The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. L.

¶ The wonderfull manner of their generation.

IN what sort fishes do engender, if I should not in this place shew, but put it off farther, I should do great wrong to mankind, who desire to know it, as much as they wonder how it should be. In one word, fishes ingender by the friction and rubbing of their bellies one a∣gainst another: which they performe with such celeritie, that no eye is so quicke as to note and obserue it. Dolphins, and other great whales, haue no other way but that, mary they are longer somewhat about their businesse. The spawner, when the time serueth for generation, followeth [unspec M] after the male, and neuer linneth pecking and iobbing at his belly with her muzzle. Semblably a little before spawning time, the milters follow after the female, only for that they would eat their spawn when they haue cast it. But this is to be noted moreouer, that the foresaid mixture & ingendring of theirs is not sufficient to accomplish generation, vnlesse when their egs be laid or spawne cast, both male and female take it betweene them and keepe a turning of it, thereby

to breath a liuely spirit into it, and as it were besprinkle it with a vitall dew, as it floteth vpon [unspec A] the water. But turne they it and tosse it, breath they vpon it as much as they will, yet all those little egs of their spawne do not hit and come to proofe: for if they did, all seas and lakes, and al riuers and pools would be so postered ful with fishes, that a man would see nothing els: for there is not one of these females, but at once conceiueth an infinite number in her belly.