Beast

Sources : Cuttlefish

Pliny the Elder [1st century CE] (Natural History, Book 9, 44-45; Book 9, 48; Book 9, 74): [Book 9, 44] We will now speak of the bloodless fishes. Of these there are three kinds: first those which are called soft fish, then those covered with thin rinds, and lastly those enclosed in hard shells. The soft are the cuttle-fish [lolligo], the sepia [a genus of cuttlefish], the polyp [octopus] and the others of that kind. They have the head between the feet and the belly, and all of them have eight little feet. In the sepia and cuttle-fish two of these feet are extremely long and rough, and by means of these they carry food to their mouths, and steady themselves as with anchors in a rough sea; but all the rest are feelers which they use for catching their prey. [Book 9, 45]. The cuttle-fish even flies, raising itself out the of the water, as also do the small scallops, like an arrow. The males of the genus sepia are variegated and darker in color, and they are more resolute: when a female is struck with a trident they come to her assistance, whereas a female flees when a male is struck. But both sexes on perceiving they are being caught hold of pour out a dark fluid which these animals have instead of blood, so darkening the water and concealing themselves. [Book 9, 48] Trebius states that cuttle-fish of both species of the same size have been driven ashore on that coast. In our own seas one kind is taken that measures 7 feet in length and the other kind 3 feet. These fish also do not live more than two years. [Book 9, 74] ...the two varieties of cuttle-fish [mate] with their tongues, linking their arms together and swimming in opposite directions; they also spawn through the mouth. - [Rackham translation]

Isidore of Seville [7th century CE] (Etymologies, Book 12, 6:46-47): [Book 12, 6:46] The cuttlefish (sepia) is named because it is more easily caught when it is hemmed in by enclosures (sepes). It is a disgusting species with respect to coition, for it conceives in its mouth as do vipers. There is so much strength in its black ink that some say that when it is placed in a lamp, with the light first removed, people appear to be Ethiopian. [ Book 12, 6:47] ...they say that in the Ocean by Mauretania, not far from the river Lixus, such a multitude of cuttlefish [lolligo] fly out from the water that they can even sink ships. - [Barney, Lewis, et. al. translation]

Thomas of Cantimpré [circa 1200-1272 CE] (Liber de natura rerum and as both a marine monsters 6.31; Fish 7.46; 7.80): [Thomas describes the cuttlefish under the names luligo, lolligines and sepia, and as both a marine monster and a fish.] [Marine monsters 6.31] Luligo is a monster of the sea, as Andelmus says, so wonderful that you may believe that nature has played a part in it, that it has created it to be preferred to almost all marine beasts: for this animal with scaly skin scours the deep sea with schools of fish. But when it becomes disgusted with the waters of the sea, it lifts itself up with the feathery wings which nature has given it in this, and with the birds it climbs into the air. This monster, raised up in the air, cannot withstand the gusts of the wind, but after a short time, when it is buffeted by the winds, it is forced to return to the water and is dragged down into the depths. [Fish 7.46] Lolligines [cuttlefish] are fishes of the sea, as Pliny says. It rarely lives beyond two years. It flies out of the water, lifting itself up in a darting manner. The cuttlefish has two legs, with which it moves food to its mouth. Some of their kind are very rough, so that they establish themselves by fighting in troops, fortifying themselves. They have their head between their legs and their belly. Next to Mauritania in the ocean, not far from the river Lixos, such a multitude of cuttlefish fly out of the water that they sometimes even sink ships. The Liber Kyrannidarum says: It is a fish without scales, violently raising itself above the waves at the time of a storm, and it happens that it is carried away by a strong wind and thrown on the mountains, and is scattered. It has a forked tongue like a horse's tail. [Fish 7.80] Cuttlefish [sepia], as Pliny says, is a fish of which the males of the genus are various, and are blacker and always larger. The males help the females when they are struck with a trident; but the female flees when the male is struck, and does not return. But both of them, when they feel that they are detected, hide in the murky water, having spilled their ink, which to them is for blood. And in the ink itself there is such power, that when it is placed in a lamp with the light removed, makes makes people appear to be Ethiopian. It conceives through the mouth as a viper does. Cuttlefish do not swim in the sea except in pairs, male and female. Cuttlefish lay eggs all the time and hatch their eggs in forty days. When the female lays her eggs, the male follows her and blows on the eggs, so that the seed becomes alive. Its eggs are hard. - [Badke translation/paraphrase]