; by bending to the right and left, they repel the Vv'ater behind it, and advance their head forward with all the reft of the body. Moft people imagine the fins are the principal ir firument of fwimming, but this is a miflake ; for they are chiefly ufed to poife the body and keep it fl:cddy, as alfo to Hop it when it is in mo- tion. This has been found to be true by experience; for when the belly-fins have been cut ofi-', the filh has Keled to and fro, aad was unable to keep itfelf in its ufual poflure. When a fifli would turn to the left, it moves the fins on the right fide ; and when to the right, it plays thofe on the left ; but the tail is the grand m- ftrument of prcrreffive motion. ^ " The O F F I S H E S. 3 The bodies of moft fi(h are farniilied with horny fcales, which are flrong, or otherwife, in proportion to the dangers they are expo Ted to. Thefe fcales are ge- nerally befmeared with a flimy liquor without ; and un- der them there lies all over the body an oily fubftance, which fupplies the fifh with warmth and vigour. They are enabled to rife or fmk in the water, by means o£ an air-bladder that is included in their bodies ; whea this is contracted they fmk to the bottom, but when it is dilated they rife to the top. That this is the true ufe of the bladder, appears from an experiment made upon a carp ; for one of thefe fifh being put into an air- pump, and the air pumped out of the ve&ly the blad- der expanded itfelf to fuch a degree that the carp fwelled in an extraordinary manner, till the bladder burrt within its body. This iifh did not die, and therefore was thrown into the water; but it could never rife after this, but crawled along the bottom like a ferpent. It is fup- pofed that the air which fills the bladder is received through the gills, and fo enables the fi/h to rife ; anJ that when the filh finks it is qjedcd out the fame way : however, this amounts to no more than a very probabU iuppofition. Neverthelefs it is certain, that the air contained in water, or received into it, is necefiary to keep filh alive ; for which reafon llore-ponds, when frozen over or covered with ice, mufi: aivva) s have ibme part kept open, otherwife the fifh would die. Moft filh are furnifhed with teeth or fomewhat anala- gous thereto; hut they are not defigned for eating or chewing, but to retain their prey. Thefe teeth are placed in different manners, according to the different manner of their feeding ; for in fome they are in the jaws, palate, and tongue; but in others in the throat : and thefe Iuft are called leather-mouthed fifh. The eyes of fifli arc generally fiat, which is moft fuitable to the element in which they live ; for a goggle-eye would in Ibme mea- sure hinder their motion in fo denfe a medium. Bcfides, by brufhing through it their eyes would be apt to wear nnd prejudice the iight. However, to make amends for this, the chryfialline humour is always fpherical or e.-uctly round, a^ may be feen very plainly after they B ?. aie 4 THE NATURAL HISTORY are boiled ; for then this humour always grows hai'd* and is in the fhape of a pea^ All fifti have a line from the- upper corner of the gills" to the middle of the tail on each fide. In fea-iifh it in- clines more towards the back ; but in thofe of rivers and ponds towards the belly. Moil fiih are provided with a tongue ; but fome, as the carp, have none at all : however, in its Head they have a fie£hy palate, which is generally accounted a delicious morfel. It is hard to determine what nfe fifh make of their tongues ; for it does not ferve to form their voice, becaufe they are ijiute; nor does it aflift them in chewing, becaufe they fwallow every thing whole ; nor yet is it likely to be the organ of taftc, becaufe it is grilHy in all fi(h except thofe of the cetaceous kind, or if it ferves them for that purpofe, it muil be in a very obfcure manner. Some fifli have no throat, for the maw, or llomach, is placed next their mouths; but thofe whofe bodies are long and {lender, particularly the Eel kind, have a throat though they have no lungs. The rtomach of fifli has no {enfible heat, and yet it has a wonderful fa- culty of digeiHon ; fmce thofe of the voracious kind f^^allow not only great numbers of other fifh, but even Pra-Lvrv, Crabsy and Lobj'ers, which it readily digefls or diflblves. The hearts of thofe fil"h that refpire through the gills have only one ventricle and au- ricle; but the latter is very large in proportion to the heart. The flefli of fifh is either ufed for medicinal pur- pofes or for aliment ; but much more for the latter than the former. In this refpeft they are generally di- vided into two forts, thofe of frefh water, and thofe of the fea ; thofe of frefh Vv'ater belong either to lakes, ponds, or rivers ; of which thofe of ponds are gene- rally the woril ; becaufe the water is muddy, more or lefs, which mull aiFe%- tergen, is no more than fixty feet long, or at leafl: fel- dom exceeds that length. The cleft of the mouth is eighteen feet long, which is near one third the length cf the 6fh. This ^^o S .^efl//^l (7/^S/,iAe^i^ O F F I S H E S, 7 This Whale is without teeth; but inftead thereof there are long black, and fomewhat broad, horny flakes, all jagged like hairs. It differs from the Fin-ii(h in the fins ; for the Fin-fiili has a great fin on its back, where- as the Whale, properly fo called, has none in that place; but there are two fins behind the eyes, of a bignefa proportionable to the body, covered with a thick black fkin delicately marbled with white ftreaks, which feme fancy to form houfes, trees, and the like. In the tail of one that was marbled very delicately, there was the number 122 figured VQvy evenly and exaft, as if paint- ed. This marbling on the Whale is like veins in a piece of wood, and gives this animal great beauty. When theie fins are cut up, there is underneath the thick fkin, bones that look like a man's hand, when it is open and the fingers expanded. Between thefe there are ItifF flnews, which when cut out and thrown againft" the ground will rebound and fly up. Thefe fins ferve to ileer the Whale, like a boat rowed with two oars. The tail does rot lland upright, as in lame other fifh, but lie.- horizontal, and is from three, to three and a half, and lour fathoms btoad. The head is one third of the filh, and on both lips tliere are fhort hairs be- fore. Thefe lips arc quite plain, and bend a little liiie an S ; and they terminate underneath tijc eyes before the two fins ; above the uppermott bended lip there are ftreaks of a darkiih brown, and as crooked as the lip it- felf. The lips are fmooth, black, and round, like a quarter of a circle ; and when they are drawn together they lock into each other. On the infide of the uppermof;: lip Is the whalebone^ which is of a brown, blackilh, and yellow colour, with itreaks of feveral other colours. In fome Whales thefe are blue, or of a light blue ; and thefe are fuppofed to belong to young Whales, juft before, on the under lip, is a cavity or hole, which exadly fits the upper, that Hides into it as a knife into a fheath. The failors imagine that he draws the water through this hole, that he fpouts it out again out of the top of the head. Within the mouth there are hairs- thereon, like thofe of a harfe ', and it hangs down on both fides all about the B. 4 tongu9. f THE NATURAL HISTQliy tongue. The whalebone in fome Whales is bended like a fey meter, and in others like a half moon. The fmalleil whalebone is in the fore part of the fHOuth, and behind, -towards the throat; but that in the middle is the largell and longell ; it being fometimes of the length of two or three men. On one fide, all ©fa row, there are two hundred and fifty pieces of whalebone, and as many on the other, which make five hundred in all. However, there are more than thefe, bccaufe the failors do not think it wortli while to cut the very fmall pieces out, or, at Jeafl, cannot well come lit them. Thefe pieces lie one above another, and to- w.ards the lips are bent as above. Whalebone is bro*id at the top, v\ here it flicks faft to the upper lip, and is everywhere over-ran with hard^ white finews towards the root ; fo that a man may thrult in his hand between any two pieces. Thefc white finews look like boiled Sea-cats, or Black-iilh, and have a very pleaiant fraeli : however, when they ?j-e putrified, they Imell like rotten teeth. The Whale- bone underneath is narrow and pointed, and all over- grown with hair, that it may not hurt that which is young, as fome fuppcfe. On the outfide of the whale- bone there is a cavity, like a gutter, to carry off wa- ter, where it lies one above another, as the Ihields of Lobilers or the pan- tiles of a houfe, to prevent its hurt- ii>g-the under lip. To cat the whalebone out is a peculiar trade, and there are a great many iron tools- belonging to it. 'J'he lower part of the mouih of the Whale is commonly white, and the tongue lies among thefe whalebones, be- ing very-clofe tied with the under chap : it is very large and white, with black fpots on the edges, and confiils of a fpungy fat, which cannot eafily be cut. If it was ^ot lor this they would get fix or feven barrels of train- oil out of it. Upon the head is a hovel, or bump, . placed before the eyes and hns ; and on the top of it, on each fide, theie is a fpout-hole placed over againii tach other, which are bended like the holes cut in the i.pper parts of a violin. From thefe holes he blows the v.ater very nerceiy ; infomuch that itxoarslike a hollow \^ii3d, arid mav be heard ihj-ee.miles. it is obfervable that O F F I S H E S. f, •*iiat when a Whale.is,wounded. he blows out the wate/v. moft fiercely, infomuch. that it founds like the roaringt*: of the fea in a great llorm. .The head of the Whale • is not round at the top, but fomewhat flat, and flopes- ' downwards, like the tiling of a houfe, to the under lip. The under lip is broader than any part of the .body, and moft in the middle ; for before and behind it is fomewhat narrower, like the fhape of the head* .In Ihort, the whole iifh is fhaped like a Ihoeraaker's laft, if you look at it from beneath. Behind the bump, and between that and the fins, the eyes are placed, which are not much bigger than thofe of an ox ; and they have eye-lids and hair Tike tbofe of a man. The chryilalline humour of the eye is noi much bigger than a pea, and is clear, white, and tranf- .parent in moft; but in fome it is yellowifh. The eyes .are placed very low, and almoft at the end of the up- .P^f lip-. ; A^Whale does not hear while h^e is fpouting the wa- .ter ; for which reafon it is eafidl to ftrikc him at that ,time. The belly and back are quite red, only the ■middle of the beily is wiiite.; though in fome it is as rblack.as a coal. They make a beautiful appearance when the fun lliines upon tliem ; and the waves of the .fea that run over them glitter like filver. Some are .marbled on the back and tail, and where they have been . wounded a white fear always remains. Some Whales have 'been feen entirely white, and it is not uncommon for them to be half white. Thofe tiiat .are black arc not > all of the fanTifi colour ; for fome are as black as velvet, others as charcoal, and others again are of the colour of a Tench. The fkin is as fiipp.ery^ as that of an Eel, and yet a man may ftand upon it, becaufe it ,is fo fcfc that that, and the fleih yield xo. his weight. I'he outer ^fkin or cuticle is as thin as parchment, and may b;e eafily pulled off; but the real fkin is an inch thick. The penis is a lirong fmev/, and is from fix to eight feet long ; part of which appears outwardly, like the haft of a knife in a Iheath. At the fides of tl\e pudendum in females there are two breafts, with nipples like thofe .of a cow. The breafts of fome are quite white, and .jof others .fpeckled with white and blue- fpotsji^ce lap- B 5 win^s lo THE NATURAL HISTORY wings eggs. It is generally found that they have buC tx^'O young ones at a time ; for never more than that iHimber ha\'« been met with within them. The real bones cf a Whale are hard, like thofe of great four-footed beaftf , but as porous as a fpunge, and filled with marrow. Two great and ftrong bones fuf- tain the underlip, lying againft each other in the (hape of a half-moon. Seme of thefe are twenty feet long, and as whitens if they had been calcined. The fleih is coarfe and hard, and looks like that of a bull ; but it fs mixed with a great number of fmews. Some of it looks green and blue, like falted beef, efpecially at the meeting of the mufcles. When the failors feed upon ^ny of it they cut large pieces off the tail, where it is bell, and boil it like other meat. Some feem to like it pretty wel), efpecially the French, who dine upon it al- :moft every d?iy ; nor will they rejeft that which has lain till it is black. The fat lies over the lean, that is, ■between the flefn and the fkin, and is about fix inches thick on the back and belly ; and upon a fin it is fome- times a foot thick. The fat on the under lip is above two ieet thick j but it is not fo much upon any other part of the Whale : however, it is much thicker in fome than in •others. In the year 1658, the ikeleton of a Whale was publickly fnewn at Parisy the ikull of which was be- tween fixteen and feventeen feet long, and weighed 4600 pounds. The jaws were ten feet wide and four- teen feet long, weighing each 1100 pounds. The weight of the fins was 600 pounds, and the joints of the back, from the head to the tail, were forty-five feet long ; the firft joint weighing fifty pounds, and the refl; proportionably lefs, as they were nearer the taiL The Dutch for three hundred years had the Whale-filhery al-» moft to themfelves ; and it is ftill one of the principal branches of their trade. Each vefTel of three hundred tuns has fix fhallops, and each fhallop has allowed a har- "ponier with five failors to row it. The inftrument with which they flrike the fifh is a Jiarpoon or javelin, five or fix feet long, pointed with fieel like the barb of aa ^rrow, of a triangular fhape. The harpoonier Hand-, ing at one end of the floop, when at a proper diftance ftQJXx the Whale, darts the harpoon with all his force ^gainit O F FISHES. ir againft the Whale's back, where, if it faft^ns, he lets go a firing tied thereto, at the end of which is a dry. gourd, that by its fwimming on the water Ihows where* abouts the Whale is ; for as foon as he is ftruck he plunges to the bottom: however, great caie is taken^ tliat the line may be long enough ; but if that in one fhallop Ihould prove too Ihort they fix it to another from the neareft Ihallop, and another after that, if there ihould be occalion. The cord runs out fo fwiftLy that k often takes fire if it is not kept wetting with a fwab. When the Whale rifes again for breath they attack him^ again and again, till lie begins to grow weak by lofs of blood ; and then they plunge their javelins into various^ parts of his body, by which meajis they foon difpatcK him. The FIN-FISH is as long as a V/hale, but is three, times lefs in bulk. It is known by the fin on the back near the tail, and by its fpouting up the water more violently and higher than the Whale. The bunch or the head is divided according to its length ; that isj at the blowing hole through which it forces up the water.. The back is more ftrait than that of a Whale, and the lips are of a brevvnifa colour, appearing like a twilled^ rope. The Whalebone hangs from the upper lip, as it does in the Whale ; but it does not hang cut of the mouth at the fides, as in that animal. The infide o£ the mouth, between the whalebones is all over hairy^ and is of a blue colour, that is when the bone beginsr to grov/ ; for the other is brown with yellow fireaks,. which are thought to be the oldeiL The colour ol' this- filh is like that of a Tench ; and the fhape of the body: is long andilender; neither is he fo fat as the Whale> for which reafon he is generally negleded ; befides it; is much more dangerous to kill one of thefe than av Whale, becaufe his motion is quicker, and he beats more with his tail ; fo that the people dare not come near him with their boats. The tail is fiat like that of the Whale, and he feldom appears till the Whales, aie gone. The BUTS-KOPF, that is, the FLOUNDERS- HEAD, is belt known in England by the name of ORAMPUS. In the fnout, fins aad tail it refembids a B 6 polphin^ 14 THE NATURAL HISTORY together. The undermoft fins on the tail are like thoie on a Whale. The fkin of fome is of a dappled grey, like a horfe, and beneath on the belly it is white. On account of their fwimming fo fwiftl}-, they are very fel- dom caught, the' often leen. That feen by Wonnlus had a horn three ells long ; and Mr. Ray has feen them nine or ten feet in length. Dumantel affirms, that he faw one near the ifland of St, Domingo, in 1 644, which was eighteen feet long,, and as thick as ahoglhead. The body was covered with fcales as large as a crown-piece ; and there were fix large fins of a vermilion colour, four of which were placed on the belly, and the other two looked like ears; The fcales on the belly were yellow, the tail forked, the head like that of a horfe, and covered with a hard brown Ikin. The horn was nine feet and a half long, and at the root it was fixteen inches in circumference It was fo hard, that a good file would fcarcely touch it. it had two great gills like other fifh, and the eyes were of the fize of a hen's ^g'gy with pupils of a fky-blue ena- melled with yellow, and furrounded with a vermilion, circle, which was fucceeded by one very bright and fiiining like chryftal. The teeth in the fore part of the mouth were fharp, and the tongue was covered with a. rough red fkin. The flefh was larded with fat, and when it was boiled, it was flaky like cod. Above 300 people dined upon it, and thought it very fine eating. From this defcription it appears, that this fifh cannot be the Narwal of the North feas. The horn, or rather the tooth, is the only part ufed in medicine, and contains a great deal of oil, fpirit, and. volatile fait. It is in great vogue among the Germans^ as an alexipharmac againft poifons, contagious difeafes,. and the epilepfy of children. The dofe in powder is. from fix grains to half a dram. It promotes fweat, and is likewife an abforbent ; for which reafon they make ufe of it in loofenefTes and fpitting of blood. In fhort, it has the fame virtues as hartfhorn ; and therefore as this is much cheaper, it may very well be fubftituted in. its room. After what has been faid, it will not be amifs to be a. iitllc more particular with regard to Whales, Though they O F F I S H E S; 15 they bear the fhape of fifli, yet their internal llrudure in general refembles that of land-animals ; for the blood of Whales is hot, and they have lungs wherewith to breathe, for which reafon they cannot continue a long while under water. They couple like land animals, and they bring forth their young alive, fuckling them with their teats. The fins of other fifti are compofed of fpines united to each other by thin membranes ; but thofe of the Whales coniift of articulated bones in the ftiape of the hands and fingers of a man, and they are covered with mufcles and a great deal of tendinous ilefli. They have alfo a thick Ikin, like that which co- vers the relt of the body. Fins of the common fort would be too weak to guide fuch enormous maffe;, to refift the weight of their bodies in diving, and to avoid a fall. All Whales have a large thick tail placed horizontal- Iv, to aflift them in fwimming, and to direct their courfe ; and their flefh refembles that of land-animals, being covered every where with thick, porous, tendinous fat, called blubber, which ferves to preferve their blood in a due warmth, and to render thefe animals more light, which would otherwife be too heavy to move and fwim in the water. Every Whale has a thick large gut, which reaches a great way in the body; whofe length how- ever is undetermined, bccaufe the fifhermen feldom open thefc fifli, or trouble their heads about their entrails : how- ever, it is known to have very thick coats, and is fo wide it will eafily contain a man. Perhaps this, by contain- ing a great deal of air, may enable the Whale to become more light or heavy at pleafure, that it may fink down into the water, or rife to the top. There arc feveral forts of Whales ; which may be di- vided into thole that have pipes or tubes, and thofe that have nollrils. Of thofe that breathe thro' two pipes, the Greenland Whale is one ; and the Fin-fifh another : but others have but one, as the Cachalot. Whales with noftrils are very uncommon ; however, that there are fuch we are informed by Faber, and Sir Robert Sihbald in his natural hiftory. But the moft natural divifion of thefe fi(h is into Whiles with a-finooth back, and Whales with a rough back» tS THE NATURAL HISTORY back. The true Greenland. Whales and the North Ca^ per are of the iirft clais; and the Fin-fifh and Sword-hih of the fecond. The Greenland Whale has a fmooth back, and is fur- ■niihed with barbs ; but of this we have already treated at large. The North Caper is another kind of Whale, •that takes it name from the moft northern promontory of Not-nvay, becaufe this hlh is always found. there in great plenty. It is exadly like the Greenland V^ hale, except in the head, and in having a fmaller and flatter body. It yields but twenty or thirty tons of blubber, and the barbs are very fmall. It is alfo more adive than the true Whale, p.nd confequently more dangerous. The fkin is whiter, and the jaw is not io long. The Fin- iiih has been already defcribed ; hovveyer, there is another kind of Whale, by feme called Gubart^ or Gibbartas.; but what it isj is not eafy to-fay, the' many times mentioned by authors. In the- Philcfophical Tranf- ^adlions there is meiitiori made of Cubs, or yojupg 'Whales, taken near thk\{\a\\6.pi Bermudas , whote. backs !are fharp like the roof 'of a houfe, and.the fides are fur- rounded wi'th- high .bumps. Th^ back is black, and the "belly white. T5ey..are ve/y adive,- and have prodigious Jlrength, and Tend' forth lerribie cries when they are wounded. ' Tjiey have no teeth, and are longer than the ^CVf^-^/flW \V hale,' /but are not fo thick; nor have they To much blubber, and wliat they have is, not gpod. One of thefe was taken above an hundred feet in length. This by Ande^-fon is taken to be a fort of Fin-hfh. In the year 1723, there was a hfh taken, that had a Jhead not fo thick as the common Whale, but much longer, and more pointed. The body was fmalkr and flatter behind, and it had two holes thro' which it bievv .the air, and made a fort of a whiiliing noife. It wa.s about fixty feet long. The (kin was loofe from the body, and of a bluiih black. 1'he fi^in on its back v/as two feet high, and w^s neither crooked nor pointed j for which reafon it was taken to be of tiie clafs of the Fin-fifn When it was wounded, ii made a terrible noife, like that of a hog which the butchers are killing. Jt had no teeth, but barbs or fins in the mouth, that ,vs ere not above two feet long, but were lajge in the 3 lower O F F I S H E S. 17 lower part, and of a triangular form. It yielded but fourteen tons of tranfparent greafe or rather water, which being placed on the fire evaporated quite away. The Bunch or Hump Figh, fo called by the inha- bitants of AVw England, has a hump on its back, inllead of a iin, in the fliape of a pale fo termed by heralds, a foot in heighth, and of the thicknefs of a man's head. The fins on the lides are eighteen feet long ; and they are very white, and placed almoft in the middle of the body. The blubber is like that of a Fin-fiili ; but the Whale-bone, or fins, are not fo good, though better than that of the former. The Strag-Whale, called by ibme the Knohhed- fJJy, is found on the coaft of Ne^v England, and has oa the back half a dozen knobs or bumps inllead of a fin. It is not very unlike the true whale with regard to its fiiape and quantity of blubber. The barbs, or Whale- bone is white, but does not cleave very well. Filh of the Whale kind that have teeth, are the Sea Unicorn already taken notice of. A captain oi Hamburg took one in 1684, that had two of thefe horns, or teeth, for fo they are called by fome. In 1739, in February^ a Sea Unicorn was brought t-O Hamburg in a boat which bad entered thedver Elbe by the tide, where he died on the fands at low water. This filh was more thick than long, and had a truncated head like a portmanteau. 1"he horn or tooth proceeded from the left fide, and it had two fmall fins with a very broad tail placed horizon- tally. The ikin was as white as fnow, and variegated with a vail number of black fpots ; but the belly was all over white and fhining, and as foft as \thQt.. It was ten feet and a half in length from the tip of the fnout to the end of the tail, and tlie horn was five feet four inches long ; each fin was nine inches long, and about twice as b'road as a man's hand. The tail was three feet broad, and two inches and a half thick. The tooth or horn was wreathed, and proceeded from the 4jpper jaw towards the left fide. The right fide of the muz- zle was ihut, and intirely covered with a flcin, under which thete was no cavity in the bone of the head. The fnout was very low, and the under lip thin and ihort, with a very {mall mouth, for it did not opea above It THE NATURAL HISTORY above the breadth of a man's hand. The edges of the fnout were a little hard and rough, but there was no fign of teeth ; and the tongue nearly filled the mouth. On the top of the head there was a hole, or double pipe, furnilbed \^ ith a valve which it could open or ibut at plealure. The animal breathed through this, and could fpout out water. The eyes were placed very low in the head, and did not rife above the fnout ; their opening was very fmall, and they were furnilhed with a fort of eye-lids. This animal was a male, but the penis did not appear out of the body. As for the fifh with t]^o horns, they are very uncommon : however, there i0one at Amjierdam, and another at Hamburgh which are kept as rarities. They proceed in a right line from the head, and are but two inches afunder at the root ; but at the end they are thirteen inches diftant. Ihe Spenna-ceti V/hale has a pipe or tube in the fore part of the head, through which it fpouts the wa- ter. Jt is fixty feet long, and yields at leall thirty fix tons of blubber. Over the fnout the fat is two feet thick, but on the top of the iicad it is only three inches, and it lies diredly upon the thick membrane that covers the brain. '^1 his is divided into twenty eight cells, and that part of it called the fperma ceti is white and tranf- parerit, but, when taken out, coagulates into fiTjall por« tions like fiakes of fnow. All the blubber of this fifh is granulated with the fame fubilance, and in feveral parts there are cavities quite full of it. Towards the bottom of the back there are tliree bunches ; thefirft of which ii eighteen inches high ; the fecond, fix ; and the third, three. When it plunges it always turns on the right fjde, and fmks down in that attitude. The head is half the fize of the fifli, and is in Ihape like the butt end of a mufket. lu the upper jaw there are three or four teetli on each fide ; befides which, there are holes, to re- ceive thofe of the lower jaw, which is well furnilhed therewith ; but the greatelt are before, and the leaft be- hind. When one of thefe teeth is drawn out, the ftiapc is like a large cucumber. A captain of a fliip, that has carefully examined the brain, affirms, that on the upper part of the head, the f?rt is of the thicknefs of a man's hand, and that below it O F F I S H E S. 19 It there Is a thick nervous membrane, which ferves in- flead of a fkull. Under this there is another of the fame texture near four inches thick, which extends from the fnout to the back part of the head, which divides it on the top into two parts. The firft chamber is between thefe two membranes, and contains that part of the brain which is moll valuable, and out of which the beft fperma-ceti is prepared. The partitions of the cells in this chamber are formed of a fubftance that appears like thick crape, and the captain filled feven cags with a valuable oil contained therein. Jt is at firft clear and white, but, being poured into water, coagulates lik*e curds ; and yet when the water is taken away, it b^^- comes as fluid as before. Under this chamber there is another placed over the palate of the mouth, and, ac- cording to the fize of the fiih, is from four to kven feet and a half high. It is full of the fame fort of fluid, and is diftributed like honey into fmall cells, whofe par- titions refemble the film or Ikin on the infide of an egg- Ihell. In proportion as the brain is taken away from this chamber, it fills again, by means of a large pipe or vein, from all parts of the body. With this he filled eleven cags. The vein, or large veflel, is as thick as ft man's thigh, and runs along the fpine of the back as far as the tail, where it is not above an inch thick. Hence it appears, that the veflel improperly called a vein contains the fpinal marrov/ of this fifli, which is well known to be much of the fame fubftance with the brain itfelf ; and confequently cannot proceed from all parts of the body. The tongue is fmall in proportion to the fifli; but the mouth is fo large, that an ox may enter therein with eafe ; and the ftomach, when opened, has been found full of half-digefled fi(h, at leaft feven feet long. The fiOiers of Hamburgh have got from one Sperma-ceti Whale above forty tons of blubber. The flefli, which is very hard, confifts of large fibres inters mixed with a great number of nerves, and very thick fliff" tendons ; infomuch that there are few places where the harpoon can enter. The Sterma ceti Whale of Neiv- England is fomewhat different from the former ; for the teeth are larger, and placed like the teeth of a mill-wheel, and as thick as 3 man's •to THE. NATURAL HISTORY man's arm.- They are of a grey colour, and have ^ "bunch or hump on the back.; and one of forty feci Jong will yield twelve tons of the oil out of which fper- jna ceti is made. The oil which is made of their blubber is clearer and whiter than that of any other iort of Wh;Je. When they are hurt, tliey throw themfei.es on their back, and endeavour to defend themfelves with their moiulis. This is the Whale that yields the ^m- Ijer-creafe, and is taken notice of in the Philofophica! Tranfaclions. It confills of round jumps from three to .twelve inches in diameter, which weigh from one pound ^nd a half to twenty pounds. Though they are loofe, they are inclofed in an oval veilel three or four feet long, and two broad, much of the Aape of an ox's l)taddar J only their extremities are a little more point- ed. This bag .terminates in two pipes ; whereof one grows fmaller by degrees till it reaches the penis, and runs through it; the other proceeds to the kidneys, where it terminates in^^n orifice. at the other end of the bag. This is fufpendeci diredly over the tellicles, vvhich are above a foot long, and are placed, according to ti^length, from the root of the penis to four or five Hiche^beTow the navel, and three or four above the -vent.. It is near full of a dark orange fluid not quite Co thick as oil, but fmells like it, and is much ftronger ihaii the pieces of am-ber-greafe that fwim therein. They are. very hard while the fiih is alive, and there is often found atthe op3ning of the bag round fragments of the fame matter and confiftence. There are never above four balls in a bag. It is faid, that thefe balls of amber-greafe are never found in thefe Whales till they ore f\i]\ grown, and only in the males. The fmall black fiagments, that refemble the bills of birds, and pieces of broken ihells, have caufed feveral natyialilb to enter- tain feveral odd opinions concerning the origin of am- ber-greafe. Mr. Dudley affirms, as may be feen in the Philofophica] Tranfadions, that they are bills of certain fmall birds of which Whales are very fond. In 1720, a Spenna-ceti Whale was thrown, by a fu- rious tempcft and a high tide, into the river Elbe, where it died, and was dragged by the peafants as far as If^i/chaven^ a village a league below Sjade. It was fixiy £ve O F F I S H E S, 21 five feet long, and about thirty five broad, with aa eTJormous head in proportion to the bulk of the fifn. They cut this fi(h up to get the blubber, and in opening the head, the brain or fperma-ceti run out in large quantities. There is another Whale of tAis kind having teeth on- ly in the lower jaw, and a fin on the back. One of thefe was taken by the fifhers of Bre7nen in the latitude of feventy feven degrees and a half. It was feventy feet long ; and fome are faid to be met with that are at leall ninety. ' The colour was blackiHi on the back, a!id whitifh under the belly; and the head was of an enormous fize, and of a terrible afpeft. It was in (hape li^e the butt end of- a mulket, and was nearly half as big as the whole fifh. On the fore, part of the head it had only a fingle tube to fpout out water. The mouth was not fo large as that of the Whale, but the throat was wider; for being wounded, it threw up a fifh twelve feet in length. It had fifty two large fharp teeth in' the lower jaw, placed at equal diftances like thofe of of a faw, and each of them weighed two pounds. In the upper jaw there were holes or cavities, in which the teeth entered as into a fheath. The eyes were fhining and yellowifh, like thofe of other Whales; the tongue was pointed, and of the colour of fire, but fmall in pro- portion to the fiih. On the fide of the head there were two fins, each of which was a foot and a half long, with toes confining of feven joints ; whereas other Whales have but five. On the top of the back there was a high bump, and near the tail another refembling the fin. In Decenibr 1 723, there were feventeen other Whales ©f this kind thrown upon the fand-bank in the territory Ci Hamhurghf part of which were males, and the others females. They were from forty to feventy feet long, and they were all lying on one (i^t. The head above the eyes refembled a baker's oven, and the lower jaw was a little fhorter than the upper. The breadth of each was about a foot, and they terminated in a point. That below had forty two teeth, two inches thick and an mth long, with a crooked point like |h6fe of wolves ; -and in the upper there were holes to receive them very ^xaftly. They were of a brown colour, arid' the fkin was 22 THE NATURAL HISTORY was half an inch thick ; but the blubber was from eighc to twelve feet deep, and, while frefh, it was fo white it could not be diftinguifhed from lard. From fome heads they obtained four or five tons of raw {perma-ceti. The teeth, when taken out of the head, were near eight inches long, and feven in circumference near the gums. Another Whale of this kind was thrown on the fhore in the diftrid of Eiderjlahdy which had a tooth at the end of the fnout, and twenty five on each fide, that is, fifty one in all ; they were as crooked as a fickle. This fifh was forty eight feet long, twelve high, and thirty fix in circumference. At the bottom of the back, to- wards the tail, there was a bump four feet long, and a foot and a half high. The fin was four feet long, and a foot and a half broad. The breadth of the tail was twelve inches, and the point out of which it fpouted the water, was a foot and a half long. In 1752, there was a Whale thrown on Ihore in the harbour of ^ehra in Spainy and was called by the inha- bitants the Molar Fish. It was fixty feet long, twenty feet fix inches high, and fifty two feet fix inches in circumference. The lower jaw was fourteen feet nine inches long. From the upper lip to the top of the head was eleven feet feven inches, and the pipe, which ferved for a water-fpout, was a foot and fix inches. The breadth of the hole of the throat was four feet fix inclies, and the height fix feet fix inches. 1 he weight was about eighteen hundred quintals, and the entrails filled ■fix boats, of fixty quintals burden each. The fkin of the back was of a dark blue, and of the beliy, white. The inhabitants could not draw it on fhore ; and there- they cut it in pieces where it lay, and they were employ* ed three days in cutting it to pieces. The oil ftreamed from it on all fides ; and after they had cloven the head, a clear oil fpouted from it in a ftream of the thicknefs of a man's arm, and about five feet high, which larted for half an hour without intermiffion. They got ofi^ the lower jaw of this Whale, which required twelve men to drag it into the boat ; and it was fent to Paris. Jn the years 1707 and 1709, there were two Whales caft on Ihore at the Cape of Good Hope. They were botli of a dark brown colour, and their jaws were eighteen i'tn O ? F I S H E S- 25 feet long, and about thirteen broad. They had no teeth ; but tlie jaws were covered with a fkin as hard as iron. Their eyes were no bigger than thofe of a horfe with regard to their outward appearance, but wlien ta- ken from the head, were as large as a man's head. Un- der the orbit there was a large cavity, from which they fpouted plenty of water to a confiderable height. There were very large fins under the head, and the tail termi- nated in the fhape of a half-moon, and was very broad. The tongue of each weighed fix hundred pounds ; but the throat was fo narrow, that a man could hardly thrull in his hand. One of thefe Whales was fifty feet long, and twelve high, and the other forty five feet long, twelve broad, and eighteen high. The fubliatice called fperma-ceti contains a great deal of oil, and is prepared in the following manner at Bayonne^ and ^t. Jean de Luz. They take the brain, and melt it over a gentle fire, and afterwards pour it in- to moulds in the ihape of fugar-loaves. When it is cold, and the oil is run out, they take and melt it again feveral times till it becomes very pure and v.'hite, and then they cut it into thin flices in the fame manner as we fee it when brought to us. That is beft that is white, clear, tranfparent, and that is not adulterated with virgin-wax ; and this may be known as well by the fmell of the wax, as the llices being thinner and finer than ufual. It ought to be kept in glafs vefTels clofe ftopt, becaufe the air makes it grow yellow and rancid. Sperma-ceti is balfamJc, and an excellent medicine in difeafes of the breafr, and to blunt the fharpnefs of the humours. Jt is very efficacious in old coughs proceed- ing from defiuxions, and in all internal ulcers. It is alio excellent when the inteflines have been deprived of their mucus by the acrimony of bilious humours, as in loofenefles, and the bloody flux. It is alfo good agamft pifTing of blood ; it ibftens and relaxes the fibres, and often contributes to the expulfion of gravel by enlarging the pafTages. It is alfo of ufe to refolve coagulated biood, when occafioned by external injuries ; as alfo to eafe pains after child-bearing. The dofe is from twelve grains to a fcruple, v/hen given alone, or mixed with the yolk of an eggj but in other mixtures it :s given 8 frona 24 THE NATURAL HISTORY from half a dram to a dram. Externally it is emollieivt and vulnerary, and is of great ufe in the fmall-pox, if the puftules are anointed with it when they begin to grow hard : but then it muft be mixed with oil of fweet almonds ; by this means it will prevent in fome meafui-e the deep fears they generally leave behind them. It is alfo good in plafters, to diflblve the tumours of the breafts proceeding from the coagulation of the milk. Some ufe it as a cofmetic, to foften the fkin, and to ren- der the complexion clear. The PORPUS, or PORPESSE, is a fi(h frequently feen in the North feas, and particularly about England, It is fo called from Porcus-piscis, or the Hog-fish, from the great quantity of fat that covers the whole bo* dy much in the fame manner as in a hog. It is about fui feet long, and is frequently feen leaping in and out of the water, making cin uncouth kind of a noife like fnorting. The Oiape is long and round, but towards the tail it is fmall, tapering like a cone, and at the very root of the tail it is flat. J 'he fnout is long and (harp, and well furnlflied v.'ith llrong mufcles, to enable it to dig up fmall filh out of the fand. The fkin is thin, fmooth, and dcllitute of fcales ; and the back is of a very dark blue inclining to black. About the middle of the fides it begins to grow whitiih, and the black fpots and llreaks wherewith it is beautifully painted, at the meeting of the colours, gradually changes into a perfedl white. Jt has no gills, nor holes where the gills fhould be ; but on the top of the head there is a wide pipe, which opens like a half-moon, and inwardly is divided by a bony fubftance, as^it were into two nollrils. T)^t{e. af- terwards unite in one, and open with a fmgle hole into the mouth near the gullet. The end of this aperture is provided with a ftrong fphinfter, whereby it may be opened or Ihut at j:^eafure. 1 he upper part of the nollrils are covered with a ftrong fi<.in, in the manner of an epiglottis, to hinder the water from entering, thereiu contrary to the inclination of this filh. The eyes are Imall in proportion to the bulk of the body, at leaft as to outward appe.i ranee ; for when the eye-lids are cut off, they feem to be larger. The mouth is not wide, but is farnilhed with forty eight teeth regu-- larly O F F I S H E S. 25 larly placed and difpofed, there being fpaces left between the teeth of the lower jaw to receive thofe of the upper, and on the contrary. They are all (harp, and feera to be a little loofc in their fockets ; and the tongue is flat, fmooth, and conneded throughout its length to the bot- tom of the mouth ; for which reafon it cannot be remov- ed out of its place. There are only three fins befides the tail ; one of which is feated on tlie back, and two near the parts where the gills are ken in other fifh. The tail is placed horizontally, like that of a Whale, which is fuppofed to be neceffary to enable this fifh to rife often and take breath. The belly, as well as all other parts of the boiy, is covered with fat, which has a tendency to preferve the equilibrium between the fifh and the water ; forotherwife it would be difficult for this fifh to rife therein. The fat is likewife a great defence againft the cold, as it tends to preferve the natural heat, ferving for the fame pur- pofe as warm cloaths does to men in the fevere weather of the winter. The flefh is red, and looks very much like pork. This fifh has a pretty large caul, which does not lye clofe upon the inteftines, but hang; loofe, and is placed between the iiomach and the guts, it has three fto- machs, or at leaft there are three bags, v/hich may be fb called, though they join together. When one of thefe was difTeded, it was found full of Sand-eels ; and in that of another were boiies of fifh, Shell-fiih, and Prawns, mixed with a little fand. The guts of a young Porpus, that was no more than three feet and a iialf in length, meafu'-ed no lefs than forty-eight feet. I here is no dif- tinft'.on into great and fmall, nor fo much as a blind g Jt, nor any appendage whatever. The pancreas, or fweet- bread is large, and adheres clofely to the third, or low- ermoll llomach ; the liver has neither lobes, nor gall bladder. The fpleen is fmall, but compofed of feveral dillincl lobes ; and the kidneys are broad, flat and o'j- long, adhering to the back. Likewife the urinary blad- d;^r is fmall, but tlie penis is long, and lies concealed in a fort of afheath, the chink of which only appears out- wardly. The teiticles are placed at the bottom o: the abdomen, are of an oval Ihape, and their interna' fub- VoL. Ul, C it.nce 26 THE NATURAL HISTORY ftance Is like that of qiiadrupedes, as are the reft of the preparing vcfiels. T he Icmiii'al vefiels open into the urinary pafTage, with feveral duds a little above the blad- der. The diaphragm, or midriiT is entirely mufcular, without any tendinous membrane in the middle. The Jieart is like that of quadrupedes, only the auricles are larger in proportion, and it is placed in an ample peri- cardium. The lungs are hkewife like thofe of four- footed animals, except that they are bigger, and not ib fpungy. The brain in like manner refembles that of Quadrupedes, but is not quite fo fiabby ; however there are no olfadory nerves, nor maxillary procefTes. There are thirteen ribs, fix fnortand feven long ; and the brealt-bone is ihort, but the Ihoulder bones are broad and flat.' This fifli is feldom caught but by chance, or when they run on ihore in purfuit of their prey, becaufe the flefh is not defirable to feed upon, and there is no- thing but the fat to tempt £fliermen to take them. However in fome parts of the Eaji-Indies they make it their bufmefs to catch as many as they can, though they are only ufed to make oil of their fat. Thefe fiQi can Ivvim but a little way at a time before they come up to breath, and then they make fuch a noifc with their blowing that they may be heard at a great dillance in calm weather. The DOLPHIN, of the ancients, properly fo called, is of the Cetaceous kind, and is covered with a fmooth hard fkin. It has an oblong roundllb body, with a long round fnout, which is turned a little upwards. The cleft of the mouth is long, and fliuts very clofe ; and the teeth are Imall and fharp. The tongue is large and flelky, and their eyes are alfo large; but they are out- wardly fo much covered with the fkin, that nothing but the piipil appears. They are placed near the corners of the mouth, and almoft in the fame line. There is a double tube, or pipe on the top of the fnout, through which it fpouts out svater. It is placed juft before the bja-n, and communicates with the wind pipe ; and there is a very ilrong fin on each fide, not far from the mouth, and another on the back, which is partly bony, and TnMily 2iii'v. The tail is made up of xwo fins. * ^"^ ' The OFFISHES; 27 Th^ Jkin is thick and firm, but foft on account of the fat that lies underneath ; and on the back it is black, buc on the belly white. 1 he fleih is blackifn, and refembles that of a hog, and the inner parts are not unlike thole of the Porpus ; but it dift'ers from that fiili in having a long fnout fomevvhat like a goole, and being more {len- der and flefliy, though not fo fat ; likewife a Porpus is lefs, but has a broader back, and a blunt fnout. The Dolphin is faid to go with young ten months, feldorn producing above one at a time, and that in the midll 0/ fummer. They live to a confiderable age, fome fay twenty-five or thirty years ; and they lleep with the fnouc out of the water. When they feem to play on the top of the water, many afiirm it is a fign of an approaching tempeft. There are various llories in ancient authors of the love of the Dolphin to mankind, but they are now looked upon to be nothing but fables. They fwim ex- ceeding fwift, and pafs at a ftated feafon out of the Ll:- diterranean fea, through the Dardenells, into the black fea. They are fometimes feen in ihoals, and there is always a male and female at lead together. They v iil. live three days out of water, during which they are faid to niake fuch a mournful noife as to afFecl thofe grearly who are not ufed to hear them. There are feveral other fifh, of the Cetaceous kind, which have only been (o-Qn by chance, and for that rea- fon have not been fully defcribed. There was one, ior inftance, that came into the FritJy of Forth near Edin- burgh, and was thrown on ihore. The head was fo large, that when the tail was cut off, it was equal ia length to the remaining part, and was thicker than the body. The lower jaw was more prominent, by two feet and a half, than the upper, and the upper was five feet long. The eyes were no larger than thofe of a Had- dock ; and, a little above the middle of the fnout, there was a fpout-hole, which was double, and covered over with a fort of a fto'pper. It had forty two teeth, all in, the fhape of a fickle, but thicker in the middle than elfe%vhere. They terminated upwards like a cone, and had very Iharp points. It had a long fpinc, or prickle ©n the back, inilead of a fin. C z Ifi 2S THE NATURAL HISTOI^. ' In No'vem^erj 1690, there was another caft on-lliore, that, from the fnout to the end of the tail, was forty-fix feet in length, and on the back, near the tail, there was a protuberance like a hon, which the filhcKmen called a prickle. The nollrils were placed in thje upper jaw pretty high in the fnout, being, from its extremity, fix feet eight inches diftant. They were eight or nine inches long, and divided from each other by a grille. The eyes appeared outwardly to be of the fize of thofe of an ox. Another was call upon anilland of the Oreadcs in 1687, which had an upright fin on the middle of the back, refembling the mizen mail of a fhip, for which realbn the failors gave it that name. In 1692, another Whale was thrown afhorein the a- bove-mentioned frith, which was feventy-eight feet in length, and of a proportionable thicknefs. The lower jaw was much larger every way than the upper, and of a femicircular fhape. It had no fpout-hole, but towards the forehead there was a double large hole of a pyrrimidal Ihape ; the bafe of which was towards the forelicad, but towards the mouth it became_ narrow, and was divided by a giiUle. It had three fins in all, but we are not told where they were placed, at lead Mr. Raj fays nothing a- bout them. CHAP. III. Of Vipes cf the cartilagh.ous hind, THE WHiTE SHARK is the largeftof this kind, for fome of tliem weigh one thoufand pounds, and are fixieen feet in length.. Some pretend that they have feen thofe of four thoufand pounds weight, and particularly one that had aa entire man in its belly. By way of confiimation, Rcndektius informs us, that he faw one th.t had fuch a prodigious mouth and throat that ic migh.t withealefwallow a man. This fome take to be the fidi that fwallowed up Jonas, when he coiftinucd three days and three nights in its beMy. 1 ^cuzci^i OF FISHES. '29 The head is large, and fomewhat depreiTed ; the fnout oblong, and the eyes large. The mouth is enormouHy wide, and the teeth very numerous and terrible, there being five or fix rows of them, which are extremely hard and (harp, and of a triangular figure. Some fay there are feventy-two in each jaw, which make one hundred forty-four in the whole. However, others think that the number of teeth is uncertain, and that they vary accord- ing to the age of the fi(h; thofe that are oldeil having the greateft number of teeth. The fins are larger, in proportion, than in other fifh, and the tail is forked, but the upper part is confiderably longer than the lower. There is one fin on the back, another near the tail, two on the belly, between which the vent is placed, and there are alfo two near the gills and mouth. The fidn is rough, the eyes large and round, and furniflicd v/ith variety Oi miifcles, that en- able this hih to turn them to what fide he pleafes ; but, inftead of optick nerves, there is only a hard griily U^b- fiance. The mouth is not' placed, as in oth.-r fiSh, at the end of the i'nout, but under the eyQs at fonie dillance from it ; which obliges him to turn on his back when he takes his prey. It has a moll monfirous flomach, and an extreamly wide throat, as Vv^as before obferved. The liver is very fat, and divided into two large lobes, The fleih is white, and has no great ranknefs in its tafte ; for which reafon it is frequently eaten by fome of our failors, ef- pecially when they can come at nothing better. The Buccaneers lived much upon it ; and they firft boiled it, then fqueezed out the juice, and after Hewed it with vinegar and pepper. Sharks often follow fhips for a long while together, at which time the failors catch them by linking a barbed iriftrument, called a fizgig, into their bodies, and fo draw them up into the ihip. As foon as he is laid upon the deck, he begins to fiounce in a terrible manner with his tail ; and therefore they cut it ofi:' with an ax as fall as they can. They fometime^ bait a large iron hook, made fall to a thick rope, with a piece of fait beef, which he will fwallovv very greedily, and then they drag him on board. C 3 This 30 THE NATURAL HISTORY This £fh is not only to be found in the Mediterranean', but in moft parts of the ocean ; and it is notfeldom that they will lay held of a man's leg or thigh when they have an opportunity, and either drag him into the wa- \&x or bite the limb off. The BLUE SHARK is as bold and mifchievous a fifh as any that fwims, and has a hack of a lively blue co- Icur, but its belly is of a filver white. The fnin is not rough, as in a Dog~fifh, and others of the fame kind ; but the fnout is long, fharp, flat, and indented with many fmall holes above and below. The length is from lix to eight feet, to which the thicknefs is proportion- able. T he mouth is \zxy large, and placed as in the former, with teeth iliarp, and notched like a faw } but there are not io many as in the White Shark. The holes ol the gills are Bve on each fide, and the tail is divided irtto two parts ; the uppermoll of which being much longer than the lower. i he fiomach of this Shark is fo large, that a whole Tunny-fifh has been found therein. The upper part of the guts are fmall, the lower thick, and the liver is large, anu divided into two lobes, being of a bluifh red colour. The rp^ecn is of a fmgular fhape, for it is divided into a vail number of fmall lobes, which refembie a duller of eggs or fpawn. This is probably the fame iifh which the failors call the Ground Shark, from its coming into fhal- low places near the fea-fhore, where they fometimes lay iiold of an arm or leg of thofe that are bathing in the fea- vk ater. Some tell us, that they will fnap at the feet of thofe that are walking by the fea-fide, which is not very improbable. It is to be found in various parts of the ocean, and often appears near the fea ccalls of Corn^ IV oil. The SHARK, called Maltha by Rondeletius, and SoRRAT by the inhabitants of Karbonns^ has a fhort iiiout, and the mouth is placed but a little below the fiicut. The teeth appear much the fame as in the White i-hark, which they refembie both in the inner and outer pai ts, only there is no white fkin over the white of the eves. ' TheCUCURIcf Prfl//, is called Cassaon, by fome, and is a kin to the White Shark, though it is only two feet and ^'^f^ 3' O F F I S H E S. ?i and a half in length.The head terminates like the conick fedion, called an Hyperbola, The place of the mouth, the number of die fins, and the fhape, are like thofe of a White Shark ; likevvife, the ikin is of the fame co- lour, that is afh- coloured above, and white below ; buc it has only a fingle row of teeth. The TOPE, fo called in Corn^ojail, differs from the fmooth Dog-fiih in the fize, for it is much longer; and in tiie teeth, for that has none, and this has a great number ; likewife in the eyes, which have lelfer pupils in proportion to the bulk of the body, 'i he fnoat, fo far as it runs beyond the ncftriis, is tranfparent. It has been taken frequently near Penzance in Lormvall. TheSEA-FuX, or Sea-ape, is fo called on account of the length of its tail, and from the ftrong fmell of the fieili, which is like that of a fox. It is fometimes fo large, as to weigh above a hundred pounds ; and has a round thick body, a fmall mouth, not much below the fnout, which is fharp armed with iharp teetli. This fifii has fome refemblance to a Shark in moil things, except the body and tail ; for the body of that is thicker and fhorter, and the tail much longer than in any of this kind. The fkin of the belly is white, and that of the back of an afh-colour. i he tail is crooked, and has fome refem- blance to a fword, being as long as the reft of hi? body, and at the root there is a fin. It is ufually met with in the Mediterranean fea. ^ Rondeletius informs us, that he once faw a Sea-fox opened, which had feveral young ones in its belly. The fifhermen, not being ufed to fuch a fight, fooliPnly ima- gined they had been i'wallowed as a prey. The BALANCE-FISH fometimes is as large as fome of the Cetaceous kind. It differs from all others in the monflrous fhape of the head, which refeinbles a fmith's large hammer, at each end of which the eyes are plac- ed ; but the forehead, or fore part Iwells out into a fort of femicircle, only it terminates in an edge. 'X he mouth is underneath, is very large, and armed with ex- ceeding rtrong, broad, fharp teeth, notched at the fides like a faw, and of which there are three or four rows. The tongue is broad, and like that of a man ; and the body is round and long, without fcales, and covered C 4 with : 3 T K E N A T U R A L H r S T O R Y with a fkin like leather. The fpines on the back are con- tinued to the upper part of the tail, where there are fins on each fide. I'he lefler horn of the tail, if it may be fo ca-led, is very fliort. In other things it refembles a Shark, and is a native of the Mediterranean fea ; but it may be eafily diftinguidied, from all others of this kind, by the Ihape of its head. There is another fifh a-kin to this, called by the Dutch CRUY SHAYE. It is like a Shark in aH things except the head, which is of a trian- gular fiiape, or rather like a heart ; the mouth is nar- row, and armc.i with a double row of Iharp teeth. The PICKED DOG, or HOUND FISH, has a roundifli oblong body, which is covered with a rough fN'in, that is generally known among us by the name of £ih-fkin, and is ufed by joiners, and other artificers for poli filing wood and other things. The back is of a browniih afli-colour, and the belly is white, and fmooth- er than in other parts. The eyes are in the fhape of a boat, and covered with a double membrane. The mouth is placed jufl under the eyes, and is armed with a double row of linall teeth. The two back fins have ftrong, Iharp fpines, or prickles (landing before them, of which that nearefl the head is thicker and longer, and that neareft the tail fhcrter and lefs. It has never a fin on the lower part of the body between the vent and tail ; by which it may be difiinguiflied from all filh of this kind. The BROWN DOG FISH differs from the former in the dufl'.y colour of its back ; and it is likewlfe mere dark and rough on the belly than on the back. The fnout is blunt/ and the noftrils large, placed near the extremity of the fnout. The former brings forth itS' young alive, which are produced from eggs hatched wiihiji ihe body of this fith. It is never very large, for it is ftld' m obovc twenty pounds in weight 'I he Ho- mr.ch is large, and i'e\eral Cuitle-flfh have been found in it ct once. It is frequently taken in the Britijh ocean, and in the 1 ijhk^. The LENTRINA is of the Dog kind, and is called by the Italans PtscH Pokco, fiom its likcnefs to a ForpuP. The body, from th^ head to the vent, is of a triangular fliape, of which the belly, being broad and i at, makes or.e of the fides ; and tiiC parts o i each fide, that '^Za^^ ^2 r//tea^-^£? O F F I S H E S. 33 that join to the back, make the two other fides, but the- back itfelf terminates in an acute angle: The colour is of a dark brown, the head is fmall and flat, and the mouth fmail, and placed on the under fide of the head. In the upper jaw there are three rows of teeth, but in. the lower there is only one. There is no fin below the vent, in which it agrees with the Picked-dog-fidi, but the back fin before, for there are two, has a fpine, or prickle that inclines towards the head, and feenis to run through the fin itielf at the root. The fpine, or prickle belonging to the hinder fin, feems to run through it tranfverlly, and turns towards the tail ; by which mark it may be known from all other fifh of thi^ kind. They are taken of different flzes ; but the liver of one was fo large, that it weighed fix pounds. This is of a whitifh colour, and is divided into two lobes ; and the ftcmach is fmall, but the fpleen double. Near the eyes are two holes in the ihape of a half-moon,- which probably are the organs of hearing. This fifli is taken in the Mediterraneafi lea, and is fometimes brought to the filli markets at Rome ; but the flefli is tough, and fo full of hard fibres, that ir will neither feparate from the fein, . nor yield readily to the edge of a knife. It is but fel- dom caught, and more feldom eaten ; for the pooreit . people will not touch it, unlefs when other fifli are ex- ceeding fcarce. Some fay it is of a poifonous na- ture. The SRIOOTPI DOG-FISH difes from the Tope in its fize, which is much lefs ; in its teeth, for this has . none, and in its eyes, which are more open ; but, in- ftead of teeth, the bones of each jaw are as rough as a- file. The fkin is fmooth,. whereas in all others of this- kind it is rough, and by that mark may be readily dii- tinguiihed from the Picked dop-filh. The GREATER CAT-FISH, called in Cornwall the- BOUNCE, differs from Dog-fifhes in having a broader^ back, and a Ihorter and blunter fnout, reaching but a little beyond the mouth. Jt is all over fpccklei vviili reddifli black fpots ; but the fkin is raucli rougher. It is . often met with in the Briti/h fea. The LESSER ROUGH HOUND, or MORGAV, ilifFcrs from the former in being much Icfs, in. having a. C 5 body. 34 THE NATURAL HISTORY body of a more long and flender fhape, and in being of a fainter colour, with a reddifh caft ; and there are a great number of fmall fpecks or fpots, partly brown, partly whitifb, fprinkled all over it without any regular crder The GREATEST CAT-FISH differs from the Bounce, in being of an alh-colour, in having larger and fewer fpots, with a longer and thicker fnout, and the nollrils are at a greater diilance from the mouth. The iins at the vent are not joined together as in that, but are diftinflly feparated ; jikewife, the fin beneath the vent is nearer to it than in the Bounce. TJie PICKED DOG-FISH of CLftus, is very ano- ma:ou£, fo that it may be doubted whether it belongs to this kind or not. The colour is of a brownifh afli, the l'noi:t is broad, and the Ikin fmooth, wichoutany fcales. The eyes are clouded by a (kin or membrane, which rifes upward from the lower part ; and the mouth is placed beneath the head. There are two holes near the vent ; and it agrees with this kind, in being cartilaginous. It differs from it in having only four teeth in its mouth, two in the lower jaw, and two in the upper; and in having a fmglefpine or prickle, not on the back, but alm.oft on. the neck, ilx inches long, which is broad and hollow in the lower part. It has only a fmgle gill on each fide, and the gill fins are longer than in Dog-fifh. The firj on the back is extremely long, and reaches almofl to the end of the tail, that is, to that part where it begins to \ e very /lender ; from thence' the tail is feven inches long, and feems to refemble that of a moufe. It is taken in the Nortlvfea by thofe who are concerned in the herring fifhery. The SAW- FISH has its name from a faw, which the bone of its nofe is, by fome, thought to refemble; but they are more like the teeth of a comb, placed at fome diltance from each other. They are from twenty to thirty in number, t laced on each fide the bone; and are in fome five feet in lengch when the bcdy of the fifh is ten feet. Cn the back it is of an a(h-colour, and the belly is white; and there are no teeth in the mouth, wh:ch is traniverfiy cleft like xhut. of the Balance-filh ; but il.e iipb are as i;;ugh as a file, i here are two fins on the OF FISHES. 35 the back, and that next the head is Hke theButs-kopPs; and that towards the tail is hollowed like a fickle. On the belly there are four fins, two on each fide ; and thofe next the head are broad eft and longefl ; thofe next the tail are placed directly under the uppermoft fin on the back ; and the tail is like a piece of board which dyers make iife of to open, or ftretch the ftockings, and is widened behind and before ; but it is not divided into two parts. The ihape fomewhat refembles a man's naked arm, and the noftrils are oblong. The eyes ftand high out of the head, and the mouth is diredly under- neath the eyes. Marten obferves, that fome grow to be twenty feet long. The Saw-fiih are great enemies to the Whale and Fin-fifh, for many of them will gather about one, and never leave him till he is killed. They are fond of no- thing but his tongue, for they leave all the refl behind. When feamen and failors happen to fee this fight, they never offer to intermeddle, but let them alone till the Whale is conquered, for, fhould they do otherwife, their long-boats would fright the Saw-fifh away, and then the Wi^ale would make his efcape. Fraz'er happened to fee a battle of this kind, between a Whale and the Sword- fifh, on the coalt of Coi/i in Sou'tl? America ; from whence it appears, that they inhabit different parts of the ocean ; however, they are ij^ greateft plenty in the North Teas ; perhaps becaufe there are the greatell num- ber of Whales. CHAP. III. Of cartilaginous Tlat-Jjjh. THE SEA- EAGLE has a head almofl like that of a toad, and the eyes are large, round, and promi- nent. The fides are expanded like wings, and the tc:il is long and flender, being fometimes above two ells in length. It is armed with a long Iharp weapon ; and the body, in bignefs, exceeds a Fire flaire ; and the weapon is not kfs dangerous than that of the Fire-fiairc, C 6 be- 36 THE NATURAL HISTORY b^ing greatly dreaded by fifhermen The mouth is full o' teeth, and the {;;in is foft and fmooth ; the upper p irt being livid, and the under white. They are gene- rally taken fmall ; but fome of them have been found to weigh 3CC pounds. It may be diftinguifhed from other cartilaginous fifh by the length of its tail, and by its Ja ge weapon or fpine. which is fometimes fingle, and fometimes double, but always venemous. It is an in- habitant of the Mediterranean fea, and is often brought to Kcffie and Naples. The flefh is ibft and moilt, with a rank naufeous fmell, and therefore is feldom or never eaten. The FIRE-FLAIRE differs from other cartilaginous filh of this kind in having a remarkable weapon-fpine on its tail, of the length of a man's middle finger, which is fliff, exceeding Iharp, and ferrated ; and the teeth bend backwards. The tail is remarkably long, and the head iiat and depreffed, like the body. The eyes are in the upper part of the head, and the mouth in the lower. There are two apertures, or holes, behind the eyes ; that is, on each fide one ; and the eyes themfelves are large, with an iris of a d^QCD yellow, and a blackifh pupil. The mouth is large, and placed tranfverfly, and the fnout is long and (harp at the end. The apertures on the gills are five on each fide, beginning a little be- low the mouth, and ending on tlie breaft. The fides are terminated, throughout their w hole length, by a broad fin. The tail is remarkably long, and of a round fiiape, having no fin thereon; the back is ronndiih, and the belly fi t 'Xhe fpine is venomous, which the fifhermen t:,ke a r,reat deal of care to avoid. There is another FIRE-FLAIRE, called at Naples Alt A Vela, which is fmootli, and has a head like the former, but Icfs in proportion The colour is the fame, but the fliape is difix^rent ; for it is blunter at the ex- treme parts, and the tail is not above half the length of the body ; but there is a fiiarp fpine, nearer the begin- ning of the tail than the end, and fometimes two, bend- ing back to the tail, and ferrated. It does not grow fo large as the former, and its flefh is in fome rcquell. The WHIP-RAY has a large broad body, almoft of a triangular fhape ; and on each fide there is a broad flefliy OFFISHES. 37 Piefhy triangular {kin. The head is of the fize of that of a middling hog ; but it is thick comprelTed, and has a fort of pit in the middle. The mouth is without teeth ; but, in the room thereof, there are a great many fmall bones : the eyes are (mall, and the upper part of the body is of an iron-grey, almoll blue, with white fpots throughout ; the lower part is white. The Ikin is fmooth ; and behind the tail there are two hooks, like fifning-hooks, placed one upon another, and near three inches long. This is a Brafilian filh ; by the inhabi- tants called NARINARJ, and is defcribed by Marc- granje. Dampier informs us, that there are two forts of Vv- hip- rays, one of which has a longer and fmaller tail than the Sting-ray or Rafp-ray, and has a knob at the end fhaped like a harpoon. It is about three feet and a half broad; but the other fort is three or four yards fquare, with long tails, which the failors call fea-devils. Nieuhoff tells us, that it has its name from its ugly fhape, and that the eyes are on the upper part of the head ; but the mouth is in a concavity below the head. The tail is like that of a Roach, and on each fide there are two teats pointed towards the end. Perhaps thefe are the two excrefcencies which ferve for a penis m other fifh of this kind. The fein en the iiead is full of brown fpots, and fome are near eij^ht feet long. The ROUGH -FLAIRE of Belomus is all over prickles, efpccially about the ta-il, which is as long as that of a Fiie-flaire, and has feverui hooks placed in circles round about it. The STING-RAY, 'called by the Brofdiam AlE- RKBE, is a kind of Flaire, fometimes above three feet in length, and is as broad as it is long^^The tail is round, four feet in leng'th, and about tlie middle there are two bony fpines, that are thick and dentated behind, which ferve for weapons. The mouth is little, without teeth ; and the Ikin, on the upper part, is of an iron- colour ; but, on the middle of the back, there are re- markable black tubercles or warts. The lower part of the body is entirely white and fiat, as in the reft of this kind. Sir Hans Sloan takes notice of a fifh of chis kind, which is almoft round, fomevvhat like a Torpedo or Numb- 38 THE NATURAL HISTORY Numb-fidi, with tubercles on the back, and about foar inches broad, ^i he tail, he fays, is only three inches long, and has a fin on the upper part, and near to it a fpine or prickle about an inch long. Mr. Ray is in doubt whether this is not the fame fifh as the former. The SKATE, or M.AIRE, is remarkably large, and will fomctimes weigh above one hundred pounds ; but, what is ibll more extraordinary, there was one fold, by a fiflimonger, at Cambrijge to St. Johns college, which weighed two hundred pounds, and dined a hundred and twenty people. The length was forty-two inches, and the brerdth thirty-one. The colour on the upper part is a{h, thickly fpeckled with black fpots ; and the belly is white, which is likewife interfperfed with fmall blfick fpots. It has but few prickles, there being one row of them upon the tail ; and the males are diitinguiilicd from the females by having feveral rows of crooked prickles on both fides the broad part of the fins. The liver is of a dirty yellow, marbled v,'ith lines of a dark colour, and it is divided into three lobes ; the gall bladder being' placed in that towards the right. The fpleen is large, reddiih, and adheres to the ftomach ; and the pancreas, or fvveet-bread, is placed at the angle, where the gut bends downwards. The guts are large, though they have but one fold ; and the female has a capacious uterus, with very large ccrnua and ovaria. The male has feminal vefiels on each fide the belly, tuig- ed with fperm, and at their extremities there are oblong glandulous bodies, fuppofed to be the teilicles The great artery, foon after it leaves the heart, is divided into two branches, and then into three others, which ppfs to the three iowermoft gills, from whence o- iher veiTels bring the blood back; for, as in quadru- pedes, the blood pafies through tiie lungs, fo in fifhcs it all paffes through the oiHs. Hence the x^aim is plain why the lively led colour of the girls is the certain figa of the frcfhnefs of any fifh, for as foon as the blood has the leaft drgrce of putrefadlion, the brightnefs of the colour vanifnes. StCKO, in the anatomy of a n^ate, has difcovered the fpots on this filh to be a fort of glands, which fecrete the (lime that renders their bcd-es fo ilippeiy ; for which rea- fon /^^^^ O F F I S H E S. 39 ion he fappofes the fpots in other fi{h may ferve for the fame purpofe. All fiih of this kind are more rank, when firft taken, than when they have been kept for two or three days. The winter is the proper feafon to feed upon them ; for then the fmell is not fo ftrong, and the tafte is more agreeable. The THORN-BACK differs from the former in being lefs, and in being armed with a greater number of prickles, from whence it has its name ; for there is one fmgle row runs down the back, but on the tail there are three. The (hape, except the tail, is nearly fquare, and yet a tranfverfe line, drawn from corner to corner, is longer than another drawn from the head to the root of the tail ; fo that in fome fenfe the (i{h is broader than it is long. One of thefe, being meafared, was found to be fixteen inches and a half broad, and only twelve long, the tail excepted. This filh has no fcales, but is covered with a fort of flime, which renders it very flippery. The upper part is of a dufky colour, fpeckled with round white fpots ; and the under part is entirely white. The row of prickles, or thorns, on the back, are about thirty in number, and on each fide the tail, beiides that in the middle, there are two rows of prickles ; but the lower part of the tail is fmooth. The eyes are placed on the upper fide of the head, being very prominent, and having no bone, or a- ny thing elfe to defend them; only, on the inner fide, there are fmall prickles. The pupils have round, jagged, co- vers underneath the horny coat, which are let down from the upper part of the eye ; and near the eyes there are two holes, which fome think ferve for hearing, if it be true that any filh hear at all ; for this is a matter ftill in difpute. When a Thorn-back is laid with the belly uppermofl, the nolbils appear in fight, being contiguous to the mouth, which is void of teeth ; but the jaw-bones are as rough as a file. The gil.'s, a:v in other fiili of this kind, are five holes, placed in a femicircular form ; and on the belly there are two fcmicircle5., one of which en- cornpalTcs the breaft, and the other the lovv'er belly, which is divided from the upper by a bone where thefe circles touch, A little above the tail, there are two car- 6 tilaginous 40 THE NATURAL HISTORY tilaginous procefles, the back part of which is divided, as it were, into teeth ; to thefe two fins are joined, w hich reach to the tail. They rife from a griflle a little above the vent, which anfwers to the bone of the pubes in quadrupedes. There are two appendages joined to thefe in the male-filb, which are fuppofed to ferve inftead of a penis. The orifice of the ftomach opens immedi- ately into the mouth ; and the inner furface of the fto- mach is covered with a coat, or cruii, which feems to be of a glandulous fubliance. This covering is extended over all the infide of the gut, but does not feem fo thick as in the ftomach. The liver is of a pale yellow, and is divided into three lobes, which look like fo many tongues. The fpleen is of a deep red colour, and plac- ed under the middle lobe of the liver, between the two orifices of the ftomach. The fweet-bread is feated at the bending of the gut, near the pylorus, and is furni- ftied with a dud, as in land animals. The (hape of the heart refembles that of the body, and the blood veflels are ramihcaed much in the fame manner as thofe of a Skate. The prickles of the Thornback are not always difpofed in the fame manner, for in fome they are more nvimerous, and others have had thorns on the belly. For this reafon RondAetiui has given figures of above a dozen Thornbacks, which fcarcely diftcr in.any thing elfe, but the different difpofitions of the prickles. The flefli is much like that of a Skate, but not quite fo pleafaut, and more hard of digeftion ; however, the liver is accounted by fome a great delicacy. Both the Skate and the 1 hornback are very common in all parts of Enghtid. The SHARP-SNOU I ED RAY is of a more flcnder make than that of a Flaire, and is brov/n on the back, and white on the belly. Some of them weigh upwards of ten pounds, and have teeih in the mouth. Thefnout is flender, and pretty long, terminating in a fharp point like the end of a fpear, by which it is eafily diftinguilh- ed from other fifli of this kind. There are fpines, or thorns on each fide the tail. This fometimes is brought to the markets at Rome ; and Dr. Dale has feen them at Brainirce in EJ/ex ; but thefe were of the lefter kind; for there are two which differ in nothing but the fize. The. ^a, aae ^i fi^tcua?? «^^?^^/£^Wt . -I-O fJna/yi -//loz/Ze-^/'/li '/ia^L ^ HsMSH 1 1 Lb i /3^ i^te^. c ifi^p^^S liislili^^ ^^fyf^W O F F I S H E S. 41 The CLUB -RAY, of Bondeletius, diiFers from the former in having a more pointed fnout, though it has not that fharp prickle like the end of a fpear. The colour on the upper part is alli, and there are eight long fpines or thorns on each fide, placed on the fkin, which' are wanting in all other forts of Ray^. The WHITE - HORSE is a Ray that is pretty broad in proportion to its length, and is alfo thick. The back is gibbous, or roundiOi ; but the belly is more flat. The fnout is oblong, and fharp at the point; and the eyes are prominent, but not very large, with an a- perture behind each. The mouth is tranfverfe and large, and furnifhed with a nmnber of fliarp teeth. The holes of the gills run down from the mouth, along the breaft, on each fide, being five in each. The upper part is of a hoary yellow, fpeckled with fmall round black fpots, without any order, and there are a great number of prickles thereon. The tail has a double row of greater pickles, which are pretty thick fet. The lower part of thebody is white, without any mixture, and the tail is long and flender. The MONK, or ANGEL-FISH, is of a middle na- ture, between a Shark and a Skate, and grows to a large fize, often weighing above one hundred and fixty pounds, and to the fize of a man. The colour, on the back and iides, is of a duiky alh, and the beily is white. The mouth is broad, and placed at the end of the head, in which it differs from other flat cartilaginous fiih. The head is roundifh at the extremity, and there are three row^ of tee«-h in each jaw ; each row confiliing of eighteen, fo that there are an hundred and eight teeth in all ; however, the number is not exadlly the fame in all fifh of this kind. The tongue is broad, and Iharp at the end ; and the noftrils are wide, being placed on the upper-lip, and filled with a fort of fiime. The eyes are ot a middle fize, placed not far from the mouth, and do not look diredlly upwards, but fideways. Inftead of gills it has five holes like the Thornback. The two fins, that are placed near the head, look very much like wings ; for which rcafon it is called the Angel-fiih, be- caufe Angels are painted with wings. On the extremities of thefe lins, near the corners, tkere are fhort, fharp, and 42 THE NATURAL HISTORY and crooked prickles. The lowermoft fins, which are placed near the vent, have alfo the like. Below the vent there are two fins on the back, and the tail i.