130 



TRYGON. 



The head enclosed on the sides by the pectoral fins; the body ele- 

 vated; tail slender, without a fin, armed with a long spine, which is 

 serrated on the ed^es. 



STING RAY. 



FIRE FLAIRE. TRYGON. 



Pastinaca marina, Jonston ; p. 32. 



WlLLOUGHBY; p. 67, pi. C. 3. 



Baia Pastinaca, Linn.'eus. Donovan; pi. 99. 



Bloch, pL 82. Jexyns; Manual, p. 51 «. 

 Baie Pastenaone, Lacepede. Eisso; p. 10. 



Trygon Pastluacea, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 170. (Juvier. 



Yakkell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii p. 688. 

 " Gray; Catalogue Br. Mu>i'Ain, p. 118. 



The aiicients were well acquainted with this fish, and had 

 an extravagant dread of what they aiipposed the poisonous 

 effects of a wound inflicted by the dart on its tail. There is 

 no doubt that this may be the cause of considerable injury 

 when dashed about in all directions, by the vibration of the 

 tail of an angry fish; and it is not improbable that a formi- 

 dable infiammation would follow; and even that an attack of 

 tetanus or lock-jaw has been produced in a constitution of body 

 already prepared for such consequences. Such a superstition is 

 countenanced by what Matthiolus says, in his "Commentaries 

 on Dioscorides," of instances where death from the wound has 

 been attended with convulsions and contractions of the Avhole 

 body. He also quotes ^tius as saying that such wounds are 

 soon followed with severe pains and deadness, which spread 

 ovei the whole body. It is, therefore, with some truth that 



