The Natural Hiftory of the Book :X. 
The Toap-FisH. » 
NHIS Fith, which is the Dread and ‘Terror of Fifhermen, is no lefs 
“T ugly in its Shape, than mifchievous by its Prickles ; its Length 
in general, is from Eight to Eleven Inches ; the Colour of the Skin, is 
_of a brownith-red, intermix’d with blackifh Spots; the Head is very 
large, in Proportion to the reft'of the Body, and almoft intirely cover’d 
with fharp Prickles ; the Eyes are pretty large, incircled with a white 
Iris ; its Back is remarkably arm’d with a Row of very fharp Prickles ; 
~ thefe, when the Fith is neither in an offenfive nor defenfive Pofture, are 
almoft couchant ; and, to prevent their Points being by any Accident 
blunted, they are fheath’d in a ftrong mufcular Membrane, or Web, 
dividing each Prickle. When the Fith is difturb’d, this Skin or Mem- 
brane is immediately contracted, and lies in Folds clofe to the Back, 
fo that almoft the whole Length of thefe Spears are then unfheath’d, 
and better fitted to make deeper Wounds, than if the Web had been 
immoveable, as it is in almoft every other Fifth, guarded for common 
Defence with Prickles. When thefe Spears are ereét, if the unwary 
Fifherman treads upon it, (for it will not attempt to get out of his 
Way,) gives a ftrong Flutter with its Fins, and ftrikes or darts them into 
his Foot: the Pain that immediately enfues, is not to be defcribed, be- 
ing fo very violent for the Time it lafts, (which is generally till the fame 
time of the next returning Tide) that the Agonies they endure are in- 
expreflible: And as few, (if any) that have been once wounded, will 
be fo hardy as to venture a fecond Time to the Sea, without being firft 
guarded ; perhaps the Proverb, [éus Pifcator fapit, might have its Rife 
from hence; efpecially if thefe Fifh are in Plenty upon the Ivahan 
Shores. It is obferv’d that the Part affe4ted near the Wound turns livid; 
but, if the Liver of the Fith be immediately applied to it, it gives Eafe 
in fome fmall Degree. This I take to be owing to the Oylinefs of the 
Liver, which blunts the Spicula of the poifonous Particles; for I am 
very confident, that this fevere Pain doth not proceed from, or is oc- 
cafion’d by the Wounds, or Punétures made in the Feet, however fen- 
fible that mufcular and nervous Part may be, but from fome liquid 
Poifon injected into the Wounds, thro’ thefe Prickles. 
Of FLYING-FisH in general. 
F this Clafs there are no lefs than Five Sorts, in this Part of the 
‘@) Weft-Indies ; tho” there hath been I believe, as yet, but one of 
them taken Notice of, or defcribed by the Writers of Natural Hiftory ; 
which, by way of Eminency and Diftinction, is called the Flying-Fifb: 
the reft, no lefs deferving of that Name, are the Flying-Gar-Fifb, the 
Sea-Bat, the Guinea-Men, and the Ballabws. ; 
The 
