254 LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



Chiridse, but the head is wide and flattish above. In appearance it is much like a pollock, 

 and, indeed, has more than once been mistaken for a relation of that cod-fish by nat- 

 uralists. It is known as the caudle-fish, black candle-fish, horse-mackerel, and beshow. 

 It grows to a length of twenty inches, weighing about five pounds. " As a food-fish 

 it is held in low esteem," but is " sometimes fraudulently sold as spanish-mackerel," — • 

 a most underserved slur on a royal fish. 



Other families of the mail-cheeked series, more or less related to one or other of 

 the families described, are the Caeacanthid^, Stnanceid^, Hemitbipteeidje, Agki- 

 OPODiDyE, PLATYCEPHALiDiB and HoPLicHTHTiD^ ; but, interesting as some are, we 

 must leave them with the mention, only adding that it is to the Hemitripteridae, that 

 the sea-raven of the American coast belongs. 



A family related, though distantly, to the mailed-cheeked fishes, Synanceidffi, 

 is that of the IjEANOscopiDiE, to which the popular name of star-gazer is given on 

 account of the eyes being placed on the upper surface of the head ; the scientific has 

 the same meaning. The head is flattened and almost rectilinear from the nape to the 

 mouth ; the mouth itself is very oblique. Several species of the family are found 

 along the American coast, the largest being the Astroscopus guttatus. This has the 

 head protected by bone above, but with a couple of spaces occupied by bare skin, and 

 it is said that these bare spots give an electric shock. Although this is quite generally 

 believed, it requires scientific confirmation. 



Another family of interest in this series is that represented by the weevers of 

 England, and known scientifically as the