GEN. TRACHINUS. THE WEEVERS. 136 



which seems to have supplied the English name 

 Viver, or Weever. They are well known from the 

 wounds they inflict with their formidable osseous 

 spines, and are generally esteemed as food. It is in 

 reference to their tenacity of life that Mr. Yarrell 

 makes the following interesting observation : "■ It 

 may be considered as a law, that those fish which 

 swim near the surface of the water have a high 

 standard of respiration, a low degree of muscular 

 irritability, great necessity for oxygen, die soon, 

 almost immediately when taken out of the water, 

 and have flesh liable to rapid decomposition. On 

 the contrary, those fish that live near the bottom of 

 the water have a low standard of respiration, a high 

 degree of muscular irritability, and less necessity for 

 oxygen ; they sustain life long after they are taken 

 out of the water, and their flesh remains good for 

 several days. * * * The law referred to has 

 its origin in the principle of organization ; and 

 though it would be difficult for the anatomist to 

 demonstrate those deviations in structure which 

 give rise to these distinctions and their eff*ects, it is 

 only necessary to make the points of comparison 

 wider to be assured of the fact." 



(Sp. 7-) T. draco. The Great Weever, or Sting- 

 bull. (PI. II.) The usual length of the Great Weeter 

 is from twelve to fifteen inches, sometimes reaching 

 to seventeen. The upper portions of the body are 

 of reddish-brown colour, with interrupted lines of 

 black and yellow running parallel with the oblique 

 row^s of scales; the under parts of the body are 



