PERCHES. 59 



this be so or not, it is certain that they speedily 

 exhibit symptoms of strong inflammation, at- 

 tended with acute pain, extending to a great 

 distance from the part lacerated. The Weever 

 appears to be perfectly aware of the power of 

 its weapons ; it buries itself in the mud or sand 

 at the bottom, with its mouth, which opens up- 

 wards, exposed. As it thus lies in wait for any 

 passing prey, it may often be touched by an im- 

 conscious assailant, when instantly the little 

 warrior strikes forcibly with his pointed spears, 

 upwards and to each side. Pennant says of the 

 Little Weever, that he has seen it direct its blows 

 with as much judgment as a fighting-cock. 



The last Sub-Family, the Helotina, " consti- 

 tute," says Cuvier, " a group formed, as it were, 

 to make naturalists despair, by showing how 

 Nature laughs at what we deem characteristic 

 combinations;" the genera possessing mutual 

 relations sufficient to forbid their separation, and 

 bearing a great resemblance to the other mem- 

 bers of the common Family ; while the species 

 exhibit in the subordinate characters, such as 

 the number, form, position, and even presence of 

 the teeth, much diversity. None, however, have 

 more than six gill-arches ; they have no scales on 

 the head, muzzle, or jaws ; the dorsal spines, 

 when depressed, fall into a longitudinal groove on 

 the back ; and the air-bladder is always divided 

 into two distinct sacs, connected by a narrow neck. 

 These too are chiefly inhabitants of warm lati- 

 tudes, some marine, and some fluviatile ; they do 

 not possess much attractiveness of appearance, 

 their colour being, in general, silvery grey, 

 marked with dusky longitudinal hues. 