^ fork- ed. The liver is divided into three lobes ; to the mid- dlemoft of which the gall-bladder adheres ; and the gut is large, and joined to the nickntery. 1 he flelh is fo rank, and of fo difagreeable a ta:te, that it is ncgletled even by the poorelc people ; but the Ikin is in great re- quell for making cafes for inflruments, and the like. 1'his filh is to be met with in all parts of the ocean, and is frequently taken on the coaft of Corn-wall. Riiyfch alfo gives the n«me of an Angel to an Eaf!-In- dian filh, which has nothing very fingular, e.xcept a hook with two beardo, that hangs out of his mouth. It has prickles on the back, which is all the defcripiion that he gives of it. The ROUGH-RAY, of BcnJeletius, differs from o- ther fifn of this kind in having fmall prickles on the fides, but none on the trui.k of the body. On the tail there are ihiee rows of long ftiff prickles, which reach to the end ; and the fnout is preity Iharp. The VERY-RC.UGH RAY, of Rcndeletius, differs ■from the former in having all parts Overipread with very iharp prickles, on the belly as well as the back, info- much that this filh cannot be lifted up without taking it by the fins of the tail. It has no teeth, whereas the for- mer has a mouth full of teeth. The SMOOTH-EYED RAY, of RondeUtius, called by the Venetians BARACOL, has two fpots on the back that are purple in the middle, and black on the edges, though R.tndeletiui affirms, that they are blue in the mid- dle, and are encompalTed with two circles, the inner black, and the outer yellow. It may be diftinguiflied from other cartilaginous fidi in having no thorns or prickles, except un the tail, where there are three rows. The ROUGH-EYED RAY, of Rondehtius, differs from the former in the prickles, which are en both fides in the wings near the fpots. There are alfo prickles on both fides the head ; others on the back, and otliers on the tail, which are larger, llronger, and more thick fet. The fieih is hard, and yields bad nouriihment. The O P F I S H E S. ^5 The STELLATED RAY, of Rondeletius, may be diHinguifhed from other Rays by the prickles on its back, which begin at the head, and end at the firft tail-iin ; and thefe are the only ones it has on the body. The up- per part of the body is beautifaliy painted with liars, from whence it derives its name. The tail isfhort, and more {lender than in others of this kind; and the head is more like that of a Flaire than of a Ray, for it is thicker and broader. The flelh is better than that of o- thcrs of this kind, becaufe this fifh always keeps in clearer water. The ROUGFI-STELLATED RAY, of Rcndcktius, is fo called from the great number of liars that it has on the fides, and beginning of th^ tail ; and from the great number of prickles, with which it is covered. They are grcatefl on the line in tne middle of the back, and on the tail ; but e.Mewhere they areleail. Inllead of teeth the jaw-bones are hard and rough. i^ij.W^/t//?// thinks there are two kinds of this fifh ; one wiih liars, entirely white, and fewer in number, and another with Hars that have a black Ipcck in the middle, which are fnrrounded with a white circle ', and the prickles are more numer- ous. The MONK RAY feems to be of a middle nature between a Monk-fiih and a Ray, bat more like a Monk- fifli ; from which it diifers in being of a longer make in proportion to the bulk of the body, and in having a (harp fnout, which extends beyond the mouth, as in the Sharp-fnouted Ray. For this reafon the mouth is under the fnout, as in Dog -fifh, and not at the end, as in the Monk-fifh. Likewife, the lower part is flatter and broader than in the Monk -fifh. The fkin is rough and dufky in the upper part ; and, inllead of teeth, there are roughilh tubercles as in Rays. It is common at Na- pies, and feldom grows to above four feet in length ; the weight being about twelve pounds. The CRAMP-FISH is of a round or circular fhape, except the tail, which is long and {lender. It is oF no extraordinary bulk, feldom growing to upwards the weight of fixteen pounds. The colour is of a dirty yel- low, like that of fand or gravel ; and the eyes are fmall, being almoil covered with fkin ; behind which there are two 44. THE NATURAL HISTORY two holes, fhaped like half-moons, which fome take to be the organs of hearing. On the upper part of the body there arc five remarkable black Jpots, placed like the angles of a perjtagon. The head of 'this filli is broad, and joined to the body, for -.vhicli reafon it feems to have no head at all. The extremities of the body terminate in fins ; and, a little above the vent, there are tvv'o fins, which have two appendages that ferve for a penis, as in the reft of this kind. Below tiioie in the middle of the back or tail, for it is hard to lay v/hich term is moil proper, there are tvvo more, the onj a little below the other. The upper corner of the tail is a little longer than the oihcr, fcmewhat in the manner of a Shark, and othei- fiih of that kind. The cnouth of a Cramp-fiili is like that of a Skate, and is furnifhed with fmall lliarp teeth ; the obftrils are pkced near the mouth, and, inllcad of gills, there are five holes as in 1 hornbacks. There are no prickles in any part of the body, it being fmooth and foft to the touch ; but there are a greac many fmall holes, efpecialiy about the head, throug'n which a fii- my liquor is fecreted, that renders the body flippery, and defends it from the fharpnefs of the fait wa- ter. The moft remarkable quality of this fidi is to ilupify, or benumb the hand of the perfon that touches it, to fuch a degree that it feems to be aAeclcd with the cramp ; from v/hence it derives the name of the Cramp-fi(h. The famous Re.^i ordered one to be caught, that he might make a trial of the numbing quality. He had no fooner touched this fiili, but he found a tingling in his hand, arm, and flioukler, attended with a trembling, and fo acute a pain in his elbow, that he was obliged to take his hand away. The fame trouble- fome fymptoms were renewed as often as he repeated the trial ; however, they grew weaker and weaker till this creature died, which was in about three hours time. After it was dead this quality was quite loft, and it might be handled as fafely as other ^^' . . Bcrelli imagines the ftupefadive quality does ftot proceed from any poifonous fteam, becaufe, if it be touched \) F F I S H E S. 45 touched when entirely at reft, it produces no effeft at all ; b^fides, if the fingers compreis the extremities of the fides ever fo Ibongly, the hand receives no damage at all ; but if the hand is laid upon the flediy^part over the. back- bone, the violent vibrations of the f.ih will ftupify it, and afFedl it with a fort of a cramp. He iikewife obferved a very remark- able difference in the manner of touching this fifh ; for, if his fingers were quite extended, and he touch- ed the fifh lightly with them, he received no da- mage ; but if tJiey were bent, and the knuckles laid upon it, efpecially the joint of the thumb, then the flrong vibrations produced a cramp. From hence he concluded, that the tendons, and nervous ligaments of the joints, being exquifitely fenfible, were very much affedted with the violent and repeated flrokes of the fifh, which produced a cramp in the fame manner as a blow upon the elbow. However, Mr, Reaumur afhrm.s, he could never procure any fuch trembling, or vibration of the fifh that Borelli fpeaks of ; and he is confident, the numbnefs proceeds from the velocity of one fmgle flroke, which is equal to that of a mulket ball. ^Accordingly, a perfon, who feels this pain, imagines his fingers are af^eiSted with a violent ftroke. As a proof of this he informs us that, before the fifh gives this flroke, he draws up his back quite round, which was before deprefled and fiat. The liver is divided into two lobes, placed on each fide, and joined together by nothing but a fmall llring. 1 he Icomach is large as well as the gut ; which laft proceeds diredly to the vent. The fiefn of this filh is feldom or never eaten, as being very unwhclefome, for it is moifl, foft, fungous, and of an ill tafte. The AMERICAN CR.AMP-FISH is one foot nine inches long, and nine inches broad, having fins on each fide like a Ray. The head ends in the fliape of a cone ; and the mouth is on the under part, and void of teeth. 1 he fore part of the bo- dy, to the length of eight inches, is in the fhape of a heart ; but the remaining part is roundiih, and on- 46 THE NATURAL HIS1*0RY ly a little deprefied. The number and place of the iins agree with other cartilaginous iiih of this kind ; it is covered with a foft fkin of the colour of glue on the upper part, variegated with duflcy and whit- ifh blue fpots. The fore part underneath is white, and the hinder of a flefh colour, mixed with white. If it be touched in the middle it caufes the joints to tremble. Dan:pier takes notice of two forts of Rays, hefides the Whip-ray, which are found in the bay of Cam- peachy, called the STING RAY and the RASP-RAY. They are much of the fame fhape ; but the former has tliree or four Ilrong fharp prickles, near two inches long, at tlie root of the tail, that are faid to be ve- romous ; but the reft of the fkin is fmooth. The Rafp ray has a rough knotty Ikin, of which they make a fort of rafps. The Ikins of the largeft are {o vo\}ght \.h3.t.t\iQ Spaniard y in fome places, ufe them for grating their cafavy or manioc, of which bread is made in the Weft-Indies. The fmaller fkins are em- ployed in making covers for Surgeons inftrument- cafes, and the like. ©®®®®®©*®®@@'@'®®®®-®'®@®® CHAP IV. Of anomalous Tijh a kin to the Cartilaginous. THE FROG-FJSH. or TOAD-FISH, by fome called the Sea Devil, feems to be of a mid- dle nature, between the Cartilaginous anu the Bony; but it more probably belongs to thefe, becaufe it generates in the fame manner. The head is rather bigger than the reft of the body, and is of a round or circular fhape. The mouth is exceeding large, and inclines a little to the upper part of the heai, like that of the Star-gazer. On the head, not far from the corner of the upper jaw, there are two long ftrings, which this filh is faid to make ufe of as anglers do filhing lines. Both the jaws are arm- td with long fliarp teeth ; and there are alfo teeth in 'Fa^ 4^. 4-S •zoS f^um^r^^ya»/wr-. O F F I S H E S. 47 in the palate, and at the root of the tongue, which is large and broad. The back is fiat, and of a grey colour, with fomewhat of a reddiih and greenifh caft. On the middle of the back, there are three briftles or firings, that feem to be in the room of a fin ; and round the circumference of the body, there are feveral llrings hanging in the manner of fins. On the lower part of the body, under the throat, two fins are placed, which referable the feet of a mole ; by the affillance of which they creep at the bottom of the fea. The flefh of this fifli is white when boiled, and has the tafte of that of a Frog. The American TOAD-FISH is very fmall, be- ing but four inches long, from the tip of the fnout to the end of the tail. The mouth is large, and armed with exceeding fharp teeth ; and the eyes are {o fmall, that they are no bigger than a grain of millet. Between the eyes, and the middle of the fore- head, there is a horn which Hands upright, only it bends a little backwards ; and before it there is a flender thread, about half an inch long, hanging fore- wards, which it can draw back, and hide within a pit on the top of the head. In the middle of the body, on each fide, there is an arm with one joint, which terminates in a fin, armed with prickles, which run through the length of it, and are like eight fharp nails : it has no fcales, but is covered on the belly with a foft fkin ; but on the other parts it is rough. The colour is of a dark red, waved with black fpots. It can blow up its flomach like a bladder, and then appears like a Sea-orb. The WATER'BAT, or SEA-UNICORN, called by the Brafilians GuACucLnA, is eight inches long, and five broad. The hinder part of the body is round, and towards the tail there is a fin like a cone, which terminates in a point. The head can hardly be dillinguiihed from the body ; and between the eyes there is a horn, which is very hard, and near two inches long. The mouth is without teeth ; and, on the middle of each fide there is an arm, which terminates in a fin, a? in the former. 1 he fkin is not covered with fcales, and it is brown above, marked 4S THE NATURAL HISTORY marked with feveral hard tubercles or warts j and on each fide there are eleven black fpots, of the fize and ftiape of a lentil, placed two and two together. The lower part of the body is of a light red ; and, perhaps, this fifh might be properly placed among the Sea-orbs. C H A P. V. Of oviparous Fifi, nxjhich are generally hony, and baue Spines in the Flejh. THE TURBOT, fo called in the fouthern part of England, but in the northern a BRETT is the largeft of all this kind, the Holibut ex- cepted, though it feldom exceeds a yard in length, nor two feet and a half in breadth. It has no fcales, but a rough granulated fkin, full of exceeding fmall prickles, placed without order, on the upper part of the body, where the colour is afli, and diverfified with a great number of black fpots ; fome of which are large, and others fmall. The lower part is white. At the roots of the fms, about the circum- ference, there are no prickles ; and this fifh approaches nearer the ihape of a Rhombus than any other of this kind. The mouth of a Turbot is proportionably wider than that of the Plaice, and it has a greater number of teeth, both in the jaws and on the palate. The rofirils are not placed in the fame line with the back* fin, but below it ; and the eyes ftand on the left fide, or, to fpeak more intelligibly, on the right fide of the mouth. There is likewife a greater diffcance be- tween them, and they are farther from the back than in others of the fame kind. The liver is pale, th^ fplecn red, and the gut has but one fold. '1 he flo- mach is very large, the kidneys long, and the uri- nary bladder pretty capacious. It is taken very fre- quently in the Briiljh and Gennm ocean; and the fleih is white, firm, delicate, and vvholefome, being much f.wc4T n'y/u/M/f ^Ama-ty^/^f/i ! f^JaZ -tJ/Mz/ . J/M/i^/a/j-^/^-^^ I O F F ,r S H E S. 4s? much preferable to that of any other flat fifh. It is a fi(h of prey, and lives upon others, p:irticularly fmall Crabs, for which reafon it lies near ttie mouths of creeks and great rivers. The KITT, fo called in Com^jalU is a f- Flat-fiih, with prominent eyes that are iac? ■ clbfe together to the right of the mouth, fin begins near the mouth, and reaches to The fleih is good, and well tailed, eating n. that of a Turbot, which fifh it refembies. fpeckled all over very thick with black ijo: . there are fome of a brighter colour between \\. The CORNISH FLOUNDER, or WHIFF, .. hard rough Ikin, which is of a dirty aih-colour fleih is bad, and in no manner of eileem. The PEARL, fo called by the Londoners^ b it, the inhabitants of Cornn.vall, LUG-ALEx^F. It -; fers from others of this kind in having a fcaly b.v. and from a Plaice in the rough lines or prick.c. which furround the roots of the fins ; in having the eyes on the right fide, to the left of the mou'Ii £iid the back-fin, on this fide the eyes, arifm^ nea. the mouth, and running almoll to the tail. Befides, at the beginning of the fin, which is placed behind the vent, there is no prickle ; and the diftance of the eyes is greater than in a Plaice. The body is cf an afn colour, and the tail is round ; but in mod: other things it refembles a Turbot. The PLAICE is on the upper part of a dirty olive colour, or brown, and fpeckkd with round red fpots ; of which there are forne alf:) on the fins. There is no roughnefs at the roots of the fins, ana the fcales, if any, are exceeding fmall, and lie in round cavities. The eyes are on the right fide, to the left of the mouth ; and, at the upper edp-e o, the coverings of the gills, there are {^^'Q^ci bony tu bcrcles or warts ; the fifth, from the eyes, behig higheil and largelL There is one row of te. th in. both jaws ^nd a duller of teeth on the palate. O i: of the notlrils is fcated on the upper (iue near th.. eyes ; and the other on the lover fide under \.\ . eyes ; lii^evvife the tail is long, ani roundiih at tlij r • ' Vol. IH. U 50 THE NATURAL HISTORY The liver is long, undivided, and red ; the gall- bladder large, and the fpleen blacklfh. There are three kidneys, which are joined to a large urinary- bladder by a long dudl. It is a very common fiih, and the flefh is foft, fweet, pleafant, and wholefome ; but not fo good as that of a Soal. Some of thefe filh have grown to the length of a foot, and to the breadth of feven inches. I'he DAB is a litde thicker than a Plaice, but much of the fame fize. They have pretty large fcales, which are rough on the edges, in which it differs from a Plaice, as well as in not having any tubercles near the head, nor red fpots. But the fituation of the eyes is like that of a Plaice, and the colour, on the upper part, is. of a dirty olive, with a reddifh call ; and there are fome fpcts of a duiky yellow. The mouth is of a middle fize, and there is one row of teeth on both jaws. This fiih is very com- mon on the fea coalls of England ; and the flelh is firmer, and is preferred by fome to that of a Plaice. The FLOUNDER of Jamaua is about fix inches . long, and four and a half broad. It is white on the lower part or belly, and the back is covered with minute brown fcales, and there are fix or fe- ven tranfverfe black lines thereon. There is a fin that almoll furrounds the whole body, and a crook- ed line that runs along the fide^ from the head to the tail. The Homach is not very thick, and the fmall guts have feveral turnings backwards and for- wards. FLOUNDER, FLUKE, or BUT, is in fhape much like a Plaice, only the body is a little longer ; and when full grown it is thicker. The olive-colour is more dirty, and fometimes brown with dufky fpots ; for they are not red as in a Plaice ; however, they have fometimes been obferved to be yellowifh, as well on the body as the furrounding fins. In the upper part of the furrounding fins there is a row of prickles, which bend backwards ; and the eyes are on the right fide, to the left of the mouth. The fcales are ex- ceeding fmall, and ftick fo clofe to the fkin that it does not appear to be rough. The lateral line is com- C F F I S K E S. 51 compofed of fraall prickles, from whence arifes the roughnefs that may be felt along it, from the head to the tail. The mouth is fmall, the tongue nar- row, and there is a row of teeth in both jaws. The FLOUNDER is both a fea and a river filh ; but the latter is not fo black, and is more foft than the former ; which difference feems to arife from the difference of the food in thefe places. They are in feafon all the year, except in June and July^ which is the time of their fpawning, and then they are fick and flabby, and infefted with worms that breed ia their backs. The ilelh is foft, white, and nouriih- ing, but is always bell: when it is moll: firm. When in the river it delights to lie on fandy or gravelly- bottoms, efpecially at the declivity of a deep hole near the bank. The THORNY BUT, of Rondelet'ms, isof a green- ifh alh-colour on the upper part, but on the belly v/hite. Jt has no fcales; but the fkin on the back is marked with lines, divided almoll in the fame manner as the fkins of ferpents. The eyes are plac- ed to the right of the mouth ; and this fifh fometimes grows to a great bulk. The S;V]OOTH BUT, of Rondeletius, is like the Thorny- but in ihapS and in other refpc£b, both with- in and without, except the prickles, which it is en- tirely deftitute of; befides which it is brcider and not fo thick, and the flefh is fofter and fweeter than that of a Plaice. The RIIOMBOIDES is like a Plaice, but differs from it in being covered with fmall fcales, and in having the eyes at a great diilance from each other. The body is fmall and fliort, not exceeding the palm of a man V hand. D 2 CHAP 512 THE NATURAL HISTORY CHAP. vr. Of Flat-f/hy twith longer Bodies, THE HOLIBUT, or HALIBUT, called in the north of England a Turbot, is the largeft of all flat-fifh in thefe parts of the world, for it great- ly exceeds a Turbot, and is of a longer make. One of thefe fifli being meafured was found to be a yard long, and about half a yard broad; but there are many of a much larger fize. The colour of the up- per part of the body is of a dufky green or black- iih, and the fcales are fmall. There is no roughnefs thereon, nor are there any prickles at the roots of the fins. The eyes are placed on the right-fide, or to the left of the mouth. The fins are at a greater diftance from the head than in other Flat-fifh. It has a double row of teeth in the upper and lower jaw, which are a little crooked at the ends, and very fharp. The tongue is very llifF, and at the bottom there are two places full of a great number of fmall fharp teeth ; there are like- wife very fharp prickles on the gills. It is an inhabitant of the Ge>man and Britjh ocean, as a!fo of the Ir-j?j fea. The flefh is very good, but noi fo delicate as that of a Turbot. The SOLE is a longiHi flat-fifh, in fhape like the fole cf a fhoe, from whence it has its name, it is fometimes to be met with a foot in length, and fometimes a little longer. The upper part is of a dark aih-colour, and the lower white ; and it is covered v/ith rough fcales. The lateral line paffes direclly from the head to the tail, through the middle of both fides. The corners of the mouth are rough, with a fort of fniall briftles or hairs ; and the body is furrounded withfhort fins, which on the upper edge begin near the eyes, and are continued to the tail. The eyes are placed on the left fide of the head» and are fmall, round, and covered with a loofe fkin. 1 he pupils are fmall, and of a fliining green ; and the tail is round. The flelh is more firm and folid than that of a Plaice; and for fweetnefs of talle, and the plenty of O F F I S H E S. 53 of nourlihrnent it affords, far exceeds it ; for which rea- fon it is called in fome countries the Sea-partridge. i he LINGUATULA, fo called at Rome, and by Belontui POL A, is of the fhape of a Sole, from which however it differs in many refpefts ; for it is lefs by half than a full grown Sole, and is fhorter in proportion to its bulk ; the colour is lighter and whiter, and thefcales are much greater The vent is placed on the lower part of the body, and not on the edge ; and the eyes are on the righ:-iide, or to the left of the mouth. The LINGUADO, fo called by the Portugue^^ie, and by the firafJians ARi\MACA, is in Ihape like a com- mon Sole, and differs from it in having the gill fins ter- minating in flender hairs ; and perhaps in colour, for Marcgrave fays it is of a ftone colour. CHAP. VII. Of Fijh cf the Eel kind, thut ivant the helly-fins. THE MURCENA, is by the writers of Evgl-Jh die tionaries called a LAMPREY, but very improper- ly ; however, we have no Englijh name for it. The bo- dy is broader and iiatier than that of an Eel, with a long- er fharp and flat fnout. The colour is a mixture of black- ifh yeliow and gold colour ; and the mouth opens ex- ceeding wide. At the end of the fnout there are two fliort hollow appendages ; and above the eyes there are another pair, that are thicker but fhorter. Some think thefe excrefcences ierve for hearing and fmelling. The eyes are feated in the upper jaw, in the fpace between the end of the fnout and the corners of the mouth. There is a fin aiifes not far from the head, in the middle of the back, and is continued to the tail. Lampreys, in general, have around or oval mouth, with a hole or pipe on the top of the Ihout, as in the Cetaceous kind. There are feven holes on each fide, which fexve inftead cf gills, where there «re no fins nor D 3 yet 54 THE NATURAL HISTORY yet on the belly ; by which they are diftinguiftied from all other fiih of this kind ; that is the long and flippery. The Lamprey, of the middle kind, is by the Gerfnans and Dutch called a BRiCK, and is not above a foot in length, being marked with tranfverfe blackifh lines. 1 he Lamprey, or LAMPERN, or pride of the J/is, fo called by Dr. Ploit, is brown or livid on the back ; and the belly is of a fdver colour. It is about five or fix inches in length, with a round mouth, furnifhed with fix or feven teeth. When the mouth adheres to a rock or itone it is entirely Ihut ; and then the hole abovemen- tioned ferves to take in water, w hich is difcharged again by the holes of the gills, by fome called the fcvcn holes that are placed on each fide near the head. The eyes are of a palifh yellow, and covered with a cuticle ; and- the belly rifes and falls much in the fame manner as in a- nimals that breathe. The liver is undivided, and the capfule of the heart is almofl: bony, which is probably dcfigned by nature as a guard or fecurity for it ; becaufe this hfh has no bones, no not fo much as a back bone. The flefli is foft and glutinous, for which reafon it is generally potted before it is eaten ; and even then it is more pleafant to the pa- late than healthful to the body. The time of fpawning is in April. There are two fins on the back, the hinder of which joins to the tail, and to the fin behind the vent. There are great numbers of thefe fifli in the river Merfey^ that runs between Chejhire and Lancajhire j there are alfo fome in the //^, a river near Oxford. The Lamp R E Y oi Si.viJJeriand is very common in that country, and has a large mouth armed with very Iharpi (lender teeth. The gills on each fide are covered v/ith fmall folded ears, v*'hich are fibrous and glewy ; and there are four fins on the breafl ; of which two are in the middle, and the other pair on the fides; but thefe are longer and broader than the firll. From the vent to the extremity of the tail there runs another fm with blr.ck edge?, and another on the back near the tail ; both which are full of furrows. The colour of the body is of a greenilh yellow, marked here and there with black fpots. The belly is white, and the furface of the b(-dy is covered with flime inftead of fcales. Through the fkin OF FISHES. 55 may be perceived the interftices of above thirty mufcles ; and under the fcarf -ficin, from the tail to the eyes and noftrils, on each fide, there runs a large lymphatic vef- fel, which has as many valves as there are interfaces be- tween the mufcles, from which many branches proceed upwards and downwards. This has its origin in the head, and is full of a clear fluid, which ferves to lubricate the body. Near the vent there is a blood veiTel, which runs along the furface of the belly as far as the four fins on the breaft, and from thence proceeds tranfverfely from one fin to the other. This vein throws oiF branches to each interilice of the mufcles, but it does not feem to have any valves, nor any communication with the iymphatick vefTels. At the bottom of the belly there are two holes, the larger of which penetrates into the belly and gut, and the other into the bladder, which is joined to the lail gut, and is full of water. The tongue is fhort and fleihy, and the holes of the noflrils are very vifible ; the length of the intellines, with the liomach and gullet, is half a yard. This differs gieatly from the Lamprey-ee], and why it is called a Lamprey does not appear from the defcription. The LAMPREY-EEL is much larger than the former, fome of them being three yards long. The body about the gills is near fourteen inches in circumference ; and the fkin is of a blackifh colour, marked with pale angu- lar fpots. The mouth is round, with which it adheres to a piece of wood, ora flone, as if it was fucking it, and cannot be parted from it without difficulty. The flcin is tough, and yet they do not take it off to drefs it. It has a hole in the head like the Lampern, and there arefe- ven holes on each fide of the head, under which thegill» are concealed. On the top of the head there is a white fpot, and the edge of the mouth is jagged; the teeth are placed within the mouth, and thofe that Itand fartheft backwards are largefl. It has no bones but a griflle down the back full of marrow, which fliould be 'taken out before it is drelt. In fhort they referable a Lampern in all things. They are inhabitants of the fea, but come into the ri- vers to fpawn, where they are found in great plenty, and they may be difcovered by the froth which rifes from. D 4 thei» S6 THE NATURAL HISTORY them. They are moft in feafcn in Marchy when they firft enter the rivers, and are full of fpawn. Jn April they make holes in a gravelly bottom, where they depo- fit their fpawn ; and if they meet with a ftone of two pound weieht, they will remove it, and throw it out. The BLirsD LAMPREY is round and flender, and not much bigger than our large V/orms, ufuaJly called Dew-worms and il/^y worms. It has no fcales, and its body is divided into fmall rings, by tranfverfe lines, in the manner of Worms. The rings are about eighty- four in number, and the racuth is round and always open ; but.it has neither teeth nor tongne. There is a hole on the head, and feven holes on each fide, inftead of gills as in the former. There is a YELLOW LAMPREY, which differs only in colour, but not in kind from the ri- ver Lamprey. The SEA SERPENT is about f ve feet in length, and has a body exa6lly round, (lender, and of an equal thick- nefs, except near the tail, where it grows fenfibly lefs. The upper part of the body is of a dulky yellow, like the dark fide of parchment or vellum j but the lower part is of a brightiih blue. The fnout is long, flender, and fharp ; and the mouth opens enormoully wide. Near the end of the lower jaw thtre are four or five large teeth bending inwards, but the reft are fo fmall as hard- ly to be perceived. The upper jaw has likcwiTe four large ones, and the reft are as fmall as in the lower. The eyes are little, of a gold colour, and fpeck ed with brown, and are covered v.iih a thick tranfparent fkin. It has only one pair of iins, which arc placed at the gills ; but there is a fn on the back, which rifcs a little below the gill hns, and reaches v/.thin an inch of the tail, but is not flat, as in an Eel, but round. '1 he belly- fin, or that which is feated on the lower part of the body, begins at the vent, and ends about £-n inch on this f)de the tail. The holes of the gills are at feme diftance from the head as in Eels. The flelli is very well tafted and delicate, but is full of very fmali bones, and therefore cannot be eaten without fomc trouble. It is taken very frequently in the Mediterrcncan fca. The FLAT-l^AILED SEA SERPENT is not fo large by above a third part as the former, 'i'he tail is not round. OFFISHES. ^-j round, but flat as in an Eel, and has fins thereon, as on the fame fiHi. The MYRUS, of Ron iektius, is like the former, but not the fame ; and the edges of the back and vent fins are black as in the Conger- eel, which mark likevvife belongs to the two former. The SPOT FED SEA SERPENT is above three feet in length, though not three inches thick. It is wholly round, and marked on the fides with a double rowof fpots of a yellow blackifh colour. The LIVID SEA SERPENT is three feet and feveii inches long, andan inch and a half in breadth where it is broadeft. The head is long^ and ends in a point ; and the jaws are prominent, and are both armed with many terrible fharp teeth. The lower jav/ is longer than the upper, and ends in a callous fubftance. The tongue is long, and fhaped like the head of an arrow ; the eyes are round, and an inch in diameter ; and there are two fms at the giiis, and one on the back, which runs its whole length ; there is another from the vent to the tail, which is forked at the end. The whole body is ileek, deflitute of fcales, and of a livid colour ; and the llefh is full of bones. The ilomach, when opened, was found full of fmall fiih, and the guts had only one or two folds. The blind-gut was very long, and was extended to the vent. The diaphragm, or midriff was membranous, and the liver large, having a gall-bladder, with a bile that looked like water. This fi{h v/as taken near the Tropick of Cancer. Th& VIPER- MOUTH FISH is faid to grow to a vaft fize, but that which was caught was only eighteen inches long. The mouth is exceffive wide, and both the jaws are armed with long deftruclive teeth, particularly two in each jaw, which are fo long as not to be admitted within the mouth. Moll of thefe long teeth have an angular bending towards their ends in a very fmgular manner. It is without fcales, and marked all over v/itli fix cornered divifions. In general it is of a very odd Urudlure, and makes a mo'i formidable appearance. It was taken in the harbour oi Gibraltar, and is now m Sir Hans Sloan's Mufaeum. The ^FRIC.4NSE/i SERPfiNT, called by .^.^5^ the Afrkan Conger, is on the upper part of the body of a D 5 • jel. 5? THE NATURAL HISTORY yellowifti red, and the fides are curioufly painted with red and brown fpots, which at a dilTance look like coats of arms. Below thefe fpots, on the fides of the belly, is a double row of round fpots of a lighter red, and the belly is of a bright brown. On the back and tail there are fins like thofe cf Eels, but the head is like that of a Serpent. The^F/?/C^A^MUR^NA has two fmall fins on each fide the head like thofe of Eels, and the upper part of the body is covered with fmall thin fquarifh fcales, aih- coloured and red, and ihaded with large ftreaks of a bay "brown, which run acrofs the back near the belly, and which are whitiih, foft, and void of fcales. Its long head ter- minates in a pointed fnout, and is fpecklcd with black ; the eyes are lively, the tongue forked, and the tail above and below furnilhed with prickles. Jt is neither proper- ly an Eel nor a Serpent, it being amphibious, for it fome- times is met with on the land, but is more com- monly in the fea. The EAST INDIAN MUR^NA has a great refem- blance to the common Mun-ena, and is the largeft of thefe fort of fiih. The fnout is long, flat, and termi- nating in a blunt point, which makes it look like the bill of a bird. The eyes are placed a little back- ward, and on each fide the jaw, there are fins finely fpoited ; but there are no more. The whole body is of a yellowilh afh-colour, and fpeckled with green and poppy colours, fome of which are round, and diilributed in the form of flames ; and there are twa whitifti ftieak?, which run from the head to the end of the tail, which i- flcnder and pointed. The belly and £ns are yellovvifh, variegated with fliort ftreaks and black fpots. The BRASIL MUR^ENA has a dulky brown Ikin with large greenilh fpots. They look like fo many Arahick charafters, fpotted with black in the middle of the body ; and on the back, and under the belly,- there are two fins which advance to the tail and ren- der it broader. The female has fpots of a paler green. The AMERICAN MUR^ENA is a fort of Serpent withou; eyes, and its fkin is fmooth, void of fcale*, I ^^dl O F F r S H E S. ^9^ and of a yellowifli afli-colour, in which it differs from, land Serpents, which are always fcaly. The whole body^ from the mouth to the tail, is circled with rings of red- diih and brown colours placed at equal dillances ; and the back is marked with a fine bright black flreak, which, extends from the extremity of the nofe to the end of thft tail. At the end of the nofe there is a tubercle or wart» and the noftrils are fmall ; the tongue is long andi forked. The AMERICAN SEA SERPENT, or MUR^^ Ni^, has a fkin void of fcales of a dark green grafs co- lour, marked with fpots of a brownifh forrel colour in the manner of a Tyger ; and the belly is of the feme colour, only it is lighter, and the fpots are not fo, deep. The head is a little bunched, the eyes are large and fparklJng, and the tongue forked. It has neither teeth nor noftrils, but on the nofe there are- two iharp tubercles, and the tail terminates in a. point. The SEA SERPENT, of Surinam, is very like a Mursena, and the back is of a bay brown colour, circled with bright alh coloured rings irregularly placed. The. belly is reddilh, and marked with circular fpots, that are irregularly difperfed between the rings. The head i& fmooth and flat, the eyes brilliant, the tongue fork- ed, and on the nofe there are four whitifh brow^n fpots, but it has no noflrils nor teeth though it feeds up- on water frogs. The EEL has a fmall head, in proportion to its bulk, a litde flatted before, but more round behind,, with a long body a little flatted on the iides, and principally from the vent to the tail. It is flippery, and feems to be without fcales, becaufe they are not to be perceived unlefs the Ikin is dried ; the lower jaw is longer than the upper, and there aje four- holes, namely two before, that is one on each fide the end of the fnout, and two backward, juft before the eyes, which are the noflrils. The eyes are placed on each £de the head, and are round, fmall, and covered with a thick fkin that is a little tranfparent ; the Iris is; reddifli, and the Pupil blackifli, fmall, and round. Tliere are £niall holes on both the jaws, which are D 6 abojiit 6o THE NATURAL HISTORY about fixteen in number on the lower, and many more on the upper. The membrane of the gills is fullained on each fide by fix fmall bones, or crook- ed flender fpines, which do not appear outwardly on account of the thicknefs of the fkin. There are fe- veral rows of fmall teeth in the lower jaw, as well as in the upper ; and there is a dentated bone on the fore part of the palate, which is longitudinally placed, and contiguous to the teeth of the jaws ; there are alfo two {mall oblong dentated bones, feated upwards, towards the throat, and as many down- wards towards the gills, which are more oblong, and lefs dentated. The tongue is fmooth, but immove- able, and is fupported in the middle by a hard bone. The gills have never an opening, either upwards or downwards, but only on the fore part near the fins on the breaft. It is only a fmall hole, about a quar- ter of an inch in length, placed perpendicularly. I h« lateral line is flrait, and fomewhat nearer the back on the fore part, but it divides the body equally in two, from the anus to the tail, and has a row of points at the bottom of the line. The back, th« fides, and the fins are of a blackiih grey colour ; but in feme forts of Eels, grcenilh efpecially, whew they are fat, and the belly is of a whitilh yellow. The vent is nearer the head than the tail, and thert are three fins in all, namely two on the breaft near the gilb, which are fmall and blackifh, and com- pofed of eighteen or nineteen fpines, of which thoft on the edges are fmall, and thofe in the middle long and branched at the point. The back-fin is fingle, and begins at a diftance from the head, running al- moft round the body in length, and extending from the tail to the vent. It confifts of many fpines fork- ed at the end, and about a quarter of an inch long. The tail, or the extremity of the back-fin, is neither round nor fquare at the top, but rather a little pointed. There are four g;iils on each fide, furniflied on the convex part with vefiTcls that appear like blood vef- fels. The heart is four fquare, or rather a little co- nical, with a white aorta, a reddilh pale liver, di- vided into two lobes, of which the left is the larg- er O F F I S H E S. 6i eft, and a great gall-bladder feparated fome dillancc from the liver. The gullet is long, and the lloniach, which is placed under the liver, is longifh and re- flected upwards, but crooked downwards, and made fo by a long thick appendage that reaches to the vent. The gut, which runs diredlly downwards from the liver to the vent, has no appendage ; and the ipleen is triangular, and lies under the ftomach. The air- bladder is fingle, and conneded with the fpine of the back ; the kidneys are large, and are extended along the fpine of the back, but the thickeft part is towards the vent, and they feem to be lodged as in a bafon. The vertebrae, or bones of the back are one hundred in number, flatted on the fides, and fmall towards the tail. With regard to the generation of Eels, authors art divided in their opinions ; for Arijiotle afliires us, that he could find no difi^erence of {^xts, nor yet any parts of generation, for which reafon they have been thought by many to proceed from the putre- fadlions of mud on the fides of ponds and rivers. Pliny talks much in the fame manner, and affirms that, though there are neither male nor female, they will rub themfelves againft rocks and ftones, and by that means detach particles or fcales from their bo- dies that quicken by degrees, and afterwards become fmall Eels. Some maintain that they couple, and that at the fame inllant they flied a kind of vifcofity, which, being retained in the mud, gives birth to a great number of the fame animals. Ro7ideletius informs us, that he has feen Eels fpavvn together, and he thinks they cannot want the parts of generation fmce at the lower part of the body there is a vulva in the female, and fern en in the male ; but then thefe parts are fo covered with fat, as well as the fpawn, that they do not appear. Redi, a Florentine^ afl'ures us, th^t all the Eels in the river Arno defcend every year in Auguji into the fea to produce their young, and return regulaily every year from February to April. Boeclevy and other Moderns think, that they pro- ceed from eggs j for though they are brought forth alive^ 62 THE NATURAL HISTORY alive, and upon that account may be faid to be vi- viparous, yet it does not follow from thence that they may not be produced from eggs in their bodies. Others again are as confident that all Eels produce fpawn ; but, as we have no certain account of this matter, we mull leave this difpute undetermined. An Eel contains a great deal of oil, thick phlegm, and volatile fait, and thofe are beft that are taken in the cleareft water. The fiefh is tender, foft, and nouriftiing, becaufe it is full of oily balfamic par- ticles ; but then it is hard of digeftion, and is bad for thofe that have weak ilomachs ; however, they are better when they are faked, becaufe the fait cor- re£ls the phlegm, and in fome meafure imbibes it. Eels are generally eaten boiled, but they are better broiled or roafted on account of their clamminefs ; they ought likewife to be well feafoned, and two or three glafles of wine fhould be drank after to help, digeftion. But, let them be dreffed which way they will, they are never very agreeable to weak ftomachs, and they are apt to caufe obftru(5lions ; but they will do no harm to thofe of ftrong robuft conftitutions, provided they are not eaten to excefs. Some great- ly recommend the pov^der of the liver, and gall mix- ed together, in hard labours ; and the dofe is a fcruple or two in a glafs of wine. Others advife the pow- der of an Eel-ikin againft a fuppreffion of urine, and there are inftances of its fuccefs when every thing elfe has failed. A Lady in particular, that had had this diforder for three days, and took fome of this powder in a glafs of wine, and in fix hours time Jlie made a prodigious quantity of urine, mixed with gravel and fand- Some phyficians pretend, that the tet of an Eel put into the ear, with a bit of cot- ton, will cure deafnefs ; others ufe it to take away the fpots of the fmall pox, to cure the piles, and to make the hair grow. The EEL of Senegal is very fat, and of an ex- traordinary thicknefs, in which it chiefly differs from other Eels. The negroes dry the iiefh in the fua or in the fmoke, for which reafon the greateft part are fpoiled ; but thofe that are rich enough to pur- chase O F F I S H E S. 63 chafe fait, dry them in the fmoke after they are fak- ed, and drive a confiderable trade with them among the inhabitants of the inland countries. Seba gives the name of Sea-eel to two forts of Sea-ferpents ; the firft of which was fent from /Ame- rica, This has a fnout as hard as horn, which ter- minates in a point like the bill of a bird ; and there are two fins for fvvimming under the lovicer jaw. The head is covered with broad fcales, and the upper part of the body is of a yellow colour, variegated with yellow, oval, and red fpots ; the fins are of a red colour like thofe of Perches, and the fcales of the belly are of a yellowifh afh colour, but they are laid on in a very irregular manner. Some place this fifh in the clafs of Conger-eels, though it feems to be more like a Serpent. The fecond kind only differs from the former in its ornaments ; for, inftead of fpots, it has five ftripes of a fea-green colour, which feem to be the work of fome artift, and they are extended over the red- difh fcales on the back ; the fins are red like coral, and the eyes, placed on the fore part of the muzzle, are fmall ; likewife the fcales on the belly are difpof- ed in an irregular order. Some authors divide Eels into four kinds ; namely the Silver-eel, the greenilh or greg, the red-finned, and the blackifh Eel. This lail has a broader, flat- ter, and larger head than the reft, and is counted the worft ; but whether thefe diftindlons are elTentlai, or accidental will admit of a doubt. The Gre^^ is thicker and Ihorter than the reft, and is of a darker colour. In the river Severn there are a fort of diminu- tive Eels, which at Glouajier and Teiukejbnry are cal- led Elvers, which are not thicker than a fmall nee- dle, and which fome take to be the fpawn of Con- ger-eels. The fifnermen take large quantities of them, which they make into cakes, that when fried eat very prettily. The method of the generation of Eels, as hinted at above, is unknown, though many gentlemen have made particular enquiries relating to that affair, but never could get any fatisfadion. Eels delight to lurk and hide themfelves in the mud, and yet they are 64 THE NATURAL HISTORY are averfe to muddy water, becaufe, as fome pretend, they are liable to be fuftbcated by it. At a time of a Fiood tliey are often caught at mill-dams, and the like places in nets. They commonly fculk in the day time among weeds, under Hones or the roots of trees, or near bridges or mi;ls. Gaffer Schwcenckfie'd, in a book that treats of the fifh of Sdejia, aflerts that the fifhermen of that country take notice of fome- what very Hrange, and which he likewife has feen with his own eyes ; namely, that a Bleak not only produces fifh of its own kind, but alfo Eels ; for, in the month of April there are animalcula, which flick to the gills of a Bleak like fmall worms, or white threads rolled up into a ball, that, when they begin to move, drop oif into the water, and foon become pretty large, afiuming the Ihape of Eel-, but the truth of this llory mull depend on the credit of the author. The CONGER, or SEA-EEL is fomewhat like the common Eel, that is with regard to (hape, but dif- fers in fize, for fome Congers are feveral yards long, and as thick a^ a man':; thigh ; likewife. ths colour on the back is lighter, being more of an afh, and the belly is whiter. The eyes are larger in propor- tion, and the iris is of a filver colour ; and on the fides there is a flrait, white, broadilh line that feems to be compofed of a double row of points, that reaches from the head to the tail. The fin placed on the body has its upper edge blackifti throughout its whole length ; add to this, that the end of the fnout, or upper chap, is furnifhed with two fhort horns or tubes, from which a liquor may be fqueezed out. Some pretend the flefh is as fweet and good as that of an Eel ; but this is not true, for the tatte is not fo good by far, and it is much more hard of digef- tion. The greateft fpotted Indian CONGER, called a KOMMER-EEL by the Dutch, grows to the length of a man, and is proportionably thick. The body and fins are fpeckled with dufey fpots. The HORN FISH, or CAT FISH is common on the coafts of Firu in Amsrica, near Arica, It has no fcalesj^ O F F I S H E S. 6j fcales, and has a fine fkin vviih white flelh ; on each fide of the head there are barbs not unlike the whifkers of a. Cat. There is alfo many of them near St. Vhicent, one of the Cape de Verd ifland*, and it is called by tRs Frimch I\Jachoran. The Dutch name it the Little-beard- ed-man on account of ihe five long excreftences on the jaws. There are two fins below the eyes, one of which runs the whole length of the back, and ihe oiher that of the belly ; they are armed with a long poin ed horn, with wh'ch, if any one is pricked, it caufes the part to fwell Vvich exrream pain. There are many of thefe fifh near the Lee^'c.rd IJIands, where the flefh is dangerous eating, becaufe they often feed upon manchineel apple^ ; but on the coaft of Jfrica it is very wholefcme and well tafted. The SAND-EEL, or L AUNCE is a fi.fh in the fhape of an Eel, being round and long, but it feldom exceeds the length of a foot. It is pretty much like a Gar-fifh in Jhape and colour, being blue on the back, and of a fil- ver colour on the belly and fides. Jt has no fcale?, and has a fharp fnout, a wide mouth, void of teeth, and the lower jaw is longer than the upper. On the back there is a long fin, which, however, does not reach to the tail ; and there is a pair of fins at the gills, but there are none on the belly. I hey generally lye half a foot deep in the fand, and when the tide is out the filhermen of Ci?>7zwrr /, and the JJIt of Man, fearch for them with hooks made for that purpofe. The fieih is very fweet and good, and it is an excellent bait for oiher fifh. There is another fort of Sand-eel, which differs from the former in having two fins on its back, whereas that has only one. However, this has only one pair of fins that are placed at the gills, and there are none on the belly as in the former. The SEA-CRICKET is a fifh of the Cod or Whiting kind, and is fuppofed to be the fame that Pliny calls O- phidium, is in fhape like a Conger, though fhorter in proportion, for it is only nine inches long ; befides it is flatter on each fide, and of a lighter cc^our. Jt has four barbs or Ibings under its chin, two of which proceed from one root, and two from another. The tail fins are black on the edge as in tlie Conger, and there are fmall fcales 66 THENATURAL HISTORY fcales that are of an unufual fhape and fituation, for they are narrow, longifli, and do not lye upon each other as in other fi(h, but are diftind, and placed in no maimer oT order. There is another fifh of this kind mentioned by Roruieletius without barbs, and it has a fin upon the back that reaches to the tail, which is fo prickly on the edges that, when this fifh is alive, it cannot fafely be handled. There are bla k fpots or fpaces on the back, which end at the fin. The CEFOLE of the Italians has a very long and (lender taii, and is of a carnatiop-colour, with a bluilh caft. The flefh and back bones are tranfparent, info- much that the joints may be eafily numbered. Jt has no fcales, and not far from the head, on the middle of each fide, there are filver fpots placed in a right line. The back-fin begins an inch below the head, and reaches to the tail, where it joins the belly fin ; but the greateft peculiarity of this rilh is its having the belly-fin three times as high as thi^t on the back, and it begins at the fnout, being io near that it fcarcely has room for the orifice of the excrements, which is placed almoft clofc to the corner of the lower jaw. The SEA WOLF has a fmooth body, being without fcales and very llippery. It is fomewhat in the fhape of an Eel, and is of a brownifn grey, and the fides are adorned with blackilli tranfverle fhades. The head is large, and fiat above the eyes, aud the cheeks feem to be fwelled and puffed out. It is a moft voracious fifh, and will bite hard with its terrible teeth. There are many of thefe that are large and flrong, as well before as thofe that are called Grinders Dr. Lijier faw one of thefe fifh at Scarborough in Torkjhire, that was taken, in the adjacent fea, which had all its teeth either broken or worn away, for there was not one whole among them. Dr. Merrit zffLYms, that hard flones, called toad-ftones, and efteemed as jewels, are nothing elfe but the grind- ers of this fifh. The fin on the back, which runs from the head to the tail, has very foft rays, and there i' ano- ther oppcfite to it, that runs from the vent to the tail. At the gills there are two roundifh and large fins. It is taken in the fea near Torkjhire and Northumberland^ surid is fometimes feen about a yard in leneth. The O F F I S H E S. (>y The LUMPEN, fo called in Flanders, has a roundifh body, but not fo round as an Eel, and towards the tail it is ilender. The colour is of a greenifn yellow, with black tranfverfe fpaces near the back, and the extremity of the tail is a little reddilli. It is fpeckled with dulky fpots all over the body, and inftead of pointed lateral lines there is a furrow that runs from the head to the tail down the middle of the fides. The mouth is large and round when it is open, and there is only one row of teeth in each jaw. The circle that furrounds the pupil is yellowifh, and it has no barbs, but under the throat there are a fort of wat-cles, for fins they can hardly be called; .however, when they are narrowly examined,, they feem to be parted io the middle by two rays. The CARAPO, fo called in Braftl, has a body about- a foot in length, and not two inches in breadth, being in the fhape of a knife, for the back is thick and blunt,, the belly fliarp, and the tail ends in a point. It has only one pair of fins, but on the lower part of the body there is a thin narrow fin that runs throughout the length lo the very end, but there is not pne befides in any part of the body. Under the lateral lines there are thick fet black fpots of the fize of muilard feeds. There is another of the fame name that is not above half the breadth, and there are no fpots. Ruyfch afiirms, that this fifli has no tail, and that the head terminates in a point ; the lower lip is longer than the upper, and the mouth is fmaJl, with fmall teeth in the lower jaw, but none in the upper. The eyes are fmall and black, but fcarce fo big as a poppy feed. The gills are narrow, and near them, on each fide, there is a fmall long fin. The colour is brown, mixed with a lit- tle red, but it is darker on the head and back. On each fide of the gills a line begins, which runs the length of the body, that refembles the blade of a knife; the flefh is accounted exceeding good eating. Some of thefe fifti are taken in the river of Si. Francis, but they are much larger, and pointed at the end like a fhoemaker's awl. The SIMAKIL INGLESE, fo called by the inhabi- tants of Aleppo, at the firft fight has the appearance of an Eel, ard it likewife eats very much like one. The head is long and fmall, and the extremity of the upper jaw runs 6S THE NATURAL HISTORY runs out like the bill of a bird ; on each fide of which» a little diflance from the extream points, there are two tubuli or procelTes. There ?ire two fins at the gills as in the common Eel ; and, from the hinder part of the head all along the ridge of the back, there are fmall prickle? placed at little diftances like the teeti) of a faw 7 hefe terminate at the beginning of a membranaceous finrifing about four inches from the tail, and is continued along the lower part of the belly to the vent, at which place there are two or three prickle-. The colour of the head and back is blackifh, variegated with dark yellow fpots ; and he lower btliy is white, changing gradually in'O a yellowifh call. The fin of the lower belly near the vent ii yellow, but the other half is fpotted with black. The length of thisfiih is eleven inches. C H A P. VIII. 0/ Fijh that want the Belly^fnu THE ORB, or SEA WEATHER-COCK, by fome called the SKA PORCUPINE, has a roundifh globous body, frorii whence it has its name; it can blow up its body much like a bladder, and is befcc with long thorns or prickles, efpecia'ly on the fides, where the ba- {es of the prickles are divided into two other fhort onef, and end under the fiiin. It differs from our Sea porcu- pine in having the eye-brows placed higher, and in hav- ing the head more round ; likewife, it is all over fpot- ted, wjiich ours is not. There is another t-ea-porcupine, v/ith a narrow, roundifn, and prickly head ; and the prickles are very long on the head and Ihoulders, accord- ing to the obfcrvation of Dr. Lijier, The PRICKLY ORB, or Sea-pop cupin^ of South America, has a mouth like that of a Frog, and is above feven inches long. The head is broad, and fpeckled with black fpots, efpecially near the gill fins. The prickles of this filh are o^ a fiattilh ihape like flags, whe^e- /V/- ^ I O F F I S H E S. 96 whereas thofe in the former are round ; there are alfo broad dulky ftripes that run along the back. The Pr 1 CKL Y-o R B, called by fome ATING A, is fcarce as big as a Cjoofe-egg, and is very like the former, on- ly it has a rounder head, and not fo ered, and without high eye-brows or llreaks ; likewife. this has prickles on the belly, whereas the former has none. However there are broad fpots near the fin?, and about the tail. The PRICKLY NET- WORK ORB is one of the larger fort, but the prickles are very fhort, or at le ft lye flatter, and their roots, which ai"e triangular, fwell fo much, and are fo entangled among each other, that they feem to be covered with net-work. The FROG-MOUTHED ORB is fixteen inches long, and twenty in circumference. The whole body is of a duflcy colour, fpeckled with white fpots ; and the back-fin runs from the neckalmoft to the end of the back. The mouth is broad, and fhaped like that of a Frog ; and on each ilde there are two rows of red thorns, not unlike the roots of mu(hrooms, that run from the top of the head to the tail. The oblong Orb, with the head of aTortoife, is fmooth and fpeckled with afh coloured and dufky fpots. It is not much unlike the former. The firft ORB of Fondektius has a round body, being in the fhape of a globe, except the tail. The fkin is very hard, and is rough with fmall prickles, placed all over. The rough spotted Orb is covered all over very thick with fmall prickles. The HAIR-HEADED ORB is like the figure of the firft Orb of Rondel.tius, only the tail is a little longer, and the body is not fo rough with prickles, except on the belly only, for the back and tail are fmooth. The SHIELD ORB oi Rcnckleitus has a longer head than the firft kind, and the mcuth opens wider. Fiom the head to the tail there are bones of the fhape of an ^gS» between which the prickles are placed. It is called the Shield orb becaufe the mouth is in the form of a fhield, and fcrves for a fternum in that part which in land animals is called the breaft. Rondektius fays it has many fmall teeth, but we rather give credit to Lr. Lijiir^ who fays it has only two teeth. The 70 THE NATURAL HISTORY The SMOOTH ORB, called the BLOWER at the Otpe of Good Hope, has the faculty of blowing itfelf up like other Orbs, and then its ihape is as round as a ball, except the tail. The Ikin, which is very fmooth, has few or no fcales thereon, and the back is of a dufky yel- low, and kas a kind of a luftre. The belly is white, and the mouth fmall, but armed with four large teeth. This filh is never eaten becaufe there is a great deal of danger in it, of which the Dutch are very careful to in- form foreigners. However, a certain failor, not believ- ing what they faid, had a mind to make a trial, and was fo hardy as to eat one of them ; but the experiment coll him dear, for he fellfick immediately after, and died in a few days time. The SEA HEDGE-HOG is covered all over with thick thorns or prickles, and has a head lefs prominent than the former, but the body \<^ rounder and bigger. It fwims very llowly, and confequently would be an eafy prey for other filh if it was not fo well . armed with prickles. De Poincy obferves, that thefe fort of fifh are very common in the Weji Indian fcRf and they are called by many the armed fiih. Some of them areas thick as a foot- ball, and are almoll round, having but a little bit of a tail. It has no head, for the eyes and tail are fixed to the belly. Inllead of teeth it has two hard fmall ftones an inch broad, which it makes ufe of to crulh Sea-crabs to pieces, as weil as fmall Shell-fifh, on which it lives. It is all over armed with thick prickles about as long as the tags of laces, and as fnarp as needles, which it can raife upright, or lay down at pleafure. This iifh is taken by throwing a line into, the water, at the end of which is a hook covered with a piece of a Sea crab ; when it is fvvallowed, and the fifli wants to get away, finding itfelf flopped by the line, all the prickles are bi illled up ; info- much that, when he is drawn on iliore, it is impoffible to lay hold of any part of the body ; for this reafon they drag it fome diilance from the water, where it will die in a fhort time. Sometimes this filh is thicker than a bufhel, and yet there is no more fielli fit for eating than 12 found on a fmall Mackrel. In the middle of the belly there is a fort of a bladder or bag filled with wind, of whick /^a^ ya fJc/^'^/- f?/JiC^^ ^ucA^^^ ^f^rn^ O F F I S H E S. 71 which they make exceeding good ifinglafs or fifh-glew. The other forts of Sea hedge-hogs differ little from this, except in the fituation and fize of their prickles, for they are Ihorter in fome and flenderer in others, and in fome again they form a fort of large flars. The SEA PIGEON has its name from its head, which is thought to be like that of a Pigeon, and its breaft is alfo like that of a Cropper. It has no fcales, but there are fpots on the fkin of various figm-es. It is feldom caught, and it has a difagreeable taite. • The OSTRACION is in the Ihape of a Pentagon, and fometimes grows to a foot in length. 1 he head is covered with a hard Ihell, from whence it has its name, for Ortracion ligaifies a (hell. On the back there are four fmall tubercles or warts placed, four-fquare. Ano- ther Oftracion, of Aldto^uandus., is of a quadrangular form, and is hump backed. A third is called the snouted OsTRACiON, and it wants the abovemencioned tubercles, but the fhout is very long, and almoll: in the fhape of a fword. There is another called the hornedOstr.acion, as alfo one without horns. Y>r. LijJcr fays this is a large triangular hih, and that, though it has no horns on the head, it has one on the belly near the tail. It is covered with radiated fcales in the fhape of hexagons, and has a double or broad border on the edges. The former he calls the greateft triangular Horned-filli with radiated hexagon fcales, whofe centre or middle part is promi- nent. The TRIANGULAR HORNED-FISH, that has a long fpine or prickle in the middle of the tail which is covered with Ikin. It is of a middle fize, and is beauti- fully marked with pretty broad waved fpots of a dufky colour on the back and jaws. In many other triangular lilh, that have horns on their heads, there are no fcales on the top of the tail, but fometimes there is a iingle fcale either on the upper or lower part, and fometimes one on both. The MIDDLE-SIZED TRIANGULAR FISH has a horn on the belly near the tail, and is marked all over with very thick reddifh fpots of the fame fize. Tlie fcales of this are of the fhape of hexagons, with fmall tuber- cles, and placed in no regular order. The fmall Trian- gular- 72 THE NATURAL HISTORY gular-iifii, with a horn on its belly, is alfo covered with hexagon fcales a little rough in the middle, but their out- ward fides confiftonly of the like number of fimple lines ; that is fix. The Triangular-fish, entirely w/V/^o/// i'cr;//, has hexagon fcales rough in the middle, and is adorned with fmall tubercles placed in rows. Likewife the belly of this kind is broader than that of the reft ; that is, it has a very large bafe in proportion to its bulk. The greateft QUADRANGULAR FISH has a flat back, whereas the former hath it raifed into an arch, and there are four tubercles on the back not far from the head. This feems to be like the firft Oftracion of Al- drovandus. The GREATER QUADRANGULAR SNOUTED FISH has its head marked with reddifli thick fet fpots ; but, though the body is lefs than the for- mer, the fins are quite as large. The MIDDLE SIZED QUAERANGULAR SPOTTED-FISH has a few pretty large fpots on the fides, and thofe on the middle are bordered with red, and their centres are of a whitilh blue. On the belly there are the like fpots, but they are fmall, and more numerous ; that is two or three on each hexa2;on fcale. The HORNED FISH, of Bontiusy called ICAN SETANG, is different from all others of this kind. ^ The CSTRACION of the AV/^, of Felonhs, that is brought from the Mediterraneav fea, is thought by Dr. Lijier to be a qui^e difi^^erent fifli from any of this kind imported froni the Eai hdirs ; however, Mr. Ray ima- gines, that the difference of feas is no argument to prove it, becaiife the fame fort of fiih may be common in both feas, and he has feen fiili, that have been brouglit from the Eaft Indies and the Mediterranean^ in which he could difcern no difference. The SEA HORSE, bcft known by the Latin name of HIPPOCAMPUS, never exceeds nine inches in length ; and, in the head, fnour, and mane, is fome- what like a horfe. Jt is about the thicknefsof a man's thumb, and the body is full of clefts and furrows. The fnout is a fort of a tube, with a hole at the bottom, to which there i:. a cover that he can open and fhut at plea- fure. The upper part of the body is like a Heptae- dion. ^a^^y2 O F F I S H E S. 73 dron, or a figure confiding of feven fides, but below the vent it refcmbles a Tetraedron, or figure confifting of four fides. The eyes are fmall and prominent, and be- tv\een them are two high tubercles. The tail ends in a point, and is generally very much bent or contorted. Behind the eyes, where the gills are placed in other filh, there are two fins which look like ears, and above them are two ho^es, but there are no gills neither outwardly nor inwardly. The whole body feems to be compofed of cartilaginous rings, and on the intermediate membranes of which feveral fmall prickles are' placed. The colour is of a dark green, but towards the tail inclining to black. ' The belly is marked with fpots of a whitifli blue, and tlie ftomach is proportionably large, but the heart is fmall, and the liver and fpawn red. It is taken in tlie Mediterranean^ and alfo in the weflern- ocean. The SEA HORSE WITH A MANE is four times as large as that without, and in the middle of the belly there is a fmall fin or blackifii membrane. From the top of the head and neck there are brillles or long hairs, which hang down like a mane. The fip.ooth Sca-horfs without prickles, has but few furrows. The fmall fmooth .Sea-horfe, with a great number of furrows, has thirty- five on the tail. It is found in the ftraits of Su7ida in the Eau Lilies. In the prickled Sea horfe there are thirty furrows from the back fin downwaids ; and in the great- er fmoodi Sea-horfe tliere are twenty-five, and in anodier thirty-five. Likewife, in the greater fmooth Sea-horfe, there are a great number of biackifh fpecks or fpots, whereas all the reft are entirely without. The SEA NEEDLE, or the fecond kind of ACUS, of Ronddetius, is the Typhle of the ancients, accordino- to Bjionius. iV!r. R«y fiw feveral of thefe at Venice y bu^C they were all lefs than thofe defcribed by Rondehtius, 7'he body liad fix angles, like a hexagon, to the end of the back fin, but from thence to the tail it isibur fquare. 7he crull, wherewith it was covered from the head to the vent, was dilb'nguiflied into eighteen fcales, but be- yond that there were thirty-four or thirty-five. 7'he fnout and mouth were like that of a Sea-horfe, and the tail ended in a fin. 1 he filh defcribed by Rondehiiva Vol. III. E ivaj 74 THE NATURAL HISTORY was a cubit in length, and near an inch thick, agreeing in ail things with the former, except the fize. The Sea-needle, of Jri/iotle, has a long and angular body, and inftead cf fcales it is covered with a hard cruft or lliell divided into ieveral parts. From the head to the vent there are feven angles, but from thence, to the end of the back tin, there are five ; and below, to the extremity of the tail, the fhape is fquare. It has a long fnout fomewhatlike a tube. The WORM LIKE SEA NEEDLE, called by the Cornijh boys the SEA ADDER, has a round body en- tirely without fcales, and the colour is a dirty greenifh yellow, ending in a fhaip point, not in a fin. The Iriout is like that of the former, but fliorter ; and it has four gills on each fide, which, infiead of an aperture, has a fmall hole. The body is marked with angular lines much like that of an earth worm ; and the fize is that of a gooie quill. It is about five inches in length, and has only one fin, which is feated at the back. Jt is frequently met with in the fea that waihes the coalt of CornnvalL The SEA UNICORN, called PIRAACA by the Brafitian-, has a body that is comprelTed on the fides, and from the mouih to the root of the tail it is near three inches long, and two broad. The mouth is like that of aiiog, and before, on the lower jaw, there are tv/o br:>ad teeth like Sea-orbs. Above the eyes, on the back, there is a fmall horn which bends backwards, that is round, and not an inch long, being no thicker than a common thread ; but it has a double row of teeth which turn downwards. It feems to be fupported by a thin fort of a membrane, which is connected tranfverfly to the back. However, it cannot lay the horn down backwards, as Clufiui thought. The number of fins, and their fitua- tion are like thofe of Orbs ; but the flcin is rough to the touch, and of a duCcy yellow colour. However there is alit- tle ^old colour about it on the fins and fkin of the back, as is commonly feen in Orbs. Marcgra^e takes it to be a kind of an Orb, fince it can blow up its body like a bladder. The SEA GOAT, called CAPRTSCUS by Rovdele- tiia, has a comprcifcd head, with the eyes placed in the O F F I S H E S. 7S the upper part. The mouth is fmall, and in each jaw there are eight teeth, not ferrated but joined together like thofe of mankind. There are four gills that have not a bony but a fkinny cover. AlmoU in the middle of the back there are three very ftrong and large prickles joined together by a membrane ; of which that before is three times as big as the two others. This filh canraife tliem, or lay them down when he pleafes in a bony fur- row made for that purpofe ; which panicular feems pe- culiar to this fifh ; however, he i^ not able to raife them one after another, fcr they are all erc£led or laid down together.. They are made fo artfully, that the great one cannot be made to fall by any impulfe ; but if fhe two hinder are depreiTed, which may be done eafily, that before will fall down alfo. And, what is Ilill more ilrange, if the prickle behind is not quite deprefled, that before will be in the fame degree ; and yet cannot be laid lower, unlefs you repeat. the depreffion of the £rfl:. It is covered with afcaly Mn, whofe fcales are not like thofe of a Miy but rather of a Serpent, for b?fides their being placed in fuch an order, that the b"nes between them interfering each other make a fort of chequer v\^rk, they alfo Hick fo extremely fall to the Ikin that they can- not be feparated from it ; infomuch, tliat by that means the hide is fo hard and rough that it cannot be cut with- out great difnculty, but it may be polifhed.like wood or ivory. The colour of this "iiih is of a du(ky green, /peckled with blue ; but the blackifh fins of the back .and belly are marked with blue and red fpots. The fhape is broad, very flat, and almoft roundilh 5 but it feldom exceeds two pounds in weight. The GUAPERUA is a long filh, with a tail almoft iquare, and not forked, and the top of the head is broad. It differs from the former in having its teeth fharpened in a peculiar manner, in having but tvv^o horns on its back, of which the firft, in a dried fifh, had a double row of pretty large teeth as rough as a faw. There is no horn on the belly, and the fins are^ near three inches dillant from the tail ; but the tail fin is much the longeft. The top of the head is not fo fiat ; and the length of fhii fifh is near fixteea inches, andii is almoft five oroid. E ? The jG THE NATURAL HISTORY The broad GUAPERUA, with a forked tail, and the back fin fpotted, is near fixteen inches long, and .eight broad, with the head flat on the top. The fins of the breail and belly are two inches from the tail, and the back fin is marked with a great number of fpots ; and from part of it there aiiies a horn near four inches in length. The horns of the tail fin rife as it were fudden- ly, and are about an inch long. The fcales are Tquare and fmall in this fifh in comparifon of thofe in the for- mer. The horn of this is greatcft ; and there are not only on the forehead, but on the fides, efpecialiy in the middle, a great number of fmall tubercles or rough teeth. The defcription of this filh agrees pretty well with that of Marcgra've. The greateft GUAPERUA is a broad fifh, and the end of the tail and the back fin terminate in long fmall horns ; there are alfo two broad red flreaks, which run • tranfverfly over the body to the jaws. The broad GUAPERUA, with a flreaked tail, is about eleven inches in length, and five in breadth. The teeth are like thofe of men, and the head is de- preired, though raifed on the top. The tail is fork- ed, and there are fmall horns thereon. The fcales are fqcare and rough in the middle, and there are eight lines on each fide three inches long. The horn on the back is furniflied with exceeding fmall teeth, and are rough before m the manner of a faw. The PORCUPINE GUAPERUA is a fmall fifli, be- ing about fix inches long, and three and a half broad, and the teeth are not very (harp. Jn the upper jaw on both fides, by the two firfl teeth, ihcre are other very fmall teeth that are afcerwards iucceeded by broader. The fcales are fquare and very fmall ; and three inches from the tail, on the middle of the fides, there are five thickifh horny round prickles, about an inch long, mot- tled with black and white like the quills of a Porcupine, and they are placed pretty clofe together; likewife, near the tail there is a remarkable roughnefs. The tail fin is fquare, and is of a blackifh colour. The BELLOWS or TRUMPET FISH is a fmall fifh, rear four inches long, and about an inch and a half broa^. It is covered with rough fcales, and has a long fnout. O F F I S H E S. 77 fnout, for it is almoft equal to one third of the length of the whole body. It has a fmall aperture at the end, which has a covering conne£led to the lower part, and muft be raifed upwards in order to fliut it, and when it is opened this is let down. The eyes are large, and their iris is white; and on the back there rifes a very ftrong fpine of a great length, to wliich there correfponds a furrow on the back part. On the edges there are a row of teeth which turn upwards, and tlie fpine can be erec- ted, or laid down at pleafure, but not directly upright, for it always inclines towards the tail. It is very com- mon at B.ome, and is to be met with in the iilh-markeis with other fmall fifli. The LAMPUGA, fo called at Rome, has a broad, thin, fquare body, not unlike a Turbot, and yet it fwims upright. Thofe feen at Ro?ne were about nine inches long, and weighed a pound and a half. The back is of a light blue, but the lower part of the fides an(i belly are of a filver colour. On the back, and above the pointed lines, there are beautiful yellow fpots and ftripes, but below the lines there are the like fpots of a gold colour. The tail is very forked, and the fnout blunt. The mouth is exceeding fmall, and armed with a fingle row of very little teeth. l"he whole body, like a Tur- bot, is furrounded with a back and belly fin, and on the fides of thofe that were purchafed 2^i Venice there are two lines that run from the gills to the tail ; the lov/er of which is ftrait, and the upper bended like a bow. This by the Venetians is called Lifetta, and it feems by thefe marks to be a different fifh from the Lampuga. However, there arc feveral fifh fo called J3y the inhabi- tants of Rome, but not fo large nor fo beautifully colour- ed as this. V/ith regard to the inteiliines, this fidi feems to be different from all hitherto defcribed, for it has two Itomachs ; and that before is fiefliy, and full of long rough thickfet apophyfes, like the fkin of a Hedge-hog, placed on the iniide ; but that behind is large, mem- branaceous, and is extended beyond the vent. At the pylorus there arc feveral appendages, v.hich terminate in fmall twigs, and are interwoven with a fort of paren- chyma. 1 he long gut has various turnings and wind- ings, and within it there is a Durple liquor which tinges E \ all 78 THE NATURAL HISTORY all the excrements with the fame colour ; and the lidea of the vent are coloured with a brij^ht purple. The PAMPUS, of Sir Hans Stcan, is the leaft of its kind, being only fix inches long, and four and a half broad in the middle part. It is roundifh at the begin- ning, and f:om thence to the tail it grows gradually more flender. The tongue is round, flefhy, andfpotted; and the jaws are armed with fmall Iharp teeth. The eyes are large, with an ample iris of a filver colour. There are four fins ; one beginning on the middle of the back, and ending at the tail ; the fecond, oppofite to this, runs from the vent to the tail ; and at the gills there are tv/o long ones, but there are none on the belly. The tail is forked, and two inches and a half in length ; and there is an arched line running along the upper part of the fide, v^hich is ftrait in the middle. It is covered all o- ver with fmall white fcales. The belly is round, the bones fhnrp, and befet v/ith teeth like wool-cards. 