46 GREATER WEEVER, 



several of them were not a little absurd, although prescribed 

 by eminent physicians. Paulus iEgineta gives an enumeration 

 of these remedies; but Pliny and Dioscorides are content with 

 the body of the fish itself, to be cut open and applied to the 

 wound. If conveniently to be obtained, it is probable that 

 friction with olive oil, in which a little camphor and tincture 

 of opium are diffused, would be effectual; but if left to itself 

 it is said that the pain will subside spontaneously in twelve 

 hours, which space of time was supposed to be connected with 

 the duration of the ebb and flowing of the tide. 



This species has a wide range of distribution, and is found, 

 not only in the Mediterranean, but on the coast of Africa, 

 as far as the Cape of Good Hope. In our own islands it is 

 most abundant in the West of England and Ireland, and is 

 caught most frequently in summer and autumn; but it has 

 been found also in the German Ocean, and the farthest north 

 of Scotland, but has not been recognised on the north coast 

 of Ireland. As food it is not thought of with us, but it is 

 described by French writers as of superior delicacy. It seems 

 probable that the spawn is shed at the beginning of summer. 

 A young example, measuring only three fourths of an inch in 

 length, taken in a drift-net in the month of August, was of 

 interest as displaying the order and degree of development of 

 its parts at that early stage of its existence. The long and 

 sharp spine on the hindward part of the neck had not come 

 through the skin, but as the skin became dry the ridge formed 

 by it could be seen. The bony structure before the eye was 

 visible, but not prominent. The colour had begun on the 

 anterior portion of the body only, and a large part of the 

 sides, belly, and tail remained transparent. The top of the 

 head and neck possessed colour, with dots of fine star-like 

 spots; more slightly coloured along the back with some 

 transverse bands, which are more faint backward, and none 

 appear near the tail. The lower half of the pectoral fins have 

 colour, but the upper portion are without it. Two or three 

 rays on the inner portion of the ventral fins are black. It 

 takes a bait, and I have found shrimps and small fishes in 

 its stomach. From one example I took two Gobies and a 

 Launce: from another a Squid, ( Loligo media, J five inches in 

 length. 



