[659] The _toga prætexta_ was worn by the higher magistrates, certain priests, and free-born children. Isidorus, in _Gloss._, “Anguilla est qua coercentur in scholis pueri,” and Pliny, _N. H._, IX., 39, “eoque verberari solitos tradit Verrius prætextatos.” Under the old law _prætextati_ were unamerceable; _non in ære, sed in cute solvebant_! Our Saxon forbears adopted the whip of eels; see Fosbroke, _op. cit._, p. 303. Rabelais (II. 30) continues the tradition—“Whereupon his master gave him such a sound thrashing with an _eel-skin_, that his own would have been worth nought for bagpipes.” [660] Pliny, _N. H._ 35; 46; quoting from Fenestella. [661] Philemon, _ap._ Athen., 7. 32. [662] _Hedyphagetica._ The reading is most uncertain. [663] In _N. H._, II. 13, and IV. 9. This cannot be our boar-fish which is marine, whereas Aristotle talks of it being in the river Acheloüs. It may possibly be another name for the Glanis. [664] In Athen., 7, 72. [665] See Stephanus, _Thesaurus Græcæ Linguæ_, ii. 347 C-D. [666] Badham (plagiarising Blaikie), on p. 364—in “Galen, Xenocrates, Diphilus speak disparagingly of the Sole,” is inaccurate. Xenocrates terms its flesh indigestible. Galen states that it is quite the reverse, and commends it highly as a diet. Diphilus does not hesitate to declare that the Sole affords abundant nourishment and is most pleasing to the taste. Cf. Nonnius, p. 89. In the case of a Sole with its customarily modest dimensions it is not easy to hearken unto the command, which was laid down in the twelfth century for the benefit of Robert, the so-called King of England, “Anglorum Regi scripsit schola tota Salerni,” by “the Schoole of Salernes most learned and juditious Directorie, of Methodicall Instructions for the guide and governing the health of Man”: “Si pisces molles sunt, magno corpore tolles. Si pisces duri, parvi sunt plus valituri.” Cf. _Regimen Sanitatis Salerni_, London, 1617, but better still Sir A. Croke’s ed., Oxford, 1830. [667] In Athen., 4, 13, line 76 ff. [668] It is noteworthy that two of the Nymphs on the “Nereid Monument” are supported by fish (A. H. Smith, _A Catalogue of Sculpture in the British Museum_ (London, 1900), ii. 35, Nos. 910, 911). [669] Cf. Robinson, _op. cit._, 82. [670] _De Re Rust._, 59. [671] Terence, _Eun._, V. 7, 4. [672] Plautus, _Casin._ II. 8, 59 ff. [673] Deipn., VII. 77-80; cf. Pausanias, IV. 34. [674] Arist., _N. H._, V. 10 and 11. [675] Pliny, IX. 67. [676] Arist., _N. H._, VIII., 19. [677] Oppian, _Hal._, IV. 120-145; Arist., _op. cit._, V. 5. [678] _Op. cit._, p. 45. [679] Pliny, X. 89, and Ælian, IX. 7. [680] Pliny, IX. 26. [681] Aristophanes, and half a dozen other comedians cited by Athen., VII. 78. [682] XV. 19. [683] _Sat._, X. 317. [684] Further details must be sought in Robinson Ellis, _A Commentary on Catullus_ (Oxford, 1876), p. 46, and Schneider, _op. cit._, 69.