7"he gut makes leveral- turnings. The RIBBAND FISH is pretty ftrait along the belly. The back is roundiih, and forms an edge along its ridge. It is fix inches in length, and two in breadth where broadeft, for near tiie tail it is little more than a quarter of an inch broad. It is much compreffed fideways, brown on the back, and of a lightifh colour on the belly. It has a fin on each fide the head, and a pair of fins be- neath them, between the head and the belly. There is alfo a fingle fin on the lower part of rhc belly near the vent. There is a long fliarp fin rifingfrom the highcft part of the back, and behind that a narrov/ fin which runs the whole length of the ridge of the back towards the tail. The fins and tail are of a dufey colour, and there is a reddifh circle round the eye, and a black fpot bet»veen the noftrils. There is alfo a broad black lift running round the head and pafilng through the eyes, befides :wo other black or dafky lifts bordered with wlwte ; the firft pafling a little obliquely below the head, and the other from the long fin on the back quite through the tail, which makes this fifli appear as if it were bound with ribbands. It is a Weji Indian fifh, and was caught near ilie Caribbee JJiands. Thi5 fifh is not propcily claf- ied. O F F I S H E S. 7p fed, but, it being of a fingular kind, it might as well be placed here as elfewhere. The vSUN FISH has a bread (hort body, which is co- vered behind with a circular fin that ferves inftead of a tail J infomuch, that it feems to be only the head of a fi(h, or rather one half, with the tail part cut off, which fufnciently diftinguiflies it from all other fi(h, though in all its parts it has fomewhat diiFerent from every other kind. Its common length is about two feet, and yet it is found to weigh upwards of one hundred pounds. It has no fcales, but is covered with a hard rough thick ikin. The back is blackiih, and the belly of a fiiver colour.; but both belly and back terminate in a fharp ridge. The mouth is very fmall for the bigaefs of the filh, and when opened is roundilli. 7'he jaws are hard, rough, and fnarp, and feem to be armed with feveral rows of fharp teeth. There are four holes in the head befides the nollrils, which lail are placed between the eyes and the mouth. The eyes are fmall, and of a duiky yellow near the pupil, but the other part is of a dufn-y yellow. Near the circular fin, which furrounds the tail, there is a broad llripe, which makes it appear to be bound as with a fillet. There are two large fins near the back part, and two fmall ones at fome dillance behind the eyes, but in the fame line with the eyes. The liver and gall bladder are large, but the fpleen is fmall, foft, and blackiih. The urinary paflage does not terminate in the vent, but has a tube, proper to itfelf, beneath it. The guts refemble thofe of quadrupedes. The flefli is exceeding foft, and the bone foft and grifily; the f]', AuguJ}^ ^.vASeptevibeVi will foon be good for nothing without a great deal of care. How- ever, this fifhing is fometimes over in a month or iix %veeks, and fcrnetiraes it continues fix months. When Lent begins to draw near, though the filhermeii have caught but half their cargo, yet they will halleii homewards becaufe the markets are bcil at that time ; however, fome will make a fecond voyage before others have got a fufficicnt cargo for the firll. Each filherman ■can take but one at a time, and yet thofe who are expert at this bu/inef^ will catch from thiee hundred and fifty to four hundred in a day. They are all taken with a houk and line, baited with t'.-ve entrails of ether Cod-fifh, ex- cept the {xx'^. This is a very fatiguing employmeiit, both on account of the heavinefs of the fiih, and the coldnefs of the v/eather ; for though the Great- bank lies be- tween forty and forty-eight degrees of latitude, which might be fuppofed to be a v/ann climate, yet the wea- ther in the feafon of fifhing is generally very fevere. They fait the Cod-fiih on board thefhips in the follow- ing manner ; they cut oiF tiiehead open the beLIy, and take out the guts, and then the faherlays them fide by fide, head to tail, at the bottoiia of the velTel, for abo*Jt a fathom or two f^uare; when one layer is coirpleatcd he £ 6 co\Tjs 8f THE NATURAL HISTORY c )vers it with fait, and then lays on another, which he CDvers as before. Thus he difpofes of all the filh that is caught in one day, for care is taken not to mix thofe of different days together After the Cod has lain thus three or four days they are removed into another part of the veflel and faked afrefh. After this they are fuffered to lye till the vefTel has procured its full cargo, or till they think proper to depart for their defigncd port. Some- times they are put into barrels and packed up, and this is generally known by the name of Barrel-cod, which is accounted the beft. They do not always fait the Cod-fifh, for they dry fome on (here ; and this they fiHi for along the coaft of Phcentia in Ntn,vfounalavd, from Cnpe Ract to the bay of Experts ; within which limits there are feveral commodi- ous harbours and places to dry the £fh in. There are fifhing veflelb of all fizes, but thofe are raoft proper that have large holds, becaufe the fi(h have not a weight pro- portionaole to the room they take up. Thofe that in- tend to dry their filh in the fun always take them in the fummer fea.on, that being the only time proper for that purpole. The European veffels, which carry on this trade, fetout in Ma^.h or yZ/r/,', though there are ethers that deiir their voyage till June or jnh. But then their defigii IS only to porchafe the h^h tha^ has been already caught and cured by the inhabitants of the E.tgh/h colo- nies of NtnvfcurdlanH and the neighbouring parts ; in exchange foi which they carry them meal, brandy, rum, linen, and olhcr commodities, that they fland in need of. 1 he fii!h that aie chofen for drying are of a fmaller fort, 'Ahich are mere £t for their purpofe becaufe they icorcr take L!t. Wiicn ihe filhing veffels are arrived at any particular port, he who gets in lirfl is cmitlcd to the quality and privilege of admiial, and has the choice of his flation, as well as of the wood which they make ufe of. As foon as they are got into a harbour they unrig all their veffels, leaving DCthing but the fhrcuds to fuftain the mafls. fa the mean while the mates go on fhcre to provide tents, which are covered u ith branches of fir, and the fails are laid over them. They al(b make a fcaf- fold fifty or fixty feet long, and tweiity broad. While thefe O F F I S H E S. 85 thefe things are preparing the reft of the crew are buned in fifhing, and as faft as they catch any they open them, and fait them on moveable benches ; but the main fak- ing is performed on the fcaifold. When the filh has taken fait they then wafh them, and lay them in heaps on the galleries of the fcaftold. This done, they afterwards range them on hurdles, only a fifh thick, head to tail, with the back uppermoft. While they lye in this man- ner they take care to turn and fhift diem four times dur- ing every twenty-four hours. When they begin to dry they lay them in heaps, ten or twelve together, to retain their warmth, and continue to enlarge the heap every day till it is double its firft bulk. At length they ma'ke one heap out of two, and continue to turn them every day as before ; but when they are quite dry they lay them in huge piles as large as hay-llacks. They not ordy fait the body of the fifh, but their tripes and tongue?, which are afterward-^ barrelled up, ?s alfo the roes ; which laft ?re of fervice to throw into the fea, in order to draw other fifli together, particularly Pilch- /kRDs. They alfo get an oil from this fifh, which is ufed for drefiing leather, and all the other purpofes of train oil. On the coall of Buchan in Scotland, the fifhermen catch a Ihiall kind of Cod, v.'hich is greatly in efteem ; after rhey havt; falted it, they dry it in the fun on the rocks, and fomecimei in the chimnies. T he W.RITING POLLACK is larger than a com- mon Whiting, but it is pretty much of the fame fhape, only it is broader, and lefs thick. The back is of a dirty green colour, and it differs from a Cod-fifh in being lefs ; in being proportionably broader and Icfs thick, in having a leffer head, in wanting a barb, and in having the hnver pair of fins n^uch lefs. The fides beneatli the lateral lines are varioufly freak- ed with a dulky yellow, and the body is f^aly, but the fcales are very fmall. 'I he mouth is large, the teeth lit- tle, and the ton2;ue is fiia!*p at the point. The eyes are of a filver colour and large, and the lo'ver jaw is a litde more prominent tha'^ the upper, i'he liver is pale, and divided into trrec lobes ; and the fpleen is of a triangu- lar oblong livape, and of a blackilh colour. He feeds upon filh, particularly Sand-etls. Ke is frequently tak- I en 86 THE NATURAL HISTORY en near Penzance and St. l^ves in Cornivally but it i« fometimes caught by what they call rock-fi(hing; that i» by {landing upon the rocks while they angle. Thofe that filh out of a boat or fmack muft have a line fixty yards long, with three or four hooks, one above another, and baited with different baits. The bell time for fea- fiiliing is in warm weather, either early in the morning or after fun-fet, provided the tide has been ebbing near half an hour. The flefh of this iifh is well tailed, nou- riihing, and flaky like that of a Cod. The northern people have always been accuflomed to dry their fi(h, becaufe it is their principal nourifhment ; and when a Cod is fo dried it is called Stock-fifh, becaufe it mull always be beaten before it is ufed. The firll of this kind were brought from Non-way, where they ftill prepare great numbers. They are brought in prodigious large barrels to Drontheim and Bergen^ which are the two flaples for this merchandize, and from thence they are tranfported into different parts of Europe. The flefh, though ufed almoft every where as an ali- ment, is of little ufe in medicine, though the teeth are faid to be abforbent when reduced to powder, and good againfl loofeneffes and fpitting of blood -, the dofe is from ten grains to half a dram. The Hones that are found in the head have the fame virtues and ufes. The COAL FISH, called in Co?//xtW/the Rawlinc Pollack, is very much like the former, only it is a lit- tle longer, and more flender. The lateral lines are not bent at the beginning like a bow as in the former; be- iides which dicy are white and broad, by which mark they diilinguifh it from the Whiting-pollack. Likewife it is not variegated with yellov>'ifh flreaks like that, ar-4 the colour is blacker, more lively and fhiuing ; from v.hcncc it is called the Coal-filh. The fins are tindured widi a blackiih blue colour, and the fcales are Icfs. The lower jaw is longer than that of a Cod, from which it differs alfo in wanting a barb, and in having a more forked tail. The flclh is not fo good as that of a Cod, but it is better than a Haddock. They are taken on the coails of Northumberland and I'orkjlire, as well as on' thofe of Cjniv:all, The O F F I S H E s. nr The BIB, or BLINDS, (o called by the inhabitants of Corn-zva//, has a barb under its chin, in which it agrees with the Cod ; but it differs from it in its fize, for it fel- dom ex'ceeds a foot in length ; likewife, the fhape of the body is Ihorter and broader, and the colour ligjiter. T he fize of the fcales are alfo twice as large as thofe of a Cod, and adhere clofely to the Mn. The Cod has likewife a ipine or thorn at the tail fin, which this wants. The DORSCH, fo called by the Gen^ans, but Pa- MUCHLEN by the P ruffians^ is a variegated ftreaked £(h of the Cod kind ; but the ikin is more fmooth and flippery than in thofe of that fort. It is above a foot in length, and the head is lefs than that of a Haddock, The mouth terminates in a point, and the back is black- ifli or duflcy as well as the fides, and the upper part of the coverings of the gills. Sometimes it is of an afh colour, with black fpots or fpaces, efpecially in winter. It has a fmall flefhy wattle under the fkin ; and, ex- cepting this, it is in other things very like the Whiting- pollack. The YELLOWISH POLLACK is pretty much like a Whiting-pollack, only the fins are lefs, and thofe which are under the chin are yellowifh as well as the refl, but the back and fides are of a dark yellow, and full of fafFron coloured fpots. 1 he line that runs along the gills to the tail is yellowiib, and about the belly it is a litde more bent than in the Whiting-pollack. The HADDOCK is of a middle fize between a Whit- ing and a Cod, and the colour is blackifh on the back, with fmall fcales. There is a black line runs from the upper corner of the giils to the tail \ and on the middle, on both fides, not far from the gills, there is a large black fpot, which diftinguiflies it from all others. This, by fomefuperllitiouschrillians, was faid to be made by the finger and thumb of ct, Peter, that he might diflinguiih this fifh from all others, as being very much to his lik- ing; the like monkifh tale is likewife related of another £{h called the Piper. The eyes are large, and there is a baib hangs down from the lower jaw about an inch long, and the tail is forked. In other things itrefembles a Cod. Some account this a coarfe fifh, and afRrm it is apt ta which, however, in diiicrent lights appears blue or green ; but the belly and fides are of a filver colour. 'I'here are fomefmall fin' on the top of the back and un- der the belly near the tail, by which this fifli may be dif- tinguifhed from all others of this kind. Ihe tail is broad. O F F I S H E S. 91 broad, and in the fhape of a half-moon, and the ihout is pointed. It is covered with large fmooth fcales, which are joined clofe to each other. Jn fhort it refembles in aJl things a common Mackrel, except its bulk, and there- fore needs no farther defcription. Thefefilh always fwim in fhoals, and they may be readily known by the great noife they make when they pafs along, for they agitate the fea with great violence. They are extremely afraid of thunder ; at that time they are eafily taken with nets, which are made for that purpofe in the Mediterra* nean. The TUNNY is a fifh of pafTage, for it rambles from one part. of the fea to another at a confiderable diftance, Jn the months of September and O^oher they leave the ocean, and pafs through the llraits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean fea towards the Le-vcnt. They are often taken on the coafls of CcrnvjaU with their flomachs full of Pilchards. Moft authors feem to think that the place of fpawning is the Black fea, and that they crofs the Me- diterranean for that purpofe. The time of fifhing for Tunnies begins in Seplemher, and they are caught by a fort of wears made of fmall canes, v/hich the French call madragnes ; fome of which are faid to be a mile in compafs. They are divided into feveral partitions ; and the fifli having entered the large ones are drove from thence into the fmaller, for they are like llieep, if one leads the way all the rell will follow. The inmoll: partition of all is of a clofer contexture thaa the reft, and is floored as it were with a net. When they take out the fiih they draw it fo near the fhore that the bottom may be within five feet of the furface of the water, and then the fiiliermen leap into it as into a filli- pond, laying hold of the fifh by the fmall part of their tails, and throw tliem into boats, where they imme- diately die. When they are brought to land they hang them up in the air, and then cut cf their head^ taking out their en- trails, and cutting their bodies into pieces, they broil them on large gridirons, and fry them with oil olive. This done ttiey feafon them with fait, pepper, cloves, and a few bay leaves, and then put them into barrels with, freih oil oiiv<; and a little vinegar. In this condition the/ ^2 THE NATURAL HISTORY they are tranfported into diiFerent parts of Europe by the name of Sea-tunny. The flefh of this fifh is not very delicate, but is very ufeful, for when it is cooked in the forgoing manner, and cured with good oij, it is as fiim and white as veal, and eats pretty much like it. Some are very fond of it at all times, thinking it to be a fifh of a very good talle, very wholeibme, and yielding good nourifhment. The TUNNY, of Arifiotk, diiFers from the former in being waved with tranfverfe fumes, running obliquly on the fides ; . it is alfo lefs than a middling Tunny, though it has a longer body in proportion to its bulk ; and there are filaments on the abovementioned ftripes, whereas a Tunny has nothing of that kiiid. 7 he fnout is pointed, and the eyes fmall, and of the colour of gold ; the belly is large, and of a filver colour; the back is of a Ihining blue, and the tail ib {lender and made like a half-moon. 7 here are two lines of a blackiih colour, which run obliquely fi om the back to the belly, and are at feme diil:ance from each other. There are no ftales round the gills, and the teeth are very lliarp and bent inwards This fifh is very fond of freih water, fwims in flioalb like the former, and the flefli is fat and good. The SARDA, of Kcrufeletius, is very like the next preceeding, but it differs from it in having leaks on the parts between the fins aiid the coverir.g ot the gills ; the teeth are alfo larger and more crooked, and the flefh is not fo tender. The TUNNY, called LISSA or GLISSA by the in- habit:ints of the IJIe cf Candy^ is two cubits in length, and has a body as ihick a= that of a man. It differs from the greater and common Tunny in bemg of a rounder make, and in having gills like that of the Sarda. Jn- ilead of teeth it has wrinkled and rough jaws, and the tail is not in the fiiape of a halt-moon but rather forked. 1 he MACKREL is generally a foot, and fomctimes a foot and a haif in length. '1 he body is long, round, thick, and fieihy, but towards the tail very fiender and (mall. It is not entirely without fcales, for it has fome that are thin and fmall. Underneath the lines, that di- vide the fides in the middle, it is of a bright iilver co- lour, O F F I S H E S. 95 lour, but above them of a bluifh green. On the back, towards the fides, proceeds feveral dark ftreaks, which by diverfifying the colour contribute greatly to the beau- ty of the hill. The tail is fo very much forked that it feems almoft to be parted into two diftind fins ; but the jaws are of an equal length, and furnifhed with fmall teeth, ^""he eyes are large, the tongue {harp, and the noftrils Imall and round, it may be dillinguifhed from the Tunny by the fmallncfs of its fize, and by the black- ifh lines on ti.e fide?, fome of which are ftrait, and others crooked. Tae heart is of a triangular Ihape. The fpleen blackifh, apd th^ liver red and undivided, but it has no fwimming bladder. It is a fifh of prey, for there are often fmall hih found in its belly. Mackrel fwim in large Ihoals in divers parts of the ocean, but particularly on the coafts of England and Frajice. They enter the E7iglijp channel in April, taking their courfe through the rtraiis of Do^uer ; infomuch, that in Jwie they advance as far as CorK^^vall, Sufex, Nor- mandy, and Picardy. They are taken either with an angle rod, or with nets ; and when they are angled for it mull be out of a boat, fmack, or Ihip that lies at an- chor. They wm'II fnap at any thing, infomuch that they will take a bit of fcarlet cloth. In the well of England they filh for them with nets near the fhore in the follow- ing manner : One rnan hxes a pole into the fand near the fea, to which he makes fall one end of a long net ; another takes the other end of the net in hi^ boat, and rows round in a circuit as far as the length of the net will permit, and then back towards the Ihore. When his boat is a-ground he Heps into the water, and taking the ' cord of the net with him drags the net towards the Ihore. Afterwards, upon a fignal given, both the men draw the net out of the fea ; and by this method often catch three or four hundred hlb ; then they are either fent away in boats to the proper market, or are carried by land on horfes that wait for that purpofe. IVfackrel are often taken in fuch vaft plenty in that part of England that it is hardly credible, but then this renders them fo cheap that . they are not worth carrying away. The flelh of a Mackrel is very good when frefh, ef- pecially if they are drelTed when juft taken o«t of the water. 94 THE NATURAL HISTORY water. There is fuch a difference between them then and after they are brought to Lond'^n that it is-not to be conceived by thofe that have not tried. However, they are not to be defpifed when they are well cured by pick- ling and put up in barrels. There are two ways of pick- ling them ; tlie firil is by opening and gutting them, and filling their bellies with fait, cramming it in as faft as pcffible with a ttick ^ this done they range them in rows r.t the bottom of the veflel, brewing fait between the layers, llie other way is to put them immediately into tubs of brine made of frefh water and fait, letting them deep long enough to imbibe fait iuuicient to preferve them from corrupting. After this they put them into barrels, taking care to prefs them down clofe. The LESSOR MACKREL, of Behnius, differs in Kotliing from the former but in being lefs, and it is prin- cipally made ufe of when pickled. It is called COG- NIOL at Marjeilles. The MAC¥.?<^L oi Renddetius 0(>7tef/re€rrR ? ^'^^4 'mmMjjlmlMiMMJiiJM <2/4 ^a/JU/'circ'=:y/^z O F F I S H E S, 9^ ©f -fcales, which are fmooth two thirds of the length, but it begins to be rough when it reaches the tail. Jt is gree ;iih on the back and fides, but (liines on the belly- Eke filver. It has feven fins, two on the back, two at the gills, a pair on the belly juft below the gills, and one in the middle of the belly oppofite to the largefl on the back. From the lall on the back proceeds a fmall narrow one, which reaches to the tail ; and another that extends from the lafton the belly to the tail in likeman- -iier. There is no great difference in Ihape, nor in the number of fins between this and the Albicore, but the fieih of this is much more delicate, which influences the /ailors to be very diligent in catching them when they fail between the tropicks. Some have erroneoufly thought tiiat the Bonettoe and Albicore are the fame fiili ; but I can contradicl this fiom my own experience, having of- ten examined and eaten of them bo:h. Francis Leguat, in giving an account of his voyages, fays the Bonettoe is three or four feet long, and is very thick and ficfhy; and that on the back there is a ihel], which is fo narrow that it is fcarce perceivable, which is of the colour of fiate, and in fome places a liitle green- ish. The belly is grey, or of a greyifh pearl colour, and grows brown as it approaches the back. There are four yellowifh rays or flripes that rife on the fide of the head, and run along the body, almoil parallel to each other, uniting at the tail. The eye is large and lively, having the pupil as black as jet, and furrounded with a filver coloured circle. The reft of the defcription is m^uch like the former ; only he obferves, that near the tail, on the back, there are fix fmall fquare fins about an inch in height, and over-againft them, under the belly, there are feven. However, moft that have defcribed this iiih take thefe laft to be only two continued fins. He afterwards acquaints us, that while he was v/riting this account, one of his friends, who was a great admirer of the wonderful works of nature, had drawn a fort of Bonettoe that was caught on the coaft of Er/glani^ ne;^ Rye, it does not differ greatly from this juft defcribed ; Jiowever, it will not be improper to give that gentle- znan's account in his own words* The 96 THE NATURAL HISTORY The fifh, fays lie, which is called a Bonettoe in the Indian Teas, is well known on the coafts of France^ and particularly between the rivers Loire and Garonne, where it is called a GfiRMON. It feldom enters into the channel contrary to the cuitcm of the Mackrel. This Bonettoe of our Teas is certainly a filh akin to thofe that are commonly feen between the tropicks, 'and is three feet in length, with a body piriportionably more thick than the common Bonettoe, for i)e is one tl'iird as broad as he»is long. At iirft fight one would think the mouth of this fifh was not wide, but he can open it a great deal wider than any one would jadgc from outward appear- ance. I'he teeth above and below are fmall, fhort, and weak, but the tongue is large, blackifh, and hard to the very root. The eye is a full inch in diameter, and the pupil looks like very white tranfparent chryftal, the iris that furrounds it being more glittering than polifhed gold. The colour of this fifh is the fame as the former, though it has no fcales on its back or btliy, for the fkin there is quite fmooth ; but on the fides, between the tail and the fins near the gills, there is a Itripe covered with fcales two inches in breadth, though they are fo fine and fmall that they can hardly be perceived. At the nar- roweit part of the tail, on each fide, there is a knot or fmall hairy tuft, wh'ch is an inch and a half long. However the former has fix fmall fins on the back near the tail and feven below and this has nine above and ei^ht below. ^The COORZA, of Pifo, is like a Bonettoe with re- gard to the outward form, and many other particula- rities ; but the fize is difierent, for this is eighteen palms in length. The (liape of the head, body, and tail is like thofe of finali Tunnies, and the fcales are large, and of a blackifh blue, and (o clofe together that they feem quite fmooth, without any inequalities at all. The fnout is fharp, the beily thick, the tail llender, and the end like a half-moon. '\ he back is of a fliining blue, and the belly of a fiL'er colour. Ke ta.r them by nature. They are in feafon in fummer time ; and though the flefli is white> it taRes like that of a Trout ; but it is in much higher eileem, becaufe it is a greater rarity. The SCHELLY, fo called by the inhabitants of Cum- berland, is the LAVARETO of other authors ; and it is found in the lake termed HuIfe-~uoater^ not far from Pereth, a town in Cumberland. Jt is not a very large fifn, for it rarely exceeds two pounds in weight ; and for its fize, it is longer than a Trout, and of the Ihape of a Herring. The fcales are larger than in a Trout, and the fides and belly are of a filver colour. There is a line runs from the corners of the gills diredtly to the middle of the tail. The noble ALBULA of Scho}i:"jeUj is not much un- like the Guiniad ; and the little Albula ofGejner, has a head of a blueifti green, fhining like a precious ftone ; and befides, it is lefs than the former. The blew ALBULA o{ Ge/ner, called BEZOL A by Rop.deletius, is not fo white as a Schelley, being a little blewiih, and has a fharper fnout, a lefs head, and a broader and a more promment belly like a herring; but the flefh is fofter and not fo good. Gejner fays, it is of a middle fize, and that the extremity of the tail is of a bUckifli blue colour, efpecially about the middle and the O F F I S H E S. 99 v\e fork. The fins are likewife of the fame colour as well as the head ; but the belly is as white as fnow, and the back greenilh. It has no teeth, but the tongue is a little rough ; the fmell of this fifli.is more agreeable than others of this kind. The leaft ALBULA of Ge/ner, is extremely like th^ little Albula, though lefs, and the he.id is not fo green. When this filh is placed upright, and beheld downwards from the back, the fides will appear to have a purplifli caft. The fins are white, and when the mouth is open, the end of the upper jaw bends downward. The niouth is longifh and without teeth ; and they fwim in very large fhoals, for which reafon many of them are taken. Mr. Ray is of opinion, that there are notfo many Albula's as are taken notice of by authors, though he thinks Gcfner, who has mentioned them, to be a fkilful, dili- gent, curious, faithful, and true writer; however, he obferves this author is moH to be depended upon, when he defcribes thofe in the waters near which he lived. Mr. Ray has himfelf feen the Albele otZurick, the La- VARETO oi Savoy, lie Ferr a of Geneva, the Guiniad of l^'alcSf and the Weiss- fish of Conjiantine y and he thinks the principal difl'erence between thefe filli, is in the fize ; of the which the Ferra and the Albele excel the reft ; befides the outward iliape of the body, is thicker, broader, and fhorter in thefe, than in a Salmon ; whereas, in the Lavareto, and Schelly, they are longer in propor- tion, as well as more flender and narrower, fomewhat like a Herring : but the leaft AJbula of Gefner, named the AVeifs-fifh in S-iviJerland, differs fufHciently from tlie reft in its fmalinef--, if other marks had been wanting. The HAUTIN or OUTIN, fo named in Flanders, h eafily diftinguifhed from the reft of this kind, from the fhape of its fnout or upper jaw which ftands out beyond the lower, and grows Iharp at the end like the figure of a cone. In fhape, it is like a Trout, and is commonly brought over from Hol/afid w'lxh fifh of the cod kind, for v/hich reafon, perhaps, Rcndeletius and others, are mi- ftaken in the number df the fins, which they fay is three, whereas in reality it has but two. F 2 The ICO THE NATURAL HISTORY The CURMATA ofrrafil, takeji notice of by Marc, gya^e^ is very like the Ferra of the lake Lc//ian in S'ivi/- Xir^atidi and perhaps may be the fame lifh. n^he GRAY-LING, termed in fome places the UM- BER, is the river Umber oi Be.cniui and Ron ektlus. It it has a longer and flatter body than that of a Trout, and in lize feldom exceeds eighteen inches. In weight i. about half a pound, but in fome places they are three times as heavy, its back is of a duf^y green inclining to* bine, and the f.des are grey, from whence it lias i.s name of Gray-ling, though they feem to glitter vvitli fpangles of gold j and they are marked v/ith black fpots irregularly placed. From the head to the tail, in the places where the fcalcs meet, there feems to be drawn dufky parallel lines, from whence it derives the name of Umber. The lateral, common to all iifh, are., nearer tlie back than the belly, and the top of the back fin is painted with red, but the lower part is of a blueiili pur- ple ; the iins of the belly are likewife of the fame colour, that is, of a blueifh purple fpotted with bluck. It has a little head with protuberant eyes, whofe iris is of a filver cotour, fpeckied with a dufky yellow. The mouth is of a middle fize, and the upper jaw is longer than the lower ; bat it has no teeth, but the lips are rough like a file, the tongue fmooth, and the gills quadruple. This fjfn deaghts in rivers that runs through moun- tainous places, and are to be met with in the fwiftell and cleareil parts of thofe llreams, particularly in the rivers Hodder^ DoiCf Trcnt^ Btrnxen^ PFye, and Lug. The ilcih may be eaten all the year ; but their chief fea- ibr^ is December, at which time the head, gills, and lift that runs down the back are black. It is firm, white, cleaves like that of a Salmon, and is accounted vtiy good and wholefome. The time of fpawning is in Mayi and it is a brifk fprightly fifh when in the water, fwim- ing as fwift as ati arrow out of a bow. 'The SALMON has diiferent names according to its different ages ; for thofe that are tak:ea in the river Rib- hie in Torkjhlre, are in the firil year called Smelts, in the fecond Sprods, in the third Morts, in the fourth Fork- tails, in the fifth Half fifh, and in the fixth, at which time they are thought to have attained their proper growth, they are judged worthy of the name of Sal- mons. O F F I S H E S. f oi mons. The fize of this fifh is mach the fame in mcft parts ; of 'Europe ; and when the)' are largeil they weigh near forty pounds. The Salmon is a very beautiful fifh, and is every where in great efteem ; the body is longiin, covered with fmall thin fcales, and the head is fmal) with a iharp fnout, and the tail is forked. The colour on the back is blueilh, on the other parts white, generally intermix- ed with blackilh or reddifh Ipots, placed in a very agree- able nianr^er. The female may be dirtir;gu!ihed from the male, by havmg a longer and more hooked fnoiit, in having Tcales that arc not quite To briglu, and its body is ipeckled over with dark biown fpots. Likevviie the belly is Ratter ; the fieili is mere dry, and not fo red ; nor yet is the taice fo agreeable. The excrefcenee which grows out of the lov/er jaw of 'tl.e male, and is a bony gnftie hke the beak of a Hawk, is not a (ign of his being fickly, as Wuitoii zvA others have thought ; but as a defence provided by nature a- gainrt fuch fifii as would devour their fpawn. It grows to the length of about, two inches, and falls off when he returns to the fca. He is like wife more fpotted in frelh water than in the fea. The teeth are fmall in propor- tion to its body ; and the gills are quadruple, with a broad cover full of red (pots, of the fame colour as oa the fides ; for towards the back, they are more dufky. The 'Az\!'[i is not fo red at fiifl, as when it is boiled or failed ; and it is tender, flefhy, flaky, and lufcious, for which reaibn it fatizifies the fooner, and is harder of di- gellion, though it is generally preferred to that of other lifh. About the time of fpawning it grows more iniipid, and loofes a great deal of its lively colour. Some begin to be out of feafon foon after the fammer folllice, and others much Inter ; which may be known by their falling away, their looiing their beautiful fpots, and by their colour ; infomuch, that when they are quite cut of fea- fon, they look like nlli of a diii-erent kind. The SALMON-FK.Y, called in fome countries a Sal- mon-Smelt, is by moll thought to be the ofrspring of a fickly Salmon, which has bten forcibly de- tained from vifiting the fait water ; but however that be, it is agreeable enough to the eye, though its tafte is very ordinary and infipid. I'he Salmron F 3 chufc* 102 THE NATURAL HISTORY chufes the rivers for its abode about fix months in iht year, entering thefreih water about February oi March, in fome countries, where they continue to the autumnal feafou, at which time they caft their fpawn, and foon af- ter return to the fea. However, it is faid, that the Sal- mons of the river J?.v in De'xoijhire, and of the Wye and VJk in Monmouthjhirey are in fcafon during the other fix months, and that they never frequent the Wye and IJJk the fame year; for when they arc found in the one, there are none in the other. In generaJ, the fait water con- tributes moft to their growth, and the frefh renders them fat. When the time of fpawning comes, the female makes a hole in a gravelly bottom, like a kind of ueft of her own dimenfions ; which done, fhe difcharges her fpawn and retires. Then the male, or milter, advances and covers the fpawn with its belly, emitting at the fame time a whitiih fluid like milk. Afcer this the female re- turns, and they both endeavour to cover their brood witli gravel, in which they work wi^h their nofes like hogs. Then they return to the deeps to recover their fiier.gth, which they do in about twenty days time. There is nothing more remarkable relating to this fifix «than its agility in leaping over obftacles that oppofe its piiiTar^e to and from the fea j for they are frequendy feea to throv/ ihemfelves up catarads and precipices many yards high. They fcmetimes make fcvcral e/fays before ihey can gain their end ; and at that time there are fome- times baficcis fet to catch them, into which thry leap, 'i here is a remaik;.blc cataradl in the river Tinjy in Pem- brokfjhire, where people often ftand gazing to obferve the Itrength and Height which they ufs to get out of the fi'a into the river. This is well known in thcfe parts by the name of the Salnion-lenp. Jn the river Weary near the city of Durha^n, there is another, which is accounted the higheil in England, Likewil'e, at old Aberdeen in ScoilanJy there is one where Salmon have been caught in i'uch great plenty, that they have carried on a great trade in that filh. -1 he Salmon when he re uins from the fea, is always faid to enter the liime river in v.hich he was fpawned. 'I hia i'j evident from the experimenu made by filhermcn, :'ere from a foit of lethargy, forfakes the deep ilill waters for the more rapid Ilreams, where he rubs oir his in-bred foes againft the gravelly bottoms, and foon after recovers h.is former llrength and vigour. The flelh is a little drier, and not quite fo tender as that of a Salmon; however, it is efteemed the moil agreeable of all fifli that make their conftant abode in freOi wr.ter. The FORDICH-TROUT, is of a diifcrent fpecies from the Common-Trout 5 for it is almoll as large as a Salmon, and continues nine months in the fea, Be/ides it is feldom or never caught with an angle, being fup- pofed not to feed at all in frefh water ; at leaft, when their maws have been opened, there has been nothing found therein. However, they return to the river io very conftant and pandlual, that the fiihermen know al- moll to a day when to expeft them, PerLips this fJli, F 6 though. icS THE NATITRAL HISTORY though ciUed a Troyt, is the fame as the Gray-Lord abovementioned. : The RIVER-TROUT, termed HUGH by the G^r- mons^ differs from tli« common Trout in its fize, which is larger, being near twenty-fix inches long; in the iliape of the body, w hich is more long and (lender ; in •having black fpots, not red, and in having no teeth on the palate. The RED CHAR, is taken in the lake called Windn- dcrmeer in TFeJImoreland, and by the Welch is named TOR- GOCH. It has a more long and (lender body than a Irout, and the back is of an olive-green colour, fpeck- led with whitifl-i fpots. The belly is generally red, tho' it i> fometimes white, efpecialiy in the fpawners. The fcales are exceeding fmall, and the lateral lines (trait. The mouth is wide, the jaws pretty equal, only the lower is a little (harper and more protuberant tlian the upper. The lower part of the fins are of a vermillion dye, and the gilL are quadruple. There are teeth both jn the jaws and on the tongue ; but in the upper jaw there is a double row. The fwimming bladder is like that of a Trout, and the liver is not divided into lobes, but it has a large gall-bladder. The fplecn is fmall and blackilh ; the heart irregular, and the eggs of the fpawn are large and round. The fleib is more foft and tender than that of a Trout, and it is but very little tinctured with red when boiled. Jt is in very high efteem, per- haps, becaufc it is exceeding icarce; and in Wales, it is accounted the chief dilh at the tables of people of 'fafhion. The only place in England where this fifh is taken, is IVirander-meer ; but in Wales, it is caught in five di(Fe- rent lakes. In AUrionethJhire, they are fmaller than in other places, and are taken in Ouober ; but in one of the lakes of Cnrnari'onjhire, they are caught in No-vem- her ; in another, in December ; and in a third, in Jcnuary ; fo that the fiiliing ends in one, wlien the other begins ; they fwim together in Ihoals, and though they appear on the furface of the water in fummer time, yet they will not fuffer themfelves to be taken either with 'an angle or nets. The only feafon for catching this fifh, is when they refort to the (hallow parts of the lakes O F F I S H E S: lo^ lakes to depofite their fpawn. At this time they fet trammel nets baited, and {o leave them for whole day* and nights, after which they are generally fure to find fome therein. Some have been in doubt whether the EngUJh Red Char, and the Welch Torgoch, are the fame kind of iifh ; but Mr. Ray thinks there is no room to make A doubt of it, fince the Welch name fignifies a red belly, which is the peculiar mark of the Red Char. The GILT CHAR is indeed of a quite different fpecies, and is not fo big by one half. The belly is of a filver colour, the flelh red, and the back fpotted with black ; whereas the belly of the former is red, the jfielh white, and the fpots on the back are red likewife. Thofe of Winander-rneer^ are only taken in the winter time, like thofe in Wales ; for in the fuilimer they will get over the top: of the nets and make their efcape. Dr. Leigh affiims, that the Char is found in Coninjion rneer in Laneafhire^ which from what he fays of the fize, muft be the Red Char. The GILT CHAR, is the fame as the White Char of Winander-meer in the county o^WcJiinoreland \ and is like a Trout, only it is much broader, and has a more promi- nent belly. The fcales are very fmall, and the colour on the back is lighter than that of a Trout, though va- riegated with black fpots. The belly and iides are of a filver colour ; the fnout is blueiPa» and the Ikull transpa- rent. It has teeth in the palate, and two rows of them on the tongue, and the Avimming bladder is extended the whole length of the back. The flelh is red, and is in high eileem among the Italians. It never exceeds twelve inches in length. The TARANTOLA, fo called by the inhabitants of Borne, is a round oblong filh, more {lender near the head, and grows fenfibly thicker to tlie firft back fin, from whence it gradually decreafes to the tail. It i; a foot in length, and broader than a man's thumb. The belly is whiiifli ; the back of a blackilh-green, fpeckled with green, blue, red, and black fpots on the back, head, and fides. The top of the head is flat, and there is a fmall pit between the eyes; the mouth is extreamly wide, and the fnout terminates in an acute angle. There is one row of long fharp teeth in both jaws ; and the hinder fin on the back, placed not far from ihe tail, is little no THE NATURAL HISTORY little and deftitute of rays, being nothing elle but an ap* pendage of fat or flefli, as is commou to the "liiout kind. «rhis is a fingular fort of iilh, for there is no fea fifh like it. The SMELT is fo called, from having the fmell of a violet, though fome fay it is like a cucumber. It is fix inches long, and near an inch broad. I: is the leail of thefe kind of filh, and the Ihape of the body is more long and flender: The fcales fall off wich the ilighteft touch ; and the ficull is fo tranfparent, that all the lobes of the brain may be plainly and diftinclly feen. The back is of a dufky colour, but the belly and fides Ihine like filver. 1 hofe that examine them attentively, will find fmall black fpots on the head and back, and the lower jaw a little more prominent than the upper ; but they are both well furnilhed with teeth, and there are fome on the tongue. The flefn is foft and tender, and of a delicate tafte ; for which reafon it is in high efleem. It is a fifli of paf- fage, and vifits the Tharr.e: and other great rivers twice a a year, th?t is in March and Augufi. In the fiiilof theie month'^, they generally advance up as high as Mortlack ; but in the latter, they make a ftahd about Biackixall. The RIVER SMELT, of the ri/er 6>/» in France, h very like a Bleak, and only differs from it in the roots of the fins, v.'hich are red, and in having the lateral line bended as it were like a bow. It is near five inches long, and a little broader than a man's thumb. It has a par- ticular fmell, and is thicker and fhorter than a Sea Smelt. CHAP. xn. Of flippery Fijh cf the Eel kind, THE SEA LOACH, fo called in Chejhirey is termed the WHITTLE FISH in Ccrnivall. It js nine ir.che. in length, and the head is flat and depref- fed. It has a mouth like an Eel, fuinifiied with Icve- ral tetth, and on the upper jaw there are only two barbs. O F F I S H E S. Hi one on each fide, and antther at the lower corner. The eyes are not far from the end of the fnout, and their iris is of a filver colour. The fcales are exceeding fmall, and the head, back, and fides, are variegated witli large blackifh-red fpots. In a dent or pit almoftin the middle of the back, inftead of a fin, there is a low membrane or fkin edged with extreamly fmall hairs ; by which it may be known from all other fifh of this kind ; for with regard to the fpots, it greatly varies, they being white in fome, and others have none at all. The colour of the back is of a dufky yellow, but the fides are lighter, and the belly almoft white. The gills on each fide are quadruple. The Sea Loach begins to have fpawn like other fifh, about the vernal equinox ; but the eggs are white and very fmall like nit . About Whitjur.tide they begin to lock a little reddifh, and are of the fize of a grain of muftird feed. Likewife, about that time they grow fofter, for at firft they are hard. After this they begin to afiume an oblong figure, and two blackifh fpecks ap- pear, which are the rudiments of the eyes and head. Soon after, the belly may be feen, and then the tail, about the thicknefs of a very fine thread. When the eggs encreafe, the belly of this fifh is not only diftended with their bulk, but with a flimy liquor full of flcnder fibres, by which means the tender bodies of the young fry not only lie foft in a regular order, but are kept from crowding and hurting each other^ When the young ones are cut out of the belly, they bend their bodies like Eels, moving their mouth> and gills, and live feveral hours. They are naturally excluded a- bout the latter end of December. 7 he males may be dif- tinguilhcd from the females, by being lefs, and of a brigher yellow. The flelli is hard, and not very agree- able, being chiefly eaten by the poorer fort of people. The EEL POUT, has a fmooth fofc flippery body like an Eel, and has either no fcales, or thofe that are exceeding fmall. The head is broad and deprefled, and the jaws are as rough, with very fmall teeth, as a file. The tail is flat and roundilh, and on the lower jaw there grows a barb about half an inch long ; and between the liofkils and the fhou.t,. there is a pair of ihort barbs. The U2 THE NATURAL HISTORY -The colour is of a blackifh green which is eafily wiped oiF, and then there appears a mixture of yellow, white and black. The place in England where this fifh is chiefly found, is the river Se-veniy and they fpawn in December, •being {o fruitful, tiiat one roe contains no lefs than izSooo eggs. Their ufual length is about fourteen or fifteen inches, though they fometimes grow to twenty. ;The flefh is good and fvveet, and in great efteem. The LOTA o^ Rondeletius, differs from the former, in having its tail like the end of a fword ; in being co- vered with fmali fcales, and in having no barbs on the upper jaw. The LAKE LOACH is greater than that of the river, and the colour is variegated with black and yel- low. Gej'ner makes three kinds of thefe fifh, the greater of which is near two feet in length, and there is a round foft caruncle, which is hollow within, and there are four fins on the back. Another, which he calls the GREATER .LUTEOLA, has three fins, and the third has only two. Belonius has only two kinds, namely the greater, which is variegated with different colours, and the lefs, which he terms a BARBO T, that is only of one colour, differing from the former in nothing elfe. Mr. Ray fays, he knows but two kinds, which have both only two fins on the back, and therefore fuppofes that Gc/ner is fome how or other millaken. However, he leaves this affair to the farther determination of the curious. The VIVIPAROUS i.OACH oi Schone^veldt, called by the Germans yLLQUAPPE and DEPUTE, is a lea- fi'h a foot in lengih, or fomewhat longer. The fkin is fmooth ; the colour of the head and back of a dufky yel- low witli black ibeaks, which towards the fides are more yellow; and the belly is of a dufky white The head i lefs in this than in others of the fame kind, and of ihe /liapj of that of an Eel. The back-fin begins at the reck, is of the fame colour with the back, and runs to v.^ithin half an inch of the tail. In the middle of the belly there is a \ ellowilh fin which terminates in a fnarp jxkint, and is a little rediih. There are no teeth, but the jaws are rou{>h. The FOS.>lIJ£ LOCH oi Gefner, is termed by the Gcrmam PEiSSKAR, or BEISSKAR. It is a palm in length. OF FISHES. M3 length, and fometimes much longer, and the back is of an a.(h colour, with many fpecks or fpois running crofs it, partly bhick, and partly blue. At the mouth there are fiefhy particles, which are expanded by this fiih when it fwims ; and the belly is yellow, fpeckled with fmall white, red, and black fpots. On each fide ihere is a black and white line, and there are two fins on the mid- dle of the belly, and a fhort one at the back. They pafs out of rivers into marlhy places, hiding them (elves deep in the earth ; or being left in meadows after a flood, while water remains in chinks and holes of tlie earth, and then fubfiding, thefe filh continue in them, v/herc thsy grow, and cannot get out if they would. I'he CL ARIAS of the Nile, fo called by Bellcm'us, is . a foot in length, and as thick as a man's arm. The head is great and fleihy, and the eyes are large, being an inch and a half diilant from each other, and the iris is v/hite. The back is duflcy, and tlie belly is of a dirty white ; and there are two barbs which are ilx inches long and foft. There are two rov^s of teeth in the upper jaw, but the lower is only rough. The tail is broad and forked, on which there are two horny round appen- dages a paim in length, which are found in no other fi(h. At the gill-iins there is a fmgular ferrated thorn or prickle ; and on the back, there is only one long fleihy fin, armed only with one prickle. The fwimming blad- der is full of holes like a honey comb, which makes the body feem to be fpungy. The SHEAT FISH, grows to the length of eight cubits and upwards, weighing one hundred and fifty pounds of eighteen ounces each. In the river Vijlw^a^ which runs into the Baltick^ they are fomeumes caught of the length of fixteen feet, and twenty feven inches in breadth. It is of the colour of an Eel, only the belly and fides are variegated v.ith white and black fpaces, or large fpots. '\ he body is flippery, being covered with flime, and is without fcales. The head is very broad .and flat, and the mouth exceeding wide. The body, to the vent, is thick and roundilh, but the lower part of the belly is flat ; from the vent to the tail it grows broader and flatter in proportion to thefize of the filh. In the up- per jaw, before the eyes, there are two very long and haid 114 THE NATURAL HISTORY hird barbs, which this fifh thrufts cut as it were to make fome difcovery. There hangs four barbs from the lowjr lip, which are flender and more ihort. There are no teeth properly fo called ; but the lips both above and below, as well as the palate, are as rough as a file, which might pafs ibr fmall teeth. There i:. only one fin on the back, which is very fraail, and coniifts of three rerves. From the vent to the tail there runs a very long fin, which joins to each gill-fin, and there is a hard thorn or prickle with which it drives away troublefome fifh. It is found in ieveral rivers in Germanj^ as well as lakes, and keeps chiedy at the bottom. It is a veiy vora- cious fiih, and does a great deal of niifchief wherever it comes. The flelh is faid to be wholefome food, and they drefs it in the fame manner as an Eel. The CALLORHYNCHUS, is a filh without fcale-, and that has cartilaginous fins. It is of a filver colour on the back, and of a fhining gold colour on the fides ; the lower lip is long and broad, and covers the upper when the mouth is fhut. The teeth are only fmoth tu- bercles placed in each jaw ; and the nortrils are ft-ated on the lower part of the head, having only a fingle hol« each. 1 he eyes are placed on the fides oT the head, and are covered with a fingle coat ; the iris is of a filver colour, and the eye- lid perpendicularly oval. The belly is large and flat, and the vent nearer the tail than the head, being feated between the belly fins. There are {cvQw fins, namely, two en the back, as many on the breail: ar.d belly, and the tail makes the feventh. The length of this nlh, from the top of the fnout to the end of the tail, ts nine inches and two thirds. The defcription of this filh, was taken from one in the collection oiEeba. The BLACK FISH, fo called by the Engiifi at Aleppo in Suia, is thought by Dr. Ri>£el to be like the Sheat- Fifti in Ihape, though it is not above twenty inches in length, nor twenty ounces in weight. However, they arc cf different fizes, and the head and back are bkck. The lateral line runs directly from the head to the tail, through the middle cf the fide; below which, to the helly, the colour geneially changes to a dark purple, and the under pait of the head is of the fime colour. The head is fiat, and near five inches in length ; and the body round, till witliin a few inclK \- of the tail, where it becomes O F F I S II E S. 115 becomes fiat. The mouth is not fo large in proportion as the Shat-fifh, and it has no tongue. The make of the mouth and palate agree exaflly with the defcription of that fifh ; and from the edge of the noilril on each fide, arifes a fmall cirrus ; and from the corners of the mouth two more that are ftronger and twice as long. At the lower lip there are four more, the two outermoft of which are the longeft. The eyes are placed near the -corners of the mouth, near the lower edge of the upper jaw. There are four girls on each fide, and they are all armed with a double row of fharp points, like the teeth of a comb. There are two fins near the gills, confifting of (even rays ; and to the fore part, a pretty ikcng prick- ly bone is connecled. About an inch above the vent, there are two ircaller fins, and another long one that extends, from the vent to the tail. There is likewife another of the fame kind, that runs from^ the neck all along the back ; but neither of thefe join to the tail, which is round at the tip It is found in the river Oronffs ; and the markets of j^/eJ>/o, are fupplied with it in great plenty, fiom No^emhcr^ to the beginning of March. The fiefh is red like beef, and has a rank tafie; though for want of better, it is much eaten by the com- mon people ; however it is not very wholefome. The Turkij'h name is SII.OOR. The iVIISGURN, ov FISGURN, fo called at No^ rimh^rg and Ratifion in Germany, is of the fhape of a Lamprey, and is broader and flatter than an Eel, but it is much of the fame breadth from the head to the tail. The mouth is like that of a Lamprey, furrounded v/ith barbs, there being fix on the upper jasv, and four on the lower. It difi-ers from a Lam.prey, in having fins on the belly and at the gills, v/hich a Lanprey wants \ and they have gills and not lobes. This filh when taken in the hand, turns and winds like an Eei, and its body is covered all over with a ye!- lowilh-red flime ; the head is higher th.^n broad, and but little narrower than the middle of the body; the upper javv is longer than the lower, and the mouth is round and very fmall, being without teeth. The nof- trils are placed between the eyes and the end of the jaws ; "and the eyes arc fmall, and placed on the fide of the bead ] ii6 THEN ATUR A L HISTORY head ; they are covered with die fame Ikin that covers the head, which is a fort of a veil. Under the eyes there is a forked prickle, of which the outward point is ihortell ; the gills are double on each fide, wiih an ob- long covering, which opens on the fides only ; near the fins of tne breaft, the membrane of the gills con- tains three fmall bones or fpines, diilindl from each other, the firil of which is the largeft. The Ikin on the back between the fin and the tail, rifcs into a fort of a bump. '1 he colour of the back and head, is of ablueifli green, marked with greeni(h-red fpots; the upper part ofithe fides is marked with a yellowifh red line fpecklcd with blackv and another line of the fame colour as that on the back, runs along the middle of the body of this hih. Under the firll line on the fides that reaches from the head to the tail, there is another that is yellow, be- lides anoiher that is very narrow, and of a blueifii green, (peckled with yellow ; the belly is red, inclinable to yellow. This filli has feven fins, two on the back, a pair on the breall, another at the vent, and one on the tail, v.hich are all of a reddiih-brown colour, fpeckled with black. Wh«n this fifii is touched, it gathers itfelf into k round form, and makes a fort of a whiilling noife, ifom wheiice the Germans call it Pfrif f k r, or Wwist- LER. It is found in ponds, pools, and marlhes, when the fun has almoll dried up the Water, which happens in Auguji. Several afiirm tliat this fifh has been found in the earth, when it has been turned up with fnovels and the like ; upon which account it is named by fome the Fossil Fish. The RED TAPE FISH, termed at Gmoo, where it is common, CAVAGIRO, and FRAGGIA. It has a long /lender body, which is more flat on the fides than an Eel, and grows gradually more flcnder from the head to the tail, which is very fmall and fliarp at the end. It is all over of a palifh red, except the belly, which is white It has no fcales, or at Icalt exceeding fmall ones ; and the mouth i.- large, turning upwards. 1'here are only one row of flender fharp teeth, and near each fide of the upper jaw there is a black fpot. The eyes are large, with a filver coloured iris ; and die back -fin runs along from the head to the tail ; and oppofitc to O F F I S H E S. 117 to It there is another from the vent to the tail. Thefe in the larger fifh, are of a beautiful yellow on the lower part J and the upper edge is of a reddiih purple. The outward rays of the tail are pu*rpl^, and thofe in the middle yellow. The TAPE FISH of Rondehtius, differs from the former in being bigger, and in having fiv« purple di- fiin(fl round fpots on the lower part of the body, at feme dillance from each other; and in being of a filver colour. The SUCKING FISH, is remarkable for its fucker on the top of the head, by which it fixes itfelf to other fifh, and to the bottoms of fliips. It is about eighteen inches long, near four thick, of a roundilh make, and flender towards the tail. l"he mouth is triangular, and the lower jaw is longer than the upper. From the up- per part of the head towards the back, for the length of fix inches, there is a grifsly fubllance of an oval form, like the head or mouth of a Shell Snail, but harder, and it has the appearance of a palate of a quadrupede, being deeply farrowed, and confequently has fmall ridges wherewith it fallens to any thing at pleafuie. The eyes are fmall with a yellow ins, and inllead of teeth, there are many fmall eminences. It is of an afh colour, and from the middle of the body, as well above as below, to the tail, there is a narrow fin, and there are two pair of fins near the head. This , fifii ufnally attends upon fliips for the fake of any filth that falls out of them ; and in fine weather it will play about- them ; but when it blows hard, and confequently fails very fwift, it will flick to the bottom of it, from whence the beating of the waves cannot re- move it. They are fometimes found flicking to a Shark when that fifh has been caught and laid upon the deck. The Sucking Fifh is fuppofed to be the REI\'IORA of the ancients, and was thought to have a power of flopping ihips under fail ; but this notion has been long fmce found to be ridiculous, Ihe flefh is thought by the failors to be good eating. The BUTTERFLY FISH, is about feven or eight inches in length, and has a thick head, but towards the tail it is flender. The colour is of a light blue or afh, ^ with ii3 THE NATURAL HISTORY wiih olive or dirty green ftripes. The eyes are pretty large, and placed near each other on the top of the head ; and above each eye, fome of thefe nili have a fmall hn. The fore teeth are long and round, near each other, and regularly placed. The back fin is very high at the beginning, and near the top of the fifth ray, there is a very beautiful fpot like an eye, furroundcd with a white ring ending at the eighth ray ; by v.'hich mark this fifli may be readily diftinguilhed from all others. This fin is all over variegated with dirty green, or olive and blue brown and white fpots, placed in no regular order. The belly is a little prominent, and there are no fcales. This fifh is often expofed to fale at Fenicef among other fmall ones in the winter time. The GATTCRUulNE, fo called at Vemce, is ilip- pery, without fcales, and comprelTed on the fides ; but it is of the fame fize and Ihape as the former. The body is variegated with fpaces, or half ilripes of a dark olive and ruddy colour, between which there runs a line of pale blue. 7 he lower half of this filli, beneath the late- ral lines, there are the like fpaces, but lighter, and and placed in a contrary order. The back fins and that behind the vent, have rays conne<5ted together with a membrane, above w hich there are white prickles. Above the eyes there are two barbs ; and from the eyes to the mouth, there is a great declivity. The GREEN SPOTTED GATTORUNGINE, differs from the former only in colour, which is of a light green like a Frog, and fpeckled with black fpots placed in no regular order. It has no barbs over the eyes, or fo fmall, thev can hardly be perceived. the SEA LARK, called in Comnvallxhe MULGRA- NOCK, or BULCARD, is a fmall fmooth llippery fifli, and which is very lively, for it will live feveral hours out of the water. It is of a dirty greeniih olive colour, and fome have tranfverfc light blue lines on the back, back fin and fides ; but the colour differs in feveral of thefe fifh. The covers of the gills fcem to be fwelled; and the tail when expanded is of a circular figure. On the back part of the head there is a final! depreffion, which makes it look as if it had a neck. 7 he top of the head rifes almcft to an edge, and the €/es are fmall and 2 white^ c/^/:l(jC f/^. /f.9 fje^ jzJ^ar/i: f^fuu^ /I _-^////// /v y . ■^'5 tyn and when the fioods ?re gone, they are taken in the plafhes of the water that remain. 1 he PARATI o^ Mirc^ra--ve is en:irely Tkc the former except in fize^ and in having a circle of gold colour round the eycsj the flefh likewife is drier. The GUAC ART, fo called by the Braftllavs, is of » roundifh or pyramidal fhape, grows to the length of a foot or longer, being eight inches thick. The lower part of the head is flat, the fides of it are oval, and the mouth little and round, being placed in the flat. part un- der the head. Inftcad of teeth on each fide, there are procefTes that look as if they were compofed of horfe hairs. The eyes are fmall, round, and of an afh colour fpotted with brown ; and near each there is a hole half an inch diflant, and placed before them. Be- low, before each gill, there is a body in the fliape of a long O F F I S H E S. 135 a longfquare, almoft half an inch long, which this filTi can thrult out and draw in at pleafure. All the fins ex- cept that behind the vent, are fupported by bony fliarp flift fpines, which are thicker and harder before. The tail is divided into two horns, the fpines of which are alfo very ftrong. The whole head is covered with a hard rough ihell, and all the body with trian- gular fcales that are large towards the head, placed ia a regular order, and rough to the touch ; for in the middle of each there is a prominence, which makes the covering have an appearance of a coat of mail. There is likewife, on each fide, a four fquare armour confifting of a quadruple row of tubercles. The colour of the whole body is of a light faffron, except on the belly, where it is deeper; and throughout there are round dufky fpecks of the fize of muftard feed, except on the iin near the tail which is black, only the forward fpine is of a fafFron colour and fpotted. CHAP, xviir. Of Tijh of the Gurnard kind. THESE filh are called in Latin CucuLr, that rs CucKOW.-, from a fort of a cry or grimtino- which they are faid to have ; on .which account, that i^, from their grunting like a Hog, they are called by the Engljh, GURNARDS. They have two or three barbs or tufts under their gill fins, which fome call fingers. Some of this kind make a (hriller fort of a noife, whence- they are called Pipers ; and they have two very large membranous fins at the gills, with which fome of them may be iaid to ily ; as alfo large bony fquare heads ; but their bodygrows feiifibly more llender from the head to the tail. 1 he BEARDLESS GURNARD of ^^W-^/^'Z/^z, cal- led by him MULLUS IMBERBIS, is undoubtedly a kind of a Gurnard, and is not much different from the CUCULUS of Aldvo'vandus, or our Red Gurnard ; for 134 THE NATURAL HISTORY for there are ferrated thorns or prickles on the back iin, and line.- that run from the back to the belly. The ROUGH GURNARD of Ror^deh'tiu, called by him MULLUS ASPER, has a ihort round body of the fize of a man's finger, and is of a deep purple colour. The head, gills, and fins, are like the former ; but it has fmall ferrated fcales obliquely placed ; and from the head to the tail, there runs a line covered with fcales. The fins that are near the gills, are of two colours ; for on the outer part diey are white, but on the inward, they are of a blackifh green. The SEA RAVEN o^ Rondeletius is by fome called a CABO r, from the bignefs of its head ; for Cabot feems to be a corruption of Caput, that is the head. The bones that cover the gills, appear as it were engra- ved, and terminate in thorns or prickles. 1 he colour on the back is black ; on the fides reddifh ; on the bel- ly white ; and the gill fins on the infide, are of a blackifh green, but whitifh on the outer, wiihred fpots. The fins are of a fize between thofe of the flying filh and the Sea Swallow. The GREY GURNARD has a back of a dirty green, fometimes variegated with black fpaces, and there are always fpecks or fpots of a yellowifh or white colour. The pointed line is higher and more rough than in others of this kind ; and the head is very large, covered with bony plates that have prickles thereon, 'i he fnout terminates in two horns, and the mouth is large ; and the jaws, palate, and tongue, are armtd with very fmall rough teeth. The eyes are large, and their iris is of a filver coloiir. The body grows fenfibly fmallcr from the head to the tail, and the gill fins are Jefs in this kind than in the Tub-fi(h and Gurnard. There is a furrow in the middle of the back, armed on both fides with a row of bony thorns, from which the fins arife. The teah of the fpines are lefs in this, than, in others of the fame kind; and it is common in the Br'itifh feas. The flefh is firm and of a good flavour. The SEA SWALLOW, called in Com^vali the TUB FISH, has a large bony angular head armed with prickles ; and from the head to the tail, it becomes fen- ibly more flender. The back is of a dirty green ; fhe fidei O F F I S H E S. 135 fides of a light reddifh colour ; and there is a cavity be- tween the eyes. The upper jaw is notched in the mid- dle, but not divided into horn?, and the fcales are fmall. The teeth are much like the former, but the gill fins are exceeding large, flrengthened with a membrane, and extended with branched rays beautifully coloured, the upper edge being of a (hining blue. In fome fiih of this kind, towards the bottom, there are feven or eight rays fpotted with black, in a fpace of whitifh green, which make a very beautiful appearance. Under thefe fins, there are three tufts or fingers on each iide. It is caught in the fea near Corn^'all. The RED GURNARD, or ROCHET, is like the former, only it differs in the fize ; for it never grows fo large, being very fcldom above a foot in length ; the head is lefs, and the fpace between the eyes are more narrow ; the body and fins are more red, and the gill fins are fhorter and lefs, not of a blue, but rather of a purple colour on the edges. Likewife, the covers of the gills are engraved with ftreaks or rays, proceeding as it were from a center ; on thefe, there are alfo three thorns or prickles, two on the lower part on each fide, and one on the upper. The PIPER, fo called in Cornnvall, is of the fame colour as the former, only the head is lighter, tending to yellowifh. The fnout is divided into two broad horns, fenced with prickles about the edges, from which it may eafily be diftinguifhed from the Tub Fllh, and in which it principally differs from it. The fpines on the back are larger and longer than in other fiiTi of this kind ; and the noitrils ftand out, being two fmall round tubes, as in the bird called the Cuckow. It is common in the Brltijh ocean ; and from the noife that it makes, it is called a Piper. The Pi PER of Rondeletius is a fifh in the fliape of an o£lagon, or eight fquare, covered over with long fcales. The eight corners are made by eight rows of fpines like the teeth of a faw, or rather fix ; for in reality there are no more. This miflake arifes from the upper and lower rows, which feem to be double to thofe that do not examine them nicely. The fhape of the body re- fcmbles that of other fifh of this kind j and the fize of the 136 THE NATURAL HISTORY the head and eyes are the fame. The fnout ends in two pretty long horns, on which are two perpendicular fpines. This fifh may be diHinguiftied from all Others of this kind, by the horns of the fnout ; the bony fcales ; the rows of prickles, and by having only two tufts or fingers on each fide. The FLYING FISH has a body, which in fhape and colour, relbmbles pretty nearly thofe of a Herring ; but the eyes are larger in proportion. It has two pair of fins like wing?, the greater of which are placed a little behind the gills ; and the lefler, about the region of tire vent. They are thin, and variegated v^ith dark dulky fpots, on a light alh coloured ground. Near the tail it has a narrow fin on the back, and another on its under fide, of an a(h colour. The tail is of the fame colour and forked j but the lower part of the fork is much the longelL JJifFerent authors have given different accounts of this fifh, which renders it highly probable, that there are fe- veral kinds of them ; though thofe that I have feen, are exa6^1y like that defciibed above. Mr. Ray mentions one that had its head covered with a ftrong bony cruft, or rough Ikull, variegated with a blueifh yellow, and a dark purple. This cruft terminates in two very long and ■ ftrong fpines, that lye on the back, beyond each fin. The colour of the back is blackifti, and the wings are nothing but fins placed behind the gills, which reach as far as the tail, and they are double on both fides. The wings before, are precceded with a fmall fin of fix rays ; and the upper part of the wings are of a dirty olive colour; but on the edges, they are beautifully painted with round blue fpots ; and on the middle of the back part with large brown and blueilh-white fpots. Near the root, there are oblong blue fpaces between the rays. By the help of thefe wings they arife out of the water, and fly a confiderable way, to avoid the purfuit of the Dolphins and other fifli that would devour them. They are never taken by fiftiing for them, but they will often fly into the fhips that fail between the tropicks. Ni'eu- hoj'fiiysy that the flying fifli is blueifli on the back, but inclining to brown towards the tail ; that they have large eyes, large ycUowilh fins, and in fhape refembUs, 4 Smelts,. O F F I S H E S. 137 Smelts. The flefli has a very agreeable flavour, and is very vvholefome. Ray affirms, that he has feen them frequently in the filh markets at Ro}ne^ as well as in the iflands of Sicily and Malta, where they were brought to be fold. The BEARDED GURNARD of Rondeletlus, cal- led TRFGLIA by the Italians and Sicilians^ is fix inches in length, and the head is comprefied on the fides, and the back is not Iharp but flat. From the top of the head, where it is thickeft, the body grows fenfibly le{s to the tail ; and it is covered with large fcales that are eafily taken off, being of a dirty ycllowifh colour; but when this fiih is fcaled, the fides are red, for which rea- fon it is called Rcuget by the French. The eyes are placed on the top of the head, and their iris is of a filver colour, fometimes inclinable to purple. The barbs under the chin are very long, and are lodged in a cavity under tke lower jaw, between the covers of the gills. It has no teeth, but the jaws are as rough as a file. The fiefh of this fifh is hard, britde, well flavoured, and nourifhing ; for which reafon it was in high efteem a- mong the ancients. The GREATER GURNARD is four'een inches long, and the back fins are beautifuly painted with yel- low and red. The fcales are thick, and Hick clofe to the fkin ; and on the fides, there are three or four paral- lel golden coloured lines, that run according to the length. It is taken near Penfayice in ComiAjall. The KING of the GURNARDS, perhaps are fo called from the fize ; and yet thofe that Mr. Ray faw at Valette in the ifleof M«/V^, werefmali, being fcarcely a palm in length. It is without barbs, and has a large belly, in which it differs from a Gurnard. However, the fcales are large, and the body is reddifh all over. The eyes are alfo large, and the jaws are as rough as a file, it agrees with the Gurnard in the number and fituation ot" its fins. It is frequendy caught in the fea, about the ifle of Ma.'ta. The Harwich GURNARD, with a very long back iin, has a head larger than the whole body, which is convex above, and marked with feveral blue fpots. The body, from the head to the tail, grows gradually lefs, and 138 THE NATURAL HISTORY and has fix corners or fides ; the upper jaw is longer than the lower, and the mouth is large, and furnifhed with teeth. The two right lines that run from the head to the breaft fin, may be called lateral lines. The ikin is fmooth, without fcales, and of a blue colour, as well as all the fins, except the fecond back fin, which h whiter. It has eight fia , two on the back, two on the breaft, and as many on the belly ; one at the vent and the tail, which makes the eighth. Ihe back fin near the head, is ccmpofed of three flexible loft fpines, the firit of which is as long as the body, that is, from the head to the beginning of the tail ; the fecond, is three quarters of the fame length ; and the third one-half, '^i he fecond fin on the back, is not fo long as the third (pine of the former, and is compofed of ten fimple fpines, the three laft of which are the longeft. The membrane that covers them is white, marked with four double blue lines. Thofe on the breaft are white fpotted, and con- fifts of twenty-nine fpines that are forked at the end, of which thofe next the belly are fmalleft, and thofe in the middle longeft. The fins on the belly are blue, and very near thofe on the breaft, and armed with five very ftrong fpines. of which that in the middle is divid- ed into others that are lefs. The fin at the vent is blue, and confifts of ten fpines, much ftiorter than the fecond fin on the back ; but the two laft fpines next the tail, are much the longeft. The tail fin is round, and confifts of ten fpines forked at the end. It is called by Dr. Ty/on, the fmooth Gurnard of a blueifti yellow, having the cover of the gills on the top of the head. It is eleven inches long, of which the tail is two ; and the girth of the head is four inches and a half; likewife, the firft fpine of the back fin rext the head, is fix inches long. The WEEVER, called by fome authors the SEA DRAGON, is a long fifh with flat fides, a crooked bel- ly, and a ftrait back. The lines on the lides are partly yellow, and partly dufky, running obliquely from the back to the belly. The fcales are thin and fmall, and the head moderately comprefTed. The eyes are placed on the top of the fnout, and nearer together than in other fcaly fifti. 