And out of the mouth of some of these forementioned Fishes might the _Tribute money_ be taken, when our Saviour, at _Capernaum_, seated upon the same Lake, said unto _Peter_, _Go thou to the Sea, and cast an Hook, and take up the Fish that first cometh; and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt find a piece of money; that take and give them for thee and me_.
And this makes void that common conceit and tradition of the Fish called _Fabermarinus_, by some, a _Peter_ or _Penny Fish_; which having two remarkable round spots upon either side, these are conceived to be the marks of S. _Peter's_ Fingers or signatures of the Money: for though it hath these marks, yet is there no probability that such a kind of Fish was to be found in the Lake of _Tiberias_, _Geneserah_ or _Galilee_, which is but sixteen miles long and six broad, and hath no communication with the Sea; for this is a mere Fish of the Sea and salt Water, and (though we meet with some thereof on our Coast) is not to be found in many Seas.
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.
AN ANSWER TO CERTAIN QUERIES relating to Fishes, Birds, Insects.
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_?