LECTURE VIII. 57 



ample detail both of the animal itself and its 

 ^ordinary powers, I must recommend the de- 

 scription by Dr. Garden in the Philosophical 

 Transactions, and the highly accurate anatomical 

 survey of the animal by the late Mr. John Hun- 

 ter in the same work. 



After these examples of the first tribe or apo- 

 dal fishes, I shall proceed to those which Linnaeus 

 terms Jugular, as having the ventral or belly- 

 fins placed before the pectoral or breast-fins. 



Of this division the genus called Trachinus 9 

 or Weever, may afford an example. It is charac- 

 terized by having a compressed body, the gill- 

 covers serrated or toothed on their edges, and 

 terminated by a spine; and a small fin situated on 

 the top of the back, almost immediately beyond 

 the head. The most common species or T. Druco, 

 of Linnaeus is a native of the European seas, and 

 is sufficiently common about our own coasts. It 

 usually measures about a foot in length, and is of 

 a yellowish silvery colour ; with the small or first 

 back-fin before mentioned of a black colour, and 

 furnished with four or live strong spines or rays. 

 With this fin it wounds such as attempt to seize 

 it, by suddenly throwing itself back, and infix- 



