VENOMS IN THE ANIMAL SERIES 293 
in rocks, and fishermen are afraid of being stung by them 
(fig. 102). 
Their poison-apparatus resembles that of the Weevers, but is 
less developed. It is situated in the culs-de-sac formed by the 
opercular spines. The culs-de-sac are lined with cells which pro- 
duce a toxic secretion only during the spawning season, from 
November to the end of January. This fact explains how it is that 
the species of Cottus are declared by certain fishermen to be very 
venomous, while others say that they are absolutely harmless. 
The genera Scorpena, Pterois and Pelor also belong to the 
same group. 
Fig. 103.—Scorpena grandicornis (Caribbean Sea). (After Savtschenko.) 
In Scorpæna the body is clothed with scales, and the head is 
large, slightly compressed, armed with spines, and has a bare pit 
behind ; the single dorsal fin is provided with eleven spiny rays, 
and there are seven branchiostegal rays. Scorpena grandicornis 
(fig. 103), found in the Caribbean Sea, is from 30 to 50 cm. in 
length, and has the back red and the eyes and belly yellow; 
Scorpena diabolus (fig. 104), which occurs in the Indian Ocean 
