CHAP. 76.—FISHES THE BELLY OF WHICH OPENS IN SPAWNING, AND THEN CLOSES AGAIN.
The sea-needle, [Note] or the belone, is the only fish in which the
multitude of its eggs, in spawning, causes the belly to open
asunder; but immediately after it has brought forth, the wound
heals again: a thing which, it is said, is the case with the
blind-worm as well. The sea-mouse [Note] digs a hole in the earth,
deposits its eggs there, and then covers them up. On the
thirtieth day it opens the hole, and leads its young to the
water.
