Naval Action off Tarentum.-During this period the privations of the Roman garrison in the citadel of Tarentum had become almost insupportable;the men and their commandant M. Livius placed all their hopes in the arrival of supplies sent from Sicily. To secure a safe passage for these along the coast of Italy, a squadron of about twenty vessels was stationed at Regium. The fleet and the transports were under the command of D. Quinctius. He was a man of humble birth, but his many deeds·of gallantry had gained him a high military t运e vessel was a man named Ni co Perco, who hated the Rman' for private as well as pu blic grounds, and who was equally hated by them, for he was one of the party who betrayed Tarentum to Hannibal. Whilst Quinctius was fighting and encouraging his men, Nico took him unawares and ran him through with his spear. He fell headlong over the prow, and the victorious Tarentine springing on to the ship dislodged the enemy, who were thrown into confusion by the loss of their leader. The foreship was now in the hands of the Tarentines, and the Romans in a compact body were with difficulty defending the hinder part of the vessel, when another of the hostile triremes suddenlv appeared astern. Between. the two the Roman ship was captured. The sight of the admiral's ship in the enemy's hands created a panic, and the remainder of the fleet fled in all directions;some were sunk, others were hurriedly rowed to and were seized by the people of Thurium and Meta- um. Verv few of the transports which were following with supplies fell into the enemy's hands;the rest, shifting their sails to meet the changing winds, were carried out to sea. An affair took place at Tarentum during this time which led to a very different result. A foraging force of 40 oo Tar硫tines were dispersed through the fields, and Livius, the Roman commandant, who was always looking out for a chance of striking a blow, sent C. Persius, an able and energetic officer, with 2500 men from the citadel to attack them. He fe they were dispand after inflic黯in scattered groups all through the fields,great and widespread slaughter, drove the few who escaped in headlong flight through their half-openedgates into the town. So matters were equalised as far as Tarentum was concerned;the Romans were victorious by land。 ‘J， "and the Tarentines by sea. Both were alike disappointed in their hopes of obtaining th corn which had been within their view.