8 



FATHER-LASHER. 



STING-FISH. GUXDIE. 



Scorpius marinus ater, JoNSTON, (of the Edition of 



1767,) table 47, f. 4, 5, but 

 with no reference in the text. 

 ScorpoBiKB Bcllonii stmU.is, A 12, 



P 145, Father-lasher, Eay; Synopsis Piscium. 



Coitus Scorpius, LiNNiEUS. CuviEE. 



Bloch; pi. 40. 

 " " Donovan; pi. 35. 



" " Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 275. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 344. 



" " Yaebell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 75. 



Chahot, Lacepede. Eisso. 



" Gunthek; Catalogue of British 



Museum, vol. ii. p. 159. 



This little fish is common on our coasts from Scotland to 

 Cornwall, near the land; and although it does not usually 

 suffer itself to be left uncovered by the tide, it, for the most 

 part, keeps itself within a short distance of the lowest ebb: 

 so as in summer to be often caught in the nets employed for 

 taking prawns and shrimps. It devours the smaller crustaceous 

 animals, and any other creature it is able to swallow. It is 

 therefore always ready to take a bait; but when handled, or 

 on the appearance of danger, it swells out its cheeks to protrude 

 the spines with which they are armed, and so guard itself 

 against the attack of formidable enemies. At this time also 

 there may be felt such a trembling of the throat as might 

 suggest the opinion that it proceeds from an effort to produce 

 some sort of sound, that could be perceived in its native 

 element. 



