Kitap 7
107
Now the different species of polypus are these: the eledone, the polypodine, the bolbotine, the osmylus; as both Aristotle and Speusippus teach us. But, in his book on Animals and their Properties, Aristotle says that the polypus, the osmylus, the eledone, the cuttle-fish, and the squid, are all molluscous. Epicharmus, in his Hebe's Wedding, says— A polypus, a cuttle-fish, and quickly-moving squid, A foul-smelling bolbitine, and chattering old woman. And Archestratus says— The Carian and the Thasian polypi Are far the best; Corcyra too can breed Fish of large size and very numerous. But the Dorians spell the word with an ω, πωλύπους; as, for instance, Epicharmus. Simonides too has the expression, πώλυπον διζήμενος. But the Attics spell the word πολύπους, with an o: and it is a cartilaginous fish; for χονδρώδης and σελαχώδης have the same meaning;— The polypodes and the dog-shark. Moreover, all the fish belonging to the species of the cuttlefish are called molluscous. But the whole tribe of . . . is cartilaginous.
108
There is also a fish called the pagurus; and it is mentioned by Timocles or Xenarchus, in his Purple, thus— But I, as being a skilful fisherman, Have carefully devised all sorts of arts To catch those vile paguri, enemies To all the gods and all the little fishes. And shall I not without delay beguile An old buglossus? That would be well done.
