162 Mr. G. J. Allman on the Sting 
different species of Cottus, and other spiny fishes, poisonous 
properties. For directing my attention to the passage, as well 
as for the accompanying translation, I am indebted to the Rev. 
W. Hamilton Drummond, D.D., to whom much is due for in- 
troducing this curious poet to the English reader*. 
Kevrpa de mevxnevra pet tyOvotv wrduoarTo, 
Kwfios, os YapaBoror kat ds werpnoe yeyne, 
Dkoprios, wKera TE YeAtCoves, Noe Opakoyres 
Kat kuves, oi Kevrporoty exwvupor apyadeo.ot’ 
Ilavres araprnpas Uro vvypacty tov vevres. 
Hal. ii. 457. 
*« Cruel spines 
Defend some fishes, as the Goby, fond 
Of sands and rocks, the Scorpion, Swallows fleet, 
Dragons and Dog-fish, from their prickly mail 
Well named the spinous. These, in punctures sharp, 
A fatal poison from their spines inject.” 
None of the older naturalists, indeed, ever think of denying 
venomous properties to the Weever; it is the dorsal spines, 
however, which are almost constantly spoken of as the seat of 
the virus. Willughby says the six dorsal spines are consi- 
dered venomous, and therefore the fishermen cut them off on 
taking a fish. He does not, however, think it proved that the 
poison is confined to these spines. : 
Universal as was the belief among the ancients of the ve- 
nomous character of the Weever, the idea seems to be now 
almost as universally abandoned, and modern naturalists agree 
almost to a man in considering it a vulgar error, fit only to be 
placed among the rubbish which recent investigations have 
been so rapidly clearing away from the science of nature. 
Cuvier treats it altogether as an error, and even denies the 
possibility of the Weever inflicting poisoned wounds. Speak- 
ing of its spine, he says, “ N’ayant aucun canal, ni communi- 
quant avec aucune glande, elles ne peuvent verser dans les 
laies un vénin proprement ditt.” 
Powerful as is this authority, and that of many other of the 
moderns, I have been notwithstanding induced to come to 
quite a different conclusion, and to agree with the ancients in 
ascribing venomous properties to the Weever. 
On the 9th of August, 1839, I was wounded near the top 
of the thumb by a Trachinus Vipera, which had just been taken 
in a seine with herrings, sand-eels, &c. The wound was in- 
* See Essay on the Life and Writings of Oppian, by W. H. Drummond, 
D.D., M.R.LA., published in Transactions of Royal Irish Academy for 
1820. 
4+ Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. iii. p. 184. 
Ai “9 eR CREP TES Pa se TERE 
