Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk: More Especially on the Birds and FishesBrowne, Thomas, Sir
History
Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk: More Especially on the Birds and Fishes
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Natural history -- England -- Norfolk
[80] Of the various species of the Cephalopoda, _Sepia
officinalis_, is more often represented by its calcareous dorsal
plate than by the entire animal, for large numbers of these
"cuttle-bones" are sometimes strewed along the shore for miles. The
Squid, _Loligo vulgaris_, is often met with, sometimes of
considerable size. The horny "pen" resembles a short leaf-shaped
Roman sword, and Browne's term, "Gladiolus," is quite as
appropriate as that of "Calamus." His _Polypus_ is probably
_Octopus vulgaris_, but it is rarely met with on the Norfolk coast.
The Loligo sleue or calamar found often upon the shoare from head to
tayle [such _crossed out_] sometimes aboue an ell long, remarkable for
its parretlike bill, the gladiolus or calamus along the back & the
notable crystallyne of the eye wch equalleth if not exceedeth the lustre
of orientall pearle.
A polypus another kind of the mollia[N] sometimes wee haue met with.
[N] By _mollia_ is meant all soft-bodied shell-less animals.
Lobsters in great number about sheringham and cromer from whence all the
country is supplyed.
Astacus marinus pediculi [marini _written above_] facie[81] found also
in that place. with the aduantage of ye long foreclawes about 4 inches
long.
[81] Probably _Nephrops norvegicus_, the Norway Lobster, called at
Lowestoft a Crayfish or Prawn. They are sometimes brought in in
large numbers by the steam trawlers, but the precise locality in
which they are captured I am unable to say; the fishermen say the
"North Sea," which is rather a vague address, but others say
between the Texel and Heligoland.
Crabs large & well tasted found also in the same coast.
Another kind of crab[82] taken for cancer fluuiatilis litle slender & of
a very quick motion found in the Riuer running through yarmouth. [_added
subsequently_] & in bliburgh riuer.
[82] _Carsinus mænas_, the Shore-crab, a very common species on the
Norfolk coast is here intended.
[_Fol. 33._] Oysters exceeding large about Burnham and [Huns _crossed
out_] Hunstanton like those of poole St Mallowes or ciuita [vech
_crossed out_] vechia whereof [some _crossed out_] many are eaten rawe
the shells being broakin with [cle _crossed out_] cleuers the greater
part pickled & sent weekly to London & other parts.
Mituli or muscles in great quantitie as also chams or cochles about
stiskay [_sic_] & ye northwest coast.
Pectines pectunculi varij or scallops of the lesser sort.
Turbines or smaller wilks, leues, striati. as also Trochi, Trochili, or
scaloppes finely variegated & pearly. [as also _crossed out_.] Lewise
[_sic_] purpuræ minores, nerites, cochleæ, Tellinæ.
Lepades, patellæ Limpets, of an vniualue shell wherein an animal like a
snayle cleauing fast unto the rocks.
Solenes cappe lunge venetorum co[=m]only a razor fish the shell thereof
dentalia
[The MS. breaks off here, and the next paragraph appears to be an
interpolation.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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