GREAT WEEVER. 21 



having the ventral fins situated before the pectorals, and 

 called jugular. 



Rondeletius believed the fish now called the Great Wee- 

 ver to be the Draco of the ancient naturalists ; and their 

 references to the injuries effected by the spines of the dorsal 

 fin and operculum of this species, which they also called a 

 sea-dragon, appear to confirm his opinion. The generic 

 name Trachinus is derived from the Greek, and the fish is 

 called in several languages by a term that signifies a spider, 

 in reference to its supposed venom. 



The English name of Weever, or Wiver, according to 

 Merrett, is considered to be derived from the French term 

 for this fish, La Vive ; a name bestowed upon it from the 

 circumstance of its living a long time after it has been taken 

 out of the water ; which latter power, with some other pecu- 

 liarities in the habits of the Weevers, Avill be again advert- 

 ed to. 



The Great Weever generally measures about twelve inches 

 in length, but has been known to attain seventeen inches : 

 its food is the fry of other fishes, and its flesh is excel- 

 lent. It swims very near the bottom, is sometimes taken 

 in deep water by the trawl-net, and occasionally with a 

 baited hook attached to deep-sea lines. When caught, it 

 should be handled with great caution. " I have known," 

 says Mr. Couch, " three men wounded successively in the 

 hand by the same fish, and the consequences have been in 

 a few minutes felt as high as the shoulder. Smart friction 

 with oil soon restores the part to health ;" but such is the 

 degree of danger, or apprehension of it rather, arising from 

 wounds inflicted by the spines of the Weevers, that our own 

 fishermen almost invariably cut oflT the first dorsal fin, and 

 both opercular spines, before they bring them on shore : 

 the French have a police regulation by which their fishermen 



