Thus having returned no improbable Answer unto your Question, I shall crave leave to ask another of your self concerning that Fish mentioned by _Procopius_,[258] which brought the famous King _Theodorick_ to his end: his words are to this effect: 'The manner of his Death was this, _Symmachus_ and his Son-in-law _Boëthius_, just men and great relievers of the poor, Senatours and Consuls, had many enemies, by whose false accusations _Theodorick_ being perswaded that they plotted against him, put them to death and confiscated their Estates. Not long after his Waiters set before him at Supper a great Head of a Fish, which seemed to him to be the Head of _Symmachus_ lately murthered; and with his Teeth sticking out, and fierce glaring eyes to threaten him: being frighted, he grew chill, went to Bed, lamenting what he had done to _Symmachus_ and _Boëthius_; and soon after died.' What Fish do you apprehend this to have been? I would learn of you; give me your thoughts about it. [258] _De Bello Gothico, lib. 1._ _I am_, etc. AN ANSWER TO CERTAIN QUERIES relating to Fishes, Birds, Insects. TRACT IV SIR, I return the following Answers to your Queries which were these, [1. What Fishes are meant by the Names, _Halec_ and _Mugil_? 2. What is the Bird which you will receive from the Bearer? and what Birds are meant by the Names _Halcyon_, _Nysus_, _Ciris_, _Nycticorax_? 3. What Insect is meant by the word _Cicada_?] [Sidenote: _Answer to Query 1._] The word _Halec_ we are taught to render an _Herring_, which, being an ancient word, is not strictly appropriable unto a Fish not known or not described by the Ancients; and which the modern Naturalists are fain to name _Harengus_; the word _Halecula_ being applied unto such little Fish out of which they were fain to make Pickle; and _Halec_ or _Alec_, taken for the Liquamen or Liquor itself, according to that of the Poet, ----_Ego fæcem primus et Alec Primus et inveni piper album_---- And was a conditure and Sawce much affected by Antiquity, as was also _Muria_ and _Garum_. * * * * * In common constructions, _Mugil_ is rendred a _Mullet_, which, notwithstanding, is a different Fish from the _Mugil_ described by Authours; wherein, if we mistake, we cannot so closely apprehend the expression of _Juvenal_, ----_Quosdam ventres et Mugilis intrat._ And misconceive the Fish, whereby Fornicatours were so opprobriously and irksomely punished; for the _Mugil_ being somewhat rough and hard skinned, did more exasperate the gutts of such offenders: whereas the Mullet was a smooth Fish, and of too high esteem to be imployed in such offices. * * * * * [Sidenote: _Answer to Query 2._]