But if this relation of _Gesners_ bee dis-believed, it is too evident to bee doubted that a _Pike_ will devoure a fish of his own kind, that shall be bigger then this belly or throat will receive; and swallow a part of him, and let the other part remaine in his mouth till the swallowed part be digested, and then swallow that other part that was in his mouth, and so put it over by degrees. And it is observed, that the _Pike_ will eat venemous things (as some kind of _Frogs_ are) and yet live without being harmed by them: for, as some say, he has in him a natural Balsome or Antidote against all Poison: and others, that he never eats a venemous _Frog_ till he hath first killed her, and then (as _Ducks_ are observed to do to _Frogs_ in Spawning time, at which time some _Frogs_ are observed to be venemous) so throughly washt her, by tumbling her up and down in the water, that he may devour her without danger. And _Gesner_ affirms, that a _Polonian_ Gentleman did faithfully assure him, he had seen two young Geese at one time in the belly of a _Pike_: and hee observes, that in _Spain_ there is no _Pikes_, and that the biggest are in the _Lake Thracimane_ in _Italy_, and the next, if not equal to them, are the _Pikes_ of _England_. The _Pike_ is also observed to be a melancholly, and a bold fish: Melancholly, because he alwaies swims or rests himselfe alone, and never swims in sholes, or with company, as _Roach_, and _Dace_, and most other fish do: And bold, because he fears not a shadow, or to see or be seen of any body, as the _Trout_ and _Chub_, and all other fish do. And it is observed by _Gesner_, that the bones, and hearts, & gals of _Pikes_ are very medicinable for several Diseases, as to stop bloud, to abate Fevers, to cure Agues, to oppose or expel the infection of the Plague, and to be many wayes medicinable and useful for the good of mankind; but that the biting of a _Pike_ is venemous and hard to be cured. And it is observed, that the _Pike_ is a fish that breeds but once a year, and that other fish (as namely _Loaches_) do breed oftner; as we are certaine Pigeons do almost every month, and yet the Hawk, a bird of prey (as the _Pike_ is of fish) breeds but once in twelve months: and you are to note, that his time of breeding or Spawning is usually about the end of _February_; or somewhat later, in _March_, as the weather proves colder or warmer: and to note, that his manner of breeding is thus, a He and a She _Pike_ will usually go together out of a River into some ditch or creek, and that there the Spawner casts her eggs, and the Melter hovers over her all that time that she is casting her Spawn, but touches her not. I might say more of this, but it might be thought curiosity or worse, and shall therefore forbear it, and take up so much of your attention as to tell you that the best of _Pikes_ are noted to be in Rivers, then those in great Ponds or Meres, and the worst in smal Ponds.