The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6)

Chapter 8: CHAP. 6.—MARVELLOUS PROPERTIES BELONGING TO CERTAIN FISHES.

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About This Book

An encyclopedic survey that first catalogs marine animals, algae, and shellfish, describing habitats, curious behaviors, reported antipathies, and numerous folk remedies and practical uses attributed to specific species, organized by ailments and applications. The later portion treats metals and their ores—including gold, silver, mercury, copper, and brass—describing modes of occurrence, extraction, alloying, testing, gilding, and decorative and monetary uses, alongside technical observations and medicinal remedies derived from metallic substances, with systematic lists and practical instructions interwoven throughout.

CHAP. 6.—MARVELLOUS PROPERTIES BELONGING TO CERTAIN FISHES.

Trebius Niger informs us that whenever the loligo 48 is seen darting above the surface of the water, it portends a change of weather: that the xiphias,49 or, in other words, the swordfish, has a sharp-pointed muzzle, with which it is able to pierce the sides of a ship and send it to the bottom: instances of which have been known near a place in Mauritania, known as Cotte, not far from the river Lixus.50 He says, too, that the loligo sometimes darts above the surface, in such vast numbers, as to sink the ships upon which they fall.