THE BASSE. 207 



dorsal spines are poison organs, the poison being con- 

 tained in cavities of the spines until poured out* It is 

 not a very beautiful fish, its head being snakish-looking 

 and ugly. The body is adorned with slanting green- 

 ish-yellow bars, and is seldom more than 6 inches in 

 length ; so that it is not to be confounded with another 

 species, the greater weever (Trachinus draco], some- 

 times called the " dragon fish." The latter bears sharp 

 strong spines on the upper part of its gill-covers, but 

 they have not been scientifically discovered to be 

 poisonous, although popular belief declares they are. 

 Bathers are not unfrequently wounded by this fish's 

 spines. The former species only is usually kept in 

 aquaria, but at the Crystal Palace the draco is also 

 exhibited. Both species are fond of burrowing in the 

 sandy floor of the tank. 



The basse (Labrax lupus) is a sea -perch, and 

 usually thrives well in aquaria. Its body is very 

 symmetrically shaped, and it seems to take pleasure 

 in keeping its large silvery scales clean by rubbing 

 itself among the sand and shingle. It is sometimes 

 sold as " white salmon," for it much resembles that 

 fish in shape and colour, but it is not spotted. The 

 scales, also, are much larger, and the flesh is white, 

 and in taste resembles that of the turbot. The 

 Romans seem to have been much fonder of this fish 

 than we are, and there can be no doubt whatever as 



* Mr. Lloyd's experience of this fish, in aquaria, does not bear out the 

 character given to it by our fishermen. 



