128 DRAGON WEEVER, 



upper part of the head, pretty near each other: 

 the gill-covers are armed at their tips with a strong 

 spine: the first dorsal fin is small, and furnished 

 with five strong spines : the second fin is continued 

 almost to the tail ; the vent fin is of similar extent y 

 and the tail is rather large, and even at the end : 

 the pectoral fins are of moderate size, and the 

 ventral very small : the general colour of the Weever 

 is silvery, with a yellowish, or dusky cast on the 

 upper parts, while the sides are commonly varied 

 by numerous obliquely transverse streaks of a similar 

 colour : the scales are small and rounded : the first 

 dorsal fin is of a deep black. The usual length of 

 the fish is about ten or twelve inches. 

 i This fish, like the Star-gazer, is an inhabitant of 

 the Mediterranean and Northern seas, commonly 

 frequenting the coasts, and frequently imbedding 

 itself in the sand; in which situation, if accidentally 

 trodden on, it strikes backwards with great violence, 

 and endeavours to wound the aggressor with the 

 spines of its first dorsal fin. So troublesome are 

 the consequences arising from the punctures in* 

 flicted by this part, that a law is said to exist in 

 France obliging the fishermen to cut it away before 

 the fish is exposed for sale. The usual symptoms 

 attending the wound are, violent heat, pain, and 

 inflammation ; and it not unfrequently happens 

 that when the hand is thus wounded, a sudden 

 redness extends throughout the whole length of the 

 arm, as far as the shoulder. The usual remedy 

 among the English fishermen is, according to Mr. 

 Pennant, sea-sand, well rubbed on the part: an 



