Of the Lamprey.
LEst that the heat of affection may seem to lie quenched under the waters, let us by one ex∣ample, (it were an infinite thing to speak of all) see in what kind of mutual love the crea∣tures of the water come short of those of the Land. The Lamprey of all the creatures of this kind doth worthily bear the praise for its piety towards those of whom it was generated, its affe∣ction towards those that are generated of her; for first she breeds Eggs within her, which in a short time after are spawned. But she doth not as soon as her young ones are formed and procrea∣ted, bring them straight-way forth into the light after the manner of other fishes, that bring forth their young alive, but nourisheth two within her, as if she brought forth twice, and had a second brood. These she doth not put forth before they are of some bigness, then she teacheth them to swim and to play in the water, but suffers them not to go far from her; and anon gapes and receives them by her mouth into her bowels again, suffering them to inhabit there, and to feed in her belly so long as she thinks fit.