Ill THE FIRE-FLAR?. 



But the fpine of the fire-flare, though unattended with 

 any poifonous qualities, is ftill a formidable weapon.— 

 There is reafon to believe, that in early times, before the 

 ufe of iron, the fpears and darts were headed with thii 

 bone, inftead of that metal. The arrow of many of the 

 South American tribes, are ftill pointed with the bones 

 of this fifli ; and from its hardnefs and fharpnefs, it makes 

 no contemptible weapon *. 



The fire-flare, formidable as it has been decnried, is ne- 

 ver rejetled by the fifliermen when found in his tackle .; 

 he commonly cuts away the tail, and expofes it for fale, 

 deprived of this inftrument of mifchief. This fpecies 

 never grows to the fize of thofe above defcribed \ the 

 iBoft cpmmon fized weigh about eight or ten pounds, 

 and are about two or three feet from the fnout to the end 

 of the tail f ; the nofe is very fliarp at the point, but thorf ; 

 the mouth is fmall, and provided with granulated teeth ; 

 the eyes are protuberant ; the irides of an oblong fliape, 

 and of the colour of gold. The whole body of the ani- 

 mal is fmooth, flat below, but rounded above, and more 

 elevated in the middle than any of the other rays J. 



The fire-flare cafts its fpine, and renews it annually ; 

 and that it may at no time be without a proper inftru- 

 njent of defence, it is fometimes feen with the new one 

 growing up, before the old drop off. That nothing relat- 

 ing to this animal might be diveiled of the inarvellous, 

 its filh was faid to have the peculiar quality of exciting 

 cpncupilcence ; and when ufed in a decoclion of oil, it was 

 reckoned a cure for the leprofy : The point of its fpine, 

 when introduced into a difeafcd tooth, made it fplintef 

 and drop from the jaw ||. 



* Robcrtfon's Hift. cf South America. f Will, p. 6.7. 



I Brit. Zool. II Vide Gdner. 



