On these smaller fish, which they caught in nets, the maritime inhabitants subsisted principally.

They had also an unfailing resource in the abundance of oysters, and other shell-fish along their coast--the former of excellent quality.
In the interior, though the lakes, being salt or brackish, had no piscatory stores, the rivers were, for the most part, it would seem, well provided; at least, good fish are still found in many of the streams, both small and large; and in some they are exceedingly plentiful.

Modern travellers fail to distinguish the different kinds; but we may presume that they are not very unlike those of the adjoining Media, which appear to be trout, carp, barbel, dace, bleak, and gudgeon.
The reptiles of Persia Proper are not numerous.

They are chiefly tortoises, lizards, frogs, land-snakes, and water-snakes.

The land-snakes are venomous, but their poison is not of a very deadly character; and persons who have been bitten by them, if properly treated, generally recover.