1 he forward back fin has fix vcne- mous rays J for which reafon, thefifhermen, when they have 1 O F F I S H E S. 139 have caught one, immediately cut it off. The fin behin(f this, and almoft clofe to it, reaches very near the tail. It fometimes grows to a cubit in length, and lurks in the fand, in the fame manner as the fand Eel. There is another kind of this fifh, called the OTTER PIKE, by the inhabitants of the North o^ England ; but we are not told in what it differs from the former, ex- cept in its being lefs. Another kind of the SEA DRAGON, which is com- mon at Rome, and other parts of Italy ^ is beautifully co- loured with large black fpots, placed in a line on the middle of each fide ; but it has no yellow oblique lines thereon, and it is larger than the former. The NIQU f, fo called by the BrafJtam, has a thick head, a large mouth, but no teeth ; the tongue is thick, and the lower jaw longer than the upper. . The fore- moft half of the body is pretty broad, and the hinder narrow and round. It is about fix inches long, and an inch and a half broad, with fmall prominent eyes Hand- ing out like thofe of Crabs. Before the rife of the back fin, there are two llrong thorns or pjrickles ; and above, behind thofe of the gills, there is one that is very Iharp. It is covered with a Ikin, which is coloured with a mix- ture of black, umber, and grey, every where fpeckled with black. It lurks in the fands near the ftiore, and wounds thofe that walk upon it. The SCAD, fo called by the inhabitants o^ Corn^ivall, and by the Londoners, A HORSE MACKREL, is like a Common Mackrel in colour, fliape, and tafte ; but it is lefs, and the body is not fo thick and round, nor fpot- ted like it. In the middle of the body, there is a line that runs from the head to the tail, covered with bony plates ; but it is not ftrait, for in the middle it is turned downwards ; and at the bending, there are fmall prickles that grow on the plates. Towards the tail they grow larger and more prominent, being toothed like a faw. It is caught in the fea near Cff^«xv^//, and elfewhere. The GUERA TEBERA of Marcgra^e, is about eight inches long, with a blunt head, and the iris of the eyes of a gold colour. The mouth is fumiihed with finall teeth, and the tail is forked. There is a line runs from 140 THE NATURAL HISTORY from" the gills to the middle of this fifh, and then turns downwards, and extends as far as the tail. The back- ward half of this line is armed with fmall hooks, and on each fide it is covered with triangular fmall fcales. The colour of the back and fides, to the above lines, is blueilh, but the other part is whitifh, with a fliining yellow caft. The fins on the belly are white ; but the rel>, with the tail, are or a gold colour. This is fuppofed tD be the fane ii(h which fome call the Mackrel of Sunnam., which was defcribed by Gro- TiO'vius on the fpot, in the following manner. The height of the head and body, is greater than the breadth ; and its fides are flattiih, but very broad near the two fins, placed before thofe of the vent ; from hence it diminilhes gradually to the tail, which is exceeding jQcnder ; the back is convex, and the belly pointed; the mouh is very large, and the jaws are equal when ihut ; but when open, the lower feems the longeft. The teeih ^re very fmall, iharp, and placed at a diftance from each other, there being only a lingle row on each jaw ; the palate, throat, and tongue, are fmooth. Ihe noftrils appear like two holes on each fide, and the eyes are fmall feated. on each fide of the head with a red iris, 'i he opening of the gills is round and very large, and there are four gills on each fide, whofe membranes have 'iQvtw fpines. The fcales are fmall, and liick clofe to the fKia ; and there is a line on each fide, which begins at the open- ing of the gills, is crooked near the eyes, runs along the fin of the breall, turns up to the middle of the body, and runs in a right line to the tail. The place where it bends almoft to a femicircle is fmooth, but the place where it is flrait, is covered with bony plates radiated on each fide ; at firft they are very fmall, but they in- creafe as they approach the tail, and are more elevated* This fi(h has eight fins, together with the tail. The ^\^ is on the back, is compofed of feven fpines, which are rough and (harp. Whereof the firft is longeft, be- ing a quarter of an inch; but the lall is not above one- twelfth of an inch. The fecond back fm, which is near this, has nine foft flexible fpines joined together by five membranes, of which t^e firft is near half an inch long, and the reft decreafe like the former. The re- maining O F F I S H E S. 141 gaining part of the back, as far as the tail, is furnifhed with ten very fine foft fins, which are flightly branched at the point ; but they feem to make but one ; the fiin on the breaft is placed near the covering of the gills, and confifts of fifteen foft fpines, of which the longeft is little more than half an inch. The belly fins are placed on its fides, and are hid in a long furrow, they being very fmall, and near each other. Next to thefe fins in the fame furrow, there are flrong bony prickles that are exceeding Ihort. The vent- fin reaches to the tail, and is compofed of fourteen hard Ipines, of which the firll is a quarter of an inch long, and the laft not half fo much. The tail is forked, and compofed of twenty fpines, of which the lafl is above half an inch long, and the innermoft fcarce the twelfth of an inch. The upper part of the head, the back, the fides above the lateral line, are of a greenifh blue, and the belly is of a fhining white. Thisiifh is but little above three inches long, and one broad. The GLAUCUS o^A'dro'vandus, called at Rome and Leghorn LECCIA, grows to a great bulk, and is of the Ihape of a Salmon. The body is long, thick, and fquare towards the t^il, and the back is of a dark blue, •with a little purple tinfture ; but the fides are more purplifh, and it is covered with fmall fcales. The mouth, for the fize of the fifh, is moderately large and rough, with fmall teeth, as alfo the tongue and pa- late. 1 he eyes are of a middle fize, having each a white iris; and the forward back fin has five or fix prickles turning towards the tail, in which it differs from the Glaucus of Rondeletius, The firft GLAUCUS of Rondeletius is a broad thin fifh, and of a dark filver colour on the back ; but on the fides and belly it is more light, with three or four dufky fpots on each fide. The eyes are fmall, hr.ving each a filver coloured iris ; and the mouth is blue on the infide, with exceeding fmall teeth in the jaws. Inltcad of a back fin, there are a row of feven fliff thorns which are very fharp, and fhort ; the firfl of which bends for- wards, and the reft backwards. However, they are connected by a membrane which adheres to that before, throughout its whole length ; but it only touches the bottom 142 THE ITATURAL HISTORY bottom of the next following. The tail is long, and is divided into two long horns, which are black at the point. This fifh is often met with at Rome and Legkorr:, and probably in other parts of Italy. The fecond GLA\]C\5S of RondeJetiusy differs from the former in being lefs, and in having feven thorns on the back, that look towards the tail. There is a crooked line which falls from the upper part of the gills to :he middle of the body, and then runs direftly to the tail ; but in the former, a ftrait line pafTes diredtly from the gilh to the tail, and the hinder fins, as well above as below, are marked with a black fpot, which this wants ; likewife, the former has a broader body than this. The third GLAUCUS of RonMet-us, differs from the fecond, in having fharp teeth, and the line that runs from the gills, more crooked and v/inding. The back is of a blackiih blue colour, as fnr as the above line ; but below it, it is exceeding white. In other things it is like the former. The CEIXUPEIRA, fo called by the Brafillans, fometimes grows to the length of nine or ten feet, and to the thicknefs of a man's body. The body is obJong, and the head and fhape are like that of a Shark. Tlie head is deprelfed and broad, and the mouth is void of teeth, but there are very fharp prominences. The eyes are not large, and have a white iris ; and the tail is di- vided into two horns. In the fpace between the hind part of '^the head and back fin, there are eight bony triangular thorns, which it can hide in the fiefh, and raife them up at pleafure. The head is boney and fmooth, and the whole body is covered with fmall fcales, which arc fo very little, that the body feems to be quite fmooth. The colour is all over black, except the body, which is as white as chalk. The belly fins are alio white, with blackilli edges. It is a fea fifli, and greatly cileemcd by the Brafilians. The UMBRA of RondeUtius, is called CORVO by the Venetians, is a cetaceous fiih that often weighs fixty pounds, and is about four cubits long ; but thofe that Mr. R.ay faw at Rome and Venice^ were no bigger than a Carp. The fhape is more comprefTed, and broader and 3 flenderer O F F I S H E S. 143 llenderer than a Carp, in proportion to its bulk. The back is fharp on the ridge, and rifes from the head. There are lead coloured lines, and others of a pale yel- low, which run alternately from the top of the back to the bottom of the belly, in an oblique manner, being undulated, and make a very beautiful appearance. The fcales are of a middle fize, and the covers of the gills, as well as the head to the mouth, are fcaly. The head is of a moderate fize, and the eyes are not large, but the mouth is fmall, and the upper jaw is longer than the lower. The teeth in the jaws and the bottom of the mouth, are exceeding (lender ; and from the corner of the lo.wer jaw, there hangs a fmall fhort barb. The tail is flat, and terminated almoil in a right line. It is a very comxmon fifh in Iia/j. The UMBRA cf y^fldro'vafi^i/Sy is of the colour of a Tench, and nearly of the fhape of a Perch. The fcales are of a middle fjze, and the mouth is not very large; but there are teeth in the jaws. The tail, when it is ex- panded, is roundiih at the end, and the eyes are of a middle li2:e, v.-ith a brown iris. The belly fins, and thofe behind the vent, are as black as ink ; but in other things it agrees with the former Umbra. The UlVJBRINO, fo called at Rone, differs fi-om the IJ mhra. of Rcf2t:/e/etii/ J in colour, for it is variegated with darkifli brown lines, and fome of a greenifh blue colour, undulated, and running alternately over the pointed lines, proceeding from the middle towards the htad. Beneath the pointed lines, the oblique bnes are not fo plain, it wants a barb, and the fpines at the vent, which are in both the former, are greater and ftronger. Sal- *vianifs adds that this is much lefs, for he never faw it above a foot in length ; and the flefti is neither fo fweet nor tender. The nofi-rils near the eyes are pretty open, and there are fmall holes near the end of the fnout. This £fh is often feen in the fifh markets at Rcm.^. The COROCORO of Marc^gta've is afoot in length, with a crooked back, and a blunt head and fnout. The mouth is furnifhcd with fmall teeth, which are not very fharp, and the belly fins before, are fupported by a firm and fliaip fpine, and that behind, near the vent, with two. The fcales are pretty large, and this filh is all over 144 THE NATURAL HISTORY over of a filver colour, except the back fins and tail* which have a mixture of umber. On each fide thtre are llripes near an inch in breadth, which run downward, and are of a light umber colour ; but the belly, and the belly fins are white. The GUATUCUPA of Mangra^ue, called COR- VINA by the Portuguefe, has an oblong body, two feet in length, with a back a little crooked, and a fharp fnout, having the lower jaw a little longer than the up- per. The teeth are very fmall, the gills large, and the eyes are of the bignefs of a Dutch Stiver, with an iris of a filver colour. This fiih is covered all over with fmall round fcales of a fhining filver colour, with which a little gold colour is mixed on the back. The fins and tail, as well as the belly, are whitifh. The forward fin on the back is high, triangular, and fupported with hardifh fpines. This fiih, at Jamaica^ is called the DRUMMER. The GREY GRUNT has a broad crooked back, and is fix or feven inches long, and four broad. The mouth is not large, but it is furnifhed with very fmall teeth, and the eyes are big, having a white iris. The back fin runs the whole length of the back, and the middle part is fupported with fpines ; but the raya of the hinder part are foft, and there ib no furrow to hide them in, as there is for the fore part. All the fins as vvell as the tail, are of a fhining gold colour, and the body is covered with fcales of a ihiniiig filver colour, mixed with that of gold. On each fide there are feven large ftripcs that run according to the length, as far as the tail, of a fhining brown ; but in fome they are cf a gold colour. It is taken in the ocean near the iiland of Jamaica. The STAR GAZER, called at Rome and Feni^e LUCERNE and hE^CE-PRETE, as alfo BOCCA in CAPO, that is, the mouth and the head. It is com- monly about nine inches in length, and fometimes twelve, with a large, almoil fquare head, that is bony and rough. The body i^ roundifli, and all the upper part is of an afli colour, with a white belly. The fcales are fmall, and the lateral lines behind the fin approach each other, and then defcend to the middle fin of the tail. The O F F I S H E S. 145 The face is flat, looking upwards, whence this lifh has its name ; and the eyes are near each other, bei)ig pro- tuberant and Imall, with golden circles. The mouth is pretty large, and the chin beneath it, is almoft like that of a man. i he jaws are armed with teeth, as well as the palate ; and the lower lip is fringed with barbs. The whole face, efpecially the covers of the gills, are very rough, with a fort of warts or tubercles, fome of which are prickly. This fiih is frequently taken in the Medi- Urranean fea ; but the flefli is indifferent. The PEARCH is generally, when full grown, about twelve or fourteen inches long ; and fometimes,* though but feidom, they attain to fifteen, which is an CAtra- ordinary fize. This fiHi is hog-backed like a Bream, having a broadilh body of a dufky yellowifh colour, with iive or fix fpaces like girdles, proceeding from the back towards the belly, 'i he fcales are fmall, thick, and rough, drying much fooner than thofe of any other river fifii. The iris of the eye, is of a yellovV^ or gold co- lour, and the mouth is wide, and the jaws very rough, with fmall teeth. The belly fins, and the forked tail are of a fine red, fometimes with a mixture of white; fome parts of the principal back fin are fpotted with black ; and often the whole fin next the tail is yellow. The lateral lines are nearer the back in this, than in any other fifh \ for they run parallel to the back, till they reach the fartheft part of the fecond back fin, and then they run through the middle of the tail. The covers of the gills end in an acute angle, and the uppermofl thereof terminates in a prickle. The liver is oblong and undivided, with a gall bladder full of yellow bile, and the fpleen is blackilh. There are two fmall bones in the brain, and inftead of a fvvim- ming bladder, there is a tranfverfe m.embrane which runs all the length of the back. The Pearch fpawns but once a year, and that is in the middle oyi February, The moft natural places for this fifli are rivers, and yet they will live and thrive pretty well when fnut up in a pond. In the day time it does not feem to be fond of any particular haunt, becaufe it is almoft conti.uially roving about in queft of food, "t being a very voracious fiih. However, they are mcH likely to be found under Vol. hi.- H the 146 THE NATURAL HISTORY the hoUov/ of a bank, near bridges, fturaps of trees, or in a gentle flream of a middling depth. I'he moll likely baits to catch it are worms, minnows, and fmall frogs. The flefli of this iilh is firm, of an agreeable tafte, of eafy digeftion, and very wholelome ; for which reafon it is called by fome, the Water Fap.tridge. A Perch fwims very Aviftly, as well as the I'ikc ; and it is armed with certain fpines or prickles, with which it defends itfelf againft much larger fiih. When a Pike ccmes near, it raifes them up, and prevents an attack ; however, a Pike will fvvallovv fmall Perches, becaufe they are then too foft to do him any ha^m ; and fome ang- lers obferve, that it is the bell bait they can make uie of to catch him. The only parts ufed in medicine, are the bones that are found in the head of a Perch, near the origin of the fpine of the back. They hpjve the fame virtue as other abforbent powders, and the dofe is from twelve grains to twofcruples. Some ufe them as dentrifices to clean the teeth. The PEARCH-PIKE of Schonen:eUU grows to the length of an ell ; but they feldom weigh more than ten pounds. 'I'he llinpe is longer than that of a Pearch, and the tail is more flender in prcpcrtion. 7"he fcales are very thick fet, and have rough edges ; the back and /ides are of a gold colour like that of a Pearch, or ra- ther of a dufky dirty yellow, with obfcuie Ibipes, placed in no regrlar order. The lower part of the belly, and the belly fins, are a little reddifh, but not fo much as in a Pearch. The upper jaw is a little longer than the lower, and they are both rough, with fmall teeth. Near the firft pair of fins, there is a litde bone which terminates in three prickles ; as likewii'e at the root of the gill fins, the covers unite into one llrong fpine or prickle. This fiih is common in the river Danubcy and the fldh is exceeding white. The ASPER or ROUGH FISH o£ RcnMetiusy cal- led zxRatifion the STREAVER. The fhape of the body is longer and more flender, cfpecially about the tail, than the Pearch-Pike ; and from the hinder part of the head, to the middle of the back, there is a furrow, and likewife eight or nine trsnfverfe blackifh flripes like thofe of a Pearch, The back is fcaly, but the bread O F F I $ H E S. 147 brcafl is naked, and it is very like a Pcarch-Pike, ex- cept in the fize. This is a very fmall fiih, is taken ia the river Danube, and is common at Ratijlon. The AMBOINA PEARCH, is fo called, becaufe it is chiefly found in the rivers of Amboina. it is about a fpan in length, and fomewhat like the Common Pearch both in fhape and tafte. Its colour is inclining to brown with blue Ilreaks under the head ; and the fins belowr the mouth, are alfo blue ; but thofe on the fides are green and fpeckled. The figure that Nieuboff'hdi^ give* of it, fhevvs feveral ftripes on the fides, very like thofc of a Pearch ; and the tail is long and forked, or raiher divided into two horns. The DOREE, which is as much as to fay, the GILT FISH, has a broad comprcfied body, not unlike that of a Flounder ; but it fwims erect, and not on one fide as th*i,t fiih does. The head is very large and comprefTed, i'.ny \e mouth is monllroufly wide. The colour on the uaes L olive, and on the middle of each fide there is a large rou id black fpot, by v/hich it may be known from cthe^ fifh of this kind. The forward back fin i$ furnifhed with ten prickly rays, and as many that are foft underneath, which leave the prickles, and by them- felves run to a confiderable height. There are fliort rows of prickles in fome place?, that is at the roots of the back fins, as well as thofe at the vent, in general, it is a very fmgular fiili, and is about eighteen inches long, and feven or eight broad. The fiefn is tender, and eafv of digeftion, being fo delicate, that fome prefer it to a Turbot. This fi(h was formerly hung up in churches, on ac- count of the remarkable fpots that appear on the fides, which are faid to be the marks of St, ChnJioph(r''% fingers, who caught this fifh as he was carrying Jefus Chrijl over a ford. Others pretend that this is that fort of fiih, out of whofe mouth St. Peter took the money wherewith to pay tribute ; and that the fpots are ele- gant reprefentations of the coin, being left as a memo- rial of the miracle. This fifli is taken in the ocean, as well as in the Mediterranean fea, and is often expofed to fale at Fenfance in ComwalU H 2 Ihs 148 THE NATURAL HISTORY The ABUCATUAIA, fo called by the Braftliav:, but by the Portuguae, PEIXE-GAL.LO. This riOi has fome rcfemblance to a Doree, and is of the llze, fhape, snd rhicknefs of a Flounder ; but the mouth is not large,, and without teeth. The iris of the eye is of a filver colour, and there are two long threads which hang from the lower part of the body, and a fmgle one on the back, near the back fin. It is without fcales, and is all over of a filver colour, except the threads, which are black. 1 he SEA ^OAR o? RottMeiius and other authors, called STRIVALE at Gema, and RIONDO at Feme. It is in Ihape like a Doree, but very much lefs, and the colour is reddiili, with fcales fringed about the edge?, fo that it feems rough to the touch. The fnout is ftiarp, turning a little upwards, and it has no teeth. The eyes are large, with a white iris, and it generally keeps at xhe bottom of the fea, efpecially in ilormy weather. ^ The HOLCCEiNTRUS, may properly be placed among the fifli that have prickly fins, and it is \'o Cidled, becaufe all the external parts, as the head, fins, ibales, and tail, are furniflied with prickles ; for the word fignifies all over prickles. It is, from the end of the gills to the beginning of the tail, three inches and three quar- ters, and the perpendicular height is more than the breadth ; the head is a little hollow between the eyes ; and the body is large in prcpoiticn, and of a filver co- lour, with a little mixture of gold, efpecially when it is full grown. There are fmall teeth, or rather tubercles on the palate, in the jaws, and at the bottom of the mouth. The opening of the gills is large, as well as the fcales, which are vej-y hard and fhining, dentated on the back part, and lying like tiles, one upon another. The back is convex, and a little fnarp, but the belly is pretty broad ; and there are feven fins, one on the back, tv». o on the breaft, one at the vent, and the forked tail makes the fevcnth. Upon this, both above and below, there aie five Ihort, iharp prickles. CHAP. Or F I S H E S. 149 C H A P. XIX. Of Fijh n.vithout thorns, njoith cne Fin en the Ba L THE DORADO, isafeafilli, which has a fort of a crert on the head, joining to a large fin, that runs to the tail ; there is likewise another that is fhorter, and rnns only from the vent to the tail. The belly hns reach alnioil to the vent, which is placed in the middle of the body, and the mouth is of a middle fize, having fmall fharp teeth in the jaws, palate, and tongue. The eyes are large, the fcales exceeding fmall, and the colour of a blueifh green. The thicknefs of this fiih grows gradually lefs from the head, and the flefh is fat, fweet, and hard, like that of a Tunny. The DOLPHIN, of the moderns, called by mofl authors DORADO, is not of a very agreeable lliape, for the fnout is fiat and roundifli, and the body grows very taper from the head to the tail ; but its beauty confills chiefly m its colours, which are Vi^ry line. The back is all over enamelled with fpots of a blueiih green, which Ihins like jewels fet in a dark ground. The tail and fins are of a gold colour ; and nothing can be more brilliant than this filh, when feen in the fea, or when it is not quite dead. It is about fix or {"even feet in length, and near the thicknefs of a Salmon. There is a remark- able fin, which runs from the head, along the back, to the root of the tail, which in the middle, is feven or eight inches broad, and confifts of a membrane that feels like leather, and the fpines thereof are foft. There is another oppofite to this, that runs from the vent to the tail, and is not an inch broad. The tail is about a foot and half long, and is divided into two large horns. The fcales are very, fmall, and can fcarce be felt when touched. Some authors fay, particularly Tertie, that the fjcin on the back is of a greenifli gold colour, fprink- led wich fmall azure tiars, and fmall fcales of the colour of gold ; that the belly is grey, enriched with the fame fmall golden fcales, that cauie it to look like cloth of gold. The fnout is green, with a fnining glofs of a geld' colour ; and the eyco are placed on the fides of the head, H 3 which ISO THE NATURAL HISTORY which are large and handfome, with circles of a fhining gold colour. The fle(h is dry, but of an excellent tafte ; £t lead the failors think fo, who often catch this iilh be- tween the tropicks. It is a very fwift fwimmer, and will very often accompany a fnip for a long while together. Jt is faid, as has been before obferved, to be a great enemy to the flying fifh, being almofl always in purfuit of them. The RAZOR FISH, called at Romey PESCE PET- TINE, has a very large head, but comprefled, as well as the whole body, and there is fcarce any thing that can be called a fnout ; for the line which terminates the fore part of the head, runs almoft perpendicularly from the top of the head to the mouth, which is fmall, and armed with little fliarp teeth, except four, which are placed forward, that are longer. The eyes are fmall, placed on the top of the head ; and at the beginning of the back there is a fin eredled, which is not very broad, the' it runs from thence to the tail. There is another oppofite to it, on the lower part of the belly, that reaches from the vent almoft to the tail. The tail is broad, aud covered with large fcales ; and the head and covers of the gills are marked with feveral blue lines. The belly and tail ^ns are of a yellowifn, and greenilh colour, as it were chetjuered in a very pretty manner. The back fin is led, fprinkled wi.h a few blue fpots ; and the reft of the body is of a yeilowilh red. it is feldom above a palm in length, and is fcarce at RoniCy though it is common in the ifies af Rhodes andi Malta. The flefh is tender, yields good nourilhment, and is eafy of digeftion. The POMPJLUS oi Rondtktiui, is a fea fifti without fcales, and from the gills to the tail there runs a crooked line, from which there proceeds to tlie belly many fpot- tcd, and crooiced tranfverfe lines. Above the lateral line, the back is mottled and fpotted. The mouth is of a middle fize, and the teeth are fmall in proportion to the bulk of the body ; the tail terminates in a fin, which is not divided, and the part above and between the eyes, is of a yeilowilh or gold colour. The lc;ier SEA UMCORN, is a foot and a half in length, atid is hog-backed like a Pearch, with a com- iriffed body, and the belly is arched. The mouth is narrow, O F F I S H E S. 1^1 narrow, and there are teeth in both jaws, of the thlck- nefs of a middling needle, and an eighth of an inch long. The eyes that are feated near the top of the head, are an inch in diameter, and from the vertex there proceeds a round conical fmooth horn, turning a little downwards. It is about two inches in circumference at the b;ife, and three long. It feems to be fupported by* no bone, neither is it Inferted into the mouth, as in the Cetaceous Unicorn ; but feems to be a produftion of the ikin itfelf, which is hardened into a horny fuhftance. The bacic fin reaches from the head to the tail, and is an inch and a half high ; the belly fin behind the vent, anfwers to this, and in like manner reaches to the tail. The RHAQUUiNDA of the BrofiUans, has a body near ten inches long, and two bioad, being almoft of the fame breadth from one end to the other. The head and mouth are made almoii: bke that of a Pike ; and though it wants teeth, the jaws are almoit as rough as a file. The iris of the ey^s is brown, and from the begin- ning of the back, there runs a fin almoft to the root of the tail, Vv'hich is three inches long, and nearly on© broad, except towards the end, where it is a little broader. 1'he tail is covered with a hard black fhell, and the fcales are of a middle fize. 1 he colour of the back and fides, is a dark gray, with a filver glofs, and on each fide ther$ is a row of round black icales, of the fize of a pea ; and between thefe, there are many blue fpecks. All the fins, and the tail, are of a gold colour ; but thofe on the back are fpotted with blue. Ti'e lateral lines arc black, and on each fide the tail there is a line of a gold colour. The PARU of the Brajilians, is a broad, roundi(h, but not thick fifh, being about twelve inches long, and izYtn broad. The back fin, and that which runs from the vent, ai-e about two inches broad, and reach to the tail, and each of them have a prominence at the end, fomev.'hat like a rope ; that on the back being five inches long, and that on the belly three. The head is fmall, with a high narrow mouth, and exceeding fmall white teeth. The iris of the eyes is yellow. The whole body is covered with middle fized fcales, half of which are black, and the other half yeliowiili, in fuch a man- H 4 ner, 1^2 THE NATURAL HISTORY ner, that the body feems to be marked with yellow half moons. Behind the gills, on both fides, there are yel- low fpots, and the tail is two inches and a half long, and as many broad. The ACARAUNA of the Brafdians, is of the fize of the PARU, but not fo broad, and is covered with black- illi fcales. The tail is forked, and on the length of the whole back, as alfo on the bottom of the belly, there runs a (harp fin, which towards the hinder part, is about sn inch broad. The mouth is fmall, narrow, and fur- nilhed v^ith exceeding fmall teeth ; and on each fide near the tail, there is a Iharp fpine or prickle, almoft an inch long, which he can conceal in his fides, or ihruil cut fo as to hurt other fifh. The SQUARE ACARAUNA, called by failors, the CLD WIFE, differs in many things from the former ; lor the fore-part of the body is of a ftraw colour, and the latcer brown ; befides, the fcales run parallel to each other, and on both fides the upper jaw, there are four fpines or prickles ; and on the lower two fpikes, which are ftifF, (harp, and an inch in length, like a Cock's fpurs, turning obliquely downward. There is a back-fin which runs from the head to the tail, and another on the belly, which proceeds from the vent to the fame place, being parallel to each other, the ii{h being of a fquarilh fhape. j The SMALL BLACK ACARAUNA, beautifully- painted with yellow belts. It difFtrs li:tle from the for- mer, except in the belts, which are of an iron-grey colour, and are fomewhat differently placed j befides in thefe, there are no vifible fcales. The GUARERUA of the Brafdians, has a broad com- preffed body four inches long and three broad, with a little mouth, and very fmall teeth. On the upper part of the body, and on th« belly, there is a long broad fin, which both end in a point like a bodfkin. Ihe tail is fquare, the fcales black, with a glofs like filk, and yel- low edges. All the fins ?.re black, and about the mouth there is a broad line of an iron colour, and another placed perpendicularly over it. The body is farrounded with three llripcs, whereof two run through the broad .ind hinder part of the fins ; likewife, the tail is cut by iuch another ilripe. The *^iU/C /J2 Q4^ OF FISHES. 155 diftances, that the fmoke may have free accefs to them all. Thefe places will hold ten or twelve thoufand at a time ; and they kindle billets on the floor in order to dry them. This done, they ihut the doors, having be- fore flopped up all the air holes. This they repeat every quarter of an hour, infomuch that a fingle laft of Herrings requires five-hundred billets to dry them. A laft is ten barrels, and each barrel contains about one thoufand Herrings. When they are fmoke-dried in this manner, they are called red Herrings. Salt Herrings, and pickled Herrings, are cured after a different man- ner ; the laft of which, where formerly beft done by the Dutch ; but now the Englijh are become their rivals in that trade. Herrings always fwim in fhoals, delighting to be near the fhore. T hey fpawn but once a year, that is about the beginning of No'vember, a little before which, like moft other fiih, they are in higheft feafon. There are likewife Herrings on the coaft of North America^ but they are not fo plenty as in Europe ; and they never go farther fouth than the rivers of Carolina^ There are none near Spain^ Portugal, in the Mediterra- nean, nor on the coaft oi Africa. As for the medicinal ufes of Herrings, it is faid, that the aOie of one, taken to the quantity of a dram in a glafs of white wine, is. good for the gravel. Sometimes fait Herrings are ap- plied to the foles of the feet of patients in a fever, to divert the humours from the head. And-y affirms, that if you open a fait Herring, and apply it to a gouty part, it will eafe the pain ; and farther adds, that he has fuc- ceeded in this feveral times. The brine of Herrings is given by foine in glifters for the dropfy and hyp-gout. The PIlCHARD is very like a Herring, but differs from it in fome particulars ; it is a third part lefs, and for the lize, has a broader body. The bdly is not fo iharp, and near the upper corner of the gills there is a b!ack fpot. There are no teeth neither in the jaws, on the tongue, nor the palate. The flefh is firmer, and i» by fome preferred to that of a Herring, but without reafon. \i you take a Pilchard by the back-fin, it will hang even, which a Herring wiil not do. The Pilchard is a fiih of paiTage, and fwims in flioals in the fame maimer as Herrings. The chief fiiheries H 6 for 156 THE NATURAL HISTORY *or them are along the coaft oi Dalmatia, to the fouth of the ifland of Ijjea, on the coafts of Bretagne, from Belle ijle as far as B'ejU and along the coafts of Corn- ivall and Oevo^Jhire. The feafon for fifhing, is from June to September^ and fometimes they are caught on the coafts of CorntvaU at C.brijlmafi. On the coaft of De-von/lire and Com^. //, they fet men to watch on the tops of mountains and cliffs, whom they call tiuers, who know when a (hoal of Pilchards are coming by the blacknefs or purple colour of the water in the day time, and in the night by its Ihining, When the Huen per- ceive, by thefe marks where the fifti are, they diredt the boats, and vefiels, by the ufual figns, how to ma- nage their nets, which they call ^omes ; and in thefe they often take an hundred thoufand Pilchards at a draught ^1 his fiftiery yields great profit to ihe people of thofe counties. The» SPRAT, Mr. /?«;• takes to be nothing elfe but a young Herring or Pilchard ; becaufe this fifn exaflly refembles either the one or the other in every particular except the fize; and he likewife thinks they have much the fame tafte. He is more inclined to this opi- nion, becaufe they are taken in the winter folftice, ibmetime after Plerrings have fpawned, that is, after they have had time enough to grow to that bignefs. Befides, an old Com-Jh liftierman whom he confulted^ affirmed there were two forts of Sprats in the Cornijh iea, one of which were young Herrings, and the other young Pilchards, which might be eafily diftinguifhed from each other. Now as Pilchards are fcldom to be met with unlefs near the {hores of Cor«xtis// and Denjon- Jh'ire, the reafon is plain, why there is but one kind of Sprats caught oh the coafts of other parts ol England, The S..RD1NE, fo called at Rome, and SARDEL- LA by the Venetians, differs nothing at all from our Pil- chards but in the fize, they being a little larger in the ocean, tb.an in the MecUtirvatiean fea. Likewife the SARDANE of the Italians^ is nothing elfe but our Herring, though they grow larger in the ocean than in the Mcditrranean. The SHAD, called by fome, the MOTHER of HERRINUS, differs from a Herring, in bein^ bioadej S and OF FISHES: 157 and not fo thick, but more comprelied on the fides, in being larger, for it grows to the length of a cubit, and is four inches in breadth, weighing four pounds. It has a black round fpot on both fides, near the gills, and fix or feven lefs, placed in a right line tovvaids the tail, in which it agrees with the Pilchard. LikewiTe ic enters the mouths of rivers, which Herrings do not. It pafles into the river ^ tavern in the months oi Mai-ch and Apriiy at which time they are fat and full of fpawn ; but in May^ they return back to the fea, very lean and prodigloufly altered ; in fome rivers, as the Ihames, they ftay till J une or July ; and the flefh would be pretty good, if it was not fo full of bones. The eyes and mouth are large, and the upper jaw only is furniflied with teeth. The tongue is imail, fliarp, and blackilh, and the llomach refembles that of a Herring, and has a communication with the air bladder. f here is fuch a difference between the 'Thames Shad, and that of the Se^ 'vern, that they do not feem to me to be the fame iifh ; for the Seijern Shad eats much the bell, and is not fo full of bones. It is of little ufe in medicine, only there is a ftony bone in the head, which is aperient, and good for the Hone and gravel ; and by its alkaline qualities, ab- forbs acids in the llomach and intellines. The dofe is from half a fcruple to a dram. 7 he SARDELLA of Lago di Guarde, is by moft au- thors made to be a diftind Ibrt of a filh ; but we are in- formed by Willoughby, that the number, fituation, and rays of the fins, as well as the gills, cleft of the mouth, lateral fpots, fhape of the llomach and bladder, and even all other parts, as well within as without, the fize only excepted, agree with the Shad. However, the iifhermen fay, that the very fame fifh has diiferent names at different ages ; for which reafon, Mr. Ray is of opi- nion, this is the fame fort of fifli as the Shad, and that they afcend into the lakes by the river Fo, where they ipawn, and then return back into the fea. The lefTer Indian HERRING is broader and fhorter, though of the fame colour with the common Herring. The tail is forked, and the head is of an uncommon fhape, with a large fnout and eyes. They fwim in large ihoals together with the Herrings, principally on the coaft 158 THE NATURAL HISTORY CO aft of Malabar. The tafte is not difagreeable, though not like that of a Herring ; and they are made ufe of by the natives of Malahar^ to manure their rice fields, Thefe fidi will take fait like other Herrings, which is an unufual property in thefe parts ; and by this method, they are carried all over the Eafi-lndies. The ANCHOVY, is about a palm in length, and pro- portionally thick ; and they are only taken in the Mediter' ranean fea. There is a fort near Chejier, that are longer and thicker than a man's thumb, which however are dif- ferent from thofe of the Mediterranean. They have a rounder body than the Herring, and are not fo compref- fed ; they are alfo tranfparent, except where the fpine of the back prevents. They are dellitute of fcales, and their colour is nearly like that of a Sprat. They have a fliarp fnout, and the upper jaw is longer than the lower ; but the mouth is monitroufly wide in proportion to the fize of the iifli ; likewife, the apertures of the gills are very large, as well as the eyes. Schone-veU affirms an Anchovy has fmall fcales which will eafily fall off; which is confirmed by the fcales that are feen upon them when they are brought over pickled. It has this peculiar pro- perty, that it will diflblve almoft in any liquor, when it is fet over the fire. They moft commonly filli for Anchovies in the nights of Mayy Juney and July ', for in thefe three months they leave the ocean, and pafs up the Meihterranean to- wards the Le'v-nt. The GOLDEN-ANCHOVY, is an Eaji-hdian fiib, and is fo called on account of its fhining golden colour. It has a very large long mouth, armed with Ihaip teeth, and if the body had been more flender, it might have been placed among the Eels. The BLICX of Schcne-veld, is a fmall fifli not unlike a BREAM in colour and fins. It is not above the length of a man's finger, and its fliape is like that of an emaciated Herring. The fins are the fame in number, and placed in the fame manner as thofe of a Bream ; but Ray is of opinion, that they differ in nothing from our Sprats. The MARENA of Schoneveld, is like a Herring al- jnoil in all parts; only the aperture of the giWs js ~ larger. OF FISHES. 159 larger, the back blackifh, and the fides of a fih'er co- lour ; befides the fcales are eafily taken off; but it is a little lefs, being only two palms in length at rnoft ; and it is fuller of flefh, which is more hard and fhort ; like- wife the belly is foft, and not rough, like that of a Her- ring. The ARGENTINA, fo called at Romey has an ob- long round body void of fcales, and is like a Pike. Above the lateral lines, it is of a greenilli alh colour, but be- neath them of a filver colour, as ifleaf filver had been laid thereon, efpecially over the covers of the gills. The fnout is oblong, the mouth of a moderate fize ; but there are no teeth in the jaws, and yet there are fix or eight crooked ones near the end of the tongue. The eyes are large, having a filver coloured iris, and the brain may be feen through the ikull. There is a fin on the back, about the middle of its length, fupported by ten rays. The tail is forked, but the principal mark by which it may be known from all other fi{h, is the air bladder, which is conical at both ends, and outwardly looks as if it was covered with polilhed ihining leaf iilver. This is made ufe of to counterfeit pearls, and by this means they are made like the right fort. Jt is often brought to the fifh-markets at Rome. The VUBARANA of the BrafiUans, is fomewhat in the ihape of a Trout, having an oblong body, a little fquare, and in the form of a cylinder. It ia about twelve inches in length, and twelve thick, with a Iharp- iih head, but not large, and a mouth wiihout teeth. The pupil is furrounded with a double circle, the firft of which is of a gold, and the fecond of a filver colour. The fins are like thofeof the reit of this kind, and the tail is forked. The fcales run regularly in rows accord- ing to the length of the body, and^are fo evenly placed, that this iifh is foft to the touch. The back is of a b!ue- ifh filver colour, and the belly is white. The giiis are fo fmooth, that they have the appearance of filver plates. The CAMARI PUGUAGU of the Brafliavr, has a ftrait back, but the belly is a little prominent, and the head is acuminated. The mouth is exceeding wide, and without teeth ; and the upper jaw is fhortcr than i6o THE NATURAL HISTORY the lower, infomuch that when the mouth is fhut, it feems to Hand upwards. The eyes are large, having a filver iris ; and the length is eleven or twelve feet, and the thicknefs is equal to a man's body. The back fin is high, broad, and of a triangular fiiape, with an appen- dage turning towards the back part ; it is three times as long as the fin, and as thick as a pretty large rope.- Op- pofite to this, on the belly, behind the vent, there is a broad fcaly triangular fin, which, with its appendage, reaches to the root of the tail. It is covered with large round fcales placed one upon another, infomuch that they are quadruple or quintuple, and of a filver colour, v/hich gives the fiih an appearance of being covered with filver, except on the back, where it is blue, with a filver glofs. The GAR- FISH or HORN-FiSH, is a long llender roundifh filli, and yet a little broad at the bottom. The back is greenilh, and there are feveral marks by which it may be di 11:1 ngui died frcsm ail other fifh. Tiie fnout is very long, fharp, fiender, and each jaw is armed with extremely (harp teeth ; there ia a fingle llripe that runs from the mouth to the vent, and there is no fign out- v/ardly of the ilomach and intelUnes ; but this mark is not proper to this fi;h, becaufe it belongs to the Lam- prey ; the fpine of the back when it is boiled becomes green, and the upper jaw is moveable as in the Croco- dile. The belly and fides are of a filver colour, and the back of a blueifli green. The tail is forked, and the gut runs diredftiy from the fi.omach to the vent. The liver is not divided into lobes, and the gall is of a blueifti black. The lateral lines that run along the fides are fcaly, but the reft of the body is imooth. It does not grow to any large fize, for fix of thofe that aie ufually taken, will nor wei^ a pound ; ahd yet there have been fome caught that have weighed two or three pounds each. The flcfh is hard and dry, yet it yields good nourifh • ment ; they are common almoft every where, and are ufually brought to market in May. In CorniJcaU, the fifiiermen catch two forts, one of which they call Ger- rocks, and the other Skippers. The <^a^e //y 'Z/0 dau*&tJ^i^aft 6^>/y2^tife I //^e4Z^ Cc>-r^- ^//im^\ Cri?&A:- ^^A e^>?2v^>f' O F F I S H E S. t6i The GREATEST SCALY GAR-FISH o^Dr. Lifer, is two feet fix inches long, and three broad; bivt fometimes there have been fome found much bigger. The lower jaw, whi:h is aiitde fhorter than the upper, is fix inches long, which renders the cleft of the mouth great, and the noftrils are placed at the point of the up- per jaw. On the edges of each jaw there is a row of flender longifh teeth, befides another that is lefs. The fins agree with thofe of the former, but the tail is obliquely joined to the body, for the fcales on the upper fide reach beyond it. The fcales are large, ftrong, ftick fad to the body, and are fomewnat fquare ; but they are placed in an elegant order, running nearly in ipiral lines irom the back, obliquely to the belly. The ELEPHANT'S TRUNK FISH, a kind of htdian Gar-filli, is of the fize of a large Smelt, and has a roundifh body elegantly fpotted, with a broad ftreak of a greenifn colour running down the middle of the fides. The under jaw is very long, and terminates in a point almoil as iharp as a needle. The tafle is mucli like that of a Smelt. The GAR-FISH of Belcnius, differs from the firll fort in being more flender, and is never above twelve inches in length. It is covered with thin fcales, has a flender tongue, and has that blunt fort of teeth called grinders in the mouth, feven above, and feven below, and towards the tail there are fins that hang downwards. It is caught in the ifland now called L'ljj'a, formerly Fhana, The SEA-LIZARD of Rondeletm^ , grows to a foot in length, and is fhorter and thicker than a Gar Fifh in proportion to its fize, and it has a iharper fnout, as well as fnorter, and turns a little upwards. Inftead of teeth, the jaws are ferrated ; but in other things it relembles the common Gar Bifh. The hinder part of the body, from the vent to the tail, and the tail itfelf, is of the fize of that of a Mackrel, and it is alfo like it in the fins. The flelli is fatter than that of a Gar-Fifli, and tafles like that of a Mackrel. Mr. Ray thinks, that it- ought to l;e placed rather among the Mackrel kind than the Gar-Filh. The i62 THE NATURAL HISTORY The TOBACCO-PIPE FJSH, is three or four feet long, and has a body like an Eel. The fnout is fliarp at the end, and the mouth is without teeth. The up- per jaw is fhorter than the lower, and both are a little pointed. The lower jaw is fcarce two inches long, and confequently the cleft of the mouth mufi: be ex- ceeding fmall ; the upper jaw is bony or horny, and elegantly ftreaked. 1 he head is one third part as long as the whole body, that is, a fifh three feet in length, has a head a foot long. The thicknefs of it behind the eyes is five inches, and then it gradually decreafes till it comes to tliree at the mouth. The eyes are of the fize of a hazel nut, and almoft of the fame fhape, with a lilver iiio, mixed with a little red on the fore and hinder parts. Behind the vent there are two fins, and as many on the top of the back, which anfwer to thofe below, which is pecuJirr to this fiih. The Ikin is as flippery as that ofan Eel, and the whole back and fides are of a liver colour. There is a double row of blueifh foots on the head, and another on each fide. The belly is whitifti. The PIRAYA, and PIRANHA of the Brafilians, is a foot in length, and fix inches broad. It is hog- backed, and the head is blunt like that of a DORADO ; and the mouth cannot be fhut clofe, for it has teeth that cover the lips, which are white, triangular, and ex- ceeding fharp, being fourteen in number in each jaw, and placed in a fingle row; infomuch, that with one bite it can feparate the flefti from any part of a man, in the fame manner as if it had been cut with a razor. 1 ho cyes^ are fmall, and of the colour of chryftal ; and a fin begins from the vent, which is armed before with a flrong fpine ; but the other parts are foft, and covered all over with fcales reaching to the root of the tail. The tail is divided into two hens, and the colour of the upper part of the body to the lateral lines, is of a light afh colour, mixed with a little blue ; but the edge of every fcale fhines with flame, and blueilh colours. The lower part is of a dark yellow, as well as the fins. It delights in the muddy bottom of a river. I'he Pi RAY A of the fecond kind, is fhaped like the former, except in its having a fcaly fin on the middle of the 0 ? F I S H E S. 163 the back," between the back-fin and the tall. It alfo difters in colour j for where that is of a blueifh afh -colour, this is of a gold or reddiili colour mixed with afh ; and where that is yellow, this is of the colour of fafFron ; but the back fins and the tail, are of a light afti-colour, mixed with a little blue. The PiRA YA of the third kind, has a head not fo blunt as the former ; but the mouth is a little prominent, and of a conical fhape. The belly and fides are of a filver colour ; and the back and head of a filver colour m.ixed with a little fnining blue ; but the fins are of a filver colour mixed with grey. It is lefs than either of the former, but it bites like them. The MATURAQUE of the Brafilians, has an ob- long body being almofl fix inches in length, and an inch and a half broad, with a broadifh head covered with a large fhell. The lower jaw is a little longer than the upper, and in it are fix frnall fharp teeth. The iris of the eyes is of a gold colour within, and brown on tlie cutlide. The tail terminates almoft in a right line, and the fcales arc large and placed in a regular order. The upper part of the head, back, fides, and all the fins are black. The belly is of a hoary white ; and this fifh i$ to be met with only in ponds and lakes, for it never enters the rivers, and yet is well tafted. The RIVER TAREIRA, has an oblong body, a ftrait back, and a belly a little prominent. The lower jaw is a little longer than the upper, and the teeth aro exceeding fharp. The bead is a little like that of a Pike, and the eyes are pretty large and prominent. It is fifteen or fixteen inches long, and has a large flrait almoft fquare back-fin. a little above three inches long and two broad, being placed on the middle of the back. The fcales are pretty large, and are duiky on the back ; but on the fides there is a mixture of filver colour. The head is covered with a hard dufky Ihell ; but the belly is entirely white. AH the fins are duficy, undulated tranf- verfely with black, as well as the tail. This fifh is taken only in rivers, and the flelh is fit to be eaten. The PIKE or PICKEREL, has a roundifh oblong body with a fiat head, and fquare back. The fnout is very prominent, almoft like the bill of a duck ; but the lower 164 THE NATURAL HISTORY lower jaw is fomewhat longer than the-upj^er. The mouth is very wide, and the tail forked. The body is covered with fmall thick fcales, which 5re moiltened on the edges vsith a kind of ilime that ha'- a greeniih caft ; and the younger the Mi is, the greener he ap- pears. The back and fides, when turned, towards the light, appear to have fomewhat of a golden hue. The fides are fpotted with yellow, and the belly is white ; but on the tail there are dufky fpots and reddifh lines, cfpecially towards the corners. The teeth on the lower jaw are crooked, and there are none in the upper; but on the palate there is a triple row. The tongue- is broad, black, a little forked, and rough with teeth j and the eyes are of a gold colour, feeming to be a little funk into the head. The head and gills are fpotted with a variety of fmall holes. The liver is of a pale fiefh colour, and the gall blad- der is joined to its upper part, emptying itfelfinto the gut by a long tube. The gall itfclf is of a blackifh colour, as well as the fpleen, which is almoft of a trian- gular ihape. The heart is of the fame figure, and the gut is covered with fat, being folded back three times. The ftomach is large, and wrinkled on the infide. This is a very voracious fifli, and often grows to a very large fize. There were two caught in a ditch near IP^aU lingford in Berk/hire^ one of v/iiich, being the Milter, weighed fifty- one pounds ; and the other, which was the Spawner, fifty-feven. This ditch runs into the river ^Ihames, and they came in to call their fpawn. A Pike v/ill fwallow other filh almoft as big as thcmfelves, not excepting thofe of their own kip.d. The ufual time of fpawni;g is in March, and fometimcs fooncr, if the fpring be forward. Thsy are prodigious bleeders, for in one row there were 148^00 eggs. They grow very- fail: at firlt, for in one year they become of the length of fixteen inches in the brook where they were fpawned. They are in feafon all the year, except in fpawning time, and about fix v/eeks after it. The flelh is white, firm, dry, and fweet ; but when they weigh above twelve pounds, they contrad a fort of ranknefs. Some have employed the fat, the gall, the lower jaw, and the fmall bones that are found in the head of this O F - F I S H E S. 16; this fifh in medicine. The lower jaw is abibrbent and detergent; many pretend it is a (pecific in thepleunfy and quinfv ; but they are feldom ufed at prefent for thefe purpofes, unlefs among the Genr.ans. The dole is from twelve grains to half a dram. The fat of a Pike is recommended by fome to annoint the feet of children with, to appeafe coughs, and to procure fleep ; but it has been feldom or never brought into pradtice with us as yet ; the gall, which is faid to cure inter- mitting fevers, taken at the beginning of the ni ; the dofe is feven or eight drops. It is more likely to take away fpots in the eyes ; but then it muft be mixed with water, becaufe it is too fharp alone. Some would have it put into the ears with a bit of cotton, to cure fmging therein. The fmall bones in the head of a Pike, are re- commended by fome to haften child-birth, to purify the blood, to promote urine, to cleanfe the kidneys, and to c-ure the epilepfy. The dofe is from one fcruple to two ; but there are few who depend upon them in thefe cafes. The CASSE-BURGOT, is a fiih of the lake of Loui- Jiana in America^ which is about a foot, or a foot and a half long, is good to eat, and has two ftones in its head. It has a roimdiih body, and a very thick head, not unlike that of a Pike. Tie body becomes gradual- ly lefs to the end of the tail ; and the flefh is white, being much of the fame tafre as a Turbot. The number of the fins are not mentioned. The STURGEON is a long nfii, with a pentagonous or fi\'e cornered body, fo formed by five rows of horny fcales, on each of which there is a fpine or thorn that is \'ery firong and crocked. The upper row of fcales which runs along the middle of the back are larger, and rife higher than the reft, and their number is not ex- adiy the fame in all, there beiny ekven in fome, and in others twelve, or thirteen. This row reaches to the back-fin, and there ends. The lateral rows begin at ■ the head, and end at the tail, conhfting of thirty, or thirty-one fcales. The lower rows, which bound or ter- ininate the fiat part of the belly, begin at the fore-moii iins, and end at the fecond pair, containing each eleven, twelve, or thirteen fcales. Befides theic five rows, there i66 THE NATURAL HISTORY there are only two fcaie. in the middle of the belly bc- Icw the vent. The head is of a moderate lize and rough, with very fmall prickles, as has the reft of tkc body, between tlie rows of the fcales. I'lie eyes arc very fmall, in proportion to the bulk, and of a filver colour ; the fnout is long, broad, and fiender, end- ing in a point. In the middle of the lower part of the fnout, which is extended beyond the mouth, there arc four barbs placed in a right line which croffes the fnout tranfverfely. The mouth is fmall, void of teeth, and placed over agair.ft the eyes ; and it has a kind of fmall tube or pipe, which it can draw in or tliurft out at plea- fure. There are no jaws, for which reafon it is plai'i that it gets its nouiifnment by fucking. The tail is forked, but in fuch a n'sanner, that the upper part ftands out much farther than the lower. The colour of this fiih is of a duiky olive, or dark-grey on the back ; but the belly is of a filver colour, and the midalepart of the fcales is white. The ftomach at firft tends dire>5i:ly downwards, and then turns upwards again, making a fort of a bow, af- ter which it proceeds downwards. The liver is pale, and the gall-bladder has a paifage into the gut. The EJr-bladder is undivided, hanging Icofe from the back, JUid has an evident ccmmiinication with the fconiach. The fplcen is long, snd of the colour of blood ; and the gut has but one fold. In die flomach of two that were defeated, they found feveral infeds like Hog- lice. They are brought daily to the markets of Rome and Venice, from whence it is plain that they abound in the 'Mediterranean iea. Yet they are but fmall, as they al- ways are when they keep conltantly in the fait water ; but when they enter rivers, and continue there, they grow to a monllrous fize, fome of them having been found to be eighteen feet in length ; and they fometimes will weigh upw^^rds of two hundred and fixty pounds. The fleih is ytx-j cominon here in Englatid, but then it is brought from difrant places in pickle ; however, they fometimes come up the Thames, and other rivers, though but feldom. It O F F I S H E S. 167 It was foimerly in great efteem among the Romans^ and fome pretend, that thofe caught in rivers are beft ; v.hile others affirm, that thofe taken in the fea are much finer eating, provided it be at a good diftance from the fhoie. The flefh is every where in great efteem, and it is certainly very nourilhing ; but it is fo flrong, that fome would have Sturgeon, with regard to iiih, the fame as a hog among quadrupedes. It is not very pro- per for tender conftitutions, becaufe it is not eafy of di- geftion ; but it faits thofe that are fcrong and robufl. 'Ihe male is better than the female, except (he is full of fpawn, and then llie is generally preferred on that ac- count, as well as for the goodnefs of the flefh at that time. The fat always lies heavy on the flomach, and it loofens the belly, becaufe it relaxes the fbres of the in- teftines. There is a tender thick griiile that runs from the head to the tail, which fome Icok upon as good eating ^.fter it is dried in the fun. The fpawn of this filh ferves to make caviar, which is a confiderable merchandize among the fwhf Greeks, and Ven.tiani. It is alfo in high eileem among the Rujjiam^ an'd is fometimes brought to Engl at: d. The manner of making it is this ; they take the fpawn and free it from the fmali iibreo that connect it together, and then v/afh it with vinegar, and afterwards fpread ic on a table to dry. Then they put it into a velTel with fait, breaking the fpawn with their hands, and not with apellle; this done, they putit into a canvafs bag, let- ting the liquor drain from it. Laft of all they put it into a tub with a hole in the bottom, that if there be any moiuure fall remaining, it may run out. Then they prefs it down, and cover it clofe for ufe. There are vail quantities cf thefe filh caught in the river Volga, and ether rivers that fail into the Ca/pian fea. The common way of killing them is with a harpoon ; but in fome places they are taken \y\xh nets. The parts of this £fn ufed in medicine, are the bones and the caviar ; that brought from Hamburg, is not much unlike green foap, with regard to the cclcur and fubitance. There are likev/ife large quantities brought from Riijfta^ M-iJcc^oyy and other places. The Italians fettled in Rujffta, cany on a great trade with it through- 5 out i6'8 THE NATURAL HISTORY out that empire ; becaule there are vail numbers ofthis ^fh taken in the mouth of the Voigp.y and other rivers that fall into the CaJ'pic-n fea. They confume a great deal of caviar in Italy ; and it begins to be in requeft in Trar.ce. The bones of a Sturgeon are iaid to be ape- rient, and good againft the rheumatifm, hyp-gout, and gravel ; the dole of the powder is a dram. 1 he caviar is nourifhing, and according to fome, is good againlt barrennefs. The ADELLA and ADANO, fo called by the Jta. lia»s, is thought to be a filh peculiar to the river Po in Ita.'y. It fon"etimes increafes to the weight of one tlionfand pounds, and is taken with a monltrous large hook faftened to the end of a chain ; and they are oblig- ed to draw it oat of the water with a yoke of oxen. It differs from a Sturgeon, in being a river filh, and in its bulk, which as was juft obferved, increafes fometimes to the weight of one thouland pounds. When it arrives at a certain fize, it lofes its barbs as it had before, like thofe of a Sturgeon. The fiefh of a Sturgeon is firm and of a pleafant tafte j but that of this fifh is foft, and not fo agreeable. The mouth is like that of a Sturgeon but much larger, and divided a little obliquely ; be- fides, it is not fo pointed as in a Sturgeon ; add to this, that the colour of the back is whitilh, and looks woolly. The TSING-GLASS FISH, is of the cetaceous kind, and is cartilaginous, without bones, fpines, or fcale?. The head is thick and broad, with a large mouth, and frc)m the upper jaw there hangs four flefhy wattles. The eyes are fmall for the fize of the fifli; and the flefh is wtry fweet, but clammy. The fliape is oblong and roundijh, and it has no fnout, and is cover- ed with a yellow, hard, flippery, fmooth fkin. There are two fmall holes before the corner of the eyes, and the two fins on the back, are placed eredl near the tail. The gills have a thorny cover, in the fame manner as a Sturgeon ; but the tail is more forked, and there is alfo a liitle above the thorny covering of the gills, and on the fides of them, a fort of a hole. The HUSO, fo called by the Germans ^ has a very long fnout, and under it there are from four to eight barbs. O F F I S H E S. 169 barbs. There is only one fin on the back, not far from ihe tail ; but on the belly there are two. The (hape is not much unlike that of a Pike, and the belly is yellow, like that of a Carp ; but the back is blackilh. The body is without fcales, and has no bones but cartilages. The flefti is fweet and very agreeable to the palate, be- ing white when raw, but red when boiled. It fome- times weighs four hundred pounds ; though fome au- thors pretend that they have feen them fo large, that they could hardly be drawn in a cart with three or four hcrfes j their length, when full grown, is twenty-four feet» It is ufually met with in the feas about Mu/co'vy, and in the river Danube. They make that fort of Ifing glafs, of the guts, ftomach, tail, fins, and Ikin of this, and the former filh, which is ufed by wine-merchants to fine or force their wine. It has alfo medicinal virtues, when boiled to a jelly. The colour of Ifing-glafs is of a whitifh yellow, and is brought chiefly by the Dutch out of Rujjiaj and fome ufe it in ulcers of the throat, lungs, and bloody-flux, as well as againft fpitting of blood ; but now its chief ufe is external in plafters. Some artifts ufe it to give a glofs to ribbonds, to whiten gauzes, to counterfeit pearls, and for many other purpofes. When it has been mixed with fugar, and made into a kind of tranfparent yellov/ glue, they melt it in their mouths for the glueing toge- ther of paper; upon this account, it is fometimes called mouth-glue. CHAP. XX. Of Leather-mouthed Riree5 with that nor a Sea Breara. O F F I S H E S. 197 The ALBORA, fo called by the Venetians, diiFers from the Orada, in being lefs, it being all over of a light red colour ; in having a fharp faout, with very large eyes, v/hofe iris is of a iilver colour, tin6lured a Jittle with red. The covers of the gills, as in all other fifh of this kind, are fcaly. The DEN TALE, fo named hy i\\t Italians, is not much unlike a Sea Bream, though it is thicker and longer, in proportion to the fize. The head is depref- fed, the fnout oblong, and the back (harp, being of a dirty green, or yellowifh colour, and fometimes pur- plllh, in thofe that are large, fprinkled with brght blue and black fpots, as well as on the fides. 1 here is a row of teeth in each jaw, of which four are more con- fpicuous than the reft, and are like dog-teeth ; fiom whence this fiOi has its name, for iiens figniiies a tooth. The eyes are large, with a golden iris, and is a com- mon filh at Venice and Rome They commonly weigh three or four pounds, though f:)me have been i^t^a. that weigh ten. The HEPATUS of Rondcleiius and Gc/ner, \ like a Sea Bream, but the eyes are larger in proportion to tlie body. The colour is dark, or of a blueifli black, with a black fpot on the tail. Ho.vever, this fifh wants more charafterifticks to determine its fpecies. The ORPHEUS of the ancients, is a fea fifh that is ufually found near the fea fhore, and is fomewhat like a Sea Bream. It is of a reddilh purple colour, witii large eyes, ferrated teeth, and a fmall vent which can hardly be feen, unlefs the belly be compreiled. The ORPHEUS oi Belonius, fo called by the modera Greeks, is rather flat than round, and broader than long The mouth is little, the teeth are broad, and the lips fleihy. The fcales are rough, adhering clofcly to the body, and all the fins are of divers colours. The tail is fmall and crooked, and the fide and belly fins are blunt. The back is blackifh, and the belly inclining to white, but the head is pretty much of a red colour; Rondeletius affirms, that this fifh weighs near twenty pounds. The GUAIBI COARA, fo called by i\it Braftliam, and BUR AGO de UELHA by ih^ Rcrtugueje, has a- K 3 'broadifii 198 THE NATURAL fllSTORY brop.difli bcdy with a high back and an arched head. It is twelve or fourteen inches long, and four broad, and in each jaw there is a row of very fmall teeth. The lower part of the mou:h, as well as the tongue, is of a blood colour; and the eyes are large, with a golden cO' loured iris mixed wirh brown. The fins are like the reft of this kind, but the tail is divided into two horns. The fcaies are of a middle fize, and of a filver colour, with edges of that of oker j but the back part of the head and back are more blueilh. It is taken in the fea among the rocks, and is a well tafted fifh. The SEA BARBEL is of afiiver colour, but whitell on the back, and the body is oblong, with ten trani^ verle blackifli lines on each fide. The tail is forked, the head longiHi, a;id the iris of the eyes is of a gold colour. The lips are thick, prominent, and rough, it having no teeth, except in the bottom of the mouth,, where there are grinders. The barbs are joined by a thin membrane to the lower jaw, and the fcaies ftick clofely to the fkin. The flefh is well tafted. The MORMYRAS cf Ronde!etius, is in fhape like the Dentale, being narrower than the Orada, and longer than the iVIsenas, with a fliarp arched back, and a long fnarp fnout. Ihe back and fides are of a blueiOi green, and the tranfverfe parallel ftripes are" blackifh, being eleven or twelve in number, and are, placed through the whole length of the back and fides.^ The mouth is large, the lips thick, and th^re are teeth at the corner of the jaws, which are Iharp and fmall ; but on the in fide of the mouth there are only bony tu- bercles. The eyes are of a middle fize, v/ith a gold coloured iris Ihadcd with brown. The tail is forked ; and thi fifh never exceeds a foot in length. It is taken in ihc Med tcri aneanitZf near the QO^^oi Italy. The SAi.PA is longer and thicker, for its bignefs, than the Orada j but its back is not fo crooked. Jt is about a foot in length, and weighs about a pound, and there are ten or eleven golden lines which run from the head towards the tail, rendering the fides very beau- tiful, i he mouth ii exceeding fmall, and contain^ only one row of teeth in the upper jaw, which have double points. The eyes are of a middle fize, with a golden OF FISHES. 199 golden iris, and the fcales are large. The tail is forked, and the guts are like thofe of quadrupedes, being ex- ceeding long, and connected to a mefentery. The llomach of one, when opened, was found full of fea wreck, wlience it appears that this fiih feeds upon weeds. Though this fifh is beautiful to look at, the flelh is not very good ; therefore it is only eaten by the common people. It is frequent in the Mediterranean fea. The BOG A, fo called by the Italians, is about a fpan in length, and of a flender roundiih make. 1 he fcales are pretty large, and the back of a yellowilli olive colour. The lateral lines are dark and broad, and be- , neath them, on each fide, there are four golden parallel lines, with a mixture of filver colour, that run from the head tQ the tail. The eyes are large, for which reafon it is called by fome BOOPS, thatis^OX-iiYE, and they have a filver coloured iris. The mouth is of a middle fize, furniihed v/ith fmall teeth ; and the guts are long, connefted to a mefentery. It is common in the fea near the coaft of I'aly. There is another kind of Ox-eye, with a (harper fnout than the former, and the back of a blueifn red colour ; as alfo a reddifh tail. The iris of the eyes is of a greenifli red, and the body is broader and Ihorter than the former. There is an uncommoa fort of Ox-eye, a palm in length, and without fcales. The mouth is little, and the eyes very large in propor- tion to the body. On the lower part of the body theic? is a fin that runs to the tail, which lall is broad and thick. The M.^NAS, is In Ihape like a Pearch, but broader and more comprefied, and fix inches in length. The colour is of a light gr^en or yellowifli, and there are darkifh iranfverfe fpaces, and blueilh lines that run ac- cording to the length of the body, with a large black fpot on each fide. The tail is a little forked, and thc! eyes are lefs than thofe of the Ox-eye, v/i:h a filver coloured irjs. The mouth appears i'mall v/hen fhut, but when open it is very wide ; for the upper lip ex- pands itfelf like a tube, which is contrafted again v/hen the mouth is fhut; for the upper part has a fort of a prop, which is received into a kind of flieath made in K 4 tli« ioo THE NATURAL HISTORY the upper jaw, which mark is peculiar to this fiili. It is caught in the Meduert aneun fea. The SMARIS, is like a Mienas, but lefs, being only of the fize of a man's linger; and the boclv is rounder, more /lender and long, in proportion to it: bigncfs, than that of the Ma:nas. It is nearly of the fhapeof an Ox- eye, but is of a darker colour, an4 it wants the trauA \erfe rings, tliough it has the black fpot on each nde, about the center of gravity. The gill fins, and the end of the tail, are of a light red ; this lalt is forked. CHAP. XXII. Of Tip of the Wrajfe, or Old-Wife kind. THE COMMON WRASSE or OLD- WIFE, is near- ly of the fhapeofa river tench, and nine inches in length, but it has larger fcales. The colour is mot- tied with red, yellowifii, and brown lines placed alter- nately, and running from the head to the tail, being live or fix in number. The fnout is oblong and turns upwards ; and the lips are thick, flefiiy, landing out beyond the jaws ; but the mouth is fmall. The teeth in the jaws are ferrated, but not very (harp ; and the fins are mottled v/ith red, blue, and yellow. The tail when expanded is roundifh, and it is called in Latin Turdus, which figr.ifies a Thrush, becaufe it refemblcs one in its fpots and colours ; and indeed there is no fort of fifh we knfcw of, v/hich has fo gre.it a variety. It is to be met with in the Britijh and Iri//j ieas, and is more delightful to the eye, than pleafant to the tafte. The LEsstR GREEN WRASSE, is green overall the body, as well above as below ; but fomc of them have blueifh fpoti about the belly, and the body is more broad and thick than that of others of this kind. The fins are a litile fpotted, and has a purple tubejcle n^ ar the vent. The Black V^'raffe, is fo called from its black or dun colour, inclining to blue. The Leprous Wr«fie O F F I S H E S. 20I of Belofiius, does not differ from the former, except in the variety of colours. The PAINTED WRASSE, is ofa middle fize, between the longer and broader fifh of this kind, and weighs aboit three pounds. The variegated WrafTe is like the forme ^ and the greater Green Wrafle has an oblong body, which is in ihape not unlike a Pike. The lower part of the body is of a lighter colour, and fprinkled with yel- lowifh and afh-coloured fpots. The oblong brown fpotted Wrafle, differs little from the former, except in the colours- Ronaeletius makes twelve kind of Wraffes, which difier from each o:her very little, except in the colours, and therefore need not be particularly men- tioned. The ALPHESTES o^iRondcktius, is a fea ffh with a purple back, and tJie other parts yellow. The body is not lb broad as that of the Orada, and it is much of the fhape of a Mannas, though the body is larger and' thicker, and fomedmetimes a foot in length. 1 he mouth is of a middle fize, and from the neck to the tail ther« are piickles connected together by a thin membrane. It feems to be a kind of Wraffs:-, for it is like them i:v every thing, except the prickles. The CIN^DUS of .S^/3«/"«j, is all over yellow, ex- cept in fome places, where there is a mixture cf a rud- dy colour. The fcales are placed as it weie in circles, being notched on the edges, and are extremely lough* There is a double row of ftrong oblong and fharp teeth- in the jaws. The JLLIOS o^ Ronddeiius, is a palm in length, and nearly an inch thick. It is like a fmall Wra/Te, but- is longer and rounder, in proportion to its fize. The tales are fmall, flicking cloie to the fkin ; but for the beauty and variety of its colours it excelh a Wrafie, The upper part of the body from the fnout to the tail is blackifh, and the fides are divided by a blue line that runs from the head to the tail, and parallel to this, is another of a gold colour, but the lower part of the belly is of a blueifh white. The mouth ii of a middle fize, having one row of teeth, and the lips are like thofe cf a Wr^lie. It is common in the fea near Genoa, K 5 The 202 THE NATURAL HISTORY The ANTHIAS of Ronddetus, is of the colour of a Sea Bream, that is reddilh. The fin that runs from the head to the tail, is almoi^ red, and the firR prickle of it is tall and ftrong. The belly fins are much longer and more {lender than thofe on the gills, and they are all, as well as the tail, of a reddifti colour. Tlie head is roundilh, and the fnout prominent. Another Anthias of the fame author, is of a purplifh colour inclining to indigo, and has a long body with a thick tail, and fer- rated Iharp teeth. The eyes are pretty round, and of a purple and reddifli colour. The vent is large, and there is a r^ddifii green gut appears out of it. The JURUCAPEBA of the Brafilians, is a kin to the WralL., and is feven or eight inches long, and two «r three bread, where broadelt. 1 he mouth is wide, and nearly of a triangular fliape, furniihed with exceed- ing finall teeth. ] be iris of the eye is red, and the fins, with regard to the number, fliape, frtuation, and rays, agree with the reit of this kind. Jt is a fcaly fifh, and the ftales are fo united together, that it appears to be Cjuite fmooth. The geneial colour is of a fine red, but the belly is f^otted with red and while. The fides have fpots of diiferent colours, particularly red and black, fome of which are large, others fmall. All the iiiis arer.d, fpotted with black. The C/' - A UN A of the Brajtlians, agrees in fhape, iize, and fituation of the fins, with the former ; but it has a mouth in the Ihape of a half moon, with very iharp fmall teeth. The gills are large, and armed on the back parts with prickles. The eyes are near the top of the head, placed clofe by each other, and have a red iris. The fcales are in the ibape of half moons of a reddilh colour and fprinkled with black fpecks, except on the bcllv. The PIRA PIXANGA of the BrafiUam, called GATVISH by the Dtitch, is eleven inches long, and has a mouth an inch and a half wide, furnifhed with exceeding fharp fmall teeth. Tl^e eyes are large and prominent, with a circle of a black, gold, and blood colour. The gills are large, and furnifhed with a prickle, and the belly-fins have only one fpine. The tail is not divided, but roundifh at the end ; and the body OF F- r S H E S. 2D3 body is covered with fmall fcales that are fmooth to the touch. It is all over of a yellov/jfh white, fprinkled with blocd coloured round fpots of the fize of hemp- feed ; but they are larger on the belly. Ihe Ihape is. nearly like that of an Orada. The SACCHETof the Venelians, is a fmall fifn of the fhape of a Pearch, and like it in colour, as well ai in the tranfverfe rings. The fins are like thofe of the Maenas, and the mouth is v-/idc, the fnout iharp, and^ the lower jaw longer that the upper ; but they both arci furnifned with very fmall teeth. The iris of the eyea is of a filver colour, and the tail is forked, variegated with tranfverfe golden lines. The fcales are fmall, and the back- fin behind the fpiny rays, are marked with a black fpot, which is the peculiar charaderiftick of thi'5 £fA. The'CHANNADELLA of Behnius, wh^n it is- taken dive, vibrates a certain fpine or thorn, with which it ftrikes the liands of thofe that touch it. The lips are large, and the fore teeth are fharp like thofe of a dog ; but thofe bi;hind are blunt. The body is- variegated with green, afh colour and red ; and fome- times with a chefiiut colour. It is covered with fcales,. and the extremity of the gilh are notched and bony.. T^he back fin is red. The CHARVlA, is a fea fiih, with a body in fhape- like that of a Sea- Wolf, as is alfo the cleft of the mouth. The lov/er jaw is longer than the upper, which makes the mouth feem to be always open. The teeth. are fharp, the eyey fmall, and the bad: is of a blackiflu led. The Imes that run from the head to the tail are reddifh, and the tail is fprinkled with red fpots, as weli as the fin behind the vent, that runs to the tail. The SEA Pi : ARCH, is a foot in length, and of the fiiape of a River Pearch, nor is the colour much dif- ferent ; befides, the back and fides are marked with fi.^ or feven tranfverfe ftripes. The whole head, and the fore part of the belly, are elegantly painted with blue and red ftripes, and the back-iins, as well as that be- hind the vent, are fprinkled with fpots, partly yellow^ and partly of a faffron colour. The tail, belly, and giU-fiiiiSj, are variegated with yellow fpecks, orr«d]inesi. K 6 But 2<54- THE NATURAL HISTORY But the colours in thefe fifh differ with regard to age, fex, and the places which they frequent. The fiiout is more (harp than that of a river Perch, and the mouth is exceeding large, in proportion to the bulk of the fifh, being always open. The eyes are large, with a yellow, and fomctimcs red iris, and the aperture of the gills is very wide At the corner of the outward plate of the cover of the gills, there are two great broad fpines. The fcales are of a middle fize, the belly a little promi- ricnt, and the flefh delicate. It is very common at f^e?jice and Marleilles^ The PJRATIAPIA of the T.raftlians, is a-kin to the Wrafie, and has an oblong and a pretty thick body. It fometimes grows fo large, as to weigh five pounds, and the lower jaw is longer than the upper. The mouth is red on the infide, and the eyes are prominent, with a red iris. Before each eye there is a hole, which perhaps is the noftrils ; and the fns are like the reft of this kind. The tail is almoft fquare, the Icales fmall, and the back, lower belly, and all the fins, are of the colour of ver- inillion ', but the fides are of a brownifh grey. It is ipoued all over with greyifh brown fpots, which are large in fome places, and in others fmall. 