82 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



Habitat. From Scandinavia and Western Europe, 

 through the Mediterranean. Also as far south in the 

 Atlantic as the Cape of Good Hope. In Britain it is by no 

 means uncommon along the coasts, more especially the 

 west, but decreasing in numbers towards the north ; it is 

 occasionally found on the shores of Scotland. In Ireland 

 it has been taken in Ventry Bay, but not in the north. 1 1 

 attains to at least 17 inches in length. 



2. Viper Weever (Trachinus vipera). 



Names. Little, or lesser weever, sting- fish. Locally 

 known as adder-pike, black-fin, otter-pike. Bishoped, or 

 stung by a Bishop, one of these fish in Cornwall. Stony 

 cobbler, Youghal. 



B. vi., D. 6/21-24, V. \, A. 25-26, L. 1. 65, Caec. pyl. vi., 

 Vert. -|f. 



Length of head $ to 34 ; height of body 4^ to 5 

 in the total length. Eye. Diameter 4f in the length of 

 the head, J to f of a diameter from the end of the snout, 

 and i of a diameter apart. No spines above the orbit ; two 

 sharp and forwardly directed ones below the angle of the 

 preopercle. Opercular spine strong. Teeth. As in the 

 last species. Fins. Lower five or six pectoral rays un- 

 branched, or with their divisions very indistinct. Colours. 

 Back grey, paler towards the abdomen, where it is tinged 

 with yellow. Reticulated grey lines along the back and 

 top of the head. First dorsal black, with some white lines 

 posteriorly. Caudal with a wide black band along its hind 

 edge. 



Habits. This species is more active and venomous than 

 the preceding one, is similarly captured and used as food. 



Habitat. North Sea, British coasts to the Mediterranean. 



