The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Claudius Aelianus (c. 165/170 - c. 230/235)
Alias Aelian [alias]
Relationships: Claudius Aelianus was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Elagabalus (203-11 Mar 222)
Claudius Aelianus was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Septimius Severus (11 Apr 145-4 Feb 211)
References in Documents:
This Bird is of affinity with the Heron-kind,
from
which he scarce differs in any Part, saving the Bill. He
feeds on Shell-fish. Wherewith having fill'd his Crop, he
lets them lie there, till the heat of it makes them open:
whereupon disgorging them, he picks the meat out of
the
Shells. Related by
Aristotle, Ælian, and
a)a)
Nat. Deo
rum
Pastinaca marina lævis.
Fabius (
Columna,a)
a)
Aq. & Ter
rest
both of them seem
to be different from the Fish here. It is
somewhat
phantastically stuffed; yet I shall give the De
scription as well as it will admit.
From the tip of his Snout, to his Tail, a foot and three
inches, about a foot over, and ½ a foot (being, I suppose,
thrust out somewhat more than the natural dimension by
the stuffing) in height. His Eyes ½ an inch long, two and
½
inches distant, three and ½ behind his
Nose-end. Just be
hind his Eyes, and a little more
distant, he hath two Spouts,
one way, an inch and ¼
over. His Snout prolonged for
ward an inch and
½ with an Obtuse Angle; and extended
towards the
side-Fins, wherewith it is also joyned by the
mediation of a
Skiny-Border ½ an inch broad. His Mouth
very little,
not an inch and ½ over; curiously rough-cast
like a
file, underneath, and behind his Snout-end two inches
and
½. Over his upper Chap hang two little Labels above ½
inch long.
His Gills are five on each side, but towards the middle of
his
Belly. He hath four side-Fins. His fore-Fins are
stretched out
two inches in breadth, extended in length
towards the Tail,
almost a foot. The hinder-Fins are
almost two inches broad,
and above an inch and ½
long.
The Tail a foot and two inches long, at the Root about
an inch
and ½ over, the extremity very small like a Shoomakers Thread. The Skin not very
thick, nor stubborn,
(now) of a yellow colour on the back, on
the Belly straw
colour'd: every where very smooth,
excepting on his
Tail, where there are some few very short
prickles.
Whether this be not a young Fish, and upon that ac
count
only wanteth the Radius (as the sharp
Saw upon the
Tail is called) to me is uncertain. With this Radius he is
said to strike and kill
his Prey, for which he lies as it were
dormant, till it swims
within his reach.
may do a little above the water, as the flying
Fishes, seems
possible by the horizontal production of all his
Fins, and
their extension all along his sides.
The Moors eat this Fish greedily.
The nether LIP of the smooth CAT-FISH, two inches
long.