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And there is a fish called a hermit, that, at a certain age, gets
into a dead fish's shell; and like a hermit, dwells there alone,
studying the wind and weather; and so turns her shell, that she
makes it defend her from the injuries that they would bring upon
her.
There is also a fish, called by Aelian in his 9th book "Of
Living Creatures," c. 16, the Adonis, or darling of the sea:
so called because it is a loving and innocent fish---a fish that
hurts nothing that hath life, and is at peace with all the numerous
inhabitants of that vast watery element; and truly I think most
anglers are so disposed to most of mankind.
And, there are also, lustful and chaste fishes; of which I shall
give you examples.
And first, what Du Bartas says of a fish called the sargus, which,
because none can express it better than he does, I shall give you
in his own words; supposing it shall not have the less credit for
being verse; for he hath gathered this, and other observations,
out of authors that have been great and industrious searchers into
the secrets of nature.
The adult'rous sargus doth not only change
Wives every day, in the deep streams, but, strange!
As if the honey of sea-love delight
Could not suffice his ranging appetite,
Goes courting she-goats on the grassy shore,
Horning their husbands that had horns before.
And the same author writes, concerning the cantharus, that which
you shall also hear in his own words:---
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