'J^he PIRAUMBU of the Brafilian:-, is called CHAY- QUA RON A by the Portvgue e, and is a-kin to the Wrafie. It is of the fhape and fize of the Carp, and from the mouth to the beginning of the tail, it is ten inches long ; and th; breadth is a little above four. Jt has the mouih of a Carp, and the eyes are large, with, a golden circle mixed with white. The fins on the back are faid to be two ; but they are fo near each- other, that there is more properly but one. The belly- fins, and that behind the vent, are each defended with a flrong fpine or prickle, as in moft ot the reft of this kind. The fcales are large as in a Carp, and of a fhining filver colour, mixed with a little of that of gold. The fins are all of a light afh colour. Ihe ACARA-AYA, is three feet in length, and is of the fhape of a Carp. The teeth are fharp and fmall, but there are two more long and thick on the upper jaw. The eyes are large, v/ith a blood-red circle without, and filver-coloured within. The fins are as O F F I S H E S. 205 in the former, and the tail is broad, and almoft divided into two horns. The fcales are middle fized, and of a filver colour, fhaded with another of the colour of blood. The belly is entirely white ; but all the fins are of a blood colour, except the belly-fins, which are white j but their extremities are of the former colour. The CHROMIS oi Rondeletiusy is called MONA- CHELLA by the Sicilians, and CASTAGNOLE, by the Tufiam and Genoe/e. It is a fmall fifti about four inches long, and pretty thick, in proportion to its length. The colour is brown, with lines that are lighter, running according to the length of the body. The fcales are large, the head fmall, the fnout fhort, and the mouth little, with very fmall teeth in the jaws. The eyes are of a middle fize, with an iris of a gold and filver colour. The fins are like thofe in the refl of this kind, and the tail is forked. The pointed lines in this fifh, do not run beyond the back-fin. The SEA SCORPION weighs about a pound, and has a thick body in proportion to its length. The head is very large and full of prickles ; but the body is fmall towards the tail, and the belly tumid. It is hog- backed, and the Hiape in general is like that of a Pearch. The colour is of a dirty yellow, fpotted with black, and the fcale^. are fmall like thofe of Serpents. The covers of the gill-fins are alfo full of prickles, which the fifhciinen fuppofe to be venemous, and therefore cut them ofi\ The fpace betvveen the eyes is concave ; and the eyes are large and prominent, placed near each other ; and over each there is a fmall fin. The mouth is very wide, and th-e jaws are rough, with fmall teeth. The fin on the back is low in the middle, infomuch that it feems to be a double fin, and the tail is roundilh". The Greater SEA SCORPION of Rondeletias, is like the former, but differs from it in being three or four times as big, in being red all over, and variegated with black fpots. It has fevcral barbs, efpecially about the lower jaw, and there is fome on the upper, that are wanting in the former. The colour of the liver is deeper, being almoil of that of faffron, and the covers of the gills are armed with prickles at the corners. They are very common in the Mediterranean fea. The io6 THE NATURAL HISTORY The Fhginlan SEA SCORPION, is about a foot long, and is more long and flender than the firrt of thefe already mentioned. There are fhort thorns Or prickles on the head, and before and behind the eyes, as well as on the other parts of the head ; but at each gill they are very long and fmall. The forward back-fin, is largei' than that behind, and is feated bat a litde way from it. The hinder is very high at the beginning, and grows lefs by degrees. All the fins are undulated with tranf- verfe black fpots, and the tail-fin is large and roundifll. The JAQUARACA of the Brafillans, is the fize of a middling rearch, and has a Iharp mouth without teeth. The eyes are large, with a filver iris fpotted with blood colour, and there is a long fin on the back. The tail is forked, and on the fide of each gill there are two pric:Ues, with which, and with the thorny rays of the fins, it flrikes and wounds thofe that catch it. The fcales are fmall and elegantly difpofed, but are very little ferrated on the edges. The body is all over of a filver colour, except the belly, which is white ; and the upper part of the head, which is of a carnation, being armed with a prickly fliell. The^ fins are of a li:^ht carnation colour ; and it agrees in mofl things With the Sea Scorpion, except the colour. The ACARAPEBA of the Braflians, has a broad body covered with large fcales, and ij all over of a Pain- ing filver colour, being twelve inches in length, and five in breadth. The mouih is ample, acuminated, and may be exu^aded and contrafted at pleafi-.e ; but it is without teeth. The eyes are large, wich a filver iris, and the fins are as in the reft of thib kind, being of a white fhining colour ; but the tail is forked. The PIRA JURUMENB^XA of the Brafilians^ commonly called BOCCA MOLLF, that is foft mouth. It is a fea fifh, but hides itfelf in th^ mud, and is m"ne or ten inches long, and two and a half broad. The mouth llands high, which it can render very large, and of a round form, with large eyes, having a circle of a niixture of brown and filver colour. The fins are placed as in the reft of this kind ; but the back fin is ibft. The tail is of the fliape of a Pentagon, the bafe of which is rext the body. The fcales all over thebody are of a middle O F F I S H E S. 207 middle fize, and of a fhining filv^er colour, and the bacic fpines are of a green and gold colour. The CURURUCA of the BrafiLam, is a river fifh. a foot and a half in length, with an oblcng. body, a pretty large mouth, and middle fized eye. The fins are as in the reft of this kind, and the tail is almoft fquare. The fcales are of a filver colour, with a little mixture of gold and brownifh, efpecially on the back and fides. The back-fins, and thofe on the fides, as well as the tail, are of an afh colour ; but thofe on the middle of of the belly are yellowiih and browniih. The SCHROLLN, fo called at Ratijbon in Germany^ is like a Pearch in the number, fituation, and Ihape of the fins, and in their rays, as well fpinous as foft. The covers of the gills are armed with prickles, and the fbape of the body is like that of a Pearch. The fins are va- riegated points and fpots, and it is fo like in all things to the gilt Pearch, that it may be fufpecied to be the feme fifii. The SCHRAITFER, fo called at Ratifion, it being very common at that place. It is taken out of the Danube, and agrees with a Ruff, in having i'pines on the edge of the upper plate of the covers of the gills, and in having only one fin on the back, with rays, partly fpinous and partly foft, and fpotted membranes between them. It differs from it in being of a longer and rounder make, and a back that does not rife fo much ; likewife the fnout is longer, and in the prickles, which in that, are only fourteen in the back fin, but in this are eighteen. There are alfo two blackifh lines running on the length of the fides, of which the upper begins above the pointed line, and then crofTes it ; be- fides, the colour between the lines is whiter, and the tail more forked. The RUFF, is of the fhape of a Pearch, but is lefs, and wants the tranfverfe blackifh ftripes. The fcales are of a middle fize, and are a little fringed on the edges, which render this fifh very rough, from whence it 'has its Engli/h name. The back is of a dirty yellow- ifh green colour, and the lower part of the fides of a paliih yellow ; about the covers of the gills, it is of a iliining gold colour, whence it is called by fome the GILT, 2aS THE NATURAL HISTORY GILT, or GILDED pearch. The back, and upper part of the fides, are fprinkled with blackifh fpecks and ipots. It is a river filh. The GUNNEL, fo called in Cornwall, and by fome the BUTTiiR-FlSH, is fometimes about fix inches long, but fcarce an inch broad. The body is flender and comprefied, and the colour is mottled with dark, led, green, and white, with tranfverfe ftripes alter- nately placed. At the root ofthe back-fin, which runs from the head to the tail, all whofe rays are fpinous, it is beautifully fpotted with round fpots on both fides, which arc black, and furrounded with a whitifh ring, being ten or twelve in number, and placed at equal diftances through the whole length of the back, from the head to the tail, which mark is peculiar to this liili. ^J'here is one ftrait continued flripe runs froci the head to the vent, and there is no external mark or fig n of the ftomach or gift.-- The FATHhR-LASHER, fo called by the boys of CornixalU and by the Dutch POl SHEET, is fix or nine inches long, and of the fhape of a Ball-head. The head is pretty large, and covered with prickles ; but the body i^ finall, and the belly is broad and flat- On the back, above the lateral lines, there are roughilb broad tranfverfe I'paces of a blackifh colour, and three or four in number; but the inieimediate fpace are more pale. Thi covers of the gills are coanecled below, that they ap- pear like a mantle thrown over his head and fhouiders. Thefe are membranaceous, and When this filh is taken out ©f the water, it fwells them {q much, that they feem to be blown up like a bladder. There are two fins on the back, the more forward of which, has eight or nine rays; which, when the fifh is grown up, are a little In'fF, as well as fninous. The circumference of the tail when it is expa ided, is iomcwhat roundilli. The riOfnils are fmall, the mou'.h large, and armed with fe- veral rows of fliarp teeth, and the tongue is broad, large, and fmooth. The eyes are covered with a loofe tianfparent fliin, and the pupils are fmall, and encom- pafl'ed with a red ciicle. Jt will live a long while out of the water, and it feeds upon fhrimps, the young fry of iifli, and lea infe(5l6. The O F F I S H E S. 209 The STICKLEBACK or SHARPLING, is the leaft of all fi(h we know. Jt has only one fin on the back, with three diftin<5l prickles placed before it. On the belly there are two others that are larger, flronger, and joined ;o a very hard bone ; for in the room of belly fms, there are two bony triangular plates. It can raife the prickles up, or dcprefs them towards the tail, as it pleaies, and the mouth is furnifhed with very fmall teeth. The upper jaw is a little longer than the lower, and about the \'ent it is fpotted with black. Thefe fifh are generally full of fpawn, and they are to be found m every river, lake, brook, pond, and ditch. Tiie lelTer STICKLEBACK of iUndektius, differs from the former, in having ten or eleven prickles on the back, which do not ftand upright, but incline, one to the right hand, the oiher to the left alternately. The body is alfo longer, and it has no plates on the fides, as the other has. This is alfo an inhabitant of brooks and other fmall ftreams. The SEA STICKLEBACK, has a fquare body a- bouc an inch thick, and nine inches long j towards the tnl, it is alfo fquare and very flender. The ikin i^ fmoQth, and blackifb en the back, but the belly is of a v*'hitifh yeilov/. The head is not unlike that of a Pike, only it is longer. It hath two gill-fins, and another of a triangular fhape on the back, from which there runs a fVrait row of fifteen prickles a little inclined, but di- Hindi, and not connefted together by a membrane. In the middle of the belly there are two prickles, and one at the vent, A triangular iin terminates the tail. C H A P. 210 THENATURAL PIISTORY CHAP. XXIII. Of American lijh 'with a fivgU Fin on the Bjck, nvhoje Rays are all/pinous^ THE ACARAPUCA of the Bramaus,^ is a river fifh half a yard in length, and four orfive inches broad. The fnout is fharp 2X the end, and the mouth is without teeth. The eyes are large, vvkh an irib mixed with white and brown. Every part flilncs with fmall fcales of a filver colour, only on the back there is a lit- tle mixture of gold. On each fide there are fix oblong blucifh red fpots, which are not very confpicuoiis, and the back-fins, as well as the tail, are of a light blue, and fo are the fide fins. There are two at the bottom of the belly, which, with thofe near the vent, are a little vellowifli. The GUATACUPA JUBA of the BrafiUans, grows to the length of two feet, and has a back a little crooked. The fnout is triangular, and fharp at the end, and the teeih are exceeding fmall, with large eye5, which have a red iris. The fins are as in the former, only they are white as vyell as the belly. The fcales are pretty large, of a filver colour, and there are flripes of a filver colour with a reddifli caft, v/hich run along the body from the head to the tail. The head is of a yel- lowiHi filver colour mixed wich red. The ACARA of the B'afihar.s, is a palm in length, and has a body not unlike a Pearch. The mouth is narrow, and the jaws as rough as a (ile. The eyes are not large, but havca golden circle, and the fins are as in the former. The tail is obloag, and the Icales are pretty large, of a filver colour, but on the head, back, and fides, they are mixed with umber. In the middle of each fide there is a large black fpot, as alio near the root of the tail. 7 his is a river fifh, and keeps con- Itantly in frefli water. The ACRAPITAMBA of the /?;-^///«;/ , has an ob- long body like a Barbel, and grows to. the length of two feet ■^T^ ,,^7^l/^i/t^r^^^^ ■ 'y/iJ/Tf /I . /^errf/i^x: O F F I S H E S. 211 feet and better. The moath is fmall, furniihed with teeth, and the eyes are large, with a red iris. The tail is five inches long, and forked ; and the fcales are like thofe of a Carp, but of a blue purple colour. The la- teral lines are of a gold colour, and an inch and half broad, -nning from the eyes to the tail. Above thefe lines there are golden fpecks, and under them iine yel- low lines running according to the length of the fifli. The back- tin and the tail, are as it were gilded, and thofe on the belly and fides, are of a whitifh yellow. Their fins fhine gready in the night. The URiBACO of the Braftlians, has a crooked back, a protuberant belly, and is fifteen or fixteen inches long, and five or fix broad. The teeth are fmall and Iharp, the gills large, the eyes great, with a filver coloured iris mixed witii a litde red. The fins are like the reil: of this kind, only thofe on the fides and belly are whitifh, or of a fiiver colour. The back-fin and the tail, which is divided into two horns, have more of red than of a filver colour. The fcalcs are large, and are all of a filver colour, with a little reddifh caft. The la- teral lines are red, above which there is a large black ipot on each fide of the backward pai'C of the body. The SEA DEVIL, is four feet long, andjbroadin proportion. It has a bunch on its back, covered with thorns or prickles, like thofe of a hedge-hog ; and the fkin is hard, unequal, rough, and of a black colour,, rifing into feveral fmall bunches, between which there are two fmall black eyes. The mouth is extremely wide,, and armed with fjveral very iharp teeth, two of which are crooked, like thofe of a wild boar. Jt has four fins and a broad tail forked at the end; but that which gave it the name of the Sea Devil, are two black fiiarp horns over the eyes, which bend towards the back. It is a very frightful fi(h, and its lieih is a deadly poifon. There is another fifh called the SEA bl^:VlL, about a foot long, and as much broad ; but they can blow themfelves up in fuch a manner, as to appear as round as a ball. The mouth is wide, armed with iharp teeth," and inlead of a tongue, there is a very hard bone. The ryes fparkle grcatiy, and yet are fo fmall, that the' pupil 212 THE NATURAL HISTORY pupil can hardly be difcenied j between them there is a fmall horn bending backwards. There is alfo a large thread hanging from its mouth, and the tail is like the end of an oar. There are two bunches, one on the back tha: is upiight, and another under the belly ; as aifo two fins, which anfwer to each other, on each fide of ihe beliy, and which terminate in fmall paws eight inches long, and armed with fliort claws. The fkin is rough, and dark red under the beliy^ {potted with black. The fleili is not good to cat. There is likewifc another SEA DEVIL on the gold coafl of Guhjey, which has four eyes, is twenty-five feet in length, and about eighteen bread. On each fide there is an angular fubllance as hard as horn, and \try iharp, which renders this f.fh very dangerous ; the tail is as long as a whip, and has alfo a dangerous point. The back is covered with fmall lumps, two inches hjg^h, and fliarp at the ends ; the head is large, but there is no appearance of any neck, and the mouih is furnifhed with flat cutting teeth. Two of the eyes are near the throat, which are round and large ; and the other two are placed above them, but very fmall On each fide the threat tlicrc arc three horns of an equal length, the mid- dle-mofl of which is three feet long, 2nd an inch and a half in diameter; but they are flexible, and can do little harm. The flefh is tough, and not ft to be eaten. The PIRA ACANGATARA, that is the filli with a hard head, is of the fize of a middling Pearch, being feven or eiglit inches long, with a mouth of a moderate fiEe, with eyes that have an iris of a dark gold colour mixed with red. The fins are as in the Uribaco, and the tail i- forked. The fcales are of a filver colour, with a flame coloured call, and on the belly they are of a filver colour inclining to a fea green. The back-fin fliines like filver, and is marked with brov/n ipots. The Lde fins are white, thofe on the belly blucifh, and the t.dl-fin is blueilh at the end. The PJRA NEMA of the Brafihansy is of the fize of a middling Carp, being ten or eleven inches long, and three broad. I'he mouth is widf, roundilh, and with- out teeth, bui the jaws are rough. I'he tyes are large. With O F F I S H E S. 213 with a white iris, only the upper part is red. The gills are very large, and the fins aie placed as in the rell of this kind, but the back-fin reaches from the hinder part of the head to the tail, and has twenty-two fpines. The whole fifli is of a filver colour, with a call of that of gum lack ; but in the body it is lighter, being almoft white. The RED PUDIANO or BODIANO, is of the fize of a middling Pearch, and two inches in breadth. The head is fmall, the fncut fliarp, and the mouth armed with little fharp teeth. The eyes are a little prominent, with a double circle, the outermoft of which is white, and the inner yellow. The fins are the fame with re- gard to the number, fhape, fituation, as in the for- mer ; and the body is covered with fine fcales, fo cloiely united, that ihey are fmooth to the touch. The colour of the whole body is yellow mixed with gold, only the top of the head, and the whole back, to the middle of th^ fides, is of a fine purple colour mixed with that of black. The edges of the great fin on the belly, near the tail, is alfo purple, as well as thofe that lye near it. The rell of the fins, and the tail, as well as the hinder part of the back -fin, are of a yellow or gold colour. The GREEN PUDIANO, has an oblong body, and from the extremity of the fncut to the beginning of the tail, it is ten inches long and three broad, with a fharp fnout ; at the end of the upper jaw, there are two fhajp Jong teeth, and then a row of Imall ones. In the undtr jaw, there are four of the fame kind, and behind them a row of lefTer white teeth. The eyes are fmall, with a circle about the pupil, which is of a gold colour within, and whitiih on the outfide. The back-fin is of a gold colour, with blue undulated ftreaks according to the length, and the lateral fins arc whitifh, with a blue line about the circumference. The belly-fins are of the fame colour, and that at the vent ofareddilh brown, with blue fireaks. The tail is reddifh, ftreaked with a fea green colour, and the fcales are broad and yellow, inclining to gold, with a moft beautiful blue on the ^dges, 1 he upper part of the head is of a gold colour, with 21-4- THE NATURAL HISTORY with a large fea-gn n fpot furrounded with azure, and vai-iegated with b. e, yellow, greeniili, and whitifK flreaks. CHAP. XXIV. Of Eaft-India Fijh not fully defcriled. THE SEA HOG, is about fifteen or fixteen inches long, and feven broad. It has a very thick fkin, and fuch clofe hard fcales, that fcarce any inilrument will pierce them ; but when boiled, the fcales come off with eafe, and then the Ikin is very loft. The flcih is white, refembling the bread of a chicken, and the mouth fmall in proportion to the fize, but is armed with two rows of white fhining teeth. On the back, which is brown, there is a Iharp fin, which this fifhcan ercd at pleafure, and fuch another oppofite to it on the belly. The other fins are not fo ftrong, nor of a pale blue. The be)ly is of a fliining filver white, but the fides are mixed with yellow, which gradually turns to an afli colour on the back. It has large brown fhining eyes, and when boiled, is very well tafled. The STONE BREAM is four feet long, aad in fhape like our common Breams, with large eyes, a big red mouth, and the fins, and the extremity of the tail, are of the f>.me colour. They are taken at fea with a hook, and the ficlh is excellent, dreifed any way. . The BALD PATE, is fo called, from having no fcales on the head and neck, though the reil of the body is covered with them. It is of a greyifh colour, and the mouth which is very wide, is fpotted with red. The eyes are large, yellow, and prominent, and it is taken in the rivers as well as the fea. The flelli is ex- ceeding good. The Yt^.LLOW TAIL, is of the fhape and fize of a Bream, with veiy iharp pominent teeth on the fore part of the mouth. The back is inclining to yellow, and the tail is of a bright yellow ; but the belly is blue, inclining to brown towards the fore part. It l)as red fins^ ^ai^e Qy4 i^a i/^z-i^ - £^e^z^£^t^u -< /^. ! ... *.^-^z^^^.n ^//rte-J^/'^.^/t ^ O F F I S H E S. 215 fins, anJ is caught in the fea near the rocks, and is in high elteem. The KAELT FISH, is fomewhat like a Pike, with a mouth full of fharp teeth, and the eyes are large and bright. The belly and tail are of a parple colour, and the back brown. It is about a foot and a half in length, and has a thick plump body. It fwiras very fwiftly, and is well tafted, though the flefh is fomewhat hard. The RAVEN FISH, has a mouth like a bill under the head, and is about a fpan long, with a red back and tail, but the belly is inclining to yellow, and has cwo yellow ftreaks on each fide. It is a very firm fifh, and wholefome. It is taken in fait waters. The KING'S FISH, is fo called, becaufe it is in the higheft efteem in the E\fl -India, It is five feet in length, with a long forked tail, and the back and fides are full of brown fpots, but the belly is white. It can open its mouth extremely wide, and is a very foul feeder. The SEA EEL, or WATER SERPENT, is about three feet long, and of a brown colour, yai'iegated with black fpots like the Ikin of a Serpent. The fore part of the body is llender ; but it is as thick again towards the tail, and has a long head and mouth, with fbai'p teeth, which are exceeding fm all. It delights in rocky places, and is valued as a dainty ; however, thofe that catch it, are generally feized with a trembling, but it does not continue long. The SEA COCK, is more like a fea monller than a fifh, and is about two feet long, with a broad thick body, a great part whereof belongs to the head. On the back there are two long fins, but one is longer than the other, and below, there are three more that are very long and flender. The tail is forked and of a brown colour, but the belly is yellow. 1 he fkin glitters like filver, and the fins are red. It is caught in the fait water. The WHITE FISH has a thick fhorthead, and a brown back, with a blue belly, inclining \q yellow. The flefli is pretty well tailed. The GRUNTING FISH, is fo called from the noife it makes when taken. It is very plump, and about a fpan 2i6 THE NATURAL HISTORY fpan in length, with a head not unlike a RufF. There arc three lines which run on each fide, two brown, and one yellow. The fleih is very well tailed. The HOG FISH, is not above a fpan in length, and the colour of the fcales is inclining to a blackifli green ; the fins and tail are of the fame colour, but the eyes arc yellow. It is a frefh water filh, very plump, fat, and well tailed. The Eaji-lndian GURNARD, is almoft round, with a fkin full of knobs, and fpots, and of a brownilh colour ftreaked -Aith black. The head is very thick, Ihort, and full of knobs, with a large mouth and red eyes. The tail is alfo very round and Ihort, and on each fide of the body is a red fin. The flelh is pretty well tailed. The SEA LOUSE is an odd fort of a filh, covered with a Ihell, about a foot in length. It has the ap- pearance of a round lump, with a very long tail, and fmall legs or fins on each fide. Its colour is gray, in- clining to green, and it is catched near Bata^via, and is very Teldom oaten, unlefs by the Jan-anefe and Chinefe. The LAMPREY, or rather EEL POUT, is about a foot long, with a fmooth Ikin, llippery like an Eel, though not fhaped like one. It is brown on the back, and there are yellow fpots on the belly ; and the fins under the belly are purple. The head is made like that of a Snail, having feelers thereon. The fins are vene- mous, though the flelh is agreeable to the talle. It is caught in ponds and lakes. The CABOS, is a kind of an Eel Pout, but larger than the former, being about two feet in length, and very fat. The Ikin is alfo very fmooth, without fcales, and of a brownilh colour. The fnout is pale, fpotted with black, and the head is thick and Ihort, with the eyes in -the forehead. The flelh is \txy well tolled. The PEN FISH, is alfo a kind of an Eel Pout, with a fmooth Ikin, without fcales, and is about a foot in length. The back is brown, the belly of a pale blue, and the fins are alfo brown ; but they are very fharp and venemous. The flelh is well tailed, but unwholefome when eatea too freely. It inhabits lakes and ponds. The (If 4 C^it/^rLA^^Ua/z r^/ea ~^t$-^^. '^'a^f ^^^ ^//Zfne ^^reani^^ O F F I S H E S. 217 The JACOB EVERTSEN FBH, is about ten feet long, and fometimes weighs above four hundred pounds. It is blue on the belly, brown upwards, and is full of ' dark red fpots near the head and tail. It has a large white mouth, with a fhort brown tail, and many fins turning up towards the tail. The CROOK BACK FISH, is fo named from its fhape, and it has a fmooth flcin "without fcales, with a white belly, yellow fins and tail. Jt fometimes grows to above four feet in length, and the flelh is in great requeft all over the Eajl-Indies, on account of its agree- able tafte. The HORN FISH, is fo called from the horn it has on the top of its head, or beginning of the back. It is about a fpan in length, or foraewhatmore, with a large head, and litde mouth, one half of this fifh being no- thing but head. The Ikin is very bright, the back blueifh, the belly white, and the fins and tail yellow ; the body of this fifli feems to change its colour accord- ing to the different lights in which it is placed. The KNESSEN, is a fort of baftard Carp, about a fpan in length, and pretty broad, with ihick fcales. It is a frefh water fifh, very well tailed. The KLIP FISH, has a fmooth (kin without fcales, and is £at and broad, being about the fize of a Plaice, it is brown on the back, fpotted with white ; but the belly is entirely white, and the fides are variegated with ftreaks of feveral colours. The mouth and eyes are like thofe of a Bream, but the back -fins have prickly rays like thofe of a Pearch, and the tail is Iharp ; it is fdlJom above a fpan in length, and the flefh is exceed- ing good, it being firm, flaky, and of an agreeable taftc as well as wholeiome. The UNICORN FISH takes its name from the;; shorn on the top of its head, and there are two more underneath, which are very brittle and venemous, in- f jmuch, that if any part remain in the wound, it wiU fcarce admit of a cure. I he FLAT FISH, is about a foot long, with a fmooth fkin without fcales, and a v*'hite mouth. The body ihines all over like filver, and on the back there is .a fmall fin, with one on each fide. U-nder the belly Vol. III. L there 2i3 THE NATURAL HISTORY there is a fingle fin, which is in the room of a tail.. It is a frefh water filh, and is very well tailed, but is full of fmall bones, for which reafon it is of no great value. The Red Fish is a kind of a Bream, and the back, fides, -and fins, are of a dark red colour, but the belly is blue, and two of the fins are yellow. It has a very thick body, and a fharp fnout, with a large mouth and yellow eyes. Some of thefe fifh are four feet in length. The BITTER FISH, is of the fliape and fize of a Carp, with large fcales and red fins ; and there are two black rings round the tail. It is very well tailed, but as it is very full of fmall bones, it is not much regarded. The PARROT FISH, is fo called from its mouth, which is hooked like the bill of a Parrot. It is a foot in length, and fometimes more, and the colour is greenilh, variegated near the head with yellow. The fins are blue as well as the eyes, which are very fpright- ly and large, having a yellow iris. The fcales are very large, and there are two rows of ftrong teeth in the mouth, with which it breaks open Mufcles and OyRers. The flelh is very firm and well tailed. The SHORT NOSED FISH, is in fhape not unlike a Haddock, having a round body. It is yellow on the belly as well as the fins, and the mouth isjuil under the nofe, which is very fnort. '1 he flefh is faid to be well tailed. The BONE FISH, is of the fize and fiij^pe of a Carp, but flatter, and the head is different. It has large fcales and a forked tail. The fielh is very good, but is full of fmall bones, from whence it takes its name. The SAND SMELT, is for fize and colour like a fmall Whiting, though the belly is a little yellowilh. It is a fea fifh, and very well tailed. The POCK FISH, is generally above a foot in length and the flcin is fmooth without fcales ; however, it is very bright, and changes its colour according to the dif- ferent lights in which it is placed, fometimes feeming blue, then green or purple. It is a long fifh but not broad, and foniewhat refembles a large Smelt, having a forked tail, and a mouth furniflied with teeth. It is very well tailed, but being full of bones is not much regarded. The /''afe '2/<>' '■^^^ J/m/ia^i yea-^t^ ad 4 Vma/e/^ Cra/^.^ 7/liy^uc<:xx //v?/ OF FISHES. 219 The CHINESE FISH is round, and about a fpan in length, with a head like an Eel, fmall eyes and a long tail. It is green on the back, and white on th? belly. It is a frefh-water fifh, and thofe caught in rivers are good ; but thofe taken out of ponds are un- wholefome. The PIT FISH is no bigger than a large Smdt, and has a round body without icales, and full of green and yellow fpots. They are remarkable for their being able to thruft their eyes out of the head, and to draw thera ia again. The fins on the back are Iharp pointed, and though they delight in muddy places, the fie(h is very well tailed. Jt is a very nimble fiih, and will leap a great way. The EAST INDIAN MULLET is a very fine fi(h, which they dry in the fun and tranfport to diilant places. It is of a white colour chequered with blue and purple, and fwims very fwiftly. Jt is fo nimble that it will nut only leap over a net, but even a fifher- maii's boat. They are very well tailed when in feafon ; but there are times when they are peitered with worms, and then they arc good for nothing. The SEA SNIPE is fo called trom its mouth, which refembles the bill of a Snipe. Some are uve feet long, with a head like that of a hog, and large bright eyes. There is a large fharp fin on the back, which reaches from the head to the tail^ and is very broad and fuil of fpots. The SEA KORETTE is fix or feven feet in length, with laige yellowiih eyes, and a forked yellowifh grey tail. The fins arc yellow, and under the belly which is blue inclining to green, and under the tail there are feveral fins. They are very bright, and (hinc likeli'.ver when they are catched at fea wiih hooks. The flefh is very well tadcd and not unwholefome, for which reafon Ic is often a very great refrcuimeat to fnips that fail iu thofe feas. I'he SEA CATT is an odd fliaped fifh, wliofe ej-es are exceeding large in proportion to the body. 1 he back is of a purple colour, and the belly is blue fpottcd v.'ith purple. The tail, in proportion to the hjdy, is ^ery broad, befides v/hich there are no fins, except on L z the 220 THE NATURAL HISTORY *he fore-part of the head, where there are feven, which point diiedly forwards like the feelers of Shrimps. It is thought to be very good, efpecially when dried in the fun. Another SEA CAT is of a very flrange {hape, the back p^rt being an oval lump on which the head fccms to hang, it has long large eyes, a fmooth Ikin inclining to blue, only the telly is brown. The entrails of this £lli contain a glutinous matter, which ferves the Chinefe to make ink of. They dry the flelh in the fun, and then it is of great requeft among the Indiatis, though it cces not digtrt very eafily. The LEAPING FISH is fo called, becaufe they are always leaping and playing on the furface of the water, it is about the fize of a Herring, and is without fms on the back. The head is full of knots, and the body is of a greyiih colour, fpotted with black ; but towards the belly the fpots are lighter. It is a fea-fifii, and well tailed, efpecially when broiled. The PAMPUS is about a foot in length and a fpan broad, being not unlike a Plaice ; but the &in is fmooth. The eyes are placed on both fides, and the mouth dire(flly in the middle. It is well tailed, efpecially after it is dried. 'I he EAST INDIAN WHITING is abou- the fize of our Whiting, and has a round prominent belly, a ftrait back, and a turned up mouth. The tail is forked, and it has only one large fin on the back, with feveral fmall ones between the belly and the tail. It is full of Iheaks A\ over the body, and there are two wattles or barbs under the mouth. The fiefh is xevy well tailed. The FIVE FINGERED FISH takes its name from five black fpots on each fide, refembling the prinrs of fingers. It is about a foot and a half long, with a fmall head, a large mouth, and brown pointed fins towards the tail. The colour is of a fhining blue mixed with purple ; but there are no fcales on the body. It is pretty well tailed, and is very common in the Enji Indian feas. The ROUND FISH has fome rcfemblance to a "W hiting, only it has a fmall head and tail, and a pro- minent O F F I S H E S. 221 nvlnent belly, with fins on the lower part of it like thofe of an Eel. The fiefh is very well ta^ed. The FORK TAIL FISH has a long round body, wirh a very long forked tail, from whence it takes its name. Its head refembles that of a Herring, with a long barb or briille on the top of it, and two more be- low the mouth like thofe of Shrimps but la;-ger, which they keep clofe to the body when they are iwimmine. I'he fize is like that of a IVIackrel, but the tafte is not extraordinary. ThePYED FISH is fo called from its colour, its tail and fins being brown, fpot^ed with pale blue fpots. It is about a foot in length, pretty thick, and without fcales. ■ The Eyes which are yellow, are furrounded with a blue circle, and under the throat there hangs a crop. It has a little mouth, and on each fide there is a yellow fin. It is in great elleem among the native Indians, being well tailed ; but in fome part of the belly there is a venemous matter which mull be taken out when gutted. . The FOUR FINGERED FISH of Margr.^e, is fo called from having four large black (pots on each fide, which are of a violet colour in the circumference. It .is about feven inches long, and has a fmall mcuth with large eyes. The two back fins are of a middle fize ; but thofe on the belly are large and broad, each of which are marked with five filver- coloured fpots. The colour on the back is blackilh, and between the fpots on the fides of a fea green, but the reft of the body is of a filver colour. The Ikin- is fmooth and without fcales. CHAP. XXV. Of the Weft Indian Fij\ defcrihed hy Du Tertre. THE BECUNE, or SEA PIKE, is very like a river Pike, only it is much larger, for fometimes it is met with above eight feet in length. It is a very greedy filh, and moft' dangerous in the water, becaufe ^ 3 it 222 THE NATURAL HISTORY it can bite more ev.fiy than a fhark, and will not be driven aA-ay by any noife that can be made. The flcfh has the fame laiie as a freOi-vvater Pike ; but there is often great danger in eating it, for unlcfs the teeth are white and the li\er fwcet it is venemous. The reafon may be from its feeding on raanchineel apples whicli fall from the trees into the fea. TheTASSART is another fort of Sea Pike, v^hich is commonly taken among the iflands near the rock» where ihe tide is ftrongeft, and the fea moft in motion. Some of them are five or fix feet in length, and it is a very greedy fifli ; for it will very readily take a bait on a large hook which is faftentd to a line, and drawn along by a veiTel, though it fhould fail as fwiftly as an trrow out of a bow. But there fhoL-^d be an iron chain near the hook, for he will readily fnap a rope in two wiih his teeth. Some of them have been taken with three hooks in their bellies almoft as thick as a man's finger. The flefh is whi:e, and as good as that of a river Carp, only it is harder and not (o eafily digefted. The CARANGUE is a white flat fifh, and yet the eyes are placed on each fide the head. It is from two to three feet in length, eighteen inches broad and fix thick. The back fins arc very unequal, and thofe on the gills are pointed, and very near the head. The tail is forked. There is fo many of thefe fifh in the fea near the Caribbee i^ands that hundreds of them may be feen every morning leaping out of the water in purfuit of fmall fifh, even clofe to the land. They enter the rivers in the night, where they are commonly caught, and then one man is not fufficient to draw them out ; for they are fo ftrong that they make nothing of breaking a line as thick as one's finger. The flelh is exceeding good, even preferable to that of a Trout. The CAPTAIN, is a fifh that is red all over, and has one fin on its back which is very long when it is creeled, and armed with large fpines or prickles ; the gill uns arc of the fame make, and they fight o:her fifh therewith. It is prcitty much like a Carp, being covered with fcales like that fiOi ; but it is much more long and thick, fome being above three feet long and ten inches in diameter. They fwim in Ihouls, and it is com- moa O F F I S H E S. 223 mon to take ten or a dozen of them at a time Jn a net. There are fome fix feet lona, and thick in pro- portion, being covered all over with fpots twice as big as thofe of a Carp. The ileih ol this.fiih is wliiie» well tailed, and very nourifliing. With regard to flat Fifh fome of them are exceeding large and very uncommon ; for one of thefe ne?r the ifland of St. Chrijlofker's^ came within a mulket fliot of the fhore, and two boats with about twenty men each were fent out after it. They flruck it with three harpons at once, which were fo far from killing it, that it dragged the boats a grtai way into the open iea ; infomnch that they deipaired g^ taking it. However it was tired at length and grew weak with the lofs of blood, and then they brought It on inore It waj twelve feet in kngth inn-^ head to tail, «ind ten ia breadth from one fin to the other, 1 he flclh wss io hard and tough that it was not ftt to eat ; hcvever they took out the liver, which required twelve men to drag it along. There is another particular fort of Fifh with a fnout like a hog, and a tail three, and fometimes four feet long, which grows fmallcr by degrees, Jt is all over black, and has the appeirancc of a fwitch made of whalebone, the gendemen ufe it inliead of a whip ; but at the top ot the tail there are two prickles like hooks, which are fo venemous, that a perfon hurt there- with is fure to die unlefs proper medicines are applied in time. However, it carries an antidote along with it, for if a bit of the flefh be laid upon the wound it is a certain cure. This fiili feems to be akin to the Sea Eagle. The SEA NEEDLE of the PFeJl Indies has a fquare body above a foot in length, and of a bluilh colour. It is a little greenifn on the back, and of a filver colour under the belly. The head is almoil triangular, and at the two upper corners of it there are yellow eyes, and a fnout near ten inches long, which is hard, {lender, and as lliarp as a needle. The mouth is armed with jTmall hooked teeth, and the lower jaw is longer than the upper. The fm that runs from the head to the tail 15 green, and (hines like glafs ; and there aie two fins near the bead, befides two otheis under the belly, the L 4 tail 224 THE NATURAL HISTORY tjil is forked like that of a mackrel, and is white and well tailed. The ORFIE is a fifh fomewhat like the former ; but it darrs itfelf out of the water very fvviftly to" the length of thirty paces, r.nd if a man fiiould Hand in its way at that time it would certainly make a pafiage through his iovjy. The fiefh is as gcod as that of the farmer, pro- ijced it has not fed upon manchinccl apples; which )oay he known by the dirtinefs of the teeth, that are larger than thofe of the former, and if thefe are not "xtry white there is danger in eating it. 'I'he BALAOU is about the length of a Sardin, and its lower jaw confifts of a Ihong cartilage about the length of a man's finger, which is ilender and as fharp as a needle at the end. The flefh of thisfefliis delicate and well tailed. The SEA PARROT is in fnape much like a Carp, and all the (bales on the back are of a brownilh green ; Lilt thofe below it as far as the belly, are of a light green. It has no teeth, but in their room there are •t'A'o exceeding hard bones. The fins and tail are beautifully variegated, with blue, yellow, and red; infoniuch that when they are expanded they look as beautiful as a Parrot or Parroqueet, from whence it has its name, and not from its fnout, like that taken notice of before. The flefn'is good, well tailed, and nourifliing. The MUR^NA is a fort of a Sea Serpent, but fhapsd like an Eel, though not fo round. They ara feldom feen above two feet in length and four inches in breadth. The head is round, and the mouth wide, armed with two rows of flrong teeth as fharp as needles. The fkin of the female is brown, and variegated with fpots like flowers of a gold colour ; but the male has only a row of gilt fpots that run from the head to the tail. Cut the greateft particulaiity of this fifh is, that the great fin that runs from the head to the tail has rays that bend forward inllead of backward. It has a pro- digious ftrength in its tail, for when it is (ii)^td for it often clings or flicks to a rock, and then you may pull the head off, before it will let go its hold, which has fallen out fcveral limes. Uiilefs this fi(h be old the flefh 0 r F I S H E S. 225 is a- foft and as clammy as melted glue, and when it is come to maturity, it is fo full of bones that few will give themfclves the trouble to pick them out, though then the flefli is white and well tailed. The PiLOT FltiH is about the fize and ihape of a. Mackrel, with a long fmooth head, and a fnout which advances four inches beyond the mouth. It has two imall fins near the head, and one that runs along the back from the head to the tail, befides another under the belly of the fame length. The head is very fmall, and the body is covered with a Ikin that has fpots in the form of a lozenge. The Fremh call it a Pilot Filli, becaule as they fay, vihen it meets with a fhip it always follows it till it reaches the harbour j it likevvife keeps company with fharks. That defcribed by Sir Hans Sio -n is almoil of a fquare fhape, if the fins are included, being five inches long and four broad in the middle. The mouth is fmall, with feveral rows of little teeth, and the eyes large with a white iris. There are two fms on the back, and that neareft the head is oblong at the beginning, and the fucceeding rays are fom.ewhat fpiny. That beyond it is very large, and anfwers to another of the fame k'nd on the belly. 1 he tail is almofl fquare, and the whole body is covered with afh coloured fcales, except three or four tranfveife flripes, 7 he latersl lines are crooked. Hence it appears, that this is a different fifli from the former. Captain Cook fays, that a Pilot Fifh appears in the v/ater much like a Mackrel, and feems to be painted with blue and white llripes like a barber's pole. He alfo informs us, there is another fort, which when out of the water is of a deep blue, only the belly is of a- lighter colour than the back and fides ; and the fcales are fmooth like thofe of a Tench ; but the back is fpeckled like the fkin of a Seal. It is eight inches long from head to tail, and three inches broad. The ficih. i^ accoujited very good. I- ^ CHAP. 226 THE NATURAL HISTORY CHAP. XXVI. Of the African fijh near the Cape of Good Hope, TH E ELFT is a Tea fifb taken in the table bay, and in fome things refembles a Shad. It is three quarters of a yard in length or fomewhat more, and has fcales like thofe of a Herring, only they are of a yel- lowiih colour. The bnck is whitidi, the belly white, fpotted with black, and at the bottom of it there runs a black llripe or lift from the head to the tail. This fiih is full of bones, and the flelh is fo hard that it is (cldom eaten for its own fake, but that of the fauce generally made for it. The SILVER FISH is of the fhape and fize of a Carp of a pound weighr, and the tafte is not much different. It is of whitiili colour, and adorned with filver ihining llripes, that run tranfverlly from the back to the fides. I'hey feem to be covered with leaf filver, as well as the tail, and the mouth is furnilhed with fmall ftarp teeth, This filli keeps generally in the fea, though it fometimes enters the mouth of rivers, at which time great numbers of them are taken. The BENNET is a fea fifli, and is often taken with a hook by the failors. It is nearly as long and as thick as a man's arm, and weighs ilx or eight pounds. It is a very beautiful iifh. having large fcales of a deep purple colour ftreaked with gold. The eyes are red, the mouth little and without teeth; and near the gills there arc tAO fins of a gold colour. The tail is led, aiid looks like a pair of fciffars when open. The fcales are tranfparcnt, for when they are taken off, the Ikin is of a fnining purple. The flelh is red, and divided into flakes by a fort of membrane. It preferves this colour v>hen it is boiled, but it is not fo lively. The flelh is a little dry and hard, and yet it is well tailed and eafy of ^i^ellion. The HOTTENTOT FISH are fo called, becaufe the Dutch firil bought thefe fifhof iht Hcttentois. l hey are of tv;o or three forts, one of which has its back andfidjs of a black iih colour^ and the head of a dark purple. O F F I S H E S. 227 purple. Another fort is of a deep blue, and feems to be fpotted. The firfl fort is fomewhat more round, more broad, and more fliort than the fecond. It weighs about a pound, and is feven or eight inches long. They may be called Sea Breams, from tkdr likenefs to that iilh. They feed upon fea weeds, and any fihh that is thrown into the fba. They are but feldom caught with a net, unlefs driven by a tempeil near the fliore. The Hcttentcts take them with an angle, whillling and mak- ing as much noife as they can at the flime time ; for they imagine this makes them bite fooner. Thefe fifh are very wholefome and well tailed, and when the fiihermen cannot difpofe of them while frefh, they fslt and dry them in the fun, and keep them to fell to the* mailers of fhip^^. The JACOB EVERTSEN FISH already mentioned, if^ called the Sea Bream by the Dutch. There are two forts Of them, the firfl of which is covered with red fcaJes fpotted with blue, except the middle of the body, which is of a gold colour, and on the belly it is of a pale red. The eyes are large and red, with hlver- coloured circles about ihem ; but the mouth is fmall, and furnilhed with fiender teeth. It appears to be under the throat, and its fleih is excellent and very wholefome. The fecond fort diiFers from the former in being larger, in having a fmaller mouth, and under 'the thi:oat it is cf a deep red. All thefe f.ili keep in the fea, but the two laft are feld©m met with in deep water. This liih has its name from Jac.b E^oertfcn^ who lived £1 the Cape, and liad a large red nofc, wirh a (kin io pitted with the fmall pox, that when he was fhaved i^ome of the hair always remained in the pitts. At this time his face had a great rcfemblance to the Red Bream., as well tin accocmt of its colour as tht fpors which re- mained. This man failed once to the iHand of St. Maurice to take thefe iifh ; and the (hip's compr.n-y being on fhore and in a phafunt humour, bellevved u] on them the captain's name, which they have kept ever fmce, not only at the Ca^e cf GooJ Ho^s, but in tiie Mafi LJies. . The CABELJAU, fo called by the Dutch, \2 of feveral kinds, but they only fait one of them which is • L 6 uot 228 THE NATURAL HISTORY n t fpottcd like that of the fame name in the Eajl Indies, It is of an alh colour, and covered with large fcales, and there is a black lift runs from the head to the tail. It is two or three fe^t long, and has very hard fins, 'i'his fifii if e.iten while frefn, is extreamly good and (delicate ; but after it is falted it becomes hard of digeilion. However it is very nouriftiing, and very good for the flaves, as well a- fuch as work hard. The PLAIlE, fo called, becaufe it is like one, it being a flat fifh near an inch thick. On each iide the mouth there is a large round fpot, which fhines like chryftal. The fiicut is pointed and almoft tranfparent ; but the lower jaw is covered with a rough f-<.in. There are alfo fhining fpots on feveral parts of the body, and the tail is very thin. Thefe fiih cafl: a great deal of fpawn, and when the eggs come to perfection they are covered with a cubical (hell of a chefnut colour. 'l~here are about three hundred of thefe in one roc. The ilefli is very hard, and not very eafy of digeftion, nor is it well tailed. It has no fpines or bones, it being a car- tilaginous fifh. The lioiterJots take great numbeis of them, and fell them to the Europeans at the Cape for fuch trilles as thev Hand in need of. The STONE EREAM or r.OLK BREAM, is taken at the mouths of rivers, where they come with the tide in large ihoals. They are much like a Carp in Ihapc, but the flefh is much firmer, and not fo bony. It is- from a foot and a half to three feet long, and weghs from two to eight pounds. They are of difTer^nt , colours, though they are all brown on the back ; but fome have Itripcs of the fame colour on the fides, which renders them the more beautiful, becaufe the other fcales are large and white in thofe parts. The fleih is very good either frefh or failed. The STOMPNEUSEN, that is the nat nofe, is fo called, becaufe the fore part of the head is flat, tho- fc-^lcs are large and of a purple colour, and they have great eyes, with round ftiarp teeth. They are not very plentiful, though the fltfh is very del cate, and perhaps the more in eftcem, becaufe it is fcarce. The ZEE-TON G is little ciherent from a Sole, if not the fame fifh. Some of thefe that are fo called have fmaU OF FISHES. ^29- fmall fcales, and others have none at all. The eyes, if the exprelTion maybe allowed, -are upon the back,. which is blackifli as well as the fins ; but thofe under the belly are white, the belly itfelf being of the lame colour. The NAMELESS FISH was taken near the coaft of /^f ica, in tlie latitude of ten degrees. None of the faiiors had ever feen any of thefe fort of fiih before, and yet they did not think proper to beftow a name upon it contrary, to cuftom. It was eight feet in length, and the head and tail were a foot and a half in diameter, or four feet and a half in circumference. It was without fcale^, but had a thick rough fkin, like fiiagreen. It was taken by a large hook fattened to an iron chain that was defigned to catch Sharks. It was drawn up to the fide of the fhip, where it was kept till it was dead ; for it feemed fo flrong, that they durft not draw it upon the deck for fear of the mifchief it might do. It had a very large mouth armed with twelve great teeth, fix in the upper jaw and fix in the lower. They were near two inches long, and fharp at the points. J he fnout advanced fix inches beyond the lower jaw, and the parts about it were covered with a rough (kin like that on the reft of the body, and of a- greyilh colour. The lips were of a bright led, and the eyes were large, red, and fparkled like fire. A Shark came near it while it was upon the hook ; but ft received fuch a blow with this fifh's tail, that it did not. Care to make a fecond onfet. But that which appeared- molt extraordinary in this fifh, were five large incifions or clefts, which were very deep, and which this fifli would open a'd fhut at pleafure. They were in the place wliere the gills are feated in other fifh. On the fide of thefe there was an extream thick flelhy fi.n, with another of the fame lOit upon the back ; but under the belly there were two. The" tail was forked, thick, broad, ftrong, and covered with the fame fort of Ikin. As for the flefli nothing can be faid of it, for none of the faiiors would venture to touch it. C H A F, 230 THE NATURAL HISTORY CHAP, xxvir. OJ bloodlefs foft Fljh, THE POLYPUS, or MANY FOOTED FISH is large, and refembles a Cuttle Fifh, having a belly of the fame Ihape. The gullet is long, and at the end of it there is a crop or ftomach conneded to the belly, with only one gut that has never a fold. The head when it is alive is very hard, and feems to be in- flated. It has eight long thick paws or feet which itixz for fwimming, walking, and bringing any thing to its mouth when it v/ants to eat. Thefe paws are at fome diiutnce from each other, but they arc joined to- gether by a thick membrane ; and the four on the middle are iii\Q. largeft. The other four may be called barbs, and the eyes are placed on the top of two of thefe paws, and between them is the mouth furniihed with teeth. It carries on its back a long body made like a tube or pipe, which it makes ufe of like a rudder when fwimming; upon which account it turns it to the right or left according to the place to which it wants to go. The ilefh is not covered with any ap- parent (kin, and it is fpungy, hard, and not eafy of ciigellion. This fiQi is found in the Adr'ia'ick fea, and feeds upon Sheli-filh, as well as upon human bodies when it meets with any. It v/rll likewife eat fruits, herbs, and is fend of oil. Like the Cuttle Fifh, it has near the ftomach a bladder full of black or rather reddifn brown liquor, which it iheds when it wants to be concealed. The eggs are like thofe of a Cuttle Fifh, only they are white. Some give the name of Feelers to what others CLllFeet. The CUTTLE FISH is of an oblong Ihape, being about fix inches in length, and three and a half in thickntfs. The body is fomewhat oval ; but broadcft near the head, and grows fmaller towards the extremity, where it is obtufjly pointed. Its back is covered with a (hell a large as a man's hand, and about an inch thick in the midJle, but it is more /lender on the iiJes. Jt is hard above, but very fpungy and brittle below, being O F F I S H E S. 231 I)eing very white, and talks a little fakilli. The Gold- frni hs make ufe of it for many purpofes. Under its throat there is a vefTel or bladder full of liquor blacker than ink, which it fheds in the water when it wants to be concealed, or would efcape from the iifhermen. There are two forts, of legs of feelers joined to the head, which ferves this fiih for fwimming and brmging any thing to its mouth. The two Ihorteil are in the middle, and are ferrated on the infide. Next to them are two long ones, one on each fide, and the fix remaining are generally turned backwards, being of a pyramidal figure. It lives upon fmall filh, and is met with near the Ihores of the ocean, as well as of the Mediterranean fea. "] he fiefh is good to eat, and is often met with at the tables of the inhabitants of Bourdeaux, Lyonsy and Nants, in France, befides many other places. The eggs are as large as fmall grapes, and are connefled together like bunches of that fruit. They are of a deep violet colour, or blackifii, and each egg is covered with a membrane, and fupported by a liganient as long as the breadth of a finger. When they are opened, there may be feen without a microfcope, the eyes, body, and bone, which already begins to be hard ; as alfo the vefi^els in which the black liquor is contained. Thefe eggs are often met wiih on the fea Ihore, and have neither much imell nor taile. The CALAMARY, or the SLEEVE FISH, is a- kin to a Cuttle Fiih, and has an oblong cartilaginous body covered with two Ikins, in which it diiters from the Cuttle Firh, and in having fofter fiefh ; however, it has ten legs or feelers, four of v/hich, in the middle, are pyramidal, arid have rough bony tubercles on the infide of each, which make them appear as if they were ferrated. On each fide of thefe there is another, which is very long and thick at the extremities, which feem to have tubercles like fliells thereon, as the two following pair have through their whole length, that is on the in- fide, and are alfo of a pyramidal fnape. On the belly there are two receptacles or. canals full of very black liquor, %vhich might i'Qrve for ink. It lives on the fry of filh ^nd fmall Crabs ; and it is generally found at the bottom ©f the fea near Greece. Some have a very great eileera for the 252 THE NATURAL HISTORY the fledi of this fifli, and others think it very ordinary. All thefe have a fin on each fide the body. The SEA HAkE. is of a reddifh black colour when alive, but when dead, it is of a lightiili brown. Some fancy it to be of the fhape of a Land Kare, and Ronde- htius defcribes three kinds of them, the firft of which is deadly, and feems to be covered with a naked JTicll, efpecially on the back part of the body. Jt has a bone on the back as in a Cuttle Fifli, which towards the tail is a little wreathed. On each fide of the belly, there are fin<, as in the faid fifh ; and there are two flefhy horns not unlike ears ; but in reality they are feelers. One part of the head is like that of a BaJlance Fi{h, and in the ether, there is a hole, through which it thrulls a flalhy fubilance at pleafure. In the middle of thefe there i« a chink or cleft initead of a mouth ; and it refembles the Calamary, not only in the ink vefTels, but in the internal parts. HoA'ever, the liver, fpleen, ^'C. are plact'd on the contrary fide to thofe of land animals, and feem to be nothing but a confufed Mafs. It has a very naufeous fifhy fmell. The fecond SEA HARE, is bigger than the former, though it is like it in other things, except in having two broad flefhy appendages, in the middle of which there is a chink ; and the feelers are ihorter and (harper. There is no bone on the back, but on each fide of the back part there are fins, which are larger than thofe of a Cuttle Fifh. The third kmd has* its mouth underneath tlic head, and next to it is the belly in the fliape of an fig, as in Cuttle Fifh, but the extremity is jagged. Under the mouth there is a thin liefhy membrane, witb fringe on the edges, of a black colour. The whole body is glofTy, and the fmell is fo naufeous, that it make.-i people Tick that come near it. Belomus affirms, that the whole body does not exceed the fize of aGoofe ^%Z- ^Lit ^s thefe fifh feldom cornes • nJer an accurate examination, the Icfs can be faid of thciu with any cer- tainty. chap; O F F I S H E S. 233 CHAP, xxvir. Of Crufacious F',Jh. TPIESE are of a iriiddle kind, between the foft and iliell-iifh ; for they being covered v/ith a thiu fhell, they in feme fort agree with the teilacecus kind; and as the infide is flelhy, they in that refped agre-e with thofe jull defciibed. The llomach lies immediate- ly next to the mouth, and from the belly a gut proceeds, which is fmall in proportion to the body, and runs di- redly to .the vent. There are two teeth in the mouth ; but as they are not fufncient, for the comminution of the food, there are three in the ftomach, one on each fide, and the third below. Between the two teeth, there is a flefliy mbfiance in the iliape of a tongue ; and the eyes are placed over the mouth, which are hard in all of this kind; but they may be turned to any fide 'this animal pleafes. Though the head is fmall, it is defended by appendages and feelers ; and in general, they have eight feet or claws each. The right great claw is generally larger than the left; but whether it is always fo, may be doubted. There is one circumftance peculiar to thefe animals, or at leaft as far as we know iiitherto, namely, that if by any chance they loofe one or more of their claws, not excepting the largeft, they will grow again. The LOBSTER is fo well known, that it flands in little need of a defcription. The ihell is black before it is boiled, but afe 'wards it is red. It has eight claws, or legs, of which, the two foremofl are by much the largeft. They always feed at the bottom of the water, and feize on their prey with their large claws ; and when nothing better offers, they fearch the beds of mud and gravel for the worms that lye therein. I'hey are taken in pots, as the filhermen call them, that are m^de of wicker work ; and in thefe they put in the bait, and throw them to the bottom of the fea, in fix to ten fa- thom uater. The Lobfters creep into thefe for the fake of the bait ; but are not able to get out again. The fleib. 2H THENATURAL HISTORY flefh is well known to be a great rellorative, and good for confumptive people. The Hones taken out of Lobftcrs, falfely and impro- perly called Crab's eyes, are found in the bodies of frfn of this kind^ and they produce two every year, that h one on each fide the lower part of the Itomach, and nearelf the head. Thefe ftones take their origin between the two membranes of that organ. The flat or concave fide touches the internal membrane, which is thin and tranfparent, though ftrong, and of a horny fubllance, but the convex fide is ahvays outward. Jtis covered with the flefhy foft membranes of the ftomach, and the fibres leave marks on the fublhnce of the ftone. It grows by little and little, and in plates, between thefe two external membranes ; the internal, which is horny, ferves only to preferve its ftiape; for which reafon th€ Itones are always convex on that fide. The firft (hell, or plate, on which all others are afterwards laid, is placed near the center, and the edges of the feveral layers, which are fucceflively formed after this, may be feen diflinflly at the edges. In feeking for thefe (tones, you mufl endeavour to find little round circular opaque ipots, that are whiter than the reilof the ftomach ; for thefe fpcts are the places where you may exped to find thefe Hones. It has been thought that Lobfters were deprived of thefe ftone* when they loft their fhells in the fpring fca- fon every year. About the time that the lobfter is going to quit the (hell, the ftones pierce the internal and horny coat of the ftomach, and the three teeth of this organ break the ftones, and in a fhort time the fluids therein diftblve them, for which reafon they are not to be found at that time ; which makes many believe that they are then voided. However, if this affair be examined more narrowly, thefe ftones may be found there half confum- ed. It is not very certain uhat ufe thefe ftones are of to the Lobfters, though fome fuppofe that they fupply them with fluids that have a petrifying quality, and pro- per to help to form a new ftiell. It is in the very large rivers near Jjlrachan, that thofe Lobfters are produced ^'hich have the largeft ftones, where they are fold foi* about O F F I S H E S. 235 about three-pence a pound ; and from whence large quantities are tranfpnrted to other countries. The SEA LOCUST or PRAWN, is afortofLob- fter, and has two large horns or feelers placed before the eyes. They are rough and prickly near the roots, where they are very thick, and from thence they grow fmooth and more flender till they terminate in a point. They can move them on which fide they pleafe, and the eyes are horny, (landing out of the head, and are moveable every way ; and they are defended with ex- ceeding fharp prickles. . On the fides of the mouth there are fmall appendages like litde feet, and the back is very rough, with prickles ; but on the forehead there is a very Lrge one. On each fide there are five clavvy, the foremolt of which are very fmfdl in comparifon with thofe of a Lcbiler. The tail is fmooth, being without prickles, and they confilt of five fheils, which terminate in fins on each fide, which enables them to fwim from place to place ; and in this tail the whole ftrength of the Prawn confills. The two fore teeth are very large, and between the mouth and the llomach, there is a Imall one ; as alfo feveral in the ftomach itfelf. They re- ceive the water through the mouth, which they tranf- mit to the gills, that are more numerous in this fiih than in any other of this kind. There is a tube runs from the breaft as far as the vent, which in the females ferves for a uterus. It lies in a furrow of the flcfh, and runs along the upper part of the tail. The back is of a blueifli black, and the upper fore teeth are three times larger than the lower ; but they are both fharp pointed. They are found in the Mediterranean fea, particularly near Genoa. In the Eaji-lndian feas, they are faid to grow to the length of four cubits ; but this feems to be incre- dible. In the winter they frequent the rocky places near the fliores j but in the fummer they go back to the deeps. They feed upon the fry of filhes, and they fpawn about Auguft. The flelh is very good, and they are befl when the fpawn is within the body at the time of the full moon. In Italy they are faid to be in feafon from Oftober to April. Prawns are very common in the Britijh fi(h markets. The 236 THE NATURAL HISTORY The ELEPHANT LOBSTER, is fhaped pretty much like a common Lobrter, only the fore claws are longer, and the nippers are more thin and broad, and open wider than in any of this kind. There are three fmall claws next the large ones, which are long and prickly ; and there are two more, that is, one on each fide, which are very fmall and fmooth, having neither prickles nor hairs. 1 here are two very long feelers that are exceeding fmall, befides other ftiort ones, on the forehead, among which there is a {hort one in the middle, which is not ferrated. Thefe laic ferve as a de- fence for the eyQSf which are horny and prominent. The whole body is undulated, like watered tabby, and the fhclls of the tail as in other Lobiters, end in fiveiins variegated with lines. Sea 'igcr favv one of thefe that had a fore claw as large as a child's arm. The fiefti is ac- counted a delicacy in ^ta,y. The fmall StiA LOBSTER oi Rondeletius, has a red fhell while it is alive, variegated with tranfverfe blue lines. The head and breaft are rounder than thofe of Cray-fi fh, and on the head there is a broadifh large horn, -in proportion to the body. It is ferrated on each fide, and placed between the eyes, which it can draw in and thruft out at pleafure. 7 here are four horns placed be- fore the eyes, which are fliorter than in the former, and placed near each other. The two long ones, called teelers, are very flexible, and full of joints, as in the reft of this kind. The large clavv' on each fide is dea- tated within the nippers, as in Lobfters, and they con- fift of four joints. The tail confifts of -feveral fhells, and terminate in fins, nnd under the tail there are mem- b;anes deiigned to retain the fpawn till it is large enough to fall off. The LOBSTER of Ron 'eletius, is generally red, fpot- ted with blue, red, and white ; but when it is boiled it becomes all over red. It has two long horns or feelers placed before the eyes, and two others that are faaaller. In the middle of the fore-head, there is an- other broad flat fmall horn with teeth on each fide like a faw. Jt has four legs on each fide, befidcs the pinchers, and there are two others that are fmaller and Lairy, with the endi made like the beak* of birds, the upper O F F I S H E S. 237 upper part is moveable, and ferrated on the infide, as we]l as the lower. One pair of pinchers is always larger than the other, and two of the feet on each fide, which are ceareft the pinchers, ^re cloven at the ends. The tail is covered with five plates, and its end is broad, and furnifhed with fins proper to fwim with ; the eyes are fmall and fhoit, and the mouth cloven long- ways. There is likewiie another fea Cray-filh, out of whofe head a pretty large and broad horn proceeds which is cut on each fide like a faw, and is feated between the eyes, which it can thruft out or draw in at pleafure. There are four other horns or feelers before the eyes, that is, two (hort, and two long. Likewife, on each fide there is a great claw or pincher, with joints that are dentated on the infide ; but the feet, which are eight, are not forked. The body ib covered with fiielly plates, and the tail is made ufe of for iwimming. It is of a red colour traverfed with blue llreaks, and is not very common. The River CRAY FISH, differs little or nothing from f )me Lobiters, only it is lefs, and alv/ays black before it is boiled. The body is round, and the head is terminated by a pretty broad horn, ^hich is Ihort and pointed, under which the eyes are placed. On the fore part of the head there are four feelers or horns, that is two long and two Ihort, and the ends terminate in hairs. The pinchers are forked, rough, dentated, confiding of five joints, and there are four feet on each fide, the two firft of which, next the pinchers, are cloven at the end, and the next two are furniihed with a fpur. The upper part of the body is covered with five fiielly plates, and on the tail there are fwe fins. They are to be found ia alniofi every brook, river, and rivulet in 'Engla-nd^ though in fome places more than ethers. Their places of abode are in holes on the fides of banks, under the (urface of the water, where thofe employed in taking them, put in their hands and draw them out. Some are fo expert in taking them, that they will catch feveral dozens in an afiernocn. There are a fort of Cray-filh in the Eaji -Indies^ tha.t have prickles on the back dentated like a faw ; fome oF ihem 238 THE NATURAL HISTORY them are fo large as to weigh fix pounds, notwithfiand- ing which they are very dehcate eating. The SHRIMP, has a tail fomewhat like the Lobfter kind, but it has no nippers ; but they have more claws. In feme places they are blackilh in the fpring, but af- terwards become white. Some have Iharp horns fixed at the top of the head, among which the eyes are placed ; and the gut runs through the tail, as in the former. They live in fait water lakes, and in rocky places on the fea Ihore. In the EaJ}- Indian feas, they are of a larger fize, and keep at the bottom. The broad Shrimp, called the Sea Bear by fome, is of the fize of a common (hrimp, but broader and flatter ; and in the forehead there are two bones, on each fide one, fer- rated on the circumference. To thefe a fort of fins are conneded, between which there are horns or feelers, articulated at the beginning, and divided in two about the middle. It has two claws with prickles, which Hand up like nails, but thefe claws have no nippers, and yet they take their food with them, and hold it to their mouths. There are four other claws on each fide, and the eyes are a little prominent. The forehead is fquare, and larger in proportion than in anycruftace- ous fi{h. There are many tumours on the back, on which arc tubercles, whofe upper parts are as red as a carbuncle. From thefe they receive the name of a Sea Bear, that is, from their being rough. They frequent the muddy bottoms pf the fea j for which reafon, whea they are catched, they are ufually very dirty. They are common at Naples, Rome, and in many parts of Jfrica. * The CAR ANGO, is a fort of a Shrimp, about a palm in length, £nd is covered with a thin fmooth white (hell, which has often a rcddifh call, and when boiled, is en- tirely red, though it is tranfparent. There is a ferrated horn on the forehead, which turns up and is fmooth in the middle. The eyes aie horney, and un^ler them are two cavities like ihofe of Snails. There are four other hon,s, of which two that are properly the feelers, are long, flexible, and flender. There are five claws on each fjde, of which three terminate in a fort of a fpur. 'I'he back part of the body is thick and long In piopor- 3 tioii G F F I S H E S. 239 tion to the reft, confifting of feven fhells, and terminat- ing in four tins, and on the middle of it there is a prickle broader than in the Gibbous Shrimp. That which Gefner favv, was partly red, p..rtly whitifh, and yellovv- iih on the fidss. The flefh is the beft of any of this kind, it being tender, fweet, and nourifhing. They are faid to be moll in feafon in February y Manh, Jpril, and May. The GIBBOUS SHRIMP, is fo called from the crookednefs of its body, and is more fiender than the former, but more efpecially at the end of the tail. Jt has fix very fiender feelers in the forehead, and at the end of the. tail there are four fins, of which, that in the middle is hard, ferrated, pyramidal, and terminates in a point. They are very common on the fhores of feme parts of France, and the fielh is accounted very good. The COMMON SHRIMP, is the fmalleft of this kind, and is truly and properly the Shrimp. It is called Squilla'm Latin, as well as all the reft, for which reafon they have been placed under this general name, though perhaps not very properly ; fince a flirimp with us is ge- nerally fuppofed to be a very diminitive fort cf an ani- mal. Some of thefe are fo fmall, that a thoufand will fcarce weigh a pound, but this kind is not known in England, though it is common at Venice, and in Gafcony, where they devour them without taking off the Ihell?. The fhape of our Shrimp is like that of the gibbous kind, from which it differs very little, except in fize. It is common on the fea Ihore, and in the mouths of large rivers, as well as at a confiderable diftance from the fea. The flefh is very fweet, and is commonly ufed as fauce for other iiih, though fometimes they are eaten alone. I'here are Shrimps in the EaJi-InJies, that grow to be near a fpan in length, and have ihells like ouis. They are of a fallow colour, with a red forked tail. Several feelers proceed out of the head, two of which are more remarkable than the reft, being long and fiender. The liefh is very well tafted, and five or fix is fuflicient for a meal. There are alfo river Shrimps in thefe parts of the fame fize as our common Shrimps ; but they are of a bl^e colour, with a fmall head and a thick body, with two 240 THE NATURAL HISTORY two long feelers as fine as a thread. The fnell is not fo hard as the former, neither are they fo well tafted. The SEA CRAB is of different kinds, and therefore it is no wonder the defcription fhould differ in different authors. They have lenerally a roundifh body, and the back is a little arched, and the tail turns up under the body, lying in a cavity made for that puipofe. They are of different fizes, for fome will weigh a great- many pounds, but thofe that are moft common, are equal to about twelve our.ces. The male is diftinguifh- ed from the female by having a broader tail, in the fame manner as Lobllers. But as a Crab is generally well known, it dees not need any farther defcription. Some prefer the flefti of a Crab, ei'pecially when full of fpawn, to that of a Lobller ; whereas, moll: think the latter ought to have the preference. Many Phyficians have thought thera very good for confumptive people ; and indeed they are very nourifhing, as well as Lobllers, and moft kinds of (hell iilh. The CRAB, called by fome authors MAG A, has fo heavy a body, that it can hardly move along when taken out of the water, and when it is alive, it is of a livid or greenifh colour, fprinklcd with red fpots. The legs or claws are long and llender, having four joints, and -there are four on each fide, befides the great claws, or nip- pers. The ihanks are very rough, and the female has a broadifh cover, under which there are two holes with a membrane to clofe them, which are placed near the roots of the hinder claws. There are two bony teeth in the mouth, and on the palate there is a caruncle inftead ,of a tongue. Near the mouth there is a large cavity, which may be ei:her called the I'econd mouth, or ihe- flomach, for there are four teeth therein, like thofe •called dog-teeth, and one grinder wlieje the throat be- gins. 'J here is only one manifcil gut, which is round, and runs along direftly to the tail ; but there are two bladders in the belly, on each fide one, which are large, ftrong, and membranous, and the paflage from them outv/ardly, is through the abovementioned holes that lye under the cover of the tail. There are fix gills on each fide, under the head, which may be dilUnguilhed from the tegumert itfelf, by a certain membrar.e. 2 The fa4;!^ 2^y \ O F F I S H E S. 241 The CRAB, named the HIPPOCARCINUS, from its fize, is covered all over the back with fpinous prickles, which are bigger on the fides than elfewhere. Over the eyes, which are prominent, two fharp horns are placed, and there are two horns, or feelers, which are villous, and ferve to defend the mouth, which is placed below them. There are five claws on each fide, including the great ones, and they have all the fame number of joints. The great claws are of the fize of a child's arm, and the nippers are of a dulky colour ; from thefe there proceed a fort of fliaggy hairs, almoft like pencils. There is another fort, which is not unlike the former on the back; but the tail is of an oval fhape, and the end terminates in a narrow Ihield-like appendage, hav- ing five corners or angles. Near the mouth there are many villous feelers, and under the belly there is a ca- vity proper for retaining the fpawn. There is ftill an- other of this kind, which has lix large fpines or thorns on each of their fides, and tv/o large ones on the fore part of the head. They are two palms in length, and the claws, feelers, and upper part of the body are rough, with tubercles. A fourth, is of the fame fiiape, but there are more fpines or thorns on each fide, and on the back ; belides, the claws and feelers are rough and hairy ; Hkewife, the upper part is Ipotted with various colours, particularly v/ith red. A fifth kind has thorns on the fore part of the head and fides, as well as the under part of the head, and the whole is of a duffcy co- lour. The laft has a wooly roughnefs on the Ihell, and the colour is a mixture of aih and brown. I hey are found in the feas near Greece ; and the males are thought to be nioft in feafon in the autumn and winter, particu- larly at the full mcon. Some fay they continue good till ^/r /, and then the female begins to be good, and continues ib till Se;temhtr. The ROCK CRAB is very broad and long ; for in the ocean it grows to be a foot in length ; fome of thefe in EnAand, have weighed ten pounds* It is covered with a fl:rong fhell, and there are nine crooked horrs round the circumference of the back, and the colour is of a gre^nifh black. There are four claws on each {\Aq, Vol. III. M which 24^ THE NATURAL HISTORY which are rough and hairy, and there are three joint* in each ; they are terminated with fharp oblong nails that are not cloven. Befides thefe, there are two fore claws which have nipperi like the reft ; but they have only two joints, and are black at the tips. On each fide there are fix gills placed under the (hell at the roots of th.e claws. The mouth is very extraordinary, there beir^.g many appendages and {kins, whofe ufe can hardly be determined. On the iniide there are white mufcles, which they can move outwardly. The HERACLEOTIC CRAB of Be/onius, which he met with in the fea of Marmora, has a very hard ihell, and there are four claws on each fide, beiides the two great ones that have two joints and very ftrong rough nippers. Some call this Crab the Sea Cock, becaufe the great claws are turned fomewhat like a Cock's comb. The back is rough, with tubercles, and is of a reddi/h colour. There is another of this kind, fo thick befet with hairs, that the ihell looks like the coat of a Bear. It differs from the former, chiefly in the fmali claws, which are longer, and have nippers at the end, that clofe exadlly when they are (hut. The colour is red, and the feelers near the eyes are at a greater diftance, fome of thefe are met with in the gulph of Venice ; but they are much larger in the Ocean. Rondeletim faw one of thefe that was half a yard in len2;th. The HORSEMAN CRAB, is fo called from the fwiftnefs of its running, though it is not much larger than a chefnut, and is of a whiulh colour fprinkled with red fpccks. It is fliaped like the Rock Crab, and, held up to the fun, is almoll trar.fparent, except in that part where the intcilines lye. The eyes are extremely fmall, and yet it hub an exceeding fliarp fight. The legs are befet with a fort of hair, and there are five on each fide. The two foremoft of which have nippers. This per^ haps is the fame that Rcndeletius calls the broad foot ED Crab, which he fays, is not much bigger than a walnut. There is another fmaller than this, with a I'mooth Ihell that is whitiih on the upper part, and is fometimcs thrown by the waves on the fea fhore. This is like that which at Rcme is called Grancetti, and jsipotied on the back like a fnake. They live as well OA O F F I S H E S. 243 #tt the land as in the water, for in the hotteft days of the fummer, they come out of the fea and baflc in the fun ; but in the night they return thither again. Belonius af- firms he has feen them run fo faft, that he could not overtake them ; and that they rather feemed to fly than, run. The YELLOW UNDULATED CRAB, is fo named froHi its colour and lines, which on the lower part are crook- ed and waved like watered tabby. It has four long hairy claws or legs, befides two large ones. The feelers on the fore part of the head are pretty long, and on the forehead there are two appendages, with others on the ikles.r The MARBLED or VARIEGATED CRAB, has a fmooth polifhed ihell fprinkled with green, blue, white, black, ^nd afh-coloured fpots, infomuch that it looks almoft like marble ; but the fpots foon vanifli when it is dead, and the ihell becomes all over yellow. There are tuber- cles thereon that Ihine like jewels, and the fore claws or nippers, are ihorter and thicker than in other kinds. It has two horns on the forehead, and behind the eyes the Ihell is ferrated. They live in the holes of the rocks, to which they adhere fo faft with their feet, that they can hardly be forced from them. The fhell is harder than thatof other Crabs. The HEART CRAB, is fo called from being in the fliape of a heart, and has two horns on the forehead. The great claws have Ihort nippers, and befides thefe, they have four other legs or claws on each fide. It is fometimes caught in nets with other iilh, and is fre- quently feen in the bellies of Cod-fifli. The SPIDER CRAB, has its name from the length of its claws, and is of three kinds. The firft is variegated with brown and afti-colour, and the Ihell where the head is placed is fharp, with eyes very near each other, and two lliarp horns. The fecond fort has a rounder body, and is called by fome, the crust aceous SPI- DER CRAB. The third is rounder than this, and is variegated with brown and afli colours. The claws are thicker than thofe of the former forts. There are other kinds that have very fhort claws, and flender at the fame M 2 time; 2^4 THE NATURAL HISTORY time ; the fnell being covered over with a fort of down. But of thefe we have no particular defcription. The RIVER CRABS are very common in Gr^^r^, and in the iflands of Candia and Sicily. Belonius faw fome of thefe on mount Jthos, whofe numbers were fo great, that he could have caught a thoufand in a mi- nutes time. They are fiefli eaters, and are greatly ad- diifled to fight each other ; for when Kovdeleiius fent two hundred of them to Rome, and they were put into the water again to be refrefhed, they fought with each other fo fmartly, that no lefs than fifty were quite mutilated. At length they were all killed. 