48 



VIPER WEEVER. 



Little Weever, Otterpike, 

 (( (( (( 



Trachinus viper a. 



Ray; Synopsis Piscium, p. 92. 

 Donovan ; pi. 23. 



CuviER. Jenyns; Manual, p. 336. 

 Yakrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 29. 

 GuNTHER; Cat. Br. M., vol. ii, p. 236. 



The reference we make to Ray's "Synopsis," which might 

 be associated with another to Willoughby's "History of Fishes," 

 affords no exception to the remark that this species was not 

 known to naturalists until the early part of the present century; 

 for before that time it was generally confounded with the 

 Greater "VVeever, already described, both as regards its form 

 and habits. The Viper Weever, however, is common on most 

 of the shores of Britain and Ireland, and in some parts is 

 more common than the larger sj)ecies. This is jiarticularly the 

 case in Scotland and the northern portions of the United 

 Kingdom, which perhaps may be ascribed to the nature of 

 the ground, as fitted to its habits, as much as to the cooler 

 condition of the water. It is even more accustomed to hide 

 its body in the sand than the former, and is quick to inflict 

 its sting on the feet of such as may tread on it when thus 

 concealed. It is also ready to give battle to those who may 

 entangle it in a net or take it on a line,' which Mr. Thompson 

 rej)orts as not uncommon at You.ghal by boys fishing at the 

 quays. I have known it taken in a harbour where salt and 

 fresh water met together, with a preponderancy of the former. 



This fish rarely exceeds the length of four or five inches, 

 and is proportionally deeper in the body than the Greater 

 Weever, the greatest depth being immediately below the first 

 dorsal fin. The front of the head appears less visibly armed 

 than in the kindred sjaecies, but the principal spine on the 



