246 CURIOUS CREATURES.
for their Fat, which they have in great plenty and
abundance. For the Fisher-men purge it, by boyling it
like flesh, on the fire, and they sell it to anoint leather,
or for Oyl to burn in Lamps, to continue light, when
it is perpetual darkness. Wherefore the first Monster
that comes, is of a round form, in Norway called Swam-
fisck, the greatest glutton of all other Sea-Monsters.
For he is scarce satisfied, though he eat continually.
He is said to have no distinct stomach ; and so what
he eats turns into the thickness of his body, that he
appears nothing else than one Lump of Conjoyned Fat.
He dilates and extends himself beyond measure, and
when he can be extended no more, he easily casts out
fishes by his mouth because he wants a neck as other
fishes do. His mouth and belly are continued one to
the other. But this Creature is so thick, that when
there is danger, he can, (like the Hedg-Hog) re-double
his flesh, fat and skin, and contract and cover himself;
nor doth he that but to his own loss, because fearing