Latin Texts & Translations

There is a little animal, ^[Note] in appearance like a scorpion, and of the size of a spider. ^[Note] This creature, by means of its sting, attaches itself below the fin to the tunny and the fish known as the sword-fish ^[Note] and which often exceeds the dolphin in magnitude, and causes it such excruciating pain, that it will often leap on board of a ship even. Fish will also do the same at other times, when in dread of the violence of other fish, and mullets more especially, which are of such extraordinary swiftness, that they will sometimes leap over a ship, if lying cross- wise.