Of the SEA-HORSE
The Sea-horse, called in Greek,
Hippopotamus, and in Latin, Equus Fluviatilis; It is a
most ugly and filthy Beast, so called because in his voyce and mane he
resembleth a Horse, but in his head an Oxe or a Calf; in the residue of his
body a Swine, for which cause some Graecians call him sometimes a
Sea-horse, and sometimes a Sea-Oxe, which thing that moved many learned men in
our time to affirm, that a Sea-horse was never seen; whereunto I would easily
subscribe (faith Bellonius) were it not that the ancient figures of a
Sea-horse, altogether resembled that which is here expressed; and was lately to
be seen at Constantinople, from whom this picture was taken. (Edward Topsel, The
History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents [London: E. Cotes, 1658], 256-57)
Hat-tip to my friend Mike Parker for alerting me to this
work.