'J hefe are very common in the filli markets at Fon:e, and they are good at all times, but more efpecially in the furamer. Thefe feem to be tjie fame fort as thofe that are met with in fait ditches near the fea ; only they are never feen out of the water. They are very common at London, where fevc- ral of them are fold for a penny. The SQUARE CRAB of th&Caribbee-JJIands, is not above two inches long or broad. It has two nippers, which are very fhort and brittle, as well as the ftiell and every other part of its body. They are met with among the rocks by the fea fide, where great numbers of their old (hells are feen, which they caft every year; and they are fo entire, that any one would think the bodies of the Crabs were flill within them. The only diffe- rence is, that when they are living they are grey ; but when the (hells are deferted, they are beautifully va- riegated with red and white. They have two fmall pro- minent eyes, which look like tranlparent grains of bar- ley, and they (liine like cryilal, 1 hey are faid to be very careful in watching the opening of oyfters, mufcles, and other (hell firti ; for then they throw themfelves into the (hells to devour the fifh. 'I'he flefh is reported to be a great antidote againft all forts of poifons ; for one of them being bruifed and foaked in wine, brings up every thing of a poifonous nature in the ftomach. There is a.vothcr fort that have a (hell which conceals all their feet, and the tail is as (harp as a dagger at the end. The (hell is not larger than a crown piece ; but the tail is as long as a man's little finger. Under this (hell there are five fmall feet, which arc all nippers, with which they O F F I S H E S. 245 they pinch thofe that catch them ; however, they can do no great harm. When any one is pricked with their fharp tails, it produces the fame pain as the fiing of a Scorpion ; but it is foon remedied by bruiiing a Crab, and laying on the wound. The VIOLET CRAB of x\-iQCanbhee^7JIands, is a land animal, and is in fhape like two hands cut through the middle and joined together ; for each fide looks like four fingers, a-.id the two nippers refemble thumbs. All tFe reft of the body is covered with a fhell as large as a man's hand, and bunched in the middle ; on the fore part of which, there are tv/o long eyes of the fize of a ^rain of barley, as tramparent as cryftal, and as hard as horn. A little below thefe is the mouth covered with a fort of barbs, ui.dcr which there are two broad fliarp teeth as white as fnow. They are not placed as in other animils, above and below, but on each fide, not much unlike the blades of a pair of fciifars. With thefe teeth they can eafily cut leaves, fruits, and rotten wood, which is their common food. The fhell is full of a thick fat fibrous liquor, with which the inhabitants make fauces. In the middle of rh s there is a bitter fubftance, which the inhabitants call the gall ; which, however, is nothing elfe than the ftomach that is compofed of a thin fkin or membrane, and is twice as thick as a man's thumb, having the fame Ihape as the fhell. Under the body there is a fort of breail plate, compofed of feveral pieces fet together like thofe of a corllet, and under it there are five or fix barbs on each fide. There is a fort of tube about the fize of the barrelof a quill, which proceeds from the ftomach, and pafilng along the middle of the breaft pla;e, terminates at the end. This animal has no blood, but inftead of it, when it is wounded, a clear water comes out, which congeals to a jelly. Thefe are all of a violet colour in general ; but there are others variegated with blue, white, and violet. However the circumitance moft worthy of admiration, is their de- fcending from the mourktains in .-Jpril or Mayy when the rains firll begin to fall ; for then they fally out from the hollow trees and rotten ftumps under the rocks^ and from a vail number of holes which they M 3 makt 246 THE NATURAL HISTORY m:\ke in the earth. 7 hen the ground is covered over with them, infomuch, that you cannot fet your foot thereon without treading upon them. They feem to be afraid that the rain ihould not laft long enough, for they get down to the river fides and marfhy places as faft as they can, that they may fecure a retreat if the weather fhould become fair ; and that they may fhelter them- leives from the heat of the fun beams, which they do not at all like. They defcend in as much order as an army does, that is under the command of a general ; and they are com- monly divided into three bands or companies ; of which the hril confifts of the males, which are more ftrong, large, and robuft, than the females, and confequentJy are mofl p:-oper to overcome obftacles and clear the way for the reft. Thefe are like the avant-guard of an ar- my, and are often obliged to halt for want of rain, and feek a new lodging till the weather changes. The main body of the army is compofed of females, which never leave the mountains till the rain is fet in for fome time ; and then they fally into the fields, being formed as it were into battalions, near three miles in length, and forty or fifty paces in breadth, but fo clofe, that they almoft cover the ground. Three or four days after, the rear-guard follows, which confifts of males and females, in the fame number and order as the former. But they do not all take the fame rout ; for fome follow the courfe of the rivers and canals made by the floods, and fome march a-crofs the woods, but not in fuch great numbers as the former. They proceed very flowly in the night time, and in the day, when it rains ; but when the fun Ihines, they get to the fides of woods to avoid the heat, waiting till the cool of the evening. When they are terrified, they march back in a confufed and diforderly manner, hold- ing up their nippers, with which they pinch fo hard, that they tear off a piece of the Ikin. They clatter thefe rippers from time to time, by ftriking them together, as it were, to threaten thofe that come to dillurb them. If it happens, in their defcent, tliat the rain ceafes, and the weather becomes fine, which is not fel- dom, they all make a halt, and take up tlicir lodging where O F F I S H E S. 247 where they can, fome under the roots, and others with- in hollow trees ; but thofe that have no fuch opportuni- ty, make holes in the earth. However, the inhabitants that lye in wait for them, are glad of this opportunity, and make them pay dearly for their lodging ; for they all make themfelves merry at their expence. However, they throw the bodies away, only keeping the fmall fpawn, which lies as thick as a man's thumb on each fide the ftomach ; and this is greatly elleemed by the French, being very nouriftiing and well tailed. There are fome years in which there is fo little rain, that they are three months in getting down to the fea fide ; whereas, in the times ot heavy rains, they are no longer than eight or ten days. When they have gained the fea, they go into the water and call their fpawn. AJi the Crabs in thefe iflands, as well great as fmall, males and females, make a pvogrefs once a year down to the fea, where, when they are arrived, they let the waves run over them two or three times, that beat upon the Ihore, and then withdraw to feck a lodging. In the mean time the fpawn grows larger, proceeds out of the body, and Hicks to the barbs under the breaft plate lately mentioned. There is a bunch of them as big as a hen's egg, which are like the rows of herrings. At this time they are negle»5ted by the inhabitants, becaufe they have loft their fine taile. Some days after they go to the fea again, where they-fhake oil' their eggs, and about tv/o- thirds of them are immediately devoured by the fidi, which the native Caribbees call Tytira, that are then fo numerous, that the fea near the fhore is quite black with them. This is an excellent feafon for fifhing, for then, with one draught of the net, they catch as many £fh as twenty men can draw out. The eggs of the Crabs that efcape, are hatched under the fand, and foon after millions at a time of thefe little Crabs are feen travailing towards the mountains. When the fpawning time is over, thefe animals be- come fo feeble and lean, that they can hardly creep along ; and the flelli at that time changes its colour ; for which reafon moil of them flay in the flat parts till they recover, making holes in the eajt'i, which they flop the moutiis of with foil and leaves, that no air may M 4. enter 2h8 the natural history enter therein. There they throw off their old fhells, v\hich they leave, as it were, quite whole, and it is hard to fay how they can get out, efpecially when it is confidered what a great number of joints there aie. Then the Crabs are quite naked, and almoli without motion for fix days together; but then they are fat, iiclhy, and in very good order, being covered with no- thing but a very fine fldn, which in procefs of time har- dens into a fhell. They have then, under their ftomachs four hard large white ftones, which gradually decreafe in proportion, as the fhell hardens ; and when they come to perfedlion, they entirely vanifh. It is pretend- ed thefe ftones are good for the gravel ; but however that be, they always caufe vomiting. The WHITE CRAB of the Caribbee IJiands, is alfo a land Crab, and has nearly the fame property as the foimer, but with this differerxe, that they are fo much bigger, that one of the white ones is worth three of the Violet, however, of thefe there are two forts, namely, thofe that live conflantly on the Udes of lakes, ponds, and muddy places, and thofe that advance farther on the land, which are the leaft. The former are always half in and half out of the water, and have nippers as broad as a man's four fingers, and two feet in length, being almod fhaped like a mirre. They are very flclhy, but are fo fubjed to feed on Manchirccl apples, that they are unwholefome j bendes v/hich, thty always fmell of mud. The other fort frequents the woods a little dillant from the lakei and marlhy places. They are I'cf^ than the former, and the nippcis are more fliort -, but the flefn is more firm, and ^cvy well tafted. The Flame Colour CRABS, of the Caribbee- IjJands, have a black fpot on their backs, which greatly lets off the red colour. 1 he inhabitants of Guadalou;:ey v/ill not touch them, becaufe they believe that the flefh caufes the bloody flux ; but at Martinico they will, for want of others ; however, it is fcarcely v.orth while, fince in fix hours time, a man can hardly get fo many of them as are fufficient for a fingle meal. But the worfl of it is, that all thefe land Crabs are apt to feed upon Man- chineel apples; for which reafon, the inhabitants are very careful in examining the teeth and flomachs, and the infide OF FISHES. 249 infirie of the body, which is then as black as charcoal. The ilefh indeed will turn black with feeding on the ap- ples of Genifa, but then it may be eafily known, for their llomachs are then firm, and they are fat, having their fhells quite full of meat ; whereas, the contrary happens in the former cafe. All thefe Crabs have one property, which is very wonderful, that is, when their nippers are laid hold of, they can part them very eafily, in order to make their efcape; befides, if one of their nip- pers or claws is wounded, they immediately part with it, and fo get rid of the limb and wound together. How- ever,- in a years time there are other claws that grov/ in the room of the former. The MARICOANI, is a fmall Crab of Brahl which frequents the Ihore when the tide is out ; but at other times it keeps itfelf hid in a hole. The body is almoflr fquare, and the length is equal to that of a man's finger, as well as the breadth ; the eyes are near each other, and of the thicknefs of a large pin, which it can thruil out or draw in at pleafure. The mouth is larger in pro- portion than that of other Crabs, and there aje eight legs covered vvith thin browniOi hair; the right pinther, or great leg, is very large, it being above three fingcrS' breadth long, and fo thick, that this animal can hide him- felf behind it ; the left pincher is fmall, andevenlefs than the legs. The colour is rcddifli, and the right pipxher is of a dark red. Ihis Crab is accounted good eating. \ he SOLDIER CRAB, is about three or four iuc&s long, and half the body is like the Sea Grafs- hop- per, but it is covered with a harder fkin or fhell. Four of the feet are- like thofe of a Crab, widi tv.'O nipper?, of which one is no larger than- the other feet ; but ihe otlier is thicker than a man's thumbs, with which it can pinch very ftrongly, and it ferves to Hop up the mcuJli,- of the fhell wherein it lodges. The reil of the body is like a little pudding, covered with a rough thick fkir),. and is X)f the fize of a man's finger, though not above half as long At the end of this, there is a-.fhort tad^ compofed of three fmall nails or fiiells, like the tail of a. Sea Grafs-hopper. Half the body is filled with a lls- aaach like-that of a Crab, but red, and expcH-d to the M.5 . Si« 250 THE NATURAL HISTORY fire or fun will melt, and diirolve into oil. This, is a ibrt of balfam which is excellent for green wounds. They defcend every year to the Tea fide to change their (hells, for the back part of the body is quite naked. As foon as ihey are hatched they every one go in fearch of a (hell proportionable to their bulk, thrufting their back parts therein, and then they march along as cloathed in armour, from whence they have the name of Soldiers. They go up to the tops of moun- tains, and take their lodgings in hollow trees, where they live upon leaves, rotten wood, and fruits ; but as they fometimes feed upon manchineel apples they are very dangerous eating. 7 he next year v/hen the Ihells begin to grow too little, they travel down to the fea fide again in fearch of others that ht thsm better. When they are there, they ftop to examine the fhells that they meet with, and when they have found one they think will do they immediately quit their old one, and get into it. as if they were afraid the air fhould do them harm, or as if ihey were aih^med of appearing naked. Sometimes it happens that two make choice of the fame flieil, and then a battle enfues, for they will fight and bire each other till one of them yields and reiigns the fhell to the conqueror. When he has got pofrefhon he takes three or four turns upon the fhore, and if he likes it he keeps it, othervvife he betakes himfelf to his old one again, and then choofes another. This they do often five or fix times, till they get one to their liking. Wichin thefe fliells there is about half a fpoonful of Clearwater, which is looked upon as a icvereign remedy againft pimples or other bre?.kings cut, cfpccia'ly thofe that are caufed by the water that drops fioin the leaves of t]\e machineel trees. When ihey arc taken they feem to be very angry, and have a cry like ^g^re, grey gre^ endeavouring to lay hold of the perfou's hand, which when they do, they will fooner fuffer ihemfelvcs to be killed than to let go their hold. The SEA CRAB of the E Jl Indies is about a fpan in breadth, and is *of a moft curious colour, the fhell being fpeckled with yellow fpots ; befides which there are three of a purple colour inclofed with white rings. '1 he claws arc ycllowiili next the body, afterwards white I O F* F I S H E S. ^51 whhe, and at the extremities, of a deep purple. The eyes have fomewhat of the appearance of fmall tacks, and Hand an mch without the head. The BLUE CRAB of Nieufrff is a foot and a half long, and is of a purple colour, fpotted with white. The claws are alfo purple near the body, but the other parts are blue The eyes are like the former, and ftand a hnger's lenj-th out of the head. The flelh is good and well tailed. The GkEb-N CRAB with red claws, is of the fame fize as 'he Blue Crab; but may be eafily diilinguifhed from them by their colour, which is inclining to green, with red claws. The flelh is a great delicacy, being the bell of any fort in the Eaji Indie!. Some of thefe Crabs laft mentioned are of a prodigious bignefs, and they are faid to eat beftwhen the Moon i^ growing to- wards the full. The GUAIA AFAR A is a Zouth American Crab, and is beautifully variegated. One end of the body is terminated with a circle, and the other by a right line. It is three inches broad and two and a ha-f long, though fome of them grow to a larger fize. The fore part of the fhell is of a dark brown, variegated with whitifh fpots ; and the hinder is of a whitilh yellow, adorned with brown ftreaks that run according to the length. It has eight feet or claws which are roundifh, with four joints, and are of a vvhitifft yellow colour. Befides thefe, there are two great claws or nippers, each two inches and a half long, and half an inch broad. The nippers themfelves are but fmall, for which reafon it cannot lay hold of any thing fo firmly as other Crabs. The upper part of theie claws is armed and dentated like a Cock's comb, infomuch that when it is alive and holds thefe claws clofe^ to the body they appear like two cocks combs placed near eacii other. The nippers are fomewhat like the bill of a Cock, which with the v/hole \t^ or claw reprefents the fore-part of the head of that animal, together with its comb. Thefe are alfo of a whitilh yellow, variegated with brown fpots. As it f vims in tne water it blows it up like the bubbling of a fpring, M 6 A :o:hcr 252 THE NATURAL HISTORY A«other GUAIA has a roundifh body, and is about the fize of a walhiut, with its green coat on, with eight claws or legs like other crabs. The two great claws or legs are each two inches and a half long, but very {lender, and at the extream part of the body there are three blunt thorns, and the eyes are very fmall. The colour in general is white, on!y on the back there are beautiful rows of brown fpots which are largefl near the head and lefs on the fides. The great claws are variegated with fpots of a purple reddifh colour; but the other claws and belly are entirely white. There is ftlU another GUx^IA, as the Braftlians call it, that is very feldom taken, which is three inches broad, and as much in length, or a little lefs. The Ihell is of an oval form, and on the circumference there are many little horns. The eyes are very fmall, and on each fide there are four claws or feet, with as many joints ; which are a little hairy, and there are black nails at the ends in the fnape of horns. The molt for- ward of the legs are three inches in length, and the reft grow \ radually Ihorter. The fore-legs with their nippers are three inches in length, and as thick as a man's finger, the nippers themfelves being half an inch long and pretty thick. They are dentated on the outfide, and the teeth are like thofe of a man, and they fit fo exactly to each other that they reprefent a dentated bill when fliut. The colour of the whole Crab when living, is like that of a large live coal, but in the middle of the body it is deeper, and the other paits lighter. The extremities of the nippers are coloured with a mixture of red and brown, and when this Crab is boiled it retains the fame colour. The GUAIA MIR I is a very fmall river Crab, which never exceeds the fize of a plumb, and the Ihell is of an oval form, only the fore-part terminates in feveral angles or corners. The eyes are fmaii and flioit, and of the great legs or claws the right is a littie lefs than the left. The other claws or legs are eight in number with four joints each, and are befet with ihort hairs. The colour of the ihell is of an iron grey, but the legs are of a darkiih purple, and the hairs are pale. The O F F I S H E S; 253 The CARARA UNA is a fmall Crab of a fquare figure, and a little flattifh, and it is but half an inch in breadth. The eyes are black and prominent, and look as if they were cut into angles. The fore legs or claws are fhort, with roundilh thick nippers; there are eight other claw?, which are not thick but flat. The fhell and legs are of a liver colour, but the nippers are brown like the juice of black cherries. The legs are befet with very fine hairs, and are of the fame colour with them. TheCUNURU is of the fame colour and fhape as the UCA UNA, and is fuppofed to be the female of that fpecies. However it is lefs, and the fore legs or claws are fmall, and the left is a litde larger than the right. There are but few hairs, though the Uca is covered all over with them. The CIECIE ETE of the BrafMans, called by the Fcrtuguefe CtiANGViNsiNGHO D£S Manges, is of a fquare Ihape, and does not exceed a large hazel-nut in ■fize. The eyes are prominent; but it can draw them in at pleaiure. It has eight legs or claws, bciides the fore-legs, and that to the left is the greateft. The nippers are thin, long, fmooch, and without teeth. The Ihell is of a liver colour, but the reft of the body with the legs, of a pale dirty yellow. This Crab is eaten by the PortugueJ}, and the natives cure a diflera- per with it which they call Mi<:u The CIRI APO.A, fo called by the Brafdians, is a Sea Crab covered with an oval Ihell, which is toothed in the middle of the forward edge, and on each fide it terminates in an acute angle. The fore-legs or claws are of a middle iize, and are dentated or toothed iike- wife. It has alfo fix other claws, befides two flat fins with four joints which are hairy, and which it makes ufe of in fwimming The Eyes are placed at a great dittance from each other, which are fmall and fl-.aped like cylinders, and on each fide there is a barb like a hair. I'he flicll is of a brownifli colour inclining to black, and on it there is a fpot of a different bro^vn in the ihape of a heart. The fore claws or legs are dufky, with nippers of a bluifh white. The other clav^s on the extream part ©f the fins which is broad are blue, and 254- THE NATURAL HISTORY and the other part green mixed with white. They generally creep at the bottom of fait water, coming fometimes on Ihore at the ebbing of the tide ; but this is feldom. They are well tailed, and are taken when the tide is going out. The UCA UNA is a pond Crab, that has a body of an oval (hnpe, ar.d the fncil is convex on the upper fide. It is of the fize of a 'VV^.llnL!t wiih its coat, aud has eight claws with four joints, of which thofe before are longer than thofe behind. The eyes are pretty near each other, and he can thruft them out and draw them in at pleafure ; their colour is yellowifh, and the pupil is of the colour of gkA. The right fore-leg or claw is the greateft, and has many (harp tubercles on the infide ; but the left is fmall. The colour of the upper part of the ihell is olive, with a mixture of yellow at the extremities. All the legs are of a chefnut colour, as well as the upper part of the nippers, and all their lower parts are covered with thick longiih hairs of a dark cnefnut colour. The flefh is good eating. The GUANHUMI is a land Crab with a roundish body, but a litde comprefTed, and of the fize of an orange. It has eight legs or claws five inches long, with four joints, and the lower parts are covered with long hairs. The mouth is large, and it is hairy on its fides for about an inch, as well as the reft of the body. Of the great legs or claws, the right is big and the left fmall, the right being eight inches long and two broad ; but the left is fcarce fo long by three parts. The eyes are thrull out like two fmall pills, a^d are drawn in at pleafure. About the mouth there are two feelers, if they may be fo called, for they are fhort, and can be drawn in at the will of this ar.inral. Jt runs very fwiftly fiJewa}S, and there are a great nnmber of them in the marihes and woods. The flcfh is ac- counted good eating. The ARA ( U PINIMA is a land Crab of a fquare (hape, but the body is not large, and the flicU is va- riegated with brown, blue, and red fpois differently intermixed. The eyes are prominent, black, and ftand a great way out of the head, and it has eight feet with four joints which are ilaitilh, of a reddilli colour, and variegated O F F I S H E S. 2SS variegated with purple, black, and white fpots. The two fore legs or claws are not large in proportion to the body, and they are' fmooth and red, only at the ends they are of a yellowifh white ; the belly alfo is yellowifh, and the lower parts of the claws are hairy. TheMARACOANl is afmall crab, and comes upon the (here when the tide is out, being not to be feen at any other time. The body is almoil fquare, being an inch long and as much broad, only the fore-part is a little broader. The eyes are placed near each other, and are half an inch in length, though as fmall as a large needle, which it can thruil out and draw in at pleafuie. Jt has a larger mouth than other fmall crabs, and eight claws with four joints. The right fore- leg or claw is the greateft, being above three inches in length, and pretty thick, and it can conceal itfelf behind it. The nippers are broad but not thic'<, and refemble a pair of Taylor's fheers There are tubercles indeed of teeth, and on the furface of the lower part there are fome likewife. The left kg or claw is very fmall, and has nippers xike thofe of a Scorpion. The lower part of the claws have a few brown hairs, and the colour of the fhell is tawney as well as the legs and the lefler nippers, as alfo the lower part of the body ; but at the extremity it is a little reddifh. The right leg is of a reddifh dun colour. The flefti is pretty good food. The POTIQUIQUIYA of the Brafthans, is a Sea Prawn, and the length of the body from the fore-part of the head to the tail is {^^^fa inches, and the tail fix. The breadth of the (hell on the back is feven inches, and of the belly two and a half. The tail confifis of feven fhells or plates, with as many joints placed over againft each other, and on the lower part of each fide there are four fins an inch and a half long, and one broad ; likewife the lateral extremities of each plate end in a fliarp horn. There are ten claws, that is five on each fide, with five joints, and the firll pair are fi>c inches long, the next nine, the third a foot, the fourth feven inches, and the fifth five. They have each a crooked iharp nail befet with many yellow hairs, in the manner of hair-pencils. The fore-leg is an inch thick, but 25^ THE NATURAL. HISTORY but the reft are fmaller. The fhell is covered witli various forts of tubercles like-horns, with Iharp points. The eyes are prominent,. and«of the fhapeof a cylinder, having behind them two ftrait horns bending forwardsj and an inch in length. Before the eye?, and over the mouth, there are four feelers, two of which are as thick as a man's thumb at their rife, where there are four joints ; and they are a foot and a half long, being befet with prickles on all fides. Between thefe there are two lefs with four joints, but they are fmooth, being without prickles; and about half way from the head they are divided in two, being all together ten inches long. The TAMARU GUACU of the BrafiUans, called Camaron deSalgado by the Port ugue/ey is a kind of Prawn nine inches long, or a little more. The length of the head is two inches, to which part it grows narrower by degrees. The body has as it were (even joints fomewhat like the tail of a Lobfter, and on the hinder part of the body on each fide, there are two hairy proceiTes. The whole body is ftrait, whitifti, and Ihining like poHllied horn; but at the joints it is of a bJackifti purple, and there are three feet on each fide, namely, at the third, fourth, and fifth joint, reckoning from the neck. They are (lender, and about two inches long. The head is of a trian- gular ftiape, and of the iize of an Olive, covered with a whitifh ihining ftiell about two inches long. Behind the head on each fide, there is a leg or claw fevcn incites long with four joints, and it is crooked at the end li!i^ a fickle, and furniihed with nine very fliarp teeth. With thefe claws it ftrikes thofe that come near it, and' the wound which it makes will not eafily heal. The eyes are oblong, and prominent, and there is a barb, or beard coaiifting of eight hairs. Near the eyes there are two prominence^ turned backwards, which are an inch in length and fmooth, but hairy at the extremities. Below the head there are eight excrefcences that are two inches long, terminated v/ith. tubercles. Towards tlie hinder part of the body bc.ow there aie many broad fort of fins, which no doubi ferve for fwimming. O F F I S H E S. 25,7 and they He in folds on tlie belly like leaves. The liefii i- not eaten. The PARANCARE is a fort of a Crab or rather Lobiler that live? in a borrowed iliell and is three inches long ; but the flefh is not eatable. The two fore-leqs have nippers, and there are four others three inches long, and behind thefe four more that are (hort. The tail is an inch and a half long, and the eyes are long and prominent. There are two barbs conrifcing 01 tufts of hair. The body is covered with a fKin of a dark chefn' t colour; and the tail is cf the fame colour flreaked 'vith black acror lirg to itb length. The lower part of the body is bluilh, as are the eyes and barb ; and over every part there a e hairs of the colour of oker. The Ihell that it lives in is about four inches long and turbinated, being of a palifh yellow colour. There are feme Icfs than thele, which perhaps are young ones, being no biggiir than a fmall plumb. They are found on the Iho^e near the river Fwaiha. Ihefe feem to be akin to the Soldier Crab nbove defcribed. The GUARICURU of %\\9 B-aftlians, is four inches long, having fix claws with three joints each, and a nail at the extremity. The forward pair feems to have a fort of calves, being thicker than the reft, and feem to ferve for the fame purpofe as the nippers in other Crabs. They are a little above two inches long, and the laft pair a little more than one ; but they are ail prickly. There are fix barbs, two of which are tliree inches long and turn backwards ; two others are an inch, and the remaining two half an inch. Under the mouth there are two thickilh excrefcences, and four fmaller, with which it holds its meat. The eyes are like others of this kind. 'I he colour is all over brovvn> and the fieih i^ eaten when boiled. CHAP. 258 THENATURAL HISTORY CHAP. XXVill. Of the Tortoifs or Land and Sea-Turile» TH I S animal is by Tome authors placed among ^ Quadrupedes ; but it may without any great im- propriety be inferted iiere ; efpecially as all fyftems of this kind are arbitrary. The TORTOISE or TURTLE is of various kinds, and are dillinguifhed into the Land and Sea Tortoifes. That diiTeded by the academifls at Puris was of the former fort, and was brought from the coaft of Coro" mandel in the Eaft Indies. It was four feet and a half in length from the extremity of the mouth to the ex- tremity of the tail, and fourteen inches thick. The ihell was three feet long and two broad. Some of the ancient writer?, particularly Fllny, pretend to have feen Tortoife-lhells fifteen cubits in length ; and that one of them was fufRcicnt to cover a hut which was large enough to lodge feveral perfons. However, this was a Land Tortoife, and thofe mentioned by the Reman au- thors were Sea Tortoifes, where animals generally grow much larger than thofe of the fame kind which live on land. However it may be a doubt, whether Plmy was not miftaken in the meafure of the fhells mentioned by him ; becaufe there have been none fo large ever (ttn fmce. The ftiell, and every part of this creature was of the fame colour, namely, of a very dark grey. The upper part was compofed of feveral pieces of a different Hgure ; though mot of them v/ere pentagonal, or had five corners. All ihefe pi^^ces were connected to . a bone, which like a fkull inclofed the entrails of the animal. It had one opening before to let out the head, fhouldcrs, and fore-legs, and another bthind to let out the hinder legs and thighs. i his bone to which the fcales cr plates v/ere faftcned, was a line and a half thick in the thinneft place ; and in fome places near an inch and a half. One part of this bone lies upon the back, and the other under the belly, v/hich unite on the fides, and arc O F F I S H E S. 259 arc tied or connedled together by Ilrong ligaments, which however allow the liberty of motion. What we commonly call the fhell will loofen from the bone after it has been kept fome time ; but when they are to be taken ofF immediately, the bone is to be laid upon the fire and then the fliell will readily feparate from it. At the great opening before there was a raifed border at the top, to allow fufficient liberty for the "neck and head to raife themfelves upward. This bending of the neck is of great ufe to the Tortoife ; for by this means they can turn themfelves again when laid upon their back. A certain Tortoife being laid upon his back and not being able to make ufe of his paws to turn himfelf, becaufe they can only bend forwards towards the belly ; be endeavoured to help himfelf with his neck and head, which he turned fometimes on one fide, and fometimes on the other, by pufhing againil the ground, and fo rocked himfelf as in a cradle, till at length he was able to rowl quite on one fide, and fo get upon his legs. The three great pieces of Ihells lie forwards upon the back ; and in the middle of each there was a round flud about a quarter of an inch in height, and an inch and half broad. The parts which are not under the fhell are all covered with a loofe fkin with a grain like Sp-ntjh leather, and full of wrinkles. There is no Ikin under the fhell to cover the parts which are enclofed therein ; but it was connefted to the edge of each of the two apertures or openings. The flun on the head is much thinner than that on the other parts» It was feven inches in length and five in breadth ; and had fome refemblance to the head of a Serpent. The lower jaw was near as thick as the upper, and there were no apertures for the ears. The noftrils at the end of the mouth were only two little round holes, which made a very uncouth appearance. The eyes were fmall and frightful, and had no upper eye-lid, they being ihut only by means of the lower, which may be lifted up to the eye-brow. Towards the extremity of the jaw bones near the lips, the fkin was as hard as a horn. tSo THE NATURAL HISTORY horn, and the lips thsmfelves were jagged like a faw, and on the inlide there were two rovv5 of teerh* On each of the fore-paws diere were five toes, or rather nails ; for the toes could not be diflinguifned but by the nails, the paws thernfelves terminating in a round mafs, from which the nails grew out. 1 he fore- legs were nine inches in length, from the top of the fhoulder to the end of the nails, and the hinder le,53 eleven from the knee to the fame parts. The nail 3 were an inch and a half long, a.id rounded away both' above and below, being as it were cut in an oval figure, or perhaps worn away with ufe. Their colour was black and white in diirerent places, and without any regularity. The u.i\ was large, being fix inches in diameter at the beginning, anrl fourteen inches in length, termi- nating at the point like the horn of an Ox. The tail happened to be bent at the time of this animal's deaths and could never be made Urait by any artifice or force whatever. The fame inllexibility was found in the mufcles of the jav/s, which could not be opened but by cutting thefe mufdes afunder. The academills give us an inflance of the head of a fmall Tortoife which for half an Jiour after it v/as cut off wonld clack with its jaws, and make a noife like that of cailanets. They fuppofe from the lliffnefs of the tail that the Tortoife mult have vafi: fcrength in that part; and that he may ufc it as an ofi^enhve weapon. ArifiotU has taken notice of the vail ftrength of the jaws of this animal J and he affirms they will cut in two? whatever they lay hold of, even not excepting the- hardeil flint. Af er they had fawed in two the bone on each fide that makes a fort of a fkull, in which the , entrails are inclofed, as has already been taken notice of; they then cut away the membrane which adheres to this, bone underneath, and which forms the belly. Then the internal parts prefented thernfelves to view ;. which were the itomach, the liver, and bladder, which laft was fo large that it covered all the guts, and other parts in the lower belly. The gut next the llomach had plaits or folds within like thfi^ ftomach itfelf, fomewhat tike O F F I S H E S. 261 Kke a net in figure. The reft of the guts were compofed of very thick membranes, and the fmall guts were an inch in diameter, and nine feet long. There was no blind gut, though fome authors have affirmed that Tortoifes have two like thofe in birds. The redum or ftrait gut at the diftance of nine inches from the anus, had a contraflion which appeared like the anus of a hen, and there were three round appendages of different fizes, which feemed to be formed by the internal mem- brane of the rcdlum, and which Vv^ere covered with flefhy fibres running according to the length of the appen- dages. The remainder of the redum from this con- tradion to. the anus, ferved as a cafe for the penis, in the fame manner as may be feen in Beavers, and feverai other animals. The liver was of a folid fubflance, of a pale colour, and very large, and feemed to be double ; for it was feparated into two parts joined together only by an ifthmus of an inch broad, and by membranes which ferved to convey the veffels from the left part to the right. They had each a vena cava, which proceeded fi*jm the convexity towards the midriff, and each had an hepatick branch which proceeded from the hollow part. The left part of the liver was divided into four lobes, and the right into three. The leaft of thefe three lobes covered the gall-bladder to which it was fixed, and which was an inch and half long and half an inch broad, being of the hgure of a human bladder ; the cyftic dudl was a continuation of the neck of the gall bladder, and was feven inches long, and as thick as a fmall quill. The fpleen lay between the gutts called the duodenum and colon, and was of the ihape of a kidney. The pancreas or fvveet-bread embraced the duodenum very clofely, and was conneded to the fpleen which partly covered it. It was of the figure of a triangular prifni, and its canal opened into the duodenum. 7 he kidneys were four inches in length, three in breadth, and of the fame fhape. The tellicles were hid under the kidneys, and they were two inches and a half long and near an inch broad. The bladder was of an eraraor- dinary fize as before obfei"ved, and contained above twelve 2^2 THE NATURAL HISTORY twelve pints of dear urine. ]t was in fliape like a gut, and its neck was not at the end but in the middle. It was two feet long, and lay acrofs the belly from one fide to the other. The neck of the bladder was an inch long and as much broad, and was fixed to the middle of the re6tum, into which the urine was dif- charged. The penis was nine inches in length, and half a one in breadth, and confided of two round ligaments of afpungy fubftance, which were covered with a thin membrane. The heart was placed in the upper part of thebreaft, and was included in a very thick pericardium or bag, which was connefted below to the membrane which covered the liver. It had not the ufual figure of a heart, for its largeft dimenfions were from one fide to the other ; it being three inches this way, and only an inch and a half from the bafis to the point, the two auricles or deaf ears which proceeded from the bafis, were very loofe. The right was two inches and a half long, and an inch and a half broad ; but the left was much lefs. They each opened into a ventricle, and there was an orifice in each which allowed pafl'age for the blood from the auricle into the ventricle. There were likewife three valves, made contrary to the ufual manner, that hindered the blood from returning out of the heart into the auricles. Befides thefe two therewas another on the fore part inclining a little towards the right. Thefe three ventricles communicated with each other by feveral orifices ; their fubftance not being folid and continuous as in the hearts of other animals. Befides thefe narrow orifices, there were others more large, by which the two pofterior ventricles commu- nicated with each other as well as with that before ; for there were three in all. The afpera arteria which was compofed of intire rings at the entrance of the breafl: divided into two branches, each of iix inches in length. At their pafTage into the lungs thefe branches loft their cartilages, and became membranous canals, which were very large and un- equal; being an inch and a half in diameter in fome places, and half an inch only in others. The membrane which formed thefe canals was tranfpr rent and thin ; but 8 O F F I S H E S. 263 but folid and ftrengthened by ligaments conne£led to- gether in the manner of a net, compofed of feveral mefhes. Each of thefe mefhes was the mouth and entrance of a fmall pouch which opened into a fecond, and fometimes into a third. The branches of the vein and artery of the lungs run along thefe ligaments, and accompanied them through all the divifions, diftributirg the blood equally throughout the whole extent of the lungs. The whole mafs of blood does not paG through the lungs ; and to be fure of this the academifts made a ligament upon the trunk of the pulmonary artery, which did not affect the motion of the heart in any fenfe ; but the circulation of the blood continued the fame in every refpeft. Hence it appears that the true ufe of the lungs in a Tortoife and other animals of the fame kind is very obfcure ; and that v/hat may be faid about it can be only guefs-work. However the academifts imagined that they affill the Tortoife in keeping on the furfaceof the water or fmking to the bottom, juft as he pleafes ; and that they ferve in the room of fvvimming- bladders that belong to filh. To confirm which, they obferved that when a Tortoife was put into the water a great many bubbles proceeded from the noftrils, be- caufe probably there was too much air in the lungs to keep this animal in a juil equilibrium. They likewife imagined that when a Tortoife is at the bottom of the water, he relaxes the mufcles which comprefs the lungs, and then the air by virtue of its fpring expands itlelf, and brings the body to fuch a bignefs as to enable it to fwim upon the Water. We have been the longer upon this article, in order to fhew in as diftindt a man- ner as poffible how amphibious animals live in the water, and are able to continue under it fo long; which mull evidently proceed from there being no in- terruption in the circulation of the blood, when it is not permitted to pafs through the lungs ; that is, that part of it which we may fuppofe commonly has its courfe that way ; and therefore we fhall now proceed to take fome notice of the other parts. The globe of the eye was an inch in diameter, and the ni<5titing membrane bad the fame mufcles as in birds. 2^4 THE NATURAL HISTORY birds. The watery humour was fo thick it would hardly run, and the cornea was very thin. The chryrtah'ne humour was but a line in diameter, and was of a flattilh ihape. It had no black membrane at the bottom, fuch as is to be feen in the eyes of birds. The tongue was of a pyramidal Ihape, and was an inch in length, and one third of an inch broad ; but it was but a line in thicknef'. About one half of it was /leftiy, and the coat that covered it was full of a vaft number of papillae. The ears have no outward orifices ; but under a fkin which lies over a deprefiion, on the fide of the temples there was a round hole like the orbit of the eye, which was clofed by a kind of cartilaginous plait, that was very moveable, and was connefted all round the hole to the parts below by a very thin membrane. On the fide of this behind the head, there was a cartilaginous pipe which pafTed into the palate, where there was a long orifice. Under the cartilaginous pipe there was a large cavity twice as long as broad, which was pierced on the fide to give pafTage to a little flender bony flyle placed obliquely to fupport the plait at one end ; and at the other it flopped up a hole by which the fecond cavity opened into a third that received the auditory nerve, the part of the ftyle which Hopped up the orifice of this ihird cavity grew large at the end like a trumpet, and had a very delicate,, membrane which, tonncfted it to the circumference of the hole. Thofe that have given a defcription^ of the Caribbee Jjlands have affirmed, that this animal is deaf; but there is little reafon to think fo, after examination of the organs jull: dcfcribed. It is very probable that the v/riters who are authors of this afiertion, were never very exad in their inquiry ; but only judged 1 oitoifes were deaf, becaufe they had no external orifices on the hdes of their heads. The COMMON LAND TORTOISE is full of yellow and black fpots on the back and the upper part of the fliell is very convex, and the iovver is flat. It has a little head much like that of a Serpent, which he can put out orhide wi.hin his Hi. 11 jail a:> he pleafes, or as occafion requiies. He h:.'. iiu upper eyelid; nor has be /''.'i(74-J^^.JI^' ^ygr^ort^e. qr^^^^n/^-^ur^^^^j^ ^ree^J^/ar^e*:J/>o^/^i/^J/':^r^ O F F I S H E S. 265 ke any ear or orifice inllead of one like the former. In the winter time he hides himfelf in the earth, and there continues without any food. He is a very long lived animal. The TORTOISE, called by the Brafiiam Jab on, and by the Portugue/e Cagado de terra, has a black Iheil on which many hexagonal figures feem t > be engraved. His muzzle is like that of the former kind, "and the head and legs are brown, with fpots of the colour of umber. The liver is highly commended for fine eating. The FRESH WATER TORTOISE delights in ponds and muddy waters, and particularly the ditche* about walled towns and caftles. However he is feldom to be met within Europe except in a fmall lake in the Canton of Zurich in S'witzerland ; but near Conftantine to the South of Algiers in Africa, they are in great plenty. They are very difagreable to look at, and the women in thofe parts call them Devils, fuppofmg they are the occafion of various difeafcs. Be is called by fome the Water Tortoise to diflinguifh him from that that lives entirely on land. They are pretty much alike, only that belonging to the water has a longer tail. The colour of the lliell is black, and feems to confift of feveral fmall ones joined together. He can put out his head, feet, and tail when he pleafes, or hide them under the ihell. The lungs, kidneyi, blad- der, and other internal parts are like thcic of the Tortoife above defcrlbed. They live a long while without food, and even after their heads are cut off. The COMMON SEA TORTOISE differs from the Land Tortoise chiefly in fize which is larger; but the (hell is not fo beautiful, and it is of a fofcer con- fillence. The feet are like the fins of fifh, becaufe they are ufed for fwimming. They grow to a very great bulk, for fome of them neai* Brafil and the Canbbee ^<2;7^j are fufiicient to dine eighty or a hundred men. Mr. Herbert has feen them in the Eajl In.iian fca fo large that fourteen men might fit on one of their backs. The Tailors take notice of four kinds of Tortoifes, which they call the Trunk Turtle, theLoccER- VOL. III. N HEAD lee THE NATURAL HISTORY HEAD, the Hawks-bill, and the Green Turtle. The Trunk Turtle is commonly larger than the reit, and their hacks are higher and rounder. The flelh of this fort is rank and not very wholefome. The Logger-head is fo called, from the largenefs of his head, which is much bigger in proportion than that of the other kinds. The flefii cf this is likevvife very rank, and not eaten but in cafe of neceflity. The HAWKS-BILL TURTLE is the leaft of the four, and has a long and fmall mouth, fomesvhat re- fcmbling the bill of a Hawk. This is the Turtle that produces the (hell fo much admired in Ewope for making combs, fnuff-boA-es, and the like. They generally carry about three pounds ; but the largcft of all hx pounds. The (hell confiib of thirteen leaves or plates, of which eight arc flat and five hollow. They are raifed and taken ofl' by the means of fire, which is made under it after the flefh is taken out. As foon as the heat afi^e^ls the leaves, they are eafily raifed with the point of a knife. The flefli is but indifferent food, and yet it is much fweeter and better than that of the Logger- head. However it Sometimes purges upwards and downwards ; efpccially between the Scmbalices and i'oyto Belio. The GREEN TURTLE is fo called, becaufe the fhell is greener than that of any other. It is very clear and better clouded than that of the Hawks-bill, but it is fo exceeding thin, that it is only ufed in inlaying. Thefe Turtles are generally larger than the Hawks-bill, and fometimes weigh three hundred pounds. Their heads arc round and fmall, and their back flatter than that of the Hawks-bill. The TURTLE in general is a dull, heavy, ftupid animal; ihcir brain being no bigger than a fmall bean, though t;ie head is as la ge as that of a calf. That de- fcribcd by the acadc mills at Pari 5^ was an inch and one third in length, and three quarters of an inch in breadth ; but then it mull be noted, that the Tortoife wfis of a very large fizc ; however they have a very good eye and aveiy quick fight. The ilefh is fo like beef, that it would hardly be dillinguilhed from it, if it wai O F F I S H E S. 27^ was not for the colour of the fat, which is of a yel- lowilh green. They feed upon mofs, grafs, and fea-weeds, unlefs in the time of breeding when they forfake their com- mon haunts, and are luppofed to eat nothing; both the male and female are fat at the beginning of this feafon, but before they return the male becomes fo lean that he is not fit to eat, while the female continues in good plight, and the fielh continues good to the very lait. They couple in the water, and are faid to be nine days in performing this work. They begin in March^ and continue till May. The coupling time is one of the principal feafons for catching them ; for they are very eafiiy difcovered when they are in the action. As foon as they are per- ceived, two or three people draw near thera in a canoe, and either flip a nooie round their necks or on one of their feet. If they have no line they lay hold of them by the neck where they have no ilieil with their hands only, and by this means they catch them both together. Euc fometimes the female eicapes, being more fhy than the male. Another way of taking them at this time is with a fpear, v/hich being thrown at the back of the Turtle pierces the fnell and bone, and iHcks as fall: therein as li:' it was folid oak. They ilruggle hard to get loofe ; but all in vain, for they take care that the line which is faltened to the fpear be ftrong enough to hold him. The time of taking Turtle upon land is from the firfl: moon in Aftnl till that in Auguii, it being the feafon in which thefe creatures lay their eggs. I'he number of ihero is prodigious, for they wiil lay fc;veral hundred in one feafon. The night before fhe intends to lay fhe comes and takes a view of the place, and after taking a turn about fhe goes to fea again ; bat never fails to return the night following. Towards the fetting of the fun they are feen drawing- near the land, and feem to look earnellly about them as if they were afraid to be difcovered. When they perceive any perfon on fhore they feek for another }-4ace ; but if other ,vife they land when it is dark. After they have looked carefully about thtm, they N 2 be^in 263 THE NATURAL HISTORY begin to work and dig in the fand with their fore feet, till they have made a round hole of a foot broad and a toot and a half deep, a little above where the water reaches when higheit. This done they lay eighty or ninety eggs or upwards at a time, each as big as a hen's eggy and as round as a ball. She continues lay- ing about the fpace of an hour, during wJiich time if a cart was to be driv^en over her, fhe would not ilir. 1 he eggs are coveied with a tough white Ikin like wetted parchment. When fhe has done laying, Ihe covers the hole fo dextrouily that it is no erSy matter to find the place ; this done, Ike returns to the fea. At the end of fifteen days flie lays eggs again in the fame manner, and at the end of another fifteen fhe does the fame again, laying three times in all. In about twenty-five days after laying, the eggs are hatched by the heat of the fun ; and then the little Turtles being as big as young Quails, run direftly to the fea, without any guide to lead them or (hew them the way. When there are any caught before they get into the fea, they are generally fried whole, and are faid to be delicious eating. The men tliat watch for the Turtles, as foon as they have an opportunity turn them on their backs, which is not performed without fome difiiculty ; for they are very heavy, and ftruggle hard. After this he hauls them above high-water mark and leaves them till morn- ing ; for uhen they are once on their backs they a'e not able to ftir from the place. The I'urtle as was faid be- fore, feeds upon grafs and weeds, and this Ihe docs on the land as well as in the water. Near feveral of the J}ne>ican iflands there are a fort of green meadows at the bottom of the fea, v/here it is not many fathom deep. For this reafon, when the weather is fine and the water fmooth, they may be feen creeping upon this green carpet. After they have fed fuffit-iently, they take their progrefs into the mouths of frefii water rivers, and after feme time return to their former Uation. When they have dene feeding tiiey generally float with the r heads above winter, aniefs they are alarmed by the aoproach of hunters or birds of prey ; in which cafe they fuddcnly plunge to the bottom. A Turtle of an ordinary O F F I S H E S. 269 ordinary fize and of the beft fort, will yield at leaft two hundred pounds of fiefh, which the failors often fait for their fea provinon. 1 heir eggs will keep for a confiderable time. The fhell may be fafhioned in what manner the workman pleafes, by foftening it in warm water, and then putting it into a mould ; for then by the affiftance of a ftrcng iron prefs it will take any im- preflion, and may afterwards be adorned and embelliflied at pleafure. The French authors, and after them Mr. Ray, make mention of three forts of Tortoifes, which thougii already mentioned, it would feem a negledt not to take fome notice of them ; and the rather, becaufe perhaps we may find fome particulars taken notice of by them which have been before omitted. The JURUCUA of BrafJ, is called hy (ke Fori w gue/e Tartaruga, and by the French Tortue Franche. Pere Tertre fpeaking of Tortoifes in gene- ral afferts as above, that they are llupid, heavy, fluggifh animals, and that they have no more brain than a fmall bean. He adds to this, that they are deaf, which however is erroneous ; becaufe they have the proper organs of hearing though not outv/ardly. Ke owns however, that they have a very quick fight, and that they grow to a prodigious fize, being fometimes five feet in length and four in breadth. He adds, that their flefli locks like beef, and canno; be diliinguiihed from it but by the colour of the fat. Some of the Tortue Franche will dine thirty men ; and the fat will yield a large quantity of oil as yellow as gold, which the French make ufe of inftead of Butter. 1 his is the fame as the Green Turtle. The TORTUE KAOUANNE differs from the for- mer, in having a much larger head in proportion to the body ; and this is the fame as the Logger-head T urtle. He is more mifchievous than the relt, and defends him- felf with his mouth and paws, when they are going to turn him on his back. He is the largefl of them all ; but his flefh is in no great efteem, becaufe it is black, and not very well tafted. Likewife the fat is difagerc- able, and the French affirm, that it fpoils all the fauces N 3 into 270 THE NATURAL HISTORY into which it is put; and therefore they never ufe it when they can get any better. The TORTUE CARET is theleaftof the three ; but is not fo good as the Tortue Franche ; but is much better than the Kaouanne. The oil of this Tortoife is greatly efleemed by the French^ as being excellent for weakneffes of the nerves, the fciatica, and for all cold fluxions; but that for v^hichhe is iu highefl efteem, is his (hell, which confifts of thirteen pictes or plates ; eight of which are flat, and five a little convex. I'he finelt fhells are thick, clear, and tranfparent; and the colour is a mixture of that of antimony, jafper, tav^ney and white. This is the fame that was mentioned above by the name of the Hawks bill Turtles. Mr. Ray has another Tortoife, called the Scaly Turtle, which he thinks is of the water kind. The Ihell is above a foot long, ten inches broad, an4 three and a half high in the lovv'er part. However he takes i: to be the fame as the Caret above-mentioned. The LAND TEREJ31N or TORTOISE, is generally round mouthed, and not hawks billed, as forae Turtles are. 1 hey are eaten by the Savages, and are pretty good meat except the very large ones of all. They arc utter enemies to the Ratt'e fnake, for when th€ I'fT^bia meets him he catches hold a little below th^ nt ck, and draws his head under his fhell, which makes the tnikt beat his tail, and twift about with all th« fiicng:h and violence imaginable to get away ; b^t the I'ticbin foon difpatches him and there leaves him. Tlie l,AND ThREBIN, or TORTOISE taken notice cf by Mr. La^j.icny is little more than four inches long Avhen tlie head is under the ihell, and it has no tail but only the rudiments of one at the extremity whereof the vent is phced. The head is covered with a hard fhel! of a dark b/own colour on the top, and yellow on the fides and throat, vyiih fmall black or dufky fpots. The noib-jls ar-e near together at the end •of the beak ; and the eyes are yeibwilh. The neck is covered v/ith a loofc iiiin of a da.ik purpHlh fleih- colour, which partly coveis the head wnen it is Jiot fully extended. The hinder legs and parts about thj? vent are covered vv'ith Ikin of the fame dull fleih-colour ^s O F F I S H E S. 27! us tTie reck, and the fore lejrs and feet with yellow hard fcale^ having five toes on each foot before, and four On each behind, which are armed with pretty itrong claws of a duiky colour. The ilicll above is roundifh, and divided into feparate fcales, each being engraven with rings round its extremities, that leiTen inwards towards the center. The fhell above is of a duflcy brown colour with ycllovviOi fpots of various figures, but underneath it is fiattilli and yellow with black clouds and fpots. There are fome of otlicv fizes. I'hey feed upon Snails, Tadpoles, young Frogs, Mulh- rooms, and the flime of the barth and f'onds. [hey have alfo another fort in Card na^ called Water Terebins ; but thefe are very fniail, and contain no more meat than is on a Pullet; but then they are very delicate eating, efpecially in IvUy and yune. Their egajs are very good ; but fo many ene- mies lie in wait to devour them, that theie is not one in a hundred conies to perfection. They are hatched by the fun and fand, and when they come out they are about the bignefs of a Chefnut, and get their own living. 1 he LESSER LAND TURTLE of the Ea^ hd-cs, mentioned by Mr. Ray^ is covered with a ihell not {sd much as four inches in length, and near the fame in breadth. It ccnfifts of three orders of chequer-work, and a border which furrounds them all. They are tinctur- ed with various colours, fuch as black, white, purple, greenilli and yellow, 'i he lower (hell is all whitifh, and divided by denticulated lines. It has the head and beak in the ihape of that of a Parrot ; on the top of which there is a prominence of a red colour mixed witii yellow. The neck is fmall, and the fore-feet and legs are be let with fcales of a horny fubflance. The feet aie flat, and have four toes ; but the hinder legs are longer and imaller, and covered with nothing but the commoci ikin ; however the feet ai'e fcaly, and like thofe before armed v/ith four claws. '1 he tail is {lender and ends in a point, and is only half an inch in length. There are fome of this kind larger, and fome lefs. The Jfrican LAND TORTOISE, is of the fame fize with the former, and the iris of the eye is of a N 4 ' reddifh 272 THE NATURAL HISTORY reddifh hazel colour. The lips are hard like the bill of a bird, and the head is covered v\ith fcales of a yellowifh cojour ; but the reck, hinder-legs, and tail, are covered with a flexible Ikin, of a dirty iicfh colour, the fore-legs have yellow leaks on the outfides, and the iliell is round, rifing pretty much en the upper fide snd fiat underneath. It is di\'ided into many com- partments or fepara;:e fcales, which have furrows all round them, lefiening one within another to the center. The Ihel! is yejlowiih, and clouded and fpotted with large irregular dufky fpots. The vent is in the tail, and it has five claws on each foot before, and four on each behind. When they apprehend danger they draw the head, legs, and tail into the fhell, fo that they cannot eafrivbe hurt. 'i he LESSER CHEQUERED TORTOISE is near feven inches in lengih, five in breadth, of a black colour, with rhomboidal fireaks. The fhell confifts of three orders of proinineixes, befides the border E'rom the middle of thefe proceed feveral fiellated lines, Avhich run to the edge. The lower fhell confills of eight dilbn-fl plates, joined together as it were by fo • many futures, of which two are twice as large as the lelL They are all diverfified with a black and yellowifh colour. Some authors recount other kinds of Tortoifes, but they all may be referred to the above forts ; as for in- ftance, there is or was a great chequered Tortoife-lhell in the Mufaeum of the Royal Society. It was brought from the ifland of Madagafcar^ and is of an oval fhape. Jt is very concave, and is a foot in length, eight inches in breadth, and almoft fix deep. There is another chequered fhell brought from Hurinamy and likewife another from Virgiyiia. Condomine of the royal academy at Paris obierve?, that the Tortoifes of the river JmazovSi are much fought after at Cayenne^ as being more delicious than others. There is fuch plenty of them of feveral fizes and kinds, that he thinks they alone with their eggs, would be fufhcient to maintain all the people on the banks of that river. There are alfo Land Tortoifes, called Jubvtis in the Biajilian Ir.rguage, which they prefer at P^/y? to any of the reft. He O F F I S H E S. 27^ He farther obferves, that they may be all kept out of the water for fevcral months together, without any kn- fible nourifhment. CHAP. XXIX. ^ 0/ turbinated Shell Fifb. SHELL fi(h are commonly divided into the turbi- nated, the bivalved and the univalved. The turbi- nated are fomewhat in the fhape of a top, and are fur- rounded with fpiral furrows much like a fcrew, being wide at the mouth, and terminate by little and little in a point. Ho.vever, they arc greatly different in their Ihape and fize, as well as in their texture, fome being harder, and others fofter ; but within they are all nearly alike with regard to their furface, which isex- ceedino- fmooth. The'NAUTILUS, or SAILOR, according to ^/-/. fiOile, is of two kinds, one of which has a lliell like a Pecluncle, being hollowed in the fame manner, it ge- nerally keeps near the fea fhore, on which it is often thrown by the waves, where it comes out of the ihell and is taken, or perifhes on the ground. This is a fmall fort, but the oiher keeps in its (hell like a fnail, or at leall feldom comes out of it ; but fomctimes thrufts out a fort of arms. This i^ fpoken of by PUny\ where he fays, this is one of the principal wonders of nature, becaufe it can fwim on the furface of the Tea like a boat. This is often feen near the Ca^e of Good Hope, and it is certainly a very pleafant fight to behold how they ma- rage- themfelves in the water. They delight 10 be on the furface when the water is calm, and their (hells {cvxe inftead of boats. Then they raife up their heads and fpread out a kind of fail, provided by nature, failing a- long in a very agreeable manner. While they are thus employed, if any thing appears that affrights thc.m, they take down the fail, hide themfelves within the ihell, and difappear. N 5 The 274 THE NATURAL HISTORY The Iheli feems to confifl of two parts, the keel^, and the fides, whereas in reality it is but one. It is ge- nerally fo large, that it may be juft grafped with both hands, though it is but an inch bro.id. They are not thicker than a fkin of vellum, and are ftreaked accord- ing to the length ; but the iides are crenated or jagged, bnt the divifions are roundiih. The hole by which the Nautilus gains its food, and fnews itfelf out of the ftiell, is large. Thelhell is brittle, of a ihining milk colour, very fmooth, being in all things like a round veffel or fliip. When it rifes out of the fea, it comes up with the fhell upfide down, that the afcent may be more eafy, and that the boat may empty itfelf of water ; but when it is on the furface, then it fets the Ihell to rights. Between the arms of tjiis fifh, the abovementioned mem- brane or fail, is placed as it were like the webbed toes of a bird, but much more thin, being not much thicker than a fpider's web ; but , it is llrong, and holds the wind as this fifh fiils alpng. There are feveral threads on each fide, which it makes ufe of inftead of rudders, and yet, when any thing comes near it, this fifh will immediately dive under water. The Pearl shelled NAUTILUS, is fo called, from having a fhell exceeding bright on the infjde, in- fomuch that it may vie with the fin eft pearls. Belonius calls it a PORCELLAIN, becaufe the French artificers ufe it for the making of feveral forts of ornaments. Some authors affirm, that the fhell of the Nautilus is fometimes met with twelve inches in length ; and when entire, what is called the lip, ftands very high, and the opening of the mouth is large, and of an oval oblong figure. Fioai this part there runs a kind of a tail, which turns within the hinder part of the opeaing of the mouth, continuing in a fpir^ form for feveral circumvolutions, but within the body of the fhell, and therefore is not vifible till it is cut open. The outfide of the fhell is of a browniili colour, variegated with one that is paler. The opening of the mouth does not go deep into the fhell, but in its hinder part there is a hole, which is the hr^. opening of the Siphuncle of the inner part. From this place, the inner cavity of the fhell is divided into a^ muljtude of cells, generally not above one-third of an^ inch O F F I S H E S. 275 inch deep ; the divifions are made by tranfveife plates of the fame pearly (hell that lines the mouth and the pipe or fiphuncle, the mouth of which is vifibls in the bafe of the firfl: aperture of the fhell, and is continued regularly through them all to the very extremity. Thefe cells are forty in number, and they grow gradually fraaller from the firft to the innerraoft. It is found in the ArchipelcgOy as well as in the ocean, and is fometimes feen in the clay pits and ftone quarries in many parts o'i Englanh The LITTLE THICK NAUTILUS, is of a roundifh form, and rarely exceeds an inch and a half in diameter. The furface of the whole Ihell is fmoQth, and the open- ing of the mouth is large, and nearly circular, but part- ly filled up behind by the turn of the fpiral part of the ihell into it. The colour of the outfide is of a pale tawny brown, with lines or ftreaks of a darker colour. The infide is bright and fhining like the former, and the mouth opens to a much greater depth in proportioft to the fize. At th-e bottom there is an aperture which runs through a multitude of Ihells, into which the inner cavity is divided. It is a native of the Gul^h ofPerfia, and the Eajl-Indian f^^s. The THIN Eared NAUTILUS, has a very beauti- ful Ihell, which grows to ten inches in length, and is exceeding thin. '1 he opening of the mouth is vtxy large and of an oval fhape, but truncated at the hinder part, where the fpiral turn enters into it. The edge of the mouth is undulated, and st the hinder extremity there are two appendages called ears., one on e.ich fide x!\\Q. turn of the ihell. The whole fheil is as white as i'now, and its outer furface is beautifully marked w th undulated ridges v.'ith circular lines, and a great many tubercles. TTie back is hollov/ed all the way, and from its center there arifes a denticulated ridge. This fpecieg is common in the Eajl-Indiuny and fome parts of the American feas. The PAPER NAUTILUS, fo called from the thin- ncfb of its (hell, it being no thicker than llrong paper or parchment. It is often met with twelve inches long, and is comprefTed on the fides. The opening of the^ moutii is stx'j long and narrow, and there are iio ears ; K 6 hn 2;6 THE NATURAL HISTORY but the corners of the hinder part of the mouth, between which the fpiral turn of the ftiell enters the cavity, are high and fharp. All the outer farface is beautifully va- riegated with undulated lines and hollow fpaces between them. On the back there is a furrow runs all along it, and the ridges on each fide it are fharp and ferrated. The THIN NAUTILUS without Eai-.s, is fmaller than the former kind, for it is but five inches long, and three or four deep. The openinor of the mouth is very long and narrow, and it is without ears. The colour is of a yellowifn white, and the fhell is very thin and de- licate. All the furface is undulated, and the back is both furrowed and undulated, having the two ridges on each fide of it pretty broad and denticulated. Some au- thors make fevtral other kinds, but they differ fo little from the f)rmer, that it is not worth while to allow them a particular defcription. The PURPURA, is of the fize of an egg, and fome- times bigger, and there are feveral forts of them. The YELLOW LONG SNOUTED PURPURA, with loug crooked fpincs, is about four inches in length, and fometimes more, and the fhape is nearly of an oval. The fnout is almoil tv.ice as long as the reil of the Iheli, and both this and the body are armed with four rows of long ipincs or thorns, fome of which are an inch in length, but (lender, and pointed at the ends, but moft of them are fomewhat crooked. The mouth'is nearly round, only its opening is continued to the form of a cleft up the fnout. 1 he natural colour of the (liell is a tawny yellow, mixed v.ith brown ; but when it has lain long upon the (hore, it becomes white as moll other lliells do. It may be feen in the cabinets of the curious. Some call it a Woodcock ILell, from the length of its fnout or bill. The VAiUFGATED LONG SNOUTED PURPURA, IS four or five inches long, and the body of the Ihell is ihort, and nearly of an oval fiiapc. The fnout is flen- der, and about five or ih: inches in length ; the mouth is round, but not very large, and the lip which fur- rounds it is of a reddifii colour. The fnout joins to the end of this, and there is a cleft that runs all along it fom that part. The external furface of the fhell is covered with lar^c tubercles irrcgukrly placed. The colour O F F I S H E S. 277 colour is of a dLif]outh is pretty wide, and its lower channel is hollo.ved like a femi-cylinder, and is partly- covered by a pretty thick rib raifed on the bafeof the left lip ; the upper channel is narrow, 2nd more deep by one half than brodd. The colour is white, without mixture in the young, but rii2hdy fpotted with brov»'n in the old. The SLENDER BUCCINUM, with a longifh fnoirt, is four or five inches in length, and its diameter in the thickefl part is not more than an inch; for which reafon it is by ibme called the Spindle-lhell. The thickeft part is nearly in the middle, and the mouth has a fnout for its lip, which is continued to the fame length one way, as the clavicle the other. This fhell has ten fpiral turn- ings, and five of the lowermoft have a foit cf ridge in the middle, formed of a row of fhort blunt tubercles. 7 he fnout is radiated in a fpiral manner, and the gene- ral colour is white, but the tubercles are yellowilh, as are alfo the lines between their feveral rows. The SMOOTH SLENDER BUCCINUM wi'h a clovcii fnout, is by feme called the MITRE-SHELL, and is about three inches long, and about three quarters of an inch in diameter. It has about five voluiions, the lowermoll of which k as long as all the reft together. The principal colour is white, which is variegated with clouds and fpots of a dulky red. It has no fpines, and the mouth is long and nar.-ow, and at the upper ex- treniiiy of it there is a cleft. It is found in AfJ'Crica as well as the Eaft-lnd-e;. The SMOOTH sLEvDER BUCCINUM, with an ob- lono^ fnout, and a denticulated outer lip, is five or fix inches in length, and its diameter where greateft, is a- bout an inch. The fnout is equal to about half the length of the tail, and the fhell confifts of twelve fpiral volutions, tlie lowermoll of which is largeft, and has fomewhat of a belly. Jt open^ at the front into an ob- long mouth, and the fore lip has about five large denti- culauons. The joining of the two lips is continued into a long OF FISHES. 281 a long and fleiider fnout, pointed at the end. The whole lurface of the Ihell is fmooth, and the colour white. The LONGEST BUCCINUM, raiiated tranfverfely, is faid to be a very icarce (hell, and is about four inches in length, and nearly two in diameter. It confiits of feven Ipiral turns, which are feparated as it were from each other, and are flatted on the fides. The colour is ycjlovv, iranfvcrfcly radiated with prominent roundiili. ftreaks. '] he opening of the mouth is oblong and large, and the extremity of the fnout is blunt. 1 his fheli is brought from the Eaft-Indtes. The GHORT BUCCINUM, with tu.bercles and a large mouth, is about two inches long, and nearly as much broad. The mouth is oblong and very large, and the outer lip broad. The extremity of the mouth is a little cloven, and the tail is fliort and thick. The flieli confdls of about fix turn?, and is of a brownifh co- lour, and a little variegated with red and white. It is be- fet with a great number of fhort blunt tubercles, placed in feveral rows. The SMOOTH SHORT BELLIED BUCCINUM, is remarkable for having the turns of the Ihell running a contrary way to mofl: of the reft of this kind. It is a- bout an inch and three quarters long, and near an inch in diameter in the thickeft part. It confifts of fix turns, theloweft of v/hich is much the lai-geft, and as it were inflated. The mouth is ihnall, and of an oblong oval form. The furface of the flieil is fmooth, and the co- lour yellow. It is brought to us from Barbudoes. The SHOR T SMOOTH BUCCINUM, with an extend- ed lip, is an inch and half in length, and above an inch in diameter where broadeft. It has about four fpiral turns, and the lov/ermoft is thick and blunt at the top. The mouth is large and longiih, and the lip is pretty much extended, i he furface of the (tiell is fmooth, and of a pale brownifh colour, .with many yellow rings. It Is chiefly met v/ith in the Eaji Indies. The SLENDtR LATTICED BUCCINUM, is about two inches and a half long, and an inch in diameter where broadeft. It has feven turns, and the four lowcr- moft are very fmall, the laft terminating in a iharp point. The mouth is oblong, moderately large, and of a red- d.fh 2<{2 THEN A TURAL HISTORY difh colour, and the lip is narrow and cloven a little at the top. The furface of the fhell is adorned with pretty high longitudinal ridges, which crofs the turns and liand pretty near each other. Eefides, there are many broad lines that run according to the turns of the fhell, and crcfling the ridges, divide the whole furface into fmall Squares. It is found on the ihores of the American ifiands. The BELLIED BUCCINUM with a narrow dentated roouth, is an inch and half long, and a!)Out an inch and quarter in diameter. It has about nine turns, though the lowermoil: of itfelf makes the principal part of the irell, the reft being comprehended in the fpace of one third of an inch. The lovveft volution or turn, is near- ly oval, and the mojth is fmall, oblong and narrow, with a lip at each end, extended a litrle beyond the opening, and form, a ridge. 