II. On the Poisonous Fishes of the Carribbee Islands. By 

 William Ferguson, M. D. F. R. S. Edin. 



(Read Jan. 18. 1819.J 



J_ HE subject of poisonous fish has long been a source of 

 puzzle and speculation to the inhabitants of the West Indies. 

 Much has been conjectured upon it, and numerous tests and 

 theories been proposed, which have had for a time their ber 

 lievers and advocates ; but all have been found to be equally 

 baseless. The author of this paper, by a narrative of what he 

 has himself seen and observed on the subject, proposes rather 

 to shew to the Society what it is not, than what it actually is, 

 and thereby to clear the way for the future successful investi- 

 gation of this curious and interesting phenomenon, by dissipa- 

 ting many erroneous notions that stand in the way of the dis- 

 covery of truth. 



Throughout the greater part of the West Indies, the acci- 

 dent of meeting a poisonous fish is a rare and extraordinary 

 occurrence. At Barbadoes, for instance, it happens so seldom, 

 that the majority of even the best informed inhabitants can 

 scarcely be made to believe, that it has ever taken place 



VOL. IX. p. L I amongst 



