26 



Mr. E. Step exhibited an example of the Great Weaver 

 {Trachinus draco, L.), from Cornwall, which he remarked was 

 not a common fish on the English coast ; it was known to 

 fishermen as the sting-bull and sea-cat, on account of it having 

 the power to inflict a sharp wound which became exceedingly- 

 painful. It would be noticed that the eyes were situated very 

 near the top of the head, and in front of them were too little 

 horny points, each very firm and sharp ; the real sting was, 

 however, inflicted by a smaller spine just in front of the 

 dorsal fin. If this spine were examined, a little groove would 

 be seen ; this groove was stated by some naturalists to be 

 connected with a small gland at the base of the spine, in 

 which the poisonous matter was secreted. Of late years 

 some writers had expressed considerable doubt as to the 

 poisonous character of the wound caused by this fish ; although 

 from what he had heard of it in Cornwall, he had little doubt 

 but that it was of a poisonous nature. 



Mr. Carrington said he was not prepared to say that the 

 wound was actually poisonous, but it certainly produced a 

 considerable amount of inflammation. The flesh of this fish 

 was used as food, and it was stated, he did not think on any 

 authority, by fishermen, that there was a penal clause in some 

 Act of Parliament prohibiting it being sent to market without 

 having first cut out this spine ; as a wound inflicted, even 

 after the death of the fish was attended by grave results. 

 The other species, the Lesser Weaver {JF. vipera, Cuv. et 

 Valenc), he had frequently seen alive ; it had a habit of 

 burying itself in the sand and mud, only leaving the head 

 exposed. 



Mr. W. West (Streatham) expressed an opinion that the 

 larger species was not so rare as was generally supposed, a 

 friend of his at Brighton frequently got it off that coast. 



Mr. C. A. Briggs said it was fairly common on the Kentish 

 coast. 



APRIL 2a,ih, 1890. 



J. T. Carrington, Esq., F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. F. Warne exhibited a melanic variety of Hemerophila 

 abruptaria, Thnb., taken in the London district. 



Mr. C. G. Barrett inquired whether this dark variety of 

 H. abruptaria was known to occur in any other locality than 

 that of London, either west or north of England. 



Mr. South said as far as he knew it was confined to 

 London, a specimen was taken the previous year at Regent's 

 Park, and others had been recorded at various times. Mr. 