'i he mouth is dentated on both fides, and the colour is of a pale brown, va- riegated with a deeper brown, and a faintifh white. It is brought from' the Eaji-hidies and other places. The THICK BUCCINUM with a large mouth, is four or five inches long, and two and a half in diame- ter where thickeft. It has five fpiral turns, and is ter- minated in a fmall blunt point. The lowerrnoft turn of which the body of the fiiell chiefly confifts, is bellied and large, and the mouth is large and oblong, with thin lips. The colour is of a fine white, variegated with red, yellow, and brown, in a beautiful manner^ ^J he furface is as fmooth as if it was polifhed. It is brought from the Wejl Indies. The SMOOTH OBLOKG BUCCINUM with a narrow mouth, called by fome the MIDAS EAR-SHELL, is three or four inches long, and two and a half in diame- ter ; it is of an oblong ihape, and has fome refeixblance to the ear of an Ais, fuch as Midas is reported to have had,. It confills of fix turns, the lowerrnoft of which takes up abnoil the whole fhell, and is nearly of an oval fhape. The mouth is almoft extended through its whole length, and is very narrow, being only a cleft fomewhat broader at the bottom than elfewhere. The mouth is rounded, and has a fort of a fold near the bot- tom. O F F I S H E S. 283 torn. The furface is quite fmooth, and the colour is of a pale brown. It is brought from America. The SHORT BUCCINUM with a hollow fnout, is about two inches and a half long, and two inches in diameter. Excepting the fnout, it is much thicker than long, and confifts of fix fpotted fpiral tarns, with a blunt end. The mouth is wide and nearly oval, and the extremity of the fhell is continued into a confiderable long, flender, hollow fnout. 'I'he lip is thick and wrinkled, as well as the whole furface of the (hell, which is full of low oblong protuberances that are the higher rifings of the ridges between the wrinkles. The TRUMPET- SHELL of c^^?;^^^/, isfmall, thick, and of an oval form, blunt at the upper part, and pointed at the top. It is but half an inch long, and mucli lefs broad. 'It is compofed of ten turns or fpires which are all fmooth, polifhed, and flatted, except the firll ; but they are not very diilind from each other. The mouth or opening is oval, except in the lower part, where it forms a narrow channel, v/ith a flight furrow roundifli above, and twice as long as broad. The upper extremity forms a Ihort channel, and is cut on the back of the fhell by a furrow, which is foraewhat more datt^ than broad. The right lip is blunt and very thicks though withdut a border, and fomewhat wide, being adorned inwardly with eight fmall roundiih teeth. The Left lip is rounded, and crooked in the middle, like the portion of a circle ; and it is covered with a fmall fhining' plate without any fwelling, and as it were, wrinkled on the outfide towards the upper extremity. The fur- face of the fhell is covered with a reddiih membranous ficin, fo thin and tranfpajent, that the colouis may plain- ly be perceived through it. The ground is either white, fallow coloured, or brown, without any mixture in fome; •but is generally brown, and marked with round Vv-hite fpecks in the ihape of lozenges. The animal that inha- bits this fhell, has a fmall cylindrick head flightly fur- rowed at the extremity ; and the feelers are almoin cy- lindrick, being blunt at the top, and longer by one-half than the head. The eyes are two fmall prominent points placed at the root of the feelers, and the mouth appears Uke a little round h;;Je placed under the head, about 2S4 THE NATURAL HISTORY about the middle of its length, from which is almoil con- tinually darted out a cylindrick trunk, almoll as long as the feelers, which feems to be divided at the ends like two lips. The mantle confifls of a very (lender mem- brane, which extends from the external furface of the fhell, and is folded like a cylindrick pipe, which pro- ceeds from a length equal to the fifth pai t of the Iheli, and lies a little on the left fide. The body is of a pale white, with oval reddiih fpecks when beheld above ; but underneath it is of a dirty white, without any fpots. The feelers are red in the middle, and of a dirty white at the extremities. There are many other forts of Buccinums taken notice of by authors, but thefe are fufiicient to fatisfy the curiofity of moft readers ; and perhaps mod of the other diftindions are in a great meafaie owing to fancy ; though it is allowed there may be a greater variety v/ith regard to the colours, and perhaps in the fbapes. The HEDGE-HOG MLREX, is three inches and a half long, and about two and a half broncl where thick- eft. The body of the fhell is nearly of a conick (hape, and of a whitifli colour, wrinkled on the furface with circular furrows. It is alfo furroanded with feverai rows of long, ereft, ftrong, and fharp fj^ines or prickles, from whence it has its name. The clavicle has alfo f ro- tuberances of the fame kind on its federal turns, but they are fhorter and more blunt. The fpines are all black, as v/ell as fome other parts of the fheil, which give it a very fmgular appearance. It ia brought from jifrka and the Enjl-hidies. The HEDGE-HOG SHCLL with a fmooth clavicle, is two inches and a half long, and near two in diameter where broadeil. The fheli is of a brownifii white, va- riegated with a deeper colour, which feems to be a mix- ture of brown olive and purple. There aie three rows of fpines at fome diftance from each other, conneded by a ridge- and the clavicle has about five turns The fpines are white, which add greatly to the beauty of the Iheil. It is found on the fhores of /Jfrica, near the Mediterranean fea. The MUREX with hollow fpines, and a naked wrinkled body, is about two inches and a half long, and an inch and half in diameter. The cluvicle confifls of about O F F I S H E S. 28,- about nine diftinft turns, the two lowermofl: of v;hlch are befet with a row of imperfc6l fpines, and the body of the fliell i> wide, having a number of deep longitudinal furrows thereon. Towards the end next the clavicle, there are two rows of fpines near each other, which are fliort, conical, and hollow. After thefe the body of the fiiell is naked till within half an inch of the other extre- mity, where there is another rov/ of thofe fpines. It is brought from the Eajl-Indiesy and is not very common. The LEFT HANDED MUREX with a deprefleJ clavi- cle, is near three inches long, and about an inch and a half in diameter at the head, from whence it grows gra- dually fmaller to the end, which is pointed. The mouth is fo large, that it reaches the wliole length of the head, and the clavicle has about fix turns. The colour is of a whitifli brown with a reddilli call. But this fnell is di- flinguilhed from all others of the kind, in being turned tjie contrary way to the reft. It is brought from the South Seasy and is confequently very rare. The SPIDER SHELL or WRLNKLED MUREX with an extended lip, is about three inches long, and nearly as much in diameter. The colour is chiefly of a pale yellowifh brown, and the clavicle is long, with a- boLit fix turns, which are broad and elegant. There aie roundilh ridges all over the body atdifierent dillar.ces, and they are continued through the lip, which is greatly extended, forming v.-hat ianciful people call Spiders- feet, from whence this fhcU has its name. The mouth is very large, and the extremity of the ihell fmali and turned up. It is brought from the IVeJi-IrJies. The SCORPION SHh.LL or TUBERCULATED MUREX with five teeth on the lip, is five inches long, and abo^'e three in diameter. The colour ia. yellowifn, with a mixture of one more dufey ; and the mouth is very long and wide, v\ith a lip, when in perfedtion, variegated with rtd, violet colour, and white. The clavicle is fiiO' r, and all the furface of the Ihell is cover- ed with tubercles. The whole tdgt of the lip is notch- ed in a very irregular manner, and there are five olonng. The faell co.-ififts of about fix fpiral turns, ter- minated at the top by a fmall roundilh button. The furface is covered with undulated tranfverfe lines, whofe central points are raifed into blunt tubercles. The colour is of a greenifh grey, but the more prominent parts, and the top of the clavicle, are more pale, *nd fometimes white. It is brought from the Enjf and iVeji-lndici, CHAP. O F F I S H E S. 293 CHAP. XXX. 0/ Turbinated Shells. THESE fliells are of the fimple kind, conMing of one piece, and of a long flender make, always terminating in a very long fine point. The mouth is narrowert towards the bafe, and has a fort of an ear. They are of different fhapes, and in general they ai-c called Screw- fliells. The THICK TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with an oval mouth, is fometimes feven inches in length, and two in- diameter where thickeft. The iheli confiils of about fourteen turns, ten of which are pretty diftind ; but four near the extremity are a li;tle confufed. The turn next the mouth is the largeft, from which thejr gradually diminifhed to the end, which is pointed. They are all round on the furface, which is fmooth and white, but beautifully variegated v/ith yellow rays and broad bands, confining of a mixture of blue and brown Jines ; but interrupted by irregular fpiral lines of the fame colours. The mouth is large and wide, and the lip thin and not dentated. It is found in America, as well as Europe. The NEEDLE-SHELL or SLENDER SCREW- SHELL with roundiHi fpires and a fmall round mouth, is iive or fix inches long, and the diameter where thickefl, is not much above half an inch. Jt becomes gradually fmaller from the mouth to the other end, where it ter- minates in a point. It confiils of fifteen fpiral turns, which are all roundifh or bellied, rifing very high in the middle. The furrows between them are deep and nar- row, and the mouth fmall and roundifli. it has only a notch where the ear is placed in the other, and the whole furface is perfectly fmooth. The colour is white, va- riegated with yellow. The SLENDER TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with bellied fpires, and an oval mouth, is about two inches long, and a third of an inch in diameter where thickeii. The fhell confifts of about fourteen turns, and that next the mouth is much the largefi: ; the mouth itfeif is mode- O 3 rate!/ 294 THE NATURAL HISTORY rately large and oval, and bordered with a thin lip. It is common on the ihor^s of the American iflands. ^Thc TURBO or SCREW-SHELL, with bellied ^Ires and elevated ribs, is an inch and a half in length, and the largeil turn a little more than the third of an inch in diameter. The turns grow gradually fmaller to the point, and they are feven in number, beautifully ribbed, and each of them have feveral firait very high ribs running down at fmail diftances. The colour is white, and the mouth round and pretty Isrge, with a thick lip. It is common on the fhores q{ Barbadoes. The CONICAL TUREO or SCREW-SHELL, with plain llreaked and numerous fpires. It is by fome called the TtLESCOPE-SHELL, and the fhape is a regular cone four inches long, and an inch and a quar- ter in diameter near the mouth, from whence it ptows gradually fmalier, terminating in a very fine point. The turns near the mouth ai-e broad, and they become gradually narrow, but are very numerous, and at length indirtinft. The turns are all flat and ftreaked fpirally, and the colour is brown, but dcepeft at the thickell part, and almoft white at the point. The mouth is fiat and jjot large, and the lip runs each way to fome diitance beyond it Jike a ridge. It is foimd in mofl parts of the wofid. \ The SLENDER TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with fpiral lines on the turns, is four or five inches long, and fcarce half an inch thick where thickeft. It becomes gradually fmaller to the end, where it terminates in a point. The turns are all round it, and the furrows be- tween them are pretty deep, and beautifully ftreaked all the way with deep furrows following the 'turn of the fhell. The mouth is fmall, and of an irregular oval, with a thin lip. The colour of the Iheil is yellow, un- Jefs it ha6 lain long on the Ihore, and it is found on the fhores of the American ifiands, as well as in the Enji- Indies, The TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with diftant and prominent fpincs, is about five inches long, and the dia- meter of the fpire next the head, is about three quarters of an inch, from whence it becomes gradually Icfs till it terminates in a point. There are about feventeen turns that O F F I S H E S. 295 that are very high, and extremely narrow, with very deep furrows between rhem. The mouth is round, but not very regular, and the iip has aliitleear; the colour is whitifh, with a tincture of yeilow and red, and it is broa(>ht from the Eajl and Weji-Indies. TheTURBO or SCREW SHELL with narrow flatted, and iiudded fpires, is about four irxhes long, and the diameter where largell half an inch, from whence it tapers to a line point. 'I he ihell confifts of about four- teen turns, which are very indiftincl towards the point. They are all flatted and undulated in a very agreeable manner, and along the edge of each fpire, there is a" foit of blunt fmall protuberances or ftuds of a paler co- lour than the reil of the fliell, which is of a du(ky brown. The mouth is large but irregular, and projeds from the reft of the (hell. It is brought from the Eaji-htdies. The WAR IT TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with a broad depreiTed mouth, called by fome the CATER- PILLAR-SHELL, is about two inches and a half long, and near three quarters of an inch in diameter next the mouth. It confifts of about twelve turns, which ter- minate in a point, and feveral of thefe are irregularly befet with blunt warty protuberances. The mouth is as it were connefted to the fliell by a fort of a neck, and is broad and deprefled, having the lower lip a little turned back, and an ear at each extremity. The fhell in general is pale variegated with a darker colour ; but the protuberances are blueifli. It is brought from Chimin The TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with a long wide mouth, is three inches long, and of the thicknefs of a man's little finger. It becomes gradually fmaller from the mouth to the end, and confifts only of three turns, of which the firft takes up almofl the whole fliell. The mouth is near two inches long, and narrow at the lower part, but wide near the extremity, with a winged lip. The colour is brownifli, variegated with a deeper brown, and a reddifli tawney. The furface is fmooth, only there are a few tubercles on the fecond turn. It is brought from the Eajl- Indies. The RIBBAND TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with a fmall mouth, is about tv/o inches and a half long, O 4 and 296 THE NATURAL HISTORY and a little more than the third of an inch in diameter near the mouth, from whence it gradually tapers till it terminates in a point. 'J he Ihell confiils of about tea turns that are fomewhat rounded, and the lines which divide them are very fmall. The mouth is nearly oval, but a li tie irregular, and fmall in proportion to the fize of the fhell. All round the turns there are feveral broad rings or belts that follow the courfe of the fhell. In fome more, in others Jefs, and they are of a darker co- lour than the reft of the fliell. Jt is found on the Ihores of the American iflands. The WKEATHED TURBO or SCREW-SHELL with a narrow oblique mouth, is two inches long, and a third of an inch in diameter at the bafe. The ihell confifts of fourteen turns that are ilattifn, and fomewhat liollowed inward towards the bafe. The outward edge is more prominent, and is armed all the way with a row of Itrong large piickles that are a little blunt at the extre- mities. The mouth is connected to the ihell by a fort of an neck, and is cblcng, oblique, and narrow. It i& found on the fhores of Italy. The OBLONG MOUTHED TURBO or SCREW- FISH with fpires jagged at the edges, is about two inches long, and the third of an inch thick at the bafe» The mouth is fmall and oblong, but widell in the mid- dle, and has a broad lip. The ihell confifts of about fi(t4;en turns ; the firft of which is a little bellied; but the reft are fiat and jagged at the edges. The colour is of a faint brown, a little variegated with tawney, and reddifn, and regular rows of little black dots. 7 he jag- ged edges are of a paler colour than the other parts. It is found in A7nerica, and fome parts ai Europe. TheTHICK EARED 1 URBO, or SCREW-SHELL with turns deeply jagged at the edges, is three inches Jong, and an inch in diameter where thickeft. The fhell confifts of about eleven turns, that are all flat, ex- cept the firft, and are deeply jagged at the edges. The colour is a whitifti pale, variegated with irregular fpots of a darker hue, and the extremities of the fpires are paler. The mouth h oblong and narrow, and remark- ix\i\y eared. The SCREW-SHELL of SenegaU is like a cone rounded at the bafe, and grows gradually fmalier to the top. O F F I S H E S. 297 top, where it terminates in a very fine point. The largeli are not much above an inch long, and a quarter of an inch in diameter; it is compofed of thirteen flat fpires or turns without any fweiling, infomuch that they are only diftinguifhable by a (hallow furrow which fepa- rates them from each other. Thefe turns are all crofied by a great number of very flight furrows, according to the length of the fhell. The mouth, or opening, is nearly like that of the Miran ; but above twice as ihort at the fummit. The upper furrow is fomewhat deep ; and left lip has but a flight fold. The ground colour is a dirty white ; but on the upper middle of each turn, it is of the colour of agate. There are other Screw-fnells mentioned by authors, but thefe may be fulHcient for our purpofe. CHAP. XXXIIL Of wreathed Shells, TK E VOLUTA or WREATHED SHELLS are of one piece, and of a figure nearly conical, but fliort, the clavicle being commonly depreffed, and ti;e mouth long, perpendicular, and narrow. The JAMAR, is a Voluta of Senegal, which is very thick, raid nearly of a conical fhape. It is about fix inches long, and two in diameter, and confiils of twelve fpiral turns. The fir fl makes of itfelf the chief bulk cf the fliell, and turns oir at a right angle towards the lower part, to form almoll an horizontal plain fiightly hollowed in the middle. The remaining eleven are alfo flattifli, and nearly horizontal. The clavicle terminates in a very fine point, and the fummit, which is, as it were, the bale of the cone that forms the upper part of the fhell, is but the eighth part of an inch. The mouth or opening, is a long Itrait cleft, larger by one half in the upper part than u\ the lower, whofe length is terminat- ed by the firft turn, infomuch that it is feven times longer than the clavicle. The right lip is acute and O 5 very 298 THE NATURAL HISTORY very {harp at the edges ; the left is fwelled roundiih and very fimplc. A membranous (kin of a reddilh colour furrounds the whole furface of the fhell, and when this is taken off, it appears of a fine polilh, and finely va- riegated wi;h different colours. The ground is white, red, yellow, or brown, and marbled with fpots without any regularity, and fometimes encircled with pointed ftreaks. This fhell is highly valued by the curious, who have given it different names, according to the varieties. The ADMIRAL SHELLor VOLUTA with a broad yellow band, and a pointed line thereon, is aft uncom- mon and very beautiful fliell, bearing a great price. Jt is about two inches long, and near an inch in diameter towards the head, from whence, to the extremity of the mouth, it gradually decreafes in fize, fo as to form a fort of a cone, with an obtufe point. The clavicle alfo dirainiihes in diameter, and terminates in a blunt point. The ground colour of the fhell is of a beautiful yellow, but fo variegated, that it does not take up above one third of the furface. There is a circle or ring of this co- lour at the head, of about the breadth of a ftraw, and below it there are three broad belts or rings finely va- riegated. The loweft of the three are broader than the others, and feparated by five yellow lines. Under the belts, the fine vellow appears again in the form of a broad belt ; and in the center there is a narrow pointed line of the fame colour, with the other variegations, which is the charedleriftick of this fhell. From the verge of this to the extremity of the fhell, the yellow gold colour pre- vails again ; but the clavicle is very beautifully variegat- ed with the fame colours as before ; but what thefe are, our author does not mention. It is brought from the E aft -Indies. The VICE-ADMIRAL SHELL, is nearly as beau- tiful as the former, and is fjmevvhat more than two inches in length, and about an inch in diameter at the head. The clavicle is a little longer rhan that of the Admiral, and has about ten turns, and tlie ground is of a bright gold colour, wi:h the fame variegations as the former, only they have a greater mixture of white. There is a line of gold colour at the head, of the breadth of OF FISHES. 299 of a draw, below which there is a circular line of the variegations, much of the fame breadth. Under this there is a narrower line of yellow, and under that a very broad belt of the variegations. Below this there is another of yellow, as in the Admiral, but without the pointed line. Next to this there is another broad belt of the variegations, and then comes the point of the Ihell, which is yellow. The clavicle is beautifully clouded with variegations. This is brought from the Eaji-hd es, and likewife bears a great price. The FALSE ADMIRAL SHLLL, is by fome taken for the Admiral Shell, but it is not near fo valuable. It is.about an inch and half in length, and half an inch in diameter at the head. The body is conical, though it does not taper very much ; and the clavicle is not quiie fo long in proportion as the two former. The ground colour is of a dufky white, variegated with feveral faint colours, and there are two broad belts of a beautiful yellow that run round it, the one being near the point, and the other a little higher than the middle. The fur- face is fmooth, and the mouth narrow. It is brought from the Eeji-Inaies, but principally from China, The TIGER SHELL, is about two inches and a half long, and an inch and quarter in diameter. Its mouth is very long and narrow, and its clavicle has about four turns. The ground of the Ihell is of a duiky red, and it is fprinkled all over with irregular fpots, or fpaces a lit- tle whitiih. Some of thefe are oblong, and others angu- lar and indented. It is a fcarce fhell, and is brought only from the Eo.fi-Indies. The YELLOW TIGER SHELL with fmaller white fpots, is about two inches and a half long, above an inch and half thick at the head, from whence it gradually di- miniflies to the opening of the mouth. The clavicle confilts of about fix turns, and terminates in a fine point, 7 he ground colour of the ihell is yellow, and beauti- fully variegated with white irregular fpots of the fizeof a pea. It is brought from the Euji-lndies, The WHITE VOLUTA, variegated with a cloudj reddilh colour, is about two inches long, and above an inch in the diameter at the head. The clavicle is pretty large and blunt at the end, and has only four or five O 6 turnsj. 300 THE NATURAL HISTORY turn?, and thefe not very diftinfl. The colour in ge- neral is of a faintifli white, variegated with dufky red fpots that are very large and of irregular figuies dii^ pofed without any order. The CROWN IMPERIAL SHELL, is three inches long, and near an inch and half in diameter at th& top. The clavicle is fo deprefied, that in a front view of the fhell it is not to be feen. The head is fur- rounded with a very beautiful row of tubercles pointed at the ends, and the ground colour is pale, with two. broad beautiful belts running round it, the one near the head, and the other towards the other extremity. They are of a fine yellow, prettily variegated with, black and white. It is brought from the Eajl Indies, though few of them are very perfect. The HEBREW LETTER SHELL, is fmaller thaa the reft of tliis kind, for it is rarely above an inch and quarter in length, and three quarters of aa inch in. diameter at the top. The body is in the fnape of a cone, and the clavicle pretty long, with about five turns, but it is blunt at the extremity. The ground colour is of a pearly white, variegated with large irre- gular black marks difpofed in about four rows on the body, and there is a fmgle row on each turn of the clavicle. Some have fancied they refemble Hebreixj Letters. It is brought both from the Eaji and JVeJi Indies. The WHITISH VOLUTA, variegated with brown and purplifti blue fpots, is more than four inches long, and two in diameter at the head, from whence the body tapers very gradually, and is large and blunt at the end. The clavicle conlills of feven or eight turn?, and is blunt at the extremity ; the ground of the fhell is white, variegated with fpots of different fizes runnin^r in circles round it, and are from twenty to thirty in number on the fhell, fome of wliich are brown, and others of a purplifh blue. It is brought from the .coaft of Guinea. The HALF CROWNF.D VOLUTA,. with an un- dulated furface, is more like tb-e Crov;n Imperial thaa any other fhell of this kind. It is about two inches ftrid a half iQ length, iUid near an inch and tiiree quar- ters O F F I S H E S. 301 ters at the head. The edge of this is deeply indented fo as to form a kind of crown, i he clavicle confilU of but a few turns, and is blunt at the point. All the furface of the fhell is undulated with many longitudinal farrows a ftraw's breadth diilant from each other. The colour is white and the variegations of a faint brown. It is brought from the coad of Africa. The SLENDER VOLUTA, with a long clavicle, is about two inches long, and near three quarters of an inch in diameter at the head, from whence the body forms a fort of cone tapering very regularly to a point. The clavicle is long, very (lender, and confiils of ten or twelve turns terminating in a fharp point. There are three white broad belts variegated with purple fpot3 and lines ; and between thefe there are three others that are broad and of a beautiful orange colour. The BUTTERFLY SHELL, is three inches long, and about an inch and three quarters in diameter near the head. The body is in the fhape of a pretty regular cone tapering very gradually, and ending in a blunt point. The clavicle has five or fix turns, and is pointed at the extremity. The general colour is yellow, finely variegated with fine brovv'n fpots placed in regular round rows. There are three very beautiful belts round the body, and one narrower near the head, confifting of large fpots of a deeper and paler brown with fome white. They refemble the fpots in the form of eyes on the wings of fome Butterflies. CHAP. XXXII. Of Litnpets. A LIMPET is a fimple fhell of a conical or gib- bous fhape, with a very wide opening at the bottom. This fliell-fifh always fixes itfelf very firmly to fome folid body, which fer; es as it were in the room of another fhell. The top of the Limpet in fome is acute, in others blunt. In fome depiefTcd, and in others 302 THE NATURAL HISTORY others perforated, and in others again turned down or crooked. The STREAKED LIMPET, is an inch broad at the mouth, and three quarters of an inch high ; but the bafe is not exaflly round, and the top is fharp or pointed . The colour of the outfrle is of a dufky brown, with an olive coloured call, and it has about ten ridges placed nearly at equal dil^ances, being rough all over. Thefe ftreaks are moft confpicuous towards the mouth, for they become fainter as they approach to the top where they difappear, the fharp point being fmooth. The infideof the ihellis variegated with yellow, brown, and vvhitiih colour, and difpofed in irregular circles. The appearance is not unlike the flower called Auricula ; it adheres very firmly to the rocks in many parts of the Eafi Indies. The STARRY LIMPET with feven ribs that form as many prickles at the rim. It is of an oval fhape, being about an inch one way, and two thirds of an inch the other but not raifed very high, it being fcarcely half an inch that way. It is pointed at the top, but not exadlly in the center of the lliell ; and on the outer fur face there are feven very high nbs placed at a con- fiderable, and nearly equal diflance from each other. They run diftinftly to the \Qxy point of the top and to the edge, where they terminate in a point beyond it, forming fo many prickly rays, with furrows betivcen them in the form of fegments of circles. The colour is whitifn on the outfide, variegated with black clouds and fpots, efpecially about the ribs. It is found ad- hering to the rocks in the Eaji Indies. The OVAL. SMOOTH LLViPET, with a depre/Ted top, is two inches and a half one way, and two inches the other. Its height from the center of the bafe to the top, which is fomewhat deprefied is an inch and a quarter, and the rim is even, and the -whole furface fmooth. The colour is of a du(ky white, finely va- riegated with black clouds. It' is found flicking to the rocks on the fhores of the fouthern parts of Europe. The BliAiChD L[\iPET, with a round mouth, and a fmooth even edge, is about an inch in diameter and nearly as much high. The outer furface of Uie ihell 4 has O F F I S H E S. 303 has no ridges, but there are irregular rough nefTes thereon. It is bellied half the way up, where it begins to form a fnout that is fomewhat pointed and lends down. The infide of the fhell is chambered, and the divilions are terminated by a fort of points. Jt is brought from fome of the American iflands. The CHAMBERED LIMPET, with a ihort fnout, is of an oblong or irregular oval iliape at the bafe, being an inch and a quarter long at the mouth, but not half an inch broad. The edge is fomewhat undulated, and about half the opening at one end is covered by a thin cruft or ihell connedled to the end and along the fides, but irregularly notched at the edge. The height of the fliell is about half an inch, and the fnout is ihort, feeming only to be a kind of a button. It ia not placed at the center of the ihell, but near the edge at the end, which fome call the head. All the outer furface is rough and warty, and the inner fmooth, but very beau- tifully coloured. It is found on the European iliores. The GREAT OBLONG LIMPET, is near three inches long at the bafe, and an inch and a half in dia- meter at thelargeft end. The edge is fmooth and even, and the height is about an inch ; the furface is almoil fmooth, only there are feveral longitudinal rays, and fome tranfverfe or circular. Its colour is of a duiky brown, and the Ihell is more thick and ftrong than that of many others. Its topis not much raifed, and there is an aperture or hole therein of an oblong ihape, which feems to be formed of two round ones joined together. The colour on the outfide is of a duiky grey, and the iniide is whitiih. Jt is met with in the ^^ Indies^ and fouthern parts of Europe. The LIMPET of the ifie of Goree has a conical ihell with an oval bafe, is about an inch long, and fomewhat lels in diameter ; but not fo much by one third in height. It has an oval hole at the iummit, which is nearly one fifth part of its length. It is almort always covered with a marly crufi which is whitifh, and under- neath there are fifty ihalbvv furrov/s which divide at the top, and run to the edges of the fhell, being all nightly dentateJ. The colour is of a whitiih green within, but without ic is fometimes white, grey, or red. 304 THE NATURAL HISTORY There are many other forts of Limpets ; but what has been faid is fufiicient to diilinguiih them from all other fort of ihells. CHAP. XXXII L Of the Shells called the Sea Ears. THEHALIOTIS or EAR SHELL, is a fimple fheli of a depreiTed fhape with a large mouth, being fomewhat of a fplral form at the top, with feveral perforations on ihe fide of the dife. Seme have fup- pofed it to be of the fhape of an ear from whence it has its name; but lijler has placed it among the Tur- binated Shells, on account of the fpiral turn at the top. The GREAT EAR SHELL, with an even edge and kvtw holes, is five inches long, and nearly three broad ; but it is no more than three quarters of an inch high. The fnape is of an irrcgulnr oval, and the end v/here the fpiral turn is placed is tlie largeft. The back or hinder edge is thick, and fo turned as to form a fort of lip. The fore edge is thin, fimple, and even, and the upper furface is brown, rough, and uneven, with a kind of undulated line. 1 he part towards the head is thickeii, nnd the fpiral turn fhort and depreiTed. Along the back pnrt of the fhell rear the thicker edge, there are a row of holes of a roundiiJi fhape, of which feven are open, and tlicre are the marks of others that do not penetrate quite through the fhell. The inlide of the ihell is of a bcciutiful pearl colour, which feems to be variegated with feveral bright colours when placed in different diredlons of the light. There arealfo a kind of warty protuberances which look like pearls. It is rnet with in many parts of the 'Aorld, but chiefly in the Eajl Lidics. The LONG EAR SHELL, with an undulated head and eight holes, is three inches long, and an inch and quarter broad where broadell, but it is not half an inch high. The head is large, and the fpiral turn very beautiful O F F I S H E S. jo$. beautiful and fair. The back of the Ihell forms an even lip, and the fore-edge is thin and undulated. The outfide is fmooth, only it is a little undulated from the. fpiral turn, and is of a greeniih colour, variegated witk a brovvnilh red. The infide of the Ihell is of a pearl colour, finely variegated with others. There is a long row of holes on the back edge of the fhell, eight of which are always open. It is found flicking on the rocks of the Malabar coaft in the Eaji Indies- The STREAKED or WRINKLED EAR SHELL with fix holes, is three inches and a half long, and two in diameter near the head, but it is not above three quarters of an inch high. The outfide of the fliell is of a dufky brown, and on it there are many flight irre- gular undulated ridges which begin near the fpii al end, though they aimofl difappear before they reach it. The back is thick, and forms a kind of lip, and the fore-edges is thin and a litde undulated ', but the hinder extremity is generally more fo. There is a long row of holes, near the tliieker edge of the fliell ; but of thefefix only are open. The infide is of a pearly blue, and there have been fbmetimes a fort of loofe peails found therein. The STOMATIA or MOUTH SHELL differs from the former fort in being without holes. The Oval Mouth Shell is about an inch and half long, and near an inch broad where largefl ; but its height is not quite half an inch. This fhell is very thin, with a thin and even edge, and the head is the finaller ex- tremity, with a fhort fpiral turn running into the cavity of the mouih. The oppofite end is large, and hollow like a fpoon, and the colour is a pale tawny-brown, and the irfide is of a pale brown. The mouth is very large, from whence it derives its name. The GIBBOUS STOMATIA or MOUTH SHELL with many fine ftreaks, is about two inches long, and an inch and a half in diameter. The upper furface is of a dufky chocolate colour, and is more gibbous than in the former kind. The edge is pretty thick all round and of a whitifh colour ; but the inlide is of a p2le brown. Both thefe kinds are found in the /hnerican iflands. The 3o6 THENATURAL HISTORY TheSTOMATIA or MOUTH SHELL, with a crooked edge, is four inches long and three broad where largelt ; but it is not above an inch high. The upper furl'ace is of a deep chocolate colcur variegated with white, 'i here are many blunt undulated rTdges which are almoft white at the tops, and of a deep purplifh brown en the fides, as alfo on the fpaces between them. The infide is of a pale brown with a reddilli caft, and the fpiral turn of the head is fmall. The edge of this fhell is crooked or finuous from the depreffions that run between the ridges. It is found on the coaft oi Malabar in the Eafi Inditi. CHAP. XXXIV. Of Dentalia, or Tooth Shells , THE STREAKED, and RINGED TOOTH SHELL, of a fhape approaching to a cylinder, is two inches long, and of thi thicknefs of a Swan's quill. This fhcll looks as if it was broken off from fome other, and is of a greyilli white colour generally variegated with green, and fometimes tinftured with red. It has about ten deep longitudinal furrows, run- ning all the way down its furface, and the ridges be- tween them are rounded. There are generally three circles or rings, pafling round it at unequal diilances, fomewhat interrupting the longitudinal furrows. This fhell is thin and is eafily broken. It is common on the fiiores of Italy. The DOG TOOTH SHELL is about an inch in length, and of the thicknefs of a Goofe quill. The fhape is conical, and Jargefl at the mouth, from whence it gradually tapers to a point, which is fharp and with- out any opening. The furface is fmooth and polifhed, and the colour is white like that of China ware. It has fometimes a purplifh caft, and fometimes that of a bright red or brown. It is common in moft parts of the world. The O F F I S H E S. 307 The CONICAL CROOKED STREAKED and RINGED TOOTH SHELL, is four inches long, and of the thicknefs of a child's finger. Jt is largeft at the mouth, and from thence gradually tapers to a {harp point. It is a little crooked, and the furface is furrowed with eight deep longitudinal lines placed in pairs with a vacant fpace between them. 1 he ridges are roimded, and there are two broad annular marks furrounding the fliell towards the bafe, and another much narrower towards the point. The colour is of a dufky grey, and the furfice is not polifhed. It is found on tlie (hores of Ita'y and other places. The GREAT SEA PIPE, open at each end, is (ix or feven inches long and three quarter of an inch in diameter near the mouth, which ha- a kind of irregular lip an inch and a half broad ; and the lliell grows gra- dually fmaller at the other end, where it is of the thick- nefs of a Goofe-quill. The whole furface is of a dulky brown, and there are about twelve annular ridges upon it, but they are not much railed above the furlace. It is common in the Ger)nan ocean, where the waves throw it on the ihores ; but it is feldom whole, being thin, brittle, and eafily broken. CHAP. XXX\^. 0/ Cylindric Shells. TH E BROCADE SHELL, is large and beau- tiful, being three inches and a half in length, and near two and a quarter in diameter. The circum ference is much the fame throughout the whole fhell, only it is a little fmaller at each extremity. The head is denticulated, or crowned as fome call it, and the clavicle has four or five turns terminating in a point. The colour is as white as filver, and is beautifully variegated with a bright brown in fine irregular lines, clouds, and fpaces. It is finely polifhed, and the whole has the appearance of brocade. It is brought from Jfrica and Jlmerica, The 3oS THE NATURAL HISTORY The TULIP CYLINDER SHELL is about three inches long and two in diameter, but the fhape is not fo regular as that of the former ; but it is largeft a little below the head, from whence it grows gradually fmaller to the other end. The clavicle has ten or twelve turns, and terminates in a blunt point. The colour is white, variegated with clouds and fpots of blue and brown. It is very fcarce, and is brought from the Eafi Indies ; but feldom in perfection. The PORPHYRY SHELL is about two inches and a half long, and an inch and quarter in diameter. The fKape is nearly like that of a cylinder, with a fhort blunt clavicle. The colour is of a pale white, with a reddifh cail, and it is clouded with a deeper red approaching to purple, which takes up much the greater fuiface. This colour appears in moil places in irregular longitu- dinal and dentated lines, it is brought from South Ame<-ica. The SLENDER WHITISH CYLINDER SHELL, variegated with brown, is three inches and a half long, and near an inch and quarter in diameter. It is ihaped nearly like a cylinder, only it is fomewhat fmaller to- wards the point than elfewhere. The clavicle has four or five turns, and the body of the fhell is cloven at the other extremity, by the continuation of the mouth. The colour is white, with a broad belt near each end, variegated in fuch a manner that fome have imagined there are letters thereon. It is brought from ikit Eaji Indies, and South A'-nerica. The SLENDER CYLINDER SHELL, variegated with brown and white, is three inches long, and about an inch and quarter in diameter. Its ihape is nearly like that of a cylinder, only it is a very little fmaller at both ends than in the middle. The clavicle is blunt, though it has four or five turns, and the whole fliell is variegated with a bright white, and a pale tawny brown. They are difpofed in denticulated lines, and the fur- face appears to be finely polifhed, it being very bright. It is brought from Sjuih America. C H A P. O F F I S H E S. 309 CHAP. XXXVI. Of Dolia or Pipe Shells. PIPE SHELLS are fo called, from being ima- gined by fome to be like the pipes or calks made to hold wine. However their fhapes differ fo much that it may be doubted whether this appellation is proper or not. The OVAL PIPE SHELL with fpiral ribs, is about two inch.es and a half long, and nearly as much in diameter in the largeft part. The clavicle is longifh, and pointed at the end, but it is continued in fuch a manner from the body of the Ihell that it is hard to fay where it begins. The other extremity is formed like a fhort fnout or bill, which turns a little up. This fhell has a large belly, which is grcateft near the head, and all its furface is covered with many ribs of the breadth of a ftraw, feparated by furrows of the fame breadth. The ribs are yellowifh, and the fpaces between them of a whitifh yellow, only they are fprinkled irregularly with a deeper yellow, that is, both the ribs and fur- rows It is brought from the Ea/t hides and America. The PARTRiDGE SHELL, is about two inches and a half long, and near two in diameter. Jt is a thin Ihell with a pretty long clavicle that has four turns, the lowermoft ot whxh is feparated from the body of the ihell by a furrow. The other end terminates with- out a bill or beak, and the m.outh is large and reddifh within. The external furface is perfecflly fmooth and of a brovv'n colour, variegated with a deeper brown and grey, fomewhat refembling the plumage of a Partridge, whence it has its name. It is brought from the Eaft Indies and the Arner can iflands The HARP SHELL, is about two inches and a half long, and a little more than an inch and a half in dia- meter ; the body however is bellied in fjch a manner as to render it like others of this kind. The clavicle has five turns, and that next to the body of the fhell is large, but the others are fmall and pointed at the top. All 3IO THE NATURAL HISTORY All the furface of the body of the fhell is furnifhed with large ribs that Hand at fuch diftances as make the fpaces between them equal to twice or thrice their own diameters. The colour is of a deep brown, variegated with a paler fort and white in a very beautiful manner. It is brought both from the Eaft and Weft Indies, The ^ETHIOPIAN CROWN SHELL is about three inches iong and two in diameter. The fhape is oblongs ai:d ibniewhat oval, being fmaller at each end than in the mi5l turns. The other end of the (hell is blunt and the general colour brown, only there are irregular undulated lines of white thereon, which with^ fpots and clouded marks of the fame colour, give it the appearance of a map. The mouth is dentatcd, and near it the fhell is paler than elfewhere. It is brought from Africa and the Eaji Indies. The PORCELAIN SHELL of SenegaU is about an inch and a quarter in length, and not an inch broad ; but the length is three times the breadth. The right lip is a little Iharp andilender, and tjie left lip is fmooth and without teeth; the four or five folds on the upper part are pretty near each other, and form a pretty high ftring. The bottom is white or grey, fometimes without mixture, and fometimes marked with a yellow ftreak or two, mottled witJi brown. The infide is ge- nerally brown as well as the left lip, only fometimes it is inclinable to a violet colour. The GIROL is a Porcelain fhell of Senegal, and is found in the fands at the mouth of the river. It is of a cvlindric fhape and very thick, round at the top, and fharp at the lower extremity which Adavfon calls the fummit. It is near an inch long but not half fo broad, the feven fpiral turns are flattifh and very clofe to each other ; however they are parted with a deep furrow. The mouth is three times as long as the fummit, and the right lip is fharp though thick. The left lip is roundifh, and at the top there are five low plates whofe edges form as many folds or fmall prominent fides a little diftant from each other, and under it there are from eight to fixteen pretty long narrow teeth. The coloiir 8 O F F I S H E S. 315 colour varies ; for it is fometimes white, yellow, blackifli yellow, greenifti yellow, and [\reen. The BLUISH BANDED PORCELLAIN SHELL, with a clavicle at one end and a beak at the other, is about two inches long and nearly an inch and a half ia diameter. It is very gibbous and rounded at the back, and at the head there is a fmall conical clavicle with about four turns, of which the two lower ones are imperfedl, and terminate in a iharp point. At the other end thsre is a very ihort broad beak or fnout, and the general colour is bluiih, only there are two or three greyiili brown bands. It is brought from Africa and America, TheOVAL-PORCELLAIN SHELL with a long beak at each end, is about three quarters of an inch in length, and half an inch in diameter, with a re- markable gibbous back. At eacli end there is a fnout or beak two thirds as long as the body and of the thicknefi of a large ilraw The colour is white, and its furface fmooti and ihining. It is brought from Jfr. ca and the Eaft hid'es The WHITE PORCELLAIN SHELL variegated with brown, and beaked at each end, is three quarters of an inch long, and about half an inch in diameter. The beak at the head is fhort and broad, being a con- tinuation of the mouth furrounded wiih a lip ; but that at the other end is more long, flender, and truncated. The colour is a fine white variegated with bright brown, and difpofed in crooked and irregular angular lines. It is brought from the American iflands. The SMALL POX PORCELLAIN, is not above three quarters of an inch long and half an inch in dia- meter. The body is of an oval figure, and very gibbous. It has a beak at each end, that at the head being the longefl, and they are both cloven at the extremity ; all the fuiface is covered with beautiful round ftuds of a fine white colour not unlike pearls, it is brought from Africa. The BEETLE PORCELLAIN SHELL, is about an inch long and two thirds of an inch in diameter. The back is gibbous and the mouth wide, being con- tinued in a beaked form at each end. The beak at th^ head is longifh and truncated, butattheotherextreinlty Vol. III. P v^^ 314 THE NATURAL HISTORY very fhort and turned up. The colour is white only on the back, there is a large ii regular brown fpot which fome fancy to be like a Beetle. It is brought from the coaft of Guinea. There arc many other fhells of this kind as well as of the reft ; but what has been faid is fuiiicient to give a general knowledge of them. CHAP. XXXVIII. Of Bivahed Shells. OF thefe there are fix kinds, namely. Oysters, Bastard Cockles, Muscles, Heart Shells, among which Common Cockles are included, Scol- lops, and Razor Shells. OYSTERS have two valves or (hells, one of which is hollowed on the infide, and gibbous without, and the other is more flat ; but they both confift of feveral plates, and the outfide of each fhell is generally rough ; but the gibbous more than the other. They ufually caft their fpawn or fy^t in May^ vv'hich at firft appears like a drop of candle- greafe, and fticks to any hard fubftance it falls upon. It is covered with a fhell in two or three days time, and in three years they are large enough to be brought to the markec. Thefe Oyfters they term Natives, and they are incapable of moving from the places where they hrft fall, for which reafon the Dredgers make ufe of nets, which are faftened to a ftrong broad iron hook with a Iharp edge, which they drag along the bottom of the fea, and fo force the Oyliers into the nets. When they are thus taken they are carried to different places, where they are laid in beds or rills of ialt water in orJer to fat them. When the fpawn happens to ftick to the rocks they generally grow to a very large fize, and are called Rock Oysters. Between the Tropicks there are millions of them kti). flicking at the roots of a fort of trees they call Mangroves at low water. Th: O F F I S H E S. 315 The Red and White-ribbed and foliated OYSTER, IS in Ihape like the common Oyiler, and is about three inches in diameter. The lo^er valve or fhell is deep, and the upper nearly fiat ; it is all the way on both ihells furrowed deeply long-ways with round but irre- gular ridges between the furrows. Every fixth is fur- nilhed with a row of very elegant leafy prominences, which are flat, curled, and jagged at the edges. They are from half an inch to three quarters high, and are on both ihells, but they are plaineft on the upper. The general colour is that of a rofe with a mixture of purple variegated with white, but the prominences are chiefly white. It is a native of the Eajl Indies. The ONION-PEEL OYSTER has very thin de- licate (hells, and grows to be near two inches in dia- meter. The fiielh are fome times nearly ilat, and fome- times one is pretty much hollov/ed, and fometimei again both. The furface is fmooth and glolly, and the colour vvhitilh, with a green or reddifli call: on the out- fide ; but it is of a fine pearly white within, with a fmali cindure of the former colours. It is frequently undulated in an irregular manner on the furface, and has a large roundifh opening near the hinge or joint. Jt is a native of the E -Jl Indies, but fome fay it is found in Europe. The 7'REE OYSTER, is about two inches long, and an inch and a half in diameter at the larger end. The hinge is placed at the fmalier extremity, and from thence it gradually becomes larger to the oppofite end, where it is crooked or finuouo at the edge. All the farface is deeply furrov^'ed long ways, and is fomewhat rough though not fo much as the common Oyfler. The colour is brown, with a fmall mixture of red on the outfide, but within it is of a pearly white. It is com- monly feen flicking to the roots of trees in the mouths of large rivers, and particularly Mangroves that delight to grow on their banks. This Oyiler is common in the hot climates of AJia, J/rica, and America^ that is, v/here the Mangroves abound. The HAMMER OYSTER has one of the moft ex- traordinary ihells in the world, it being in ihape like a Hammer, or rather like a Pick-ax with a very ihort P 2 handle 3!6 THE NATURAL HISTORY handle and a long head. The body of the fhell which is taken for the handle, is about four inches long and three quarters of an inch broad ; but tlie head is five or fix inches long, and except where it joins to the body, is little more than half an inch broad. It is of an irregular form, uneven at the edges, and terminates in a narrow blunt point at each end. The hinge or joint is at the lov/er end of the body ; and the (hells open all the way from each end to this part, and yet they fhutvery clofe The edges of the body and head have often great irregularities and protuberances on the furfaces, being deeply furrowed in all direftions. The colour is of a deep brown, with a tinfture of violet purple on the outfide ; but within it is of a pearly white with a faint purplidi caft. It is found in the Eaji Indies, but as it is very fcarce it fells for a great price, fix guineas having been given for ore that was imperfe<5l. The great PlUCKLY OYbTER is nearly of an oval form, being four inches long and three broad at the larger extremity, but at the Imaller where the joint j--, it is about an inch and a half Both Ihells are gib- bous on one fide and hollow on the other, but the under one moft. The furface of each is furrowed long-ways, but fomewhat irregularly, and is covered with a vait number of fpines or prickles which are ilrong, (harp- pcinted, and from a tenth of an inch to half an inch long. Some of thefc are ftrair, others crooked, and the colour on the outHde of the fhell is of a dirty red, but on the infide white and pearly, it is found on the coafts of /Africa. The CONICAL OYSTER, with undulated f^^ines at the rim, is two inches long and an inch and quaiter broad at the larger extremity, from whence it gradually becomes fmalier to the other where the hinge or joint is placed. The body of the (hell is rough and undulated, ard there is a few (hcrt fpines or prickles at the edges. There are three or four lows of them near the rim of the larger extremity, which are fiiarp pointed and not flrait, but undulated or bent backwards and forwards, making a thick f rt of fringe, ^i hofe of the upper and lower fhel! me'. ting and hiding the place where the fhclls ihut together. The body of the (hell is of a dirty O F F I S H E 3. 3? 7 dirty white, but the prickles are of an elegant purpliili red, making a fine appearance. It ib common on the HiOres of South America. The WHITISH FOLIATED and IMBRICATED OYS FER is of an oval fhape, and three inches and a half long. The hinge or joint at the fmallell end is tv^^o inches and a half broad, and the flidl is veiy crooked or fmuous at the edge ; tliefuiface is covered v,'lth tranfverfe leafy protuberances of an undulated form. They are flat, uneven, and notched at the edges, and there are ufually fix or ftven rounds of them placed nearly at equal diftances one above anotlier. The general colour is white, which is a little varie- gated with a bright rofe colour. It is a native both of the Eofi and Weft hdies. The HEEGE HOG OYSTER is about an inch long and the fame broad and deep. The fnells are both gibbous, and fo fhaped, that the upper one being fealler than the under they never f/iUt clofe. The whole fhell is furrowed long-ways, and very thick fee witli ihort crooked prickles, the points of which turn towards the joint. The colour is white, and it is a native of the Eaft Indies. . The BAJET, fo called by Adavfon, is a fort of an Oyfter of Senegal, which fixes itfelf to the rocks by its lov/er fhell. It is of a flattiili fhape, and almoft round ; being about three inches broad, and not much longer. There is fifteen large triangular furrows fur- niilied with a fort of prickles which are often branched at the ends ; they arife at the pointed top, and from thence are fprcad over the circumference like fo many rays. There is little difference between the upper fhell and the lower, only the former has no furrows on the infide near the top. On each there are fifteen triargular teeth, which anfvver alternately to the furrows. The fiiell is of a rofe colour without and white within ; but bordered with a very deep purple. The GASAR is another Oyfter of Senegal, and is as good as the befl of thofe in the northern parts. It is moll common in the river Gamb a, and : is generally three inches long, and almoft as much broad ; though there are fome of fix inches or upwards. It is very thin and of P 3 fiattifa 3i8 THE NATURAL HISTORY flattifh fquare fhape ; but blunt at the upper extremity? which decrcafes to a roundifh point towards the hinge. The fliape is fo irregular, that there is fcarce any two exaftly alike. The outer furface is rough, which k owing to the fcales of which it is formed, that lie over each other ; but the inlide is Ihining and of a fine poiifh. The upper fhell is tliin and flat; but always unequal and undulated as well as the lower fliell, which is ever hollow and not very deep. Near the hinge or joint there is a fort of a heel formed by the edges which fold inward and make a cavity. On the flat furface of this fold there is a fmail cavity in which the ligament is placed that ferves to fliut and open the Uiells. There are no teeth in the joint, and the outfide of the fhells is fometimes grey and fometlmes of a violet colour bordered with white; but the infide is always violet colour bordered with white, or white bordered with violet. The GARIN of Senegal is another kind of anOyfter wiiich fixes itfelf to ftones and rocks efpecially in places cppofite to the current of the fea, particularly near the illand of Goree. The llicll is flattifh and of a triangu- lar thape; but no more than an inch and a half long, and is always pointed at the fummit. It is thicker than the Gajar, and towards the extremity there are five or fix triangular furrows which make alternate- ly fo many teeth wherewith it is bordered. The colour is of a deep red inclining to brown on the out- fide, and within it io of a dirty green. The COCKS COMB OYSTER i- four inches broad, and its depth from the joint to the edge of the mouth nearly three. The furface is furnifhed with three or more very prominent fharp ridges, divided by very deep angular furrows, which extend to the rim beyond th.e rell of the fnell, and form a toothed-edge like that of a Cock's-comb. The colour is a deep brown with a tiniflure of violet ; but within it is of a pearly white, though the furface is pretty rough with tranverfe fur- rows. The fhells Huit and clofe very exadly. It is found on the fhores of the Mediterrantan fea. The PEAKL OYSTER has a large ftrong whitifh fhcU wrinkled and rough without, but not flreaked, and OF FISHES. 31Q and within fmooth and of a filver colour. Thefe Ihells are commonly called the Mother of Pearl, on account of their breeding Pearls. However the (liells are of different fizes, fome being four times as large as thofe of our Rock Oyilers. There are "a great number of Pearl Fifheries in JJia and America. One of the moft famous is in the Pe fmn gulph near the ifle o.^ Bahren, and another between the coalt of Madura and the ille of Ceylon, Behdes thefe there are five in the gulph of Mexico near the Atmric -n coaft. There have Pearls alfo been found in fome rivers, particularly in Sco/hfjd and Ba and the lip is narrow, but thicker and of a paler colour than the reft of the fhell. It is common every where in England. Q.3 Th» 542 THE^NATURAL HISTORY The taller SNAIL SHELL with a long clavicle, is one of the mofl beautiful of this kind, being about an inch high, and jhiee quarters cf an inch in dia- meter. The mouth is half round, and partly filled up by the fucceeding turn of the fhell. It is fur- rounded with a thin rim, of a paiifh yellow colour, and the clavicle has four turns, terminating in a point. The colour is of a duiky yellow, variegated with olive brown. It is ibmetimes met with in deep rapid livers. The LAMBIS is a kind of large Snail of the Canbbee iflands, whofe body ieems to be nothing but a fort of a pudding, and whofe fhell terminates in a point at one extremity, and is open at the other, it having a large round mouth, from whence proceeds a long thick membrane like a tongue, with which the animal takes its nourifhm.ent, and drags itfelf along at the bottom of the Water. When the Snail is opened there appears neither heart nor liver, nor lungs, but only a foit of a gut full of grafs in fmall bits, as alfo mofs and fand. The flefh is white and firm, and the larger the animal, it is the longer in boiling, and harder of digefiion, Thofe that ei.t thefe Snaih, cut them down long -ways to take cut the gut. They make lime of the fhells,^ which when worked into mortar is as hard as marble. In each fhell there is about half a glafs of water, more or lefs, accordmg to the fize, which as they pre'.erd is good for inflammations of the eyes. Some of the fhells are fifteen inches long, with a mouth of the fame dimenfions ; and they weigh from ten to twelve pounds. ■ This renders the ar.imal very ilcw in its mo ion, but does f ot hinder it from coming from the bottom of the w:.ttr to the fides of the fhore. '\ he furfj.ce of the fliell is fprinkled with a great number of blurit tubercles, from three quarters of an inch to an inch in height, and almofl as much in diameter at their bafe. 'i he fpacc'i between tlie tubcicles is rough and (lony, and ofien cov( red v.irh m.ofs. One of the edges of the mouth rifes quire upright, and renders the head of the animal vifible, unle/s it fhrinks within the fold of the fhell. Nothing can be inore beautiful, better poMhcd or fliinirg, than the enamel with which -the fhell is* lined, it is of the colour of t/ic fin fl carnation that c*in be imagined, and if the outfids was as fine, it would O F F I S H E S. 343 would be a moil beautiful (hell. This defcrlption is taken from Labat, and ihews he has little fkill in defcriptions of this kind, as well as in the fpecies to whicli it belongs. The variegated oval SNAIL SHELL with a blunt clavicle, is about three quarters of an inch high, and near half an inch in diameter. The body is large but pointed' at the extremity of the mouth. The cla- vick has three turns, and the top is blunt. The colour is of a greylfh white, variegated with belts of a deep brown. It is found in large rivers. ■ The large-mouthed brown SNAIL SHELL, with a fharp clavicle, is about half an inch high, and the fame in diameter. The body is oval, and the clavicle long and pointed at the top. The ihell is of a duiky brown, and the mouth is remarkably large, and edged v/ith a thin rim or lip. It is common in brooks. ' The grey frefh-water NERI I'E, is about a third of an inch long, and near as much in diameter. The body is almolt oval, and the clavicle is deprelied, and near the fmall extremity ; the mouth is narrow, with a little lip on each fide, and the colour is of a pale grey, variegated with a blackifn iron-grey in little irregular fpots. The furface has llight furrows, and it is found in the large rivers of the n^rth of Ejigland. The chequered frefh-water NERITE, or SNAIL SHELL, is about half an inch in length, and nearly as much in diameter, being almoft of an oval fliape. The clavicle has but two turns, and the mouth is narrow, •' with a lip on each fide. The furface has furrows length- ways, and others tranfverfe. The colour is almoll. whice, variegated with blackilh clouds or fpots. It is met with in the Trout ftreams about Uxbridge, and other places. The red frefh-water NERITE, or SNAIL SHELL, is about half an inch long, and above a third in dia- meter. The colour is of a pale red, but a little dulky, and the fhell is more firm and thick than moft others of this kind. The furface is pretty fmooth, the mouth narrow, and the lips of a pale red. The clavicle is fhort, and has two turns near one edge at the fmaller 0^4 end 344 THE NATURAL HISTORY end of the (hell. It is plenty in the rivers of Nor, tk afr.pt cnf^i J e. The NERJ TE of the ifland of Goree is found in great plenty flicking to the rocks, and the (hell is an inch broad, abo^^t lialf as long, very thick, and fome- what in the form of an <^'g%' It has three turns, of which the firfi is large and roundifh, but the others ver)' fmall, and form a round and very blunt fummit, twice as broad as long. The outward furface is covered with a film, on which there are twenty fix flight fur- rows that run round the firil turn. The mouth is in the fhape of a half moon, and two thirds of its cir- cumference is encompalTed v/ith the right lip, which is very (harp and thick, and under its edge on the infide there are fifteen or fixteen long teeth fet clofe together, of which the lowermofl two are thick and round, look- ing like two buttons. The left lip is formed by the flatting of the fecond turn, which is covered with a large fhining plate. It has two fmall teeth, and the middle of its length is of a deep black on the outfidt and white within. The great conical SNAIL SHELL with a deprefled mouth, is about a tV:ird of an inch high, and its dia- meter is near as much at the bafe, where it terminates in a blunt little button. The colour is of a pale grey, and the fubftance is very thin and tender. The mouth is partly filled up with the fuccceding turn of the fhelU Jt is found in fevera! large rivers of Enguind. The ribbed and CONICAL SNAIL SHELL with a deprefied mouth, is half an inch high, and one third in diameter at the bafe. It confills of five turns, and has a rifing in the form of a rib in the middle of the firil, which IblloA's the whole turn of the fhell, but becomes fainter as it approaches near the top. The colour is of a faint grey, variegated with clouds and lines of black. '1 he BKOWN CONICAL SNAIL SHELL is only a quarter of an inch high, and its diame:er at the bafe ii the fixth of an inch. The colour is of a pale brown with a laintilh caft of yellow ; it confills of fcn-r turns that ar« lounded and fmooth at the furface. The top is blunt, or O F F I S H E S. 345 ©r terminated with a fort of button, and the fubftance is extreamly brittle. It is common in ditchc^. The long mouthed SCREW SHELL is about three quarters of an inch long, and one third in diameter at the bafe. It confilts of about thirteen turns, and has a longifti narrow mouth, edged with a furrowed lip: The furface is fmooth and the turns flat, only the upper edge of each is deeply denticulated. The colour is- grey, inclining to that of a pearl, but not always pure. The SCREW FISH with ftudded turns, is an inch: high, and a third of an inch in diameter at the bafe.^ The mouth is irregularly oblong, and the fubflance is very thin, and brittle, being of a dull whitifh colour. It has about feven turns, and on the edge there is a row of protuberances like ftuds that run all along. It is not very common. The WHITISH SCREW FISH with fmooth tumid turns, is an inch and a half long, and of the thicknefs of a Swan's-quiil at the bafe. The mouth is roundilh, and the top blunt ; the ihell confifts of about fourteen turns, which are bellied and very diftinft. It is britde, and of a whitifii colour. The SLENDER SCREW Fi:.H with flattilli turns, i» an inch and a half long with alongiih narrow mouth, and the top finely pointed. It confilis often or twelve turns, wlnich feem only to be furrounded with a fpiral line. It is very thin and brittle, and the colour is of a pale- brown, fometimes whitifli. The thin BROWN TRUMPET SHELL with a nar- row mouth, has a very thin fhell an inch and a quarter long, and half an inch in diameter. The^mouth is very large and oval, and the body is oblong and bellied. 1'he clavicle has about four turns, and the colour is brown wiih a greenifn tinfture. The llender large mouthed RED TRUMPET SHELL, is an inch long, and about a third of an inch in dia- meter. The body is oval, and the clavicle has four turns, terminated with a little button. It is of a thin,, brittle ilruclure, and fmooth on the furface j and th? colour is reddifli niixcd with white. 3'4.6- THE NATURAL HISTORY The forehead 'J RUMPET SHELL with a large oval mouth, is about three quarters of an inch long and a third broad. The body is the chief part of the fliell, for the clavicle is fmall, and has only three turns, terminating in a fliarp point. It is very brittle, not very fmooth on the furface, and of a pale brown. The narrow 'iRUA':PEr SHELL with a long cla- vicle, and a long narrow mouth, is about half an inch long, but not a third in diameter. The body is fmall and rounded, and the clavicle long, confiillng of fix rums. The furface of the ihell is fmgoth, and the colour of a pale brown wich a tincture of olive. It is found in fmall fwift rivers. The ihort-bellied TRUMPET SHELL, with a fmall round mouth, is half an inch long and as much in diameter. The body of the fliell is ret fo diftin6l from the clavicle as in the reft of this kind, and the whole fhell feeins to have been cruflied together. The mouth is round and connected to the ihell by a fort of a neck. Tiie clavicle has only three fhort diftincl turns which teiminate obtufely. The fubilance is thin and brittle, and the colour of a pale brown. The narrow TRUMPET SHELL with turns den- fated on the edges, is an ii^ch and half long, and half an iach in diameter. The colour is of reddifli biown, and the mouth large and longifli, with a- very gieat clavicle, \«hich confilU of five broad, flat, diftin£l turns. The top is blunt. The oval-mouthed TRUMPET SHELL, wi:h turns punning the contrary way, is an inch and a half long, and nearly as much in diameter. The fhell is fo ex- rreamly thin, that it breaks in the handling it. The colour is of a pale brown with a tindure of yellow. Theclavicle has only three fmall diftind turns, and is pointed at the top. The brov.'n PIPE SHELL with a very large mouth, is about three quarters of an inch long, and half an inch in diameter. I he body of the (liell is bellied, and the clavicle very fhorr, confilling only of four indiftind turns, but it is pointed at the end. 'i he mouth is large, and the lip extended a great way ; the furface is fmooth- and O F F r S H E S. 347 and extreamly thin ; and the colour is of a dufk/ brown. The oval PIPE SHELL with along narrow mouth, is an inch long and two thirds of an inch in diameter. It is extreamly thin, and of a duflcy brown ; the body is nearly oval, and the clavicle is veryfhort; but the mouth is large. The yellow BROWN PIPE SHELL with an oval mouth, is half an inch long and as much in diameter. The fubftance is extreamly thin and tender, and the colour of a pale yellow ; the mouth is large and oval, but the clavicle very fmall. The white oval PIPE SHELL with a large mouth, is about three quarters of an inch long, and half an inch in diameter. The Ihell is indented towards the edge -of the mouth, and the clavicle is very fmall, though pointed at the end ; the colour is of a beautiful white. The large mouthed Am??ioii% HORN SHELL is of a roundifh, deprelled figure, being in diameter about aa inch, and towards the mouth a quarter of an inch thick. It confills of about four turns, which grow gradually fmaller and form a litile button at the center. The mouth is large in proportion, and furrounded with a little raifed lip. The furface is undulated tranfvei fely, and the colour is of a pale grey. • The brown fmooth Ammon\ HORN SHELL, with a depreifed mouth, is about three quarters of an inch in diameter, and the thickeft part is of the thicknefs of a fmall Goofe-quill ; it confifts of about four turns, and the fhell is thin and eafily crufhed. The colour is of a gloily brown, only there are obfcure lines fomewhat darker. The fmooth little yellowifh AmmorC% HORN SHELL, is about the third of an inch in diameter, and not thicker than a Crow-quill ; it coniifts of about three turns, terminating in a little button. The furface of the fhell is fmooth, and the colour of a bright brown with a yellowifh caft. - The pale ribbed Ammonh HORN SHELL is about half an inch ia diameter, but its largeft end is no thicker than a Crow-quill ; -t is of a very pale colour, 0^6 and 348 THE NATURAL HISTORY and confiils of three or four turns tranrverfcly ribbed all the way. The white fmooth deprefied BASTARD COCKLE, is three quarters of an inch broad, and the fame in length from the joint to the oppofite edgQ. The fhells are not very much bellied, and are very thin. The furface is perfedly fmooth, and the colour of a dufky white. The gibbous vvhitifh variegated COCKLE, is about half an inch broad, and rarely as much from the joint to the oppofite vergs. The fhells are confiderably deep, and llightly ftreaked with obfcure circular lines. The colour is of a dulky white, variegated with olive fpots. The reddifh round ilreaked COCKLE, is about an inch and a half in diameter, and as much from the joint to the oppofite edge. They are lightly ftreaked with a pale brownifh red colour on the outfide, and are of a fine pearl colour within. The bluiih oval BASTARD COCKLE, is about half an inch long from the joint to the oppofite edge, which is broad and rounded ; but at the top it runs up fmaller terminating bluntly It is finely flreaked long- ways, and the colour is of a pale bluifh grey. The extreamly thin greenifh MUSCLE is near an inch from corner to corner, and three quarters of an inch from the joint to the oppofite edge, the furface is lightly Arcaked, and the colour is of a pale fine green. The vvhitifh vari-egated Ilreaked MUSCLE, is an inch long and half an inch broad. The colour is whitifh variegated with brown ; and the fhells are botl^ pretty hollow. The narrow brown angular MUSCLE, is near a» inch long, but not half an inch broad, and the fhell* are both very deep. The fubftance is pretty thick and llrong, and the colour is of a pale brown, with a tindure of olive. The bluifh rounded HEART SHELL when viewed fide-ways, looks like a heart painted on cards, and is about an inch long, and as much broad ; as alfo but very little lefs in ihickiiefv The furface is elegantly,. O F F I S H E S. 349 but not deeply furrowed, and the colour is of a du&y blue. The reddilh flreaked HEART SHELL, is about half an inch long, and nearly as much broad ; both the Ihells are very deep, and are of a pretty firm, folid fubflance, and lightly ftreaked ; but the intermediate furface is fmooth and polifhed, and the colour is white, with a tindure of red. CHAP. XLVIL 0/ the Sea Nett:es, THE SEA NETTLE is of two kinds, one of which comprehends thofe that always remain fixed in one place like fea plants, and the other contains thofe that change their place. This divifion is accord- ing to Arijlotle, but Reaumur aihrms, that there are none of thefe Nettles, not even thofe that are found in' the holes of ilones, that are not capable of fome pro- grefTive motion though it is very (low. He alfo thinks, that the name of Nettle is not pioper to many of them, fince thofe on fome parts of the coafts of France have not that flinging property that many pretend they have. Pliny, as well as Jrljlotk^ takes the former kind of them to be of a middle nature, between plants and animals ; though Arijiotk imagines, that they have no vent for their excrements, and Pliny fays, that they have a narrow tube for that purpofe. .But Reaumur^ who has carefully obferved them, afrlrms, that what they void is nothing at all but clear water quite diiTerent from the nature of an excrement. However, he thinks they are real animals, becaufe they have organized bodies, and give iigns of feeling when they are touched; befides which, they lay hold of fiili, and fliell-fiih, which they eat, and have alfo a progrelnve motion, Thefe Nettles affume fo many different fhapes, that ie is not poiTible to defcribe them under any determinate figure ; but in general their outward form approaches ' aeareil to a truncated coue, haviig its bafe fixed to. fou.*. Sso THE NATURAL HISTORY fome flone to which it is found always adhering. Some aregreeniih, others whitifh, and others again of a rofe- colour ; likewife there are others of al! the degrees of brown. Jn fome of thefe Nettles thefe colours appear evj^ry where on the furface, and in others they are mixed with ftreaks or fpots. Sometimes again thefe fpots are dillributed regularly, and at other times irregularly, but always in a very agreeable manner. The wandering SEA NETTLES have nothing common except the name, with the preceding, and they have different appellations in different places, as alfo according to their fizes. Thefe may be more pro- perly called Sea Jellies, according to Eeaumur^ which is very proper to the fubiiance of which they are formed ; for in reality their fiefh, if it may be fo called, has always the colour and the ccnfirtence of a jelly. When they are thrown upon the fca coaft they appear to be quite motionlefs, which perhaps may be owing to the Ihocks they have received againft (tones or the fand, which may be fufficient to deprive them of life ; for it is certain they are a fort of animals. The firil Sea Nettle is fo called by tiie ancients, on account of its flinging quality, which produces an efte(ft much the fame as the common Nettle. The fecond is called by Rondektius the alh-coloured Nettle, and it has no ileili, for it refembles a head of hair. This is found in the clefts of rocks, which it never leaves. The third is red, and is like the firll kind, but has more hair, and is more thick and broad. This is fometimes fixed to the rocks, and fometimes wanders here and there. The fourth adheres to the heads of Cyllers, but principally to the Purpura. The upper part is more hard and thick than that of other forts, and all round it there are fhort hairs ; but from within there proceed long il rings of a purple colour. The fi.Th kind, which is of the wandering fort, is called by the Ge^:os/s Cap ellq di Mare, that is, the Sea Hat; for one part of this Nettle is a fpungy hollow round mafs, and pierced in the middle. Round about it there is a liule red cord, which gives it the appearance of a hat, or rather of a bonnet. T'he Gther part refensbles the feet of cut.le fifh, of which. there OF FISHES: ZV there are eight that are large and fquare at the be^ in- ning, and terminate in a point. The body is fo Ihining and fo tranfparent that it dazzles the eyes. They melt like ice when they are handled for fome time, and they fling the hands, which caufes a painful inching. Lin- n{rj!^-^"^ VIPF:R differs from ether Serpents, not "^ ^ only in moving more flowly, niid in never tor A Tw bounding or leaping ; but in bringing its W ^'"s^^ ^ young to perfedion before they are exclud- *^ir^^f\J^ ed ; whereas the females of other Serpents lay eggs, which are either hatched by the heatofthe fun, or in the place of their retreat. Some have thought that a Viper is an emblem of malice and cruelty ; but with out reafon, for they never do any mifchief, unlefs they are exjfperated, and^then they become furious, and bite very hard. However, it muii be allowed, that it at- tacks and kills the animals dt-figned for its nourifhment, namely, Cantl^arides, Scorpions, Frogs, Mice, Moles, Lizards, and the like, which it fwailovvs whole, after they have been tilled with its large teeth. Vipers will live f^/eral months without nourifhment; Bor will they ear after they are taken ; for though they are very fond cf Lizards, yet when they have been thrown into a tub in which were feveral Vipers, they were never touched. The fiefh of a Viper is vifcous and hard, and does notdigeft vtry eafily, Tlie ikin is Icaiy, © F SERPENTS. 