, THE WEAVER. 179 



in others great, tangled, half-rotten masses of dead 

 sea-weeds, such as Rhytiphlea and Fucus, with leaves 

 of the Zostera twining among them, fill the dredge ; 

 most disappointing, because both unpleasant and un- 

 productive. At other places we get stones, old shells, 

 and nice specimens of living weeds. 

 ; 1 The keer-drag on the sandy bottom takes several 

 interesting fishes. Among them is the little Weaver 

 [Tracliinus vipera), a fish elegant in form and colour, 

 but dangerous, and reputed to be poisonous. The 

 first dorsal, which, being of a deep black hue, con- 

 trasts well with the chaste grey of the upper parts, is 

 armed with very strong spines, and there is a long 

 and very sharp one on each side of the head. The fish 

 is said to direct its blows with these spines with great 

 judgment and precision ; and wounds inflicted by 

 them are said to be peculiarly painful and difficult 

 of cure. Hence possibly it was the Scorpios of the 

 ancients : — 



'* Et capitis duro nociturus Scorpios ictu." 



Ovid. 



Other ground fishes I have also obtained here, as 

 the Solenette [MonocMrus linguatulus) , and the Lemon 

 Sole (Solea ijegusa), besides more common kinds of 

 Flat-fishes ; and other species resembling these in 

 form, colour, and habit, and as it were representing 

 them, though widely differing structurally. I refer to 

 the Skates and their allies. Pretty little specimens 

 occur of the Thorn-back [Rata clavata), v^'iih. numerous 

 white spots, very round, distinct, and ocellated ; and of 

 the Painted Eay [R. microceTlatd)^ distinguished from 



n2 



