Of the Lamprey.
LEast that the heat of affection may seeme to lie quenched under the waters, let us by one example, (it were an infinite thing to speake of all) see in what kinde of mutuall love the creatures of the water come short of those of the land. The Lamprey of all the creatures of this kinde doth worthily beare the praise for its pietie towards those of whom it was generated, its affection to∣wards those that are generated of her; for first she breeds egges within her, which in a short time after are spauned. But shee doth not as soone as her young ones are formed and procreated, bring them straight way forth into the light after the man∣ner of other fishes, that bring forth their young alive, but nourisheth two within her, as if shee brought forth twice, and had a second broode. These she doth not put forth before they are of some bignesse, then she teacheth them to swimme and to play in the water, but suffers them not to goe farre from her, and anon gapes and re∣ceives them by her mouth into her bowells againe, suffering them to inhabite there, and to feede in her belly so long as shee thinkes fit.