353 and its colour on the upper p^rt of the body is yellow, with a reddifh caft in the males ; which is whitilh in the females. In the middle of the back, there is a blackiili line dentated on each fide, or rather a chain of blackiih fpots, which runs along from the head to the end of the tail. A little below is another row of black- ifh fpots, and on the lower part of the fides there is a line confining of little white fpots, and then another of black, which are larger, and at laft a third, which are whitiih. The belly is covered with long tranfverfe black fcales ; which are lefs on the other parts. Befides, the colour is not the fame in all ; at leaft, the ground is different ; for it is fometimes whitifh, fomeJmes red, grey, or yellow; and at other times tawney. This is always fpotted with black, or at leall with a dark colour, and ibme think they have the ap- pearance of difrerent charafters placed in rows one above another, efpecially on the top, and on the fides of the body. Upon the head there are two rows of fpots which refemble horns, which rife between the eyes, and run along the fides on the top of the head. Oppolite the middle of thefe horns, there is a fpot the fize of a lentil, which is the beginning of thofe that run along the fpine of the back. They are generally about two feet in length, and a- bout the thicknefs of the thumb of a large man. The head is flat, and has a border at the extremities of the upper part, in which it differs from fnakes. It is about an inch long, and at the top, two thirds of an inch broad, which diminifhing by little and little, is one-third of an inch about the eyes, and half as much at the end of the muzzle. The neck, at the beginning, is about as thick as a man's little finger ; and the tail of the females is always mere thick and long than that of the males, and they terminate in a point in both. Vipers caft their {kins generally twice a year ; and the new one feems always more beautiful, and the co- Jours more bright than that which they have quitted. Soon after this another fein begins to be formed, fo that it may be faid, that they always have a double Ikin. When a Viper is cut itito feveral parts after the Ikin is taken off and the bowels out of the belly, they will all live 354 THE NATURAL HISTORY live for feveral hours, and the head is always ready to bite ; nor will this be lefs dangerous now than at an- other time. Vipers do not make holes in the earth like other Serpents ; for ihey generally hide themfclves under floncs, or the ruins of old houfes. However, in fine weather they delip-ht to lye amono- bufiie?, and in tufts OX grafs. Vipers have generally two large teeth without the upper jaw, furrcunded about two thirds of their height with a pretty thick veficlefull of a tranfparent yellowifh liquor, and pretty fluid. In this veficlc, and in the mid- dle of the liquor under the large and principal tooth, there are feveral teeth ill placed, fome longer than others, and ail crookea. There have been fometimes fix or feven on the fame fide, under the fame tooth, and in the middle of the fame veficle. Thefe large teeth are about one-fixth of an inch long, and are hooked, white, hollow, and tranfpaient throughout, even to their very point, which is extremely fharp. Thefe teeth generally lye clofe to the upper jaw, and their points do not ap- pear till the moment the Viper is going to bite, There are like wife other crooked teeth in- both jaws, which are hollow and tranfparenr, but very fm.all. Their number is uncertain, they being feldom found the fame in any two Vipers ; which peihaps may be owing to their be- ing fo liable to be broken off. There is a great diHerence between the teeth and jaws of Vipers, and thofe of Snakes; for thefe lali have four upper jaws, and two lower. Two of the former lye near the tdg^ of the lip, and ferve, as it were, lO de- fend the other jaws, which have the; f.me fituation as in Vipers. Some Snakes have near an hundred teeth, which are all fine, cooked, hcllow, white, and tranf- parent, as in Vipers. The tongue of a Viper is compofed of two long flefhy round bodies, which terminate in Iharp points, and are very pliable. It is about an incli and a half lojig, and its root is conne-Sled very ftrongly to the neck by two tendinous bod;cs, near a quarter of an inch in length. 1 he tongues of feme Vipers have three or four points ; and though they are often darted out, they do i.o harm, except lerrifyii^g thofe that behold them ; fcir they OF SERPENTS. 3^5 they ferve prirxipally to catch the fmall animaL that the Viper live upon. The lungs are made in the form of a net, but have no lobes, and they are of a bright lively red colour, and pretty tranfparert. They lye on the right iide, as well as the heart and liver. The heart lies four or five inches before the lungs, and is of the fize of a horfe bean. It has two ventricles, and two apertures. The liver is flefhy, and of a reddilh brown colour, feated half an inch below the heart, and in large Vipers is five or fix inches long; and hr.]f an inch broad. It is compcfed of two large lobes, and that which is to the right, de- fcends full an inch lower tlian the left. The gall blad- der is of the fize of a fmall bean, and the bile is very green, exceeding bitter and fharp. The pancreas, cal- led by. forae authors the fpleen, is feated a little under the gall bladder, and to the right of the Viper, being of the fize of a large pea. The ftomach feems to make one body with the gullet, only it is much more thick, and confifts cf two Itrong coats, one within the other. The guts lye in the middle of the body under the fpine of the back, and next to the bottom of the (tomach ; and on their fides are the teflicles with their vefTels, and the two bodies of the matrix belonging to the females. The kidneys are placed below thefe, and are compofcd of feveral glandulous bodies ranged one ^ftcr another. T hey are generally tv.'o inches and a half long, and near a q'jarterof an inch broad. All the entrails are covered with white foft far, which being melted, turns into oil. 7 hey are all wrapped up in a very Ilrong coat, connec- ted to the extremities of the ribs. The VIPER cf Cejlon, has fmall eyes feated over the ncllrils, and it feems to have four, bscaufe over the javv' on each fide, there are two whitifli fpots that refem- ble eyes. The nofe is covered with pretty large fcales, and the fcales on the back are of a rhomboidal form, a- dorned with an undulated black and red ftreak. The belly is of a bright yellow, fpotted with a reddilh co- lour, and furniihed with fcales of a whitifh colour. The Ja'van VIPER, is covered v/ith fcales of a fea- green colour, and furrounded with ftripes of a dark tavvney, that run trunfverlcly round the body from the head 356 THENATURAL HISTORY head to the tail. The head is defended by large red- difh fcales, only over the eyes there are two white tranf- verfs ftripes. About the neck there is a red circle, and the fcales on the belly are of a bright yellow, but bor- dered on the fides with a black line like a filken thread. There is a Snake which authors give the fame Latin name to, which has an hundred and iixty-four fcaly fireaks round the lower part of the body, and an hun- dred and fifty fcales on the tail. It is called by Z/V/* naus Ahoetulla. There is another Serpent called llkewifc AKCETUL- LA, that is met with at Surinam. It is of a blue co- lour with a golden glofs, and there are fcaly fireaks on each nde the hinder part of the body ; but the belly is white. The head is fmall, and there is a black line on it near the eyes ; the tail is as flender as a thread. Some fay this is likevvife common in the Eaji-Indies. The MARASSUS, is an Arabian Viper with reddlfh fcales on the upper part of the body, fhaded with large dark brown fpots which reach to the fid,es. Thefe fpots on the back, are mixed with fireaks of a forrel colour, which run crofs-ways The head is covered with large unifoim fcales, and the mouth is edged with a beautiful border ; the fct.les on the belly are of a yellowifh blue, ipecklcd with red. The AMMODYTES of Ceyhn, is a very large and dangerous Serpent, with a mouth full of (harp teeth. The eyes are larg>; and fparkling, and the forehead is covered with fmall round fcales, fome of which are yel- low, others red, and fpeckled with black. On each fide of the eyes there are black ftripes that reach to the neck ; but the body, above and below, is of a whit- ifh afh colour ; and on the back, ihere are angular ipots variegated with white and brown. The fcales that cover the upper part of the body, are placed like net-work, with large mefhes, and the tail is fpotted with brown, ending in a bony point. The ANJMODYTES oi Surina??i, is a Serpent which the Negroes have in high efteem, and they think them- felves very happy if they come into their huts ; but their colours are io many and beautiful, that they furpafs all defcription. The OF SERPENTS. 357 rye AMMODYTES, or SAND SERPENT, fo called, becaufe it hides itfelf in the fand, and is faid to be very like a Viper. It is a cubit in length, of a fandy colour, and the head is broader than that of a Viper, as well as the jaws. On the upper part of the nofe or muzzle, there is an eminence like a wart, which has given occafion to fome to call it the Horned Serpent. It is to be met with in J/rica, I/Ijria, Italy, and other parts of the world. The BAYAPNA, is an Jfrican Serpent, with a longifli white head fpotted with chefnut colour, and the neck is adorned with a narrow collar. The eyes are large, feated near the mouth, and the upper part of the body is covered with fquariih fcales as white as fnow, from the head to the tail, which laft is long and flender. 7'he neck is fmall, marked with oblong fpots of a bright bay,, which are more large on the back. Near the tail the fpots are fmaller, and the belly is of a yellovvilli afii colour fpeckled with red on each fide throughout its length. It lives upon birds and frogs. The GERENDA, fo called by ^eba, is a Serpent of the Eaji-lnaies, to which they pay divine honours. It generally lies folded up, and has a Ikin finely fpotted ; it is covered with very thin rhomboidal fcales of a yel- lowiih afh colour, and encircled v/ith bands of a fmoky red, which look as if they were embroidered, or rather like ribbands. The head is oblong, and like that of a hound, and of a very pale afh colour ; it is covered with fmall fcales, that become larger upon the nofe, and from thence to the neck, there runs a deep red ftreak, made like the links of a chain. Another ftreak, much of the fame fort, proceeds from the eyes to the jaws ; the edges of the lips are turned outwards and folded. The teeth are fmall and flender ; the eyes lively and fpark- ling, and the nollrils large ; the tranfverfe fcales on the belly are of a yellowiili aih colour, and the fmall fcales of a bright alh colour, fpotted in the middle with a deep red. This Serpent is had in great veneration in Japan and Calicut ; and the inhabitants oi Malabar are greatly afraid of it. The African GERENDA, is of a prodigious bu'k, and is worlhipped by the inhabitants on the coall of Mo/ajnbi^ue, 358 THE NATURAL HISTORY lAofambique. The flcin is not fo finely fpotted as the former ; but it is variegated all over the body with very fine white afh-coloured and black fpots. The head is fomewhat like that of a dog, as well as the nofe, which is finely fpotted, and fmall round fcales cover the top of the head. The mouth when open feems to be furrow- ed, and the tongue, which is cloven in two, is red, the tail terminates in a point. The jAUCAACANGA, fo called by the ^r^//^«/, is nr.med Tedagofo by the Portuguefe. The Dutch that live in thofe parts, call it the Hunting Serpent, becaufe it winds along with incredible fwiftnefs, infomuch that it is very difficult to get out of its way. The natives do all they can to render thefe Serpents tame, for they re- ceive them into their houfes, where they free them from all vermin. The head is oblong, the mouth fmall, and the nofe is like that of a hound ; the eyes are large and very fine, as well as the fcales on the nofe ; but thofe on the forehead are fmall, thin, and round. The reft are pretty large in proportion, as white as fnow, fhad- ed with a pale red, and variegated v/ith gold colour. The teetJi are crooked, the tongue cloven and of a pale red, and the tail is of a deeper colour than the body. Under the belly they are afh coloured with red edges. The HCEMORRHOIS, which is the name of the bleeding piles, isfocalled, becaufe thofe that are bit by it have hemorrhages or fluxes of blood from all parts of the body. It is but fmall, being only a foot long, and it has a very bright and ihining Ikin. The eyes arc red and (hine like fire, and the back is full of black and white fpot-. The neck is fmall, the tail very flender, and it has fmall horns above the eyes. The Indian HCEMORRHOIS called HAUCYAT- LI, is like a Rattle-Snake, in all things, except the Rattles. It is larger than the former, but the venom has the fame efieifl. The firll is to be met with in Eg:pt^ and in feveral other parts of Africu The KOKOB, is of the fame kind, and is three feet long, it is of a brown colour, with blue and red fpots. It is an American Serpent, and has been fecn at Yucatan. The SEPS, is a Serpent about three feet long, and thick in proportion. The head is large, the rnuzzlc pointed. OF SERPENTS. 359 pointed, and the fkin is generally of an afli colour, bat ibmetimes rcddilli, and marbled with white fpots. It has four crooked teeth, and a lliort tail. It is to be found in the mountains of 5)r/^, and fev^eral other places. The bite is very venemous, and caufes the part which is hurt to corrupt in a very {hort time, and is generally fatal. However, it muft be obferved, that authors dif- fer greatly in the defcription of this Serpent, and that Mr. Ray takes it to be the Lizard mentioned under this name. The ACOALT, is a water Serpent found in the Etiji Indies y has very fmall teeth, and its bite is not dangerous. It is pretty long, and variegated with broad black itreaks ; but the back and the under part of the belly are blue ; the upper part of the head is black, the lower yellow, and the fides blue. The ARGUS, is a Guiney Serpent, which is very uncomm.on, and it is fo called, becaufe it is covered with fpot5 from the head to the tail, that refemble eyes. On the back there is a double row of them, which are the largeft, and the ground colour of the fcales is of a bright chefnut colour, only on the back between the eyes it is of a dark brown. ' The PRINCE of SERPENTS, fo called by Seba, is a native of Japan, and has not its equal for beauty. The fcales which cover the back are reddiili, and finely fiiaded and marbled with large fpots of irregular figures, with other fmall black fpots. The head h oblong, and the fore part is covered with large beautiful fcales. The jaws are bordered with yellow, and the forehead is marked with a black marbled ftreak, which reaches to the end of the neck ; the eyes are handfome, lively, and brilliant. It is a very harmlefs animal. The ASP, is a Serpent very often mentioned by an- cient hiflorians, but they have given us no accurate de- fcription of it. Some fay it is of the fize of a common Snake, only the back is broader, and their necks fvvcl I greatly when they are angry. But as to their teeth growing exceeding long and franding out of their mouths like Boars, which fonie affcrt, lecms to be fabulous. However, it may be true, tha": two of the longefl: are hollow, and that they are thofe which contain the venom. 360 THE NATURAL HISTORY venom. They are generally covered with thin pellicle^ which flide down when the Serpent bites. The fkin i^ faid to be covered with fcales, which are redder than thofe of any other Serpents ; but others affirm they are of very different colours. J^ome fay they are two cubits long, others four, others again live; and Peter Kol- bin affirms he has feen them feveral ells long; fo that in fhort, there is nothing certain to be faid about it. They are undoubtedly bred in Jfrica, and ic v^^as by the bite of one of thefe Serpents tliat Cleopatra h faid to have ended her days. However Seba gives the name of Afp or Afpic to feve- ral Scx-pents, the firH of which is faid to be found in Eg)pty and is fpotted with black. The ikin is of a rcd- difh alh-colour marked with black fpots, whereas thofe on the back nearly refemble eyes. The head is of a daik brown, furrounded with a white collar ; and the fcales of the belly are white, adorned with a reddifli border. He has alfo an American Afp, which nearly refembles this in every refpe^. The Jwoa ASP, is of a fea green with a fharp mouth and a long head covered with icales on the fore parts. The other fcales are alfo of a fea green colour with white edges, except under the belly, where they are of a light green, and feparated from the reft by two white llreaks which run like furrows along the fides. The Surinam ASP, is of a bright green colour fprink- led with blackiih fpots ; but the belly is of an alh co- loured red, and the head is of a deep green ; the eyes are lively, and the tail is terminated with (harp points. The ASPIC COBRA oi Brr,fil is very large, and has a white head ftreaked with black. The forehe.id is large, angular, and defended by great whitifh fcales. This Serpent is of divers colours, for it is brown the fourth part of its length ; then the brown is mixed with white ipecks as far as the tail, which is entirely black. The beginning of the body is covered with oblong fcales in the form of a chain ; after which they become rhom- boidal. The eyes are large and. fparkling. The teeth called the grinders, are very fharp ; but the incifors do not appear to the naked eye. It feeds upon Lizards and birds, and is found principally in the province of 4 Honduras^ O F S E R P E N T S. 361 Eondurasy from whence it has been brought into Holland. The GIBOYA is the largefl: of all the BrafMan Ser- pents, being fometimes twenty feet long and very thick. Travellers pretend it will fwallow a ilag whole, but this mull be a fable. The teeth are very fmall in proportiom to its body, and this Serpent is not at all venemous. It lies in wait for wild animals near the paths, and when it throws itfelf upon one of them, it winds about him in fuch a manner, and with fo much ftrength, that it breaks all the bones ; after which it mumbles the flefli in fuch a manner, as to render it fit for fv/allowing it whole. Linnaus places it among thofe that have fcaly ilreaks on the belly and tail ; with a head covered with fmall fcales, and the tail without any appendage. The HIPPO, an African Serpent, fo called by Seha, is co\'ered with fcales of a rhomboidal form, and of a bright lead colour, appearing very beautiful to the eye ; the head is variegated with red, yellow, white, and blue, very curioufly mixed ; and each fide of the head and neck are marked with four ipots as red as coral. Along the fpine from the head to the tail, there runs a whitilh ftreak, which feems to confiil of a row of oval pearls, and on each fide the belly, which is covered with yellow fcales, there runs another white ftreak. The HCEMACETA is a Serpent of Afia, which Seba procured out of Tabarejian, a province of Perfia, It is covered with fcales exactly refembling oriental ao-ate. On each fide the belly there are fpots of deep red, and the fore part of the head is covered with uniform pale red fcales ; but the hinder part of the head and neck are adorned with white fpots like rofes ; the fcales of the belly ai'e of the colour of apple blollbms, inclining a lit- tle to red in fome places. The SCYTALE is of a long round Ihape like a llafF, from whence it has its name ; for Scytale f-gniiies a club or llafFin the Greek. Some fay this Serpent is very full of marks or fpots on the back, which render this animal extremely beautiful. Jt has a veiy flow motion, and therefore cannot purfue any one to hurt him. The head and tail are (o mucn ^ like, that it is hard to diltii g\n(\\ Vol. 111. R "oue 352 THE NATURAL HISTORY one from the other, and Nicander affirms it for iize and length like the handle of a fpade. The AMPHISBCENA, or the double headed SER- PENT, is remarkable for moving along with either the head or the tail foremoft, as the Greek name imports. For thisreafon, many authors have affirmed, that this animal has two heads, which mull needs be falfe, for there is no fach creature in the univerfe. This error took its rife very probably from the thicknefs- of the tail, which might look at a dillance like another head ; but if thofe who have affirmed it, had had a nearer view, they would foon have difcovered riieir error. Some aflert, that this Serpent is like the Scytale,. and differs only from it in going backward and for- ward. Jt is as thick at one end as the other, and the colour of the (kin is like that of the earth. It is rough and hard, and varioufly fpotted. It is to be met with in Lybia^ and likewife in the ifland of Lemnos. 1 he Av:erican AMPHISEGiNA is of a flelh colour, and it feems to have neither eyes nor nollrils ; its mouth is a fmall cleft without teeth or tongue ; how- ever, it is thick, fmooth, and covered with large fcales of a flefli colour ; the head is blunt, and as thick as a man's head, as fome fay ; but this may be doubted ;. fome place them among the blind Serpent?. The AMPHISBCENA of Ceylon, is as black as a Raven, and is fuppofed to be the female of the Ammo- dytes, but for what reafon it is hard to fay, for it re- fcmbles the common Amphifboena in the ffiape of the head, and the tail confifts of half rings. There is j^nother American AMPHISBCENA, marb- led with white and brown, and the head is of a draw colour. The whole body confills of very narrow rings, clofely united together like thofe of Earth-worms. IJie fcales are thin, and confift of longifh irregular fquares of a chcfnut colour; but more brown on the upper part, and lighter on the belly, it being there mixed with. white. The APAMEA, is a Syrian Serpent that feems to have two heads, and the body is fmooth and ffiining. 1 he head is Imall and of a pale yellow, only there is a flicak which reaches from the eyes to the nollrils. Jt is O F S E R P E N T ^. 363 h round* thick, and flat, and covered with fmall fcalH like lozenges, of a violet purple underneath the body> and variegated with a ftraw colour. The tail is thick, and blunt at the end. The IBIJARA, fo called by the Brc.fliansy and by the Port»guefeQoii?.\ delos Cabecas, is reported ta have two heads, but faifely. The error arofe from its flinging with the tail, as well as biting with the mouth j befidci the head can hardly be diitinguifhed from the tail, becaufe they are both of the fame fnape and fize. It is about as thick as a man's little iinger, and a foot and two inches long. It is of a whitiih colour, and glit- ters like glafs, and is marked with beautiful rings, and lines nearly of a copper colour. I'he eyes are very iVnall, and hardly vifible ; for they look like fmall holes in the fkin, made with the pricking of a needle. Is lives under the earth, and never appears but when turn- ed up by digging. It lives upon Ant', and its venom is fo fatal, that the PortugusJ'e affirm there is no cure for it. The CjECILIA, the BLIND WORPvI, or SLOW WORM. Some have fuppofed it to be both blind and deaf; but this is a miftake, for they certainly have eyes, tho' very fmall. The teeth are fet in the mouth likethof(3 of a Cameleon, and the fkin is very thick. Ic is of a pale blue with blackilh fpots on the fides. Likewife, it is quite fmooth, being without fcales. One of thefe, that was feen by Mr. Ray, was of a yellowifh aih colour on the back, and on the fides there were different black and white lines ; but the belly was black. However Mr. Bay thinks, that the male and female are of diitercnt colours j or perhaps, tiiat they may be different in the fame fex. It is about a fpan in length, and as thick as a man's iinger. It is to be met with in Enpjnnd, as well as in many other countries ; and it brings f jrth its young oneb alive like the Viper. The C.-.NCHRU3, CENCHRIo, or MILLRT, fo called from Millet feed, becaufe it is adorned v.ith fpots of the fame fize. it is in length about tv/o cubits, with a thick body, v/hich terminates in a llender tail. The colour is of a vellov/iHi green, cfpeciailv on R z 'the 364 THE NATURAL HISTORY the belly. It is found in Lemvios and SafKos, and per- haps may be met with in other parts of the world. The ACONTIAS or DAR f, is fo called, becaufe it fhoots itfelf like a dart. Be'ori or Bellon^ met with it in the iile of Rhodes, and acquaints us that it is three palms in length, and about the thicknefs of a man's lit- tle finger, Jt is of a whitifli aQi colour, and on the belly it is entirely white, with little fpots like eyes upon the back. The neck is black, and from thence there run two white lines along the back to the tail. The fpots, which are black, are no bigger than a lentil, and they are all encompafled with a white circle. Authors affirm that they get upon trees, from whence they dart themfelves upon people that pafs along, and that their bite is deadly. They are to be met with in Egypt, Lybia, and the iflands of the Mediterranean fea. Late authors mention different kinds of them, the defcriptions of which have been fent to Eurofe from different parts of the world. Seba fpeaks of three kinds of Darts, the firft of which has a pointed tail, armed with two hard flings like the forked tongues of fome Serpents. They lurk in hollow trees, where they wait for their prey, and dart upon it with great fwiftnefs. It has a long head, large eyes and jaw, a mouth well furnifhed with fharp teeth. The fcales that cover the forehead and upper part of the body are uniform and regularly placed, and of areddilh blue, and on each there is a furrow of a white colour ; but thofe under the belly are cf a pale yellow, mottled with red fpots. This Serpent was feen at Santa-cruz in America. The DART oi Amboyva, is called by the Dutch Spa it- slang, which is as much as to fay, theSyRiNCE Ser- P£NT, becaufe it raifes itfelf as fwiftly as water, out of a fyringe. It is as thick as a man's arm, fix feet in length, and is covered with fcales difpofed in the form of lozenge , which are of reddifh brown, and of a fea green on the back and fides ; but thofe on the belly are of a bright afh colour, 'i he fkin is fmooth, and the head of a mid- le fize ; but the eyes are very large and (hining, with fmall teeth, and a long pointed tail. The DAR f of ^e-w Spain is covered v/ith yellow and reddilh fcales, placed in the form of lozenges that are O F S E R P E N T S. 365 are cut through the middle by ftreaks that run from the head to the end of the tail. The head is covered with yellow fcales fpeckled with red, and all its joints are orange ; but the fcales on the beily are of a reddifli yellow. The DRYINUS is fo called from the Greek word Drus, which fignifies an oak ; becaufe this Serpent is faid to borough in the roots of oak trees. Belion de- clares, that he never met with any Serpent fo large as this, nor that makes a louder noile when it hiffes ; for one of them being put into a fack, it was fo heavy, that a countryman could not carry it two miles without refting. He faw the ikin of one of thefe fluffed with hay, that was as thick as a man's leg, which is all the defcription that he gives of it. Other authors have given fuch different accounts of this animal, that it is impofhble to reconcile them, and confequently nothing certain can be faid about it, with regard to its defcrip- tion. The ELOPS or ELAPS, Is a Serpent that Belion tells us, is to be met with in the ifland oi Lenwos, where they call it L A PH I AT I ; for which reafon it is fuppofed to be the the fame that the ancients called Elaphis. It is^bout three feet long, of a greyifh brown on the back, with three black lines running from the head to the tail, and the belly is yellow ; which is all the account that au- thors give of it. The GRILL of Surhmniy is a Serpent almoft a foot long, and an inch thick, being in the fhape of a cylin- der from the head to the tail. The fkin is fmooth with- out fcales ; on the back there are points a little elevated, and there are wrinkles on the fides. The head is fmooth ,and round, and the upper jaw is long, blunt, and fur- nilTied with a thread on the fide of each noflril. 1 he holes of the ncll:riis are a good diftance from each other, and they are as fmall as the points of needles, as well as the eyes, which hov>'ever are very brilliant, the teeth are fmall, and the tail, if it may be faid to have any, is blunt and wrinkled like earth worms. T\\c Jmericcn BLIND SERPENT is white, mixed with f^eih colour, and is covered with fmall fcales frora the head to the end of the thick tail ; and they are R 3 divided 366 THE NATURAL HISTORY 43ivided into parallelograms, by fine longitudinal ftreaks that crofs others which are circular. The head is large and fhort, and the mouth is furnifh^d with tcech. The eyes are very fmall, and covered with a membrane ; but the noiirils are large. It feeds upon hog-lice, and cither fmall infeils. The ANGUIS ^SCULAPIT, the Snake of ^fcu^ lapias, is a harmlefs kind of a Serpent. In ha!y, it is fuffered to come into the houfes, and often gets into the beds where people Vjo. ; but though it is an innocent fort of a animal, yet it will bite when exafperated. It is of an oblong fiiape, an ell long, and of a yellowifh, or rather porraceous colour, except on the back, where it is brown. Both jaws are armed with many very fharp teeth ; and on the neck two fmall eminences appear with an empty fpace between them. They are very common in Spain, Italy, and other warm countries. Seba has feven forts of i5iscuL apian Serpents, which aie 2ls follow : 1. The firft has the whole body encircled from the head to the tai], with broad brown and black ftreaks, and the fcales that cover the body are of an afh colour and grey mixed with white. 2. The Brafd SERPENT, variegated with divers colours, is defended' with ftrong fcales of a dull blue co- lour, mixed with black, and finely undulated. The head is curioufly mottled and fpeckled, and the tranfverfe fcales on the belly are mortly white. 3. The ^SCULAPiAN SERPENT of Panama m America, has a blueiih violet coloured body, and the belly is of a paler blue with tranfverfe large fcales, al- together white. They are all clofe together, except at the beading of the back, where they are difjoined. The head is covered with long broad uniform fcale.s as well as under the jaws. The mouth is armed with fharp Clocked teeth, and it lives upon mice and fmall birds. i:s excrements fmell like mufK. 4. 'I'he ARGOLt is an American Serpent, and a- kin to the yEfculapian kind. The fcales are rhomboidal, and of a greyifh black, with large bsy brown fpots, feme of which are rOund, and others oblong ; but the belly li almoft whitifh; and the tail terminates in a point. 5. The OF SERPENTS. f.-j ::. Tilis Serpent is another Argoli with fpots on ; ihe fcales are of a whitilh afh colour, difpofed m a beautiful manner, and more exadlly than in the former kind. The tail is blunt at the end, ahd the head and eyes are ihining. 6. i'he JESCULAPIAN SERPENT of^r^,?/, is near three ells in length, with the head covered with large beautiful fcales, and the neck furrounded by a narrow collar. The fcalea on the body are white^ atid in the fhape of lozenges, each being marked in the mid- -die with a fmall black furrow. From the neck to the tail there are Isi-ge red and brown fpo:s, which Aii^, longifn near the head, and {horter as they iipproach to the tail. The mouth is armed with very irnali teeth. 7. The .>ESCULAP1AN SERPENT of the Eaih Indies^ is very large, and the upper part of the boJy is covered with yellow fcales, (haded with duucy brown, and which fhine very much. It is encircled wich bay brown ftreaks, fome of which are narrow, others broad. The fcales on the fides and under the belly, are of a yellowilh a(h colour ; the head is little, fliort, and pret- tily variegated with black and brown ; the forehead is marked with two whitilh fpots, and the neck is fur- rounded with a white ring. The teeth are very fmall, but the body is round andflefhy, and the tail blunt. 'I he BlTEN of AW Bpain, is of a thick fnort Ihape, being remarkable for its fliort tail, which is diilindl from the body ; the fcales which cover the middle of the body are long and broad ; but towards the head and tail they are narrow ; and are whitifh, and va- riegated with red, pale, and deep yellow, mixed here and there with black fpots. In the back part of the mouth there are crooked teeth ; but there are none before. The BITEN of Ceylon is a fort of a large fnake covered with great oblong fcales which adhere to the {kin by the root ; but there are other parts as loofe, .and fo moveable, that when it is angry they rife up like hair that itands an end. They are of a deep yel- low colour where they touch each other, fhaded with blackhh fpots ; but between them there are other fcales of a yellowilh afli colour. The neck is marked with R 4 oval 368 THE NATURAL HISTORY oval fpots, and the head is fhort and of an oval Ihape; the eyes are large, brilliant, and full of fire ; and in the mouth there is only four long crooked teeth, two above and two below, that are connefted to the jaws on each fide by tendons ; but at the bottom of the palate there are others very fmall and crooked. The tongue is forked. 1 he RATTLE SNAKE is bred in America, but in no pait of the old world. Some of thefe are as thick as a man's leg, and fix feet in length ; however, there are many that are no larger than a common Snake ; and thefe are moft frequent. They receive their name from the rattle which is at the end of their tails, that confifts of feveral fliells, which are very thin and of a horny fubftance. They are of an orange, tawney, and blackilh colour on the back, and of an iJ^{\ colour on the belly inclining to lead. The male may be readily diflinguifhed from the female by a black velvet fpot on the head ; and be- fides the head is fmaller and longer made. 1 he young Snakes of a year or two old have no rattles at all ; but thofe that are older, have feveral. Many have been killed thf-t have had from eleven to thirteen joints each. 1 hey fhake and make an noife with thefe rattles with prodigious quicknefs when they are difturbed, and their bite is v^ry dangerous, but not always of the fame force, it being more or lefs mortal in proportion to the vigour of this animal ; for this reafonic is always more fatal in March and Afril. '\ his Snake is a very majeftick fort of a creature, and will fcarce meddle with any thing unlefs provoked ; but if any man or beall offends it, it makes diredly at them. Many have affirmed, that a Rattle Snake has the power of charming Squiij els. Hares, p£rtrid<^es, and the like, in fuch a manner as to make them run diredly into their mouths ; but this, upon llrider examination, appears to be a mifla'-.e. Lr. l-fon had one of thefe Snakes fcnt from Vir^^in-ay \vl;ich was four feet five inches long, and his body fix inches and a half in diameter, but the neck only three. The head is fiat at the top like a Viper, and the noHrils are placed at the end of the fnout, between thefe and the OF SERPENTS. 369 the eyes; a little lower are two orifices, which might be niiilaken for ears, but by founding them with a probe, they were found to terminate in a bone, that had no paffage through it. Jt was in all things like a Viper excepting the nofe, and a large fcale which hung like a pent-houfe over each eye, which feemed to ferve inftead of an eye-lid, and to prevent any thing from fal- ling into the eye ; but it was not defigned for covering or {hutting the eyes, in which there is a nidlitating membrane to wipe of the duit if any fhould fall therein. The fcales on the head are the leail: of all ; but they grow larger as they approach near the back, and fo on to the thickell: part of the body ; after which they di- minilh fenfibly to the end of the tail v/here the rattle is placed. The colour of chofe on the head was like the back of a Green-finch ; but it was marked with fmall black fpots, of which four are large and more remark- able. Thofe on the back were of a dark ftUemot colour, or a mixture of black and du(ky yellow, v/hich was likewife fpotted. Thefe different colours were diverlified like chequer work, and had an appearance fbmewhat like a chefs board. They grew darker the nearer they approach to the tail, where they were almoft black. I'he fcales on the back ro^ up in fharp points like thofe of a Crocodile; but they grew \e^^ the nearer they ap- proached to the fides, where they were quite flat and equal. The belly feemed to be flat and covered with long tran Tver fe fcale> of an oblong fqu are form, and of a yellow colour fpotted with black. From the neck to the anus, theie were one hundred fixty-eight fcaks ; and beyond that, there were two half fcales, and nine- teen whole ones of a blackifti lead colour edged with yellow. After thefe, as far as the rattle, there were fix rows of leffer fcales of the fame colour. The fcales on the belly were conr.efled together by diilinft mufcles ; and the lower teudcn of each v/as in- ferred into the upper edge of the fucce^ding fcale ; and another tendon of the fame mufcle wa. fixed to the mid- dle part of the preceding fcale. Thefe niufcles abo;,t the middle of each fcale were flefhy, aad the fibres if- cended obliquely from thence. The point of each fjale was conneded at both fides to a rib, and by that mrnns R 5 fupplieg -70 THE NATURAL HISTORY ^applied them with great flrength to perform all their iriotions ; for thefe might be likened to fo many feet, which being free and open on the lower part, they might eafily take hold of the earth and fo force the body forward. Hence the query of Francis Hernandez may be anfwcred, why thefe Serpents can proceed more fwiftly in flony rough places, than thofe that are flat; becaufe here the fteps are much more firm. The Snake being laid on its back and opened, the tendons of the abdominal mufcles were found to termi- nate in a line in the middle of the belly, along which a large blood veflel ran, which rofe from the vena cava, and terminated in the lower part of the liver. The af- pera arteria, or wind-pipe, was of a fmgular ftrudlure, and differed from that in other animals ; for in this, as foonas it entered the breaft, it met with the lungs, and confifted of femi-angular cartilages annexed on each fide to the membrane of the lungs, and fo conveyed air into the lungs without the help of broncchia. Thefe be- gan at the throat, and defcended to the length of three *(set. The upper part which lies along the fore part of the body, was a foot in length-, and reached to the heart. It confiiled of fmall veiicles or cells, on which were reti- cular ramifications of the blood vefiels. A little below this for the fpace of four inches, theie cells began to va- wfh very fcnfibly, and at length terminated in reticular cempages of connivent valves, at the end of which was a large bladder without any cells, and confifted of a traniparentbtit flrong memba-ane. When it was gently blown up, it v/as about eight inches in length. The gullet was two feet three inches in length ; but the liomach, properly fo called, only five inches. It was different in fubftance and colour from the gullet, and was lined on the inlidewith fcveral fold-^.. 1 hey fwsllow all tlieir food whole, but do not x'omit up again thofe parts they cannot cigeil', as fome have afiirnicd. There is no need that it fnculd be divided into fmall particles by the force of the fcomach ; and this in iSi^ality never happens. I5ut .then, as it pafles through the body, every thing proper for nourilliment is extraded froxa it ; and yet it is h^rd to fay, in what manner it is done. 'I he heart lies e*"* the nght fide of th« OF SERPENTS. syi the lower part of the wind-pipe, and is covered with a membrane called the pericardium. It is about an inch and a half long, and is rather flat than round ; and it has only one ventricle endowed with fmall iielhy valves. The auricle was bigger than the heart, for it had not two, as Charas affirms he had often found in a Viper. However, Dr. Tyfon thinks that this muft be a miftake, "becaufe the hearts of all Serpents are alike. The liver h feated below the heart, and was about an inch broad, being divided into two lobes of unequal length. The left was about tv/o inches long, and the right a foot. The colour was of areddifh brown, and the gall-bladder, which v/as full of dark green bile, was two inches long. The kidneys lye on each fide the fpine of the back, biv5 are not ftrongly connected thereto, and they were fcven inches long. Thefe, though they were only one body^ feemed to be fubdivided into lefler kidrecys, near fifteen in number, and their flruclure was very beautiful and .curious. The very large Mexican SERPENT called DEPOxNA, jhas a very large head and great jaws. The mouth is armed with cutting croked teeth, among uiiich there .are two tufhes which other Serpents have not, and which are placed in the fore part of the upper jaw. All round the mouth there is a broad fcaly border, and •the eyes are fo large that they give it a terrible afpcd. The forehead is covcied with large fcales, on which are .placed others that are {^nailer, curiouily ranged. Thofe on the back are greyifh, and along it runs a double :chain, whofe ends are jaiaed in the manner of a buck- ler. Each fide of ihe belly are marbled with vail fquarc /pots of a chefnut colour, in the middle of which is .another that is round and yellow. The tranfverfe fcales of the belly are variegated vvdth large fpots of a reddifh colour as well as the long {lender poi;jted tail. They -avoid the iight of a man, :and confequencly feldoin Of ;never do any harm. The CENCOALT is a fort of a Viper o^ New ^paitt, and has an oblong head flatted before, with large Tioftrils ; the nTouih has a large dcntatcd border, and :the eyes are large and :parkling. 1 he body is covered wUh rpfckled fca'-cs ihaded wkh fj^ccs tiiat *»€ pwtly 372 THE NATURAL HISTORY ^fd, partly yellow, and partly of a chefnut colour. .The ^Cales on the belly are of a bright afh colour variegated with yellow ; the tail and neck are long and fmall. There is another American CENCOALT, which is long and flender, with a fmall head and large eyes feated very near the noftrils. It is finely fpotted, and the fcales are of a yellowifli afh colour. The whole length of the back is of a chefnut colour, and the fcales underneath the belly are of a dirty yellow. This Ser- pent feeds on worms and ants. The female is more flender than the male, but has a rounder body ; the neck is long, and no thicker than a tobacco-pipe ; ia other things it refembles the male. Linnaus calls it the t:nake that has two hundred and twenty fcales on the belly, and an hundred and twenty four on the tail. The BOIGUACU of Marcira-ve, is called by the Portugufe Cobra de Veado, and is fuppofed to be the largell of all thcfe kind of animals. They have been leen frc>m feven to twenty four feet long, and Marfgrave affirms, that he has feen one fwallow a Goat whole. This feems to be the fame diat C .rJomine men,- tions by the name of the Corah and fays, it is remark- able for the variety and livelinefs of its colours ; but more efpecially for its largenefs ; for it is affirmed they sre from twenty five to thirty feet long. This author carried two of the fkins to France^ one of which was fifteen feet long, and a foot in diameter. It is thickeil in the middle of the body, and grove's (horter and fmal- ler towards the head and tail. On the middle of the back there is a chain of fmall black fpots running along the length of it, and on each fide there are large round black fpots at iorr.e diftance trom each other, ♦.vhich are white in the center. Between thefenear the belly, there are two rows of leiler black fpots, which run parallel to the b?.ck. Jt has a double row of iharp teeth in each jaw, of a V. hitc colour, and.fhining like mother of pearl. The heail is broad, and over the eyes it is raifed iiito two prominences. Near the extremity of the tail there are two claws refembling thofe of birds. Pijo affirms that thcfe Serpents lye hid in thickets, from whence they will come out at unawares, and raifing ihemfclves upright on their tails, will attack both men 5 and -OF SERPENTS. 3-3 and bealls. It makes a ilrange hiffing noife, when ex- afperated,' and will fomelimes leap from trees and wind themfelves round the bodies of travellers fo very clofely, as to kill them. However, Condomine makes no mention of this, but he takes notice of their biting, which he af- firms is not at all dangerous ; for though the teeth are fa large as to infpire any one with terror that l:>€hold them, yet their bite is not attended with any other confequence than what may proceed from an ordinary wound. Deliori affirms, that in the Ecji-hidies there are Serpents of twenty feet in length, and fo thick, that they are able to fwallow a man. They generally haunt defart places, for though they are fometimes feen near great towns on the fea fhore, or on the banks of rivers, yet it is generally after fome great inundation. He never faw any but what were dead, and they appeared to him like the trunk of a large tree lying on the ground. The Americans pretend that one of thefe Serpents will fwal- low a Deer horns and all ; and the Ind:ans, that it wi I fwallow a Buffalo whole ; both which ftories are very im- probable. Hov.'ever it is pretty certain, that one of the Eaji-Indian Serpents did aftually fvvallow a child. The CUCURUCU oiUarcgra-je.ih 2l Serpent from nine to twelve feet long, and thicker than a Rattle- fnake. Their fcales are much alike, only thefe are yel- low and marked on the back with large black fpots. It is a very venemous animal and greatly to be feared, and yet the fielh is eaten by the Savages. The bite is faid to have the fame effed a« that of a Hcsmcrrhois. The IBOBO.A of t\\Q Brafdians, is called Cobra DE Coral by ihe Pcrtugue/e, it is two feet long, and almoil: an inch thick ; and the tail towards the end is round and fharp like a bodkin. All the belly is of a fliining white, and the head has white cub cal fcales black on the edges. Next to thefe is a fpo: of a bright red colour, the fcales of which are black on the edges, as all the red fpo s are. To this a black f^ot fucceeds, then a white, then a black, and again a red, and To on. The red fpot is about an inch long ; and two white, and three red, taken together, are an inch and a half long, but equal to each other. The edges of the white fpots are always black. The bite of thefe Serpents is 374 THE NATURAL HISTORY is generally fatal; however it can move along but ilowly. The BOITJAPO of BrafA, has the name of Cobra de Lipo among the Fortuguefcy and is {^vtxi or eight feet in length, but is fcarce fo thick as a man's arm. The body is round, and the tail ends in a Iharp point. The colour in general is olive, except under the belly, which is yellowifli, and covered with beautiful triangular fcales. The fplne of the back is furnifhed with a row of prickles, which runs from the head to ihe tail. The fcales on the upper part of the body are placed like the. mefhes of a net with a double thread, which croifine notice of and defcribes. The CANINANA of ?ifo, is yellow on the belly and green on the back, and is about eight palms in length. Its bite is not accounted very fatal, and it lives upon birds and their eggs. The fleih is eaten by the Africans and the Americans, when the head and tail are cut off. The IBIRACOA of BrafJ, is a Serpent remarkable for being fpotted with white, black, and red. Its bite is very d.ngerous, and induces the vvorll: kind of fymptoms. The TARESBOYA and CACABOYA, are two amphibious Serpents that live as well on land as in the water ; and upon that account are not unlike our VVater- fnakes. However they are not fo pernicious as thofe of Europe, They are quite black, and not ver}' large ; and they will bite when angered, but the wound ad- mits of an eafy cure. There is one of this kind of a yellow colour, and fix palms in length, which is more to be feared by the country people, on account of devouring the poultry, than from the danger of its bite. The GIRAWPIAGARA, which fignlfies an egg- eater, is an oblong S.rpent or Snake of a black colour, only it is yellowiih on the breaft. They are very nimble in getting up the highell trees, where they feek birds-nells, and devour their eggs. The GAYTIIiPUA is an American Serpent as well as the former, and has been {t^w in the country called Burim, it is of a vaft fize, and fmells fo filthily that no man can bear to come near it. The BOM is a very large Serpent, and receives its name from the noife it makes ; however it is very harm^efs, and was never kno.vn to hurt any one. The BOYCUPECANGE, which word fignifies a Snake fpotted or marked on the back, is much thicker than the former ; and thefe marks are fuppofed to be of a very virulent nature. The 378 THE NATURAL HISTORY The JARARACUCU is about ten palms in length, whofe teeth are very large ; and when it is about to bite, they are thrall out of the mouth like fingers ; but at other times they ?.re hid within the cheeks. The Venom is a fluid of yellow colour, and fo powerful, that it will kill a man in the fpace ot twenty-f -ur hours. Thefe Serpenis bring forth feveral young ones at a time, and feme of them that have beea killed, have been found to have thirteen in their belly. The JARARA COAYPITIUGA, which name fignifies a Serpent, whoie rail has more white in it than brown. It is as venemous as the S^a :ip Viper, and diiTers little from it either in fiiape or colour. The JAR.ARA EI'EBA, has a red line running like a chain upon its back and under the bJIy; the other part, are either brown or of an afn-colour. There are other i^erpents in the Eaj} Indiesy of which v\e have fome account; and we Ihall give you the fceft defcription of them get. Serpens INDICUS CORONATUS, is called by the Portuguefs CoBRA DE Capello, which fignifies the Hooded Serpent, and it is fo named, becaufe it has an excrefcence like a hood or cap at top of the head. The Ikin is of a gold colour, and it is generally about a yard in length, and about three quarters of an inch thick. However Francis Leguatt affirms, that in the ifland o{ Maurice near Batesoia in the Eaji Indies \ they are eight feet in length, and as thick as a man's arm. It is agreed on all hands, that the poifcn of this Ser- pent is extreamly dangerous, and perhaps more ftrong than that of any other. It is generally faid, that there is a Hone in its head which is an antidote againil the bite of this and all other Serpents ; but Kolbtn declares, he has fought for it in vain, though he has killed a great number of them on that very account. How- ever the Dutch at the Cape of Good Hcpe^ have a ftoi:e called Slang fleeners, or the Serpent-ftone, which is of great ufe againil poifons of all kinds ; but it is thought to be a compofition of the Bramins of the EaJi Indies, from whence it is brought ; and many attempts have been made to prevail upon them to dilcover the fecret, Lut hitherto without eifejS. The OF SERPENTS. 379 Tlie Amerkan COBRA DE CAPELLO, To called %y the Spaniards^ feems to be a fort of a Viper, and the upper part of the body is of a dark red, and there are white (ireaks run acrofs it. The belly is of a pale red, and the upper part of the tail of a fcarlet colour; ■but the top of the head is wbirifli The forehead is marked with a fpot in the Ihape of a pair of fpedlacles, and the eyes are fmall. It lives upon fpiders and in- fers of the like kind ; but there feems to be a miilake in calling it Capello or Hooded. There is another Serpent marked with a pair of fpeftacles in Peru, with the neck of a dufey brov/n colour, but v/hat is called a pair of fpedacles have a greater refemblancc to hooks. The head is covered with large fcales, and furrounded with a bright grey collar. On the flioulder there is a dark tawny ftreak, and all the upper part of the body is uniformly covered with reddiih fcales, variegated with white and afh -colour. The tranfverfe fcales on the belly are of a bright greyidi filver colour. There is another Serpent of this kind, called likewife Cobra de NeuHria, which is a fort of female Viper of Ceylon. The forehead is large and fliort, covered with large fcales, in the middle of which there is a triangle, on the top of which there is a black crown. The other fcales on the forehead are of a greyilh aih-colour ; the eyes are fhining and large, and the noflrils very open. The fcales on the back are of a bright afh-colour, marked with large beautiful reddifli fpots, and lower there are other fiefh-coloured fpots. The fcales on the belly are of a yellowilh red. The COBRA DE CAPELLO of ^iam, is entirely different from that of Ce-lon, in its fkin, in its mark on the forehead, and its rhomboidal fcales. From the head to the end of the tail it is of a greyilh afh-colour, but has a little brovv-nilh red on the back. The fcales on the belly are large, and of a reddifn pale inclining to an nfli-colour. The mark on the forehead is not fo large ■£s that of the foregoing, and the chequered fcales are without ornament. The eyes are large and fhining, and the fore- teeth are fo fmall they can hardly be feen, ■being covered wi!:h a loofe fkin ; but the hinder teeth are Jharp and crooked. There is another kind in the iflanii 38o THENATURAL HISTORY iiland of Ternate, which feems to be of the fame fort as this, only the colour is a little redder. Another Eafi Indian Cobra de Capello, is furrounded with cir- cular ilripes, and its yellowilli afh coloured body, is full of purple rings from one end to the other, fome of which are large, others narrow, and yet beautifully difpofed. VIPERA INDICA TRICOLAR MAJOR, called Pa LAP A RIG Az by the inhabitants of Ceylon^ is a Ser- pent that generally lives under the earth. The Tunu- polon of Ctyloii is fpotted with marks in the fhape of bows and arrows, and is called in Latin^ Vipera TjP.yla- nica minor maculis fjfcis holofericeis eleganter njariegat /. Malkarabcila of Ceylon^ is faid to be ipotted with v/hitc and livid fiOwers. The Se> pens h:dicus gracilis 'viridis^ that is, the /A7^/^ authors call Aeon- tius, or yaculum, both which words fignify a dart. The ORIEN PAL SERPENT, is as Seba informs us, an animal that leaps. The body is four cubits in length, though it is not above two inches and a half thick ; the fcales are beautiful, in the form of lozenges, and painted of various colours ; only thofe on the neck are whitiih mixed with red. The trunk of the body, as far as the beginning of the tail, is of a yellowifh afh colour, covered with fingular red fcales, in fome fenfe reprefenting ribbands, marked in the middle with white fpots, that are double near the tail. This is large, red- difh, and terminates in a point. The tranfverfe fcales of the belly are of a pale yellow, and barred with ftreaks of a faint red. 1 he head is proportionable to the reft of the body, and the forehead is defended with large fcales of a citron colour. The neck is adorned with a collar of a beautiful red. The little ORIENTAL SERPENT, has a tail that terminates in a point. It is red on the upper part, yel- low beneath, and fpeckled from the head to the begin- ing of the tail, with black fpots regularly placed. The tail terminates in a point as (harp as a needle. The Eajl Indian SERPb.NT, is long and black, and is a kind of a dart. It has a flender body, with white and black fpots on the back ; and the fcales thereon are variegated, with white, brown and black. It will thrull out its ftately head towards a fmall bird perched above him ; for thefe are his food. The belly, as far as the point of the tail, is fpotted with black. It is called in the Eaji Indies, the flying Serpent, or the Serpent that darts itfelf as fwift as an arrow upon its prey. The SERPENT oflemafe, is curioully ipotted, and the fpots refemble fo many eyes. The fcales are rhom- boidal, and of a reddiih colour, variegated on the back with O F S E R P E N T S. 4C5 With large yellow fpots edged with red. On each fide of the belly, according to the length, between two of thefe large fpots, there are others more fniall, yel- low, round, placed in order, and very like eyes fur- rounded with a red ring, and having as it were a pupil in the middle, of a deep red colour. There is alfo under thefe fpots, another row. which are of a reddiOi brown, and the fcales of the belly are inclining to red. There are feveral Serpents of the ifland of Ceylon^ mentioned by Seba in the following order. The firft Serpent of Ceylon, is ftriped with a brownifli colour ; the ftripes extend from the head to the extremity of the tail; and the belly is white and covered with fmall rhomboi- dal fcales. On each fide there is a fmall white ftripe, which is a great ornament to this fmall Serpent. The fecond Serpent of CeyJon, is as red as coral, and its Ikin is inclinable to a pale red. It is covered with fpots as red as fcarlet, regularly placed, which greatly fets off the beauty of this animal. The head is adorned with fomewhat larger fcales, which are of a very pale red, and the tail terminates in a very (lender point. The third Serpent of Ceylon, is extremely beautiful, and painted in a very lingular manner. There are two ftripes on the top of the body, which crofs each other and form a kind of net work ; and in the meihes, or fpaces between them, there are round whitifh fpots, which almoft difappear towards the belly : the head is the moll beautiful part, and the neck is flender. The tranfverfe fcajes on the top of the body, are of a dirty white. This fort of Serpent feeds upon infedls and lizards. The fourth Serpent of Ceylon, delights to be among deferted buildings, and hides itfelf in the ruins of old walls, from whence it iallies out from time to time, io catch flies, beetles, and other infeds. It is a very mild harmlefs animal, and does harm to no-body : the Ikin is traverfed with fpots in the form of flames. The fifth Serpent of Ceylon, is very fmall, and has white and black llreaks on the back. It is defended with pretty large fcales of a violet colour, and furrowed ac- cording to the length of the body with black and white breaks : the fcales of the belly are of a paler violet? The 4o6 THE NATURAL HISTORY The fixth Serpent of Cejhf?, is marked with beauti- ful fparkling fpots. The hack is covered with fmall yellowilh Jcales, marked with white or reddifh fpots, fo brillianc, that they feem to fparkle. The head is fur- nilhed with large yellowifh fcales, variegated with white, and the fcales of the belly are inclinable to yellow, only they are adorned here and there with a little red. The feventh Serpent is diftinguifhed by long ftreaks. The colour is chefnut, interfered with red and white, and adorned with llreaks like net work, which run along according to the length of the body : the head and nofe are made like thofe of a dog, but prettily fpotted. This Serpent, fays Seba, makes an agreeable kind of noife, as if it intended to invite paffengers to admire the beauty of its colours. The eighth Serpent of Ceylon, is variegated with an- nular flripes, and is pretty fmooth, long, flender, and of a yellowifh afh colour, marked with dark brown fpots on ample fcales, made in the form of lozenges. The ftripes are broad, and variegated, running round the body like rings : the fcales on the body are inclin- able to red ; and the eyes are beautiful and brilliant. T he forehead is defended with large whitilh fcales, and the nofe is crofTed with a chefnut coloured llripe, like- wife the hinder part of the neck is fhaded with a very large fpot. The ninth Serpent of CeyJon is red and yellow, and encircled from the head to the end of tlie tail, with broad, brown, ftripes : the body is long, flender, and covered with fmall rhomboidal fcales : thofe under the belly are of a bright afh colour, and the head is fmall. The inhabitants of Ceylon, admit this Serpent into their houfes, it being a harmlefs animal. The tenth Serpent of Ceylon, is called by fome the Cross, becaufe its body is marked with black ftripes, that form, in traverfmg each other, a kind of croffes, between which there is a whitifh fkin fpeckled with black. It is covered with fmall fcales, that in fome fenfe imitate marble of two diftindl colours. The eleventh Serpent o^ Ceylon, is the moil beautiful and moil uncommon of all ; and it has a triple llripe, confiding of black, whitifh and reddiHi colours. The ^ belly O F S E R P E N T S. 407 belly is of a fine white, traverfed with black fcales : the head is adorned with very curious fcales. The twelfth Serpent of Ceylon, has long reddifh ilreaks, formed in the manner of chains, which rua magnificently down the back ; and throughout the length of the belly, the fcales are of a pale blue : the belly is of a yellow colour, fprinkled with red fpecks. The thirteenth Serpent of Qy/o;^, feeds upon rats^ and its colours are extreamly beautiful. The fourteenth Serpent of Ceylon, is very beautiful, and has brilliant fparkling eyes : the fcales on the upper part of the body are very black, and Ihining ; it is variegated on the back with whitilh flowers in the form of rofes ; and there are other fpots like croffes. Each of thefe lail is compofed of five oblong fpots, which pretty well refemble a liower with four petals : there are long whitilh llreaks, which run according to the length of the belly, and are regularly placed. The head is barred with yellow ilreaks, placed crofT-ways, and fprinkled with yellow fpecks : the tranfverfe fcales on the belly are green and yellow. The fifteenth Serpent of Ceylon is fmall and pretty, and the fkin is handfomely fpotted : the back is marbled with large red and whii:e fpots, raifed in the form of a buckler ; the belly and the fides are marked with fpots of a deep yellow colour. Thofe that adorn the head are of the fame colour, but formed in the manner of iluds. The fixteenth Serpent of Ceylon, has a forehead of a bright red colour, and the body is covered with great and fmall fcales ; but thofe on the back are very thin, are of a reddifh colour and variegated with white fpots of different colours. I'he feventeenth Serpent of Ceylon, is long, (lender, and called by fome the Squir rel Eater, and it excels a cat in the manner of catching tliem. Italfo lives upon lizards and frogs : the head and neck are magnificently fpotted, and the eyes are large and fhining. i he back, from the nape of the neck, to the extremity of the tail, is marked with llreaks like net work of feveral colours, as yellow, white, green, and poppy colour : the yellow is a gold colour, and the white appears like filver ; likewife 408 THE NATURAL HISTORY, &c. likewife the green that lies next to the white, is very gay, lively, and (hining : the fcales on the belly are all whitiih, and thofe on the back are oblong ; but thofe on the fides are rhomboidal. Serpents of this kind have been brought from America^ but the colours are not fo brilliant as thofe oiCeylon^ according to Seba. The eighteenth Serpent of Ceylon^ has fcales as black as ebony, fprinkled with white fpecks on the upper part of the body. There is a fort of bracelet of pearls about the forehead, and the back is fprinkled with white flowers, in the fhape of rofes regularly placed. The tranfvcrfe fcales are of a greenifti yellow ; and Seha thinks this may be called the Serpent cloathed in a rich mourning habit. The End of the Third Volume, INDEX. ABerdeen-fifli, 82 Abucatuaia, 148 Acarauna, 152 Acara-aga, 2^4 Acarauna, black, 152 Acara, 210 Acarapata, 206 Acarupuca, 210 Acchiata, 195 Acoalt, 359 , fquare, ibid. Acontuis, 364 Acorn Ihell-fifli, 334 Acrapitamba, 210 Adano, 168 Adella, 168 Adder, fea, 74 Adonis, 119 Airebe, a iort of flair, 37 Albacore, 94. Albora, 197 Albula, noble, q8 , blue, ibid. , of Gefner, 99 Altavela, 36 American old wife, 152 Amore tanga, 126 — — guacu, ibid. •— pixuma, ibid. Vol. III. Ammodytes of Ceylon, 356 - of Surinam, 356 -, a fand~fer- pent, 357 Amphifbasna, 362 Anchovy, 158 , golden, ibid. Angel, or monk-fifii, 41 Anthris, 202 Apameya, a Syrian fer- pent, 362 Argentina, 1 59 Argus, a Guinea-ferpent, 359 Armour-filli, 124 ^fculapian ferpents, 366, 367 Afper, orrough-£fh, 146 Atherina, 126 B BAgre-d-rio, 1 29 Balaou, 124 Balance- fill), 31 Bald-pate, 214 Barracada, 105 Barbel, 186 — , fea, 19S T Barrel- Barrel-cod, 82 Bafs, 150 Bat, water, 47 Baypana, an African fer- pent, 35 Becune, 221 Bellows-fiih, 76 Bennet, 226 Bib or Blinds, 87 Biten of Ceylon, 367 Bitter-fifh, 218 Bivalved-fhells, 31410323 Black-fiih of Aleppo, 1 14 Blay or Bleak, 188 Bleak, ibid. Blick, 158 Blind-worm, 363 Blind-ferpent, American, 365 Blower, 70 Boar, fea, 248 Bodians, 213 Boidjapa, a ferpent of Brafil, 374 Boga, 199 Bone-fiih, 218 Bonettoe, or Scad, 139 INDEX. Brill or Pearl, 49 Buccinum, 279 to 284 Bullcard, 118 Bulhead, lake, 121 , Venetian, ibid, , white, ibid — — , 122 Bull Trout, 104 Bunch filh, 17 Burbot or Eel-pout, 1 1 1 Butt, 50 , thorny, 51 — , fmooth, ibid. Buts-koff, II, 12 Butter-iiQi, 208 ily-filh, 117 ^c^f the Indian feas, 96 Botargo, how made, 1 3 1 Bounce, 33 Bouvir, 191 Branlingor Samlet, 103 Brafilian filh, barbed and prickly, 128, 129 Bream, 176 -, fe^ 178, 196 , ftone, 193, 214, 228 Bret, 48 Brick of the Germans, 5 4 CAbaliau, 227 Cabos, 2i6 CiEcilia, 163 Callorhynchus, 114 Cantharus, 195 Camari-puguaga, 159 Capelan, Sg Captain, 222 Carauna, 28 2 Carango, 238 Carange, 222 Carapo, a Brafilian fifh, 6y Caraffe, 180 Carp, 169 , prickly, 178 , fhort, 180 Caflaon, 30 CafTe-burgot, 165 Cat fifli, greater, 33 ■ greateft, 34 ,64 Cavallo, of the Portuguefe, Caviar, I N D Caviar, how made, 167 Ceixupeira, a Brafilian filh, 144 Cenchri-, 363 Cencoalt, a viper of New Spain, 371 , American, ibid, Centrina, 32 Cepole, 66 Charr, red, 108 , gilt, 109 Channadella, 203 Chevin, 185 Chinefe-iifh, 219 Chromis, 205 Chub, 185- , greedy, 186 , ofpafTage, ibid — — , pond, ibid. Cinoe dus, 201 Clarias, 113 Club, ray, 41 Coal-fi(h, 86 Cobra-de-vario, 172 Cobra- de-coral, 373 Cobra-de-lepo, 374 Cobra-de-capello, 378 to 384 Cobra-de-neuftria, 379 Cobra- verde, 375 Cobra- delos-cabefas, 363 Cochlea, 283 to 287 Cockles, 321 Cod-filh, 82 , the method of falting, 85 Cod-fifhery, where beft, 83 Conger-Eel, 64 — , Indian, ibid. Corciro, 143 Corvina, 144 Coorza, 96 Crabs, 240 Crab, foldier, 249 • , Tea, 240 , called Maga, ibid. — , named Hippocarci- nus, 241 , rock, ibid. — , Heracleotic, 242 , horfeman, ibid. ——,undu]ated yellow, 243 ■ , marbled, ibid. — , heart, ibid. — , fpider, ibid. — , river, 244 , fquare, ibid. , violet, 245 , white, 248 , flame-coloured, ib. ' , Brafilian, 249 • , fea, Eall-lndian, 250 •— — , blue, 251 green, ibid. named Guaia-apera, 252 I , named Cararauna, 253 — , named Cunuru, ib. , called Ciecie-ete, ibid. • , named Ciri-apoa, ibid. — , named Uca-una, a pond Crab, 254 , termed Guanhumi, ibid. — , called Araiu-pinima, ibid. — , called Maracoani, , termed Potiquiquiya, ibid. T 2 Crab, I N Crab, called Tamara- guacu, 2^6 , called Parancare. 257 , termed Guaracuru, ibid. Cramp-filh, 4; — — — , American, 45 Cray-fiQi, 237 — — , Eaft-India, ibid. Cricket, a fort of whiting, 6; Crook-back iifh, 217 Cruy-fhage, 32 Cucuri, a kin to a fhark, Cugupu-guacu, 152 Cururuca, 207 Cuttle-fifh, 230 Cylindric Ihells, 307, 308 D DAB, 50 Dace, or Dare, 187 Darts, 364 Dentale, 197 Depona, a very large Mexican ferpent, 371 Devil, fea, 46 - -, fea, middling, 211 — — , fea, fmall, ibid. — , fea, of the coaft orf Guinea, 212 Dipfa?, 383, 384 Dog, picked, 32 Dcg-fiih, fmooth, 33 , brown, 32 Dolphin of the ancients, 26 ' • of the moderns, 149 » E X. Dorado, 149 Doree, 1 47 Dorfch, a fort of cod, 87 Dragon-ffh, 125 Dragon, fea, 138, 139 Drummer-filh, 144 Dryinus, a very large fer- pent, 365 Dung-fifh, 193 EAGLE, fea, 3^ Eaft-lndian Mullet, 219 Eafl- Indian Whiting, 22® Eel, 59 — , Lamprey, 55 — , fea, 63 , fand, 65 — , pout, I n — — , of Senegal, 62 — , fea, or water ferpent, 214 Eels, their different forts, 63 Elephants-trunk- fifh, 161 Elft, afortoffhad, 226 Elops, a ferpent of the ifle ofLemnos, 365 FAther-lafher, 208 Fiie-Oiell-fifli, 399^ 340 Fin-fifh, a fort of whale, 11 Fingering, 103 Finf^er fhell-filli, 333 Finfcale, 183 Fire- INDEX. Fire-flaire, 36 Fifgurn, 115 Five-fingured-fifli, 220 Flair, 38 Flounder -head, 1 1 Flounder or Fluke, ijo Flounder, Jamaica, ibid. Flounder, Corniih, 49 Flying-fifli, 136 Fordich-trout, 107 Fork- tailed fiih, 221 Four-fingered-filh, ibid. Fox, Tea, 31 Frefh- water fhell-fiih, 341 to 349 Frog-hfh, 46 GAR-FISH, 160 Gar-fifh, fcaly, 161 Gar-filh of Bellonius, ibid. Gatviih, 202 Gattorugine, Venetian, 1 1 8 ■ I--, green fpotted, ibid. Gerenda, an Eaft-Indian ferpent, 357 -, an African fer- pent, 357 Germon, a iort of Bonettoe, 96 Giboya, 161 Gilt char, 109. Gilt-fifh, 147 Gilt-head, or Gilt-pole, 196 Glaucus of feveral kinds, 141, 142 Goat, fea, 74 Grampus, 11 Grayling, 100 Grey, or Grey-lord, 104- Grey-gurnard, 134 Grey -grunt, 144. Grill, 36.; Groundling, 190 Guara-guaru, 192 Guararua, 152 Guacari, 132 Guatacupa-juba, 210 Guabi-coara, 197 Guaperu, a fort of Porcu- pine, ^6 Guatacupa, 144 Guaperua^ 75 , broad, 76 • , greateil, ibid,. *-■ — , broad, with at llreaky tail, ibid. Gudgeon, 189 •——--, leiTer, 190 ) fea, 122 Guera-tebara, 139 Guinead, 97 Gunnel, or Butter-fifli, 208; Gurnard, bearded, 137 -, beardlef?, 133 — — — -, Eaft-Indian, 21 6- y grey, 134 — — , rough, ibid. , red, 135 , greateft, 137 ' , king of, ibid. < , Harwich, ibidi H H ADDOCK, %-j Hake, 89 Halibut, 52 H ai e, fea, three ibrts, . 23 2: T 3 Hauun, Hautin, {o called in Flan- ders, 99 Heart- (hells, 326 Hedge hog, fea, 70 Hepatus, fort of fea bream, 197 Hermit, or foldier crab, 249 Hernng, i£;f , Indian, 15^7 ■ fifhery, 154 ^ , method of curing, ibid. Herrings, mother of, 156 Hippocampus, 72 Hippo, 361 Hoemorrhois, Indian, 158 Hosmorrhois, ibid. Hosmaceta, a ferpent of Afia, 361 Hog-fifh, 24, 2i6 Hog, fea, 214 Holocentrus, 148 Horn-fi(h, 166, 217 Horned fnake, ^84 Hufs, 168 Hottentot-fiHi, 226 Hound-fifh, 32 Hump-fifh, 17 INDEX. Ibijara, a Brafilian ferpent, 363 Iceland-fi{h, 82 Tfinglafs-filh, 168 Julius, a fort of finall Wrafle, 201 JAcobevertfcn-fifh, 2 1 7, 227 jack or Pike, 163 Jaquaraca, a Brafilian-fifh, 205 Jaucaacanga, a Brafilian ferpent, or hunting fer- pent, 358 K KAELT-FISH, 215 Keeling, orCod-fiih, 82 King's-fiih, 215 • , of Pifoy 97 Kitt, 49 Klip-fifh, 217 Klorzez, a fort of Bream, 179 Kneffen, a fort of Carp,, 217 Knobbed-fifh, 17 Kokob, 358 Korette, fea,, 219 LAKE-TROUT, 104. Lampem, 54 Lamprey, 53 , Eel, 55 ■ -, Eel-pout, 216 '-, blind, 56 -, of Swifferland, r 54 Lampugo, ia called at Rome, 77 Lark, fea, 1 18 Laveretto, 98 I.aunce, or Sand-Ecl, 65 Leaping* I N 1 Leaping-fiih, 220 Leccia, of the Italians, 141 Limpets, 301 to 304. Ling, 90 Lingatula, fort of Sole, 53 Linguado, fort of Sole, ib. Lizard, fea, 161 Loach, no, 190 , bearded, 190 . '-, fea, no — — — , lake, 112 — — , viviparous, ibid. -, fofTile, ibid, Lobfter, 233 . ', Elephant, 236 — -, fea, fmall, ibid. — — ofRondeletius,ib. Locuft, fea, 235 Lota, 1 1 2 Loufe, fea, 216 Luce, or Pike, 163 Lug a-Leaf, 49 Lump, or fea-owl, 123 Lumpen, 67 M MAckarel, lefler, 94 Maekarel of Suri- nam, 140 Maekarel, Spaniih, 90 — — , horfe, 139 , how caught, 192 Maraffus, an Arabian viper,. Marena, a fort of herrings 158 Mataraque, 163 Moenas, 199 Millers's Thumb, 122 E X. Minnow, 191 Monk, or angeUfifh, 141 Monk-ray, 43 Morga, or bounce, 33 Mormyras, 198 Mud fifh, 196 Mulgranock, 1 1 8 Mullets, their feveral kinds, 131, 132 Muraena, 53 — -, African, 58 -, Eaft-India, ibid, — — , Brafilian, ibid. — — -, American, ibid. Murex, 284 to 287 Mufcles, 323 10326 N NAmelefs-fiih, 229 Nanvale, 13 Narinara, a Brazilian fiitt, 37 Nautilus, the feveral forts^ 273 to 276 Needle, fea, 73, 223 Needle, fea, worm Iike> 74 Nettle, fea, 349 to 352 Nhamdia^. a Brafilian fifh, 129 Nigni, a Brafilian fiib> 1 39 North-fea-cod, 82 Nofe-fifti, 184 OLD-wife, America!, 152 Old-wife, or wraffe, 2Q0 Orb, INDEX. Orb, 68 — , prickly, 68, 69 , prickly, with net- work, 69 , frog mouthed, ibid. , of Rondeletius, ib. — , bare-headed, ibid. — , fliield, ibid. , fmooth, 70 Oifie. 224 Orpheus, of the ancients, 197 — , ofBeJlonius, ib. Olbacion, 71 , horned, ibid. — — — , fnouted, ibid. •, quadrangular, ibid. of the river Nile, ibid. Otter-pike, 139 Outin, 99 Owl, fea, or lump, 123 Oxe eye, 199 PA MP US, 78 Pargie, a fort of fea bream, 196 Farrot-fifli, 218 Paru, 151 Pearch, 14; . , pike, 146 , Amboyna, 147 , fea, 203 Pearl, 49 Peixe gallo, 148 JPefce porco, 32 Pholis, of Rondeletius,! 19 Piaba, 192 Piabucu, 127 Picked dog-fifh of Clufius, 34 Pigeon, fea, 74 Pignoletti, 122 Pike, or Pickerill, 1 63 Pike, fea, 130 Pilchard, it;^ Pilot-fifh, 155 Pink, or minnow, 192 Pink, fcaly, ibid. . Piper, 155 Pipe fhell, 309, 310 Piper, of Rondeletius, 135 Piquitinga, a Brafilian fifh,, Prratiapua, 193 Pira-pixanga, 202 Pira nema, 212 Pira-acangatara, ibid. Pira-jurmenbeca, 206 Piraumbre, 204 Piratiapia, ibid. Pira-coaba, 127 Piraya, three forts, 162,. Pit-fifh, 219 Plaice. 49 Pock-fifli, 218 Pogge, 123 — -, Brafilian, 124^ Pollock,, rawlin, 86 — — — , whiting, 85 o>" ', yellowilh, 87 Pola, ofBelonius, 53 Polypus, 230 Pompilus, 150 Pope, or ruff, 207- Poor-John, 82 Porpus, or porpefs, 24 Porpus, anatomy of, 25 Porcelaia-ihells, 3 1 1 to 3 14 Porcupine, INDEX. Rhomboides, a fort of Plaice, 51 Ribband fifh, 78 Roach, 11 8 Rock fifh, 122 Round-fiih, 220 PCough-hound-fiih, ? 5 Rough -flair, 37 Rud, 183 Ruir, or Pope, 207 Porcupine, Tea, 68 Pot wall iifli, 10 Pout, whiting, 89 Prawn, 235 Pride of the Ifis, 54 Prickleback, or fnarpling, 2og Prince of Serpents, 359 Punarua, a Brafilian-fifti, 119 Quadrangular- fifh, 72 Quadrangular, fout- ed-fi(h, ibid. Quadrangular, fpotted-fifli, ibid. R RAttle-fnake, Carolina, 384 Rattle fnake, 368 Pvaven-fifh, 215 Raven, fea, 134 Rawlin pollock, 86 Ray, fliarp fnouted, 40 , rough, 42 — — , very rough, ib. ■ , very fmooth eyed, ib. --, very rough eyed, ib. ■ , ftellated, 43 ' , rough ftellated, ib. Razor-fifh, 150 Red-char, 108 Red-eye, 1 80 Red- gurnard, 135 Red-filh, 218 Rhagua'ga, 1^1 SACCHET, 203 Sailor, 273 Salmon, 100 fry, ioi leap, 102 trout, 1 04 Salpa, 198 Salvelin, i 6 Samlet, 103 Sand Eel, or Launce, 55 Sard a, 92 Sardella, 156, 157 Sardin, 156 Sargo,j95 Saw-fifn, 34 Scad, or Bonettoe, 3-9r Scarus, feveral forts, 1 94 Scate, 38 Scharaitfer, 207 Schelly, 98 Schroiin, 207 Scollop fhells, 33010333 Scorpion, fea, three forts, 205, 206 Scurf, 104 Scytale, 361 Sea barbel, iq8 — boar, 1 48 Sea N D E X. Sea bream, 178 Serpents, 352 — devil, 46 , eyed, 382 — cricket, 65 — devil, three forts, 3 /J T -K *.w^ ^ lU. 11, li'lnrl i^" -, uiiiju, 303 — eagle, 35 Shad, 156 — ears, 30 1, 306 Shark, blue, 30 — - eel cf Seba, 63 , white, 28 — fox, or ape, 3 1 — cock, 215 Sharp-fnouted ray, 40 gudgeon, 122 Sheat-fifh, 113 — goat, 174 Short-nored-filh, 218 — hare, three forts, . 232 Shrimps, 238, 239 horie, 72 Silver, fiih, 226 — horfe, with a mane, Simakil Englefe, iifli of 73 Aleppo, 67 — loufe, 216 Skate, 38 locnll, 235 Sleeve-fiih, a fort of cuttle^ — needle, 73, 223 fifh, 231 —- needle, v/orm like, 74 Slow-worm, 303 owl, 123 Smaris, 200 — — pearch, 203 Smelt, no pike, 133 . , river, ib. tench, 120 porcupine, 68 Snail, fea, 1 20 — pigeon, 71 — ^, gold-mouthed, 287 fnipe, 219 , hedge-hog, 281 — raven, 134 , belted, 288 fnail, 120 — , fmooth, ribband, ib. ferpent, 56 , horn, ib. — ferpent, livid, 57 — , warty, 289 ferpent, flat tailed 56 , fmooth, brown, ib; — ferpent, American »58 — — , three ribbed, ib. — ferpent, Surinam, S9 , roundiih, fmooth. unicorn, 13, 47 ib. weathercock, 68 .— , toothed, 290 — wo!f, 66 hedge- hog, 70 — fwallow, 134 parrot, 224 , tuberculated, 291 Seps, a ferpent, 358 , conical, 291, 292 Serpents, fpcwted, 57 . , undulated, 291 Snail, Sting-ray, 37 Stickleback, three 209 Stock-fifh, 82 Stompuren, 228 Stone-bafs, 196 Stone bream, 193^ 228 Strag-whale, 17 Sturgeon, 165 Sucking-fifh, 1 1 7 Sun-filh, 79 Sword-fifh, 80 T INDEX. Tench, fea, 120 Terebin, land, 270 Thornback, 38 Thumb-footed fhell-filh, 337 to 339 Toad fifli, 46 Toad-fifli, American, 47 Tobacco-pipe-filh, 162 Tooth-fliells, 306, 307 Tope, a fort of dog-fifh, 31 Torgoch, 108 Tortoife, 258 , land, 264 ' , Brafilian, 265 -, fea, ib. forts, , frelh* water, ib. , land, African, 271 , chequered, lefs, 272 214, Tortue franche, 269 kaounne, ib. Snail, french-horn, 292 . , ferrated, ib. • , of ^fculapius, 366 , rattle, 386 • , rattle, of Carolina, 384 Seal, 52 Soldier- crab, 242 Spanifti-mackarel, 90 Spara, 19^ Spermaceti wale, 12, 18 , how made, 23 — , what, 19 Sprat, or Sparling, 156 Star-gazer, 144 caret, 270 TAmoata, a Biafilian- fi(h, 124 Tape-fifh, red, 1 1 6 — — -, horned, 190 — — -, of Rondeietius, 117 Tareira, river, 163 Tareiro d*alto, i 26 Tarantola, 109 'I'afTart, 122 7>nch, 181 Triangular horned -fifh, 71 Triangular-iifli, middle {jzed, 72 Triangular-fifli, without horns, ib. Trout, 106 •— — , bull, 104 , falmon. ib. , river, ib. Trumpet-fifh, jS Trumpet-fhels, 279 to 283 Tub-tilh, 134 Tunny-filh, 190 , how caught, 91 , of Ariflotle, 92 — — — , of the ille of Candy, ib. Turbot, 48 Turtle, 1 N Turtle, 258 ., , anatomy of, 259 • to 264 "■ , trunk, 26^ -, loggerlicad, ib. , hawkfbill, 2L.6 ■ , gi'een, ib. land, JeiTer, 271 Turtles, hew taken, 267 Turbinated ihells, 293 to 2^7 T7IPER, 352 V Viper of Java, 355 Viper of Ceylon, ib; 3:^2 , mouthed-fifli, 57 A'ipera tricolor, 580 Umber, or grayling, 100 Umbla, 105 Umbra, 142, 143 Umbrana, 143 Unicorn-fifh, 217 , fea, 13, 47 D E X. Whale, defcription of, 6 to 24 — -, common, toothlefs, 6 — -, fkeleton, of, 10 , fpermaceti, 12, 18 — -, greenland, 16 , eye of, defcribed, 9 — , flefli, what part eaten, ib. — ' , fa t, where found, 1 3 , ftrag, 17 WhiiF, 49 Whiitler, 116 White-fiih, 12 Whiting, leaft, 89 Whiting, pollock, 85 Whiting-pout, 89 White-horfe, a fort of ray, Wolf-fiih, 66 Wralle, or old wife, 200 , green, ib. ' — , painted, 20 r fea, 74 of the Brafi- 150 Wreathed-fhells, 297 tojoi lians, Vuberana, 1 59 Uribaco, 211 Vrovv-fifli, 184 ELLOW-TAIL, 214 W W Kathercock, fea, 68 Vv^eaVtT, 1 3 S Whalebone, what, 7 ZEE of EE-TONG, a fort fole, 228 N i ^*l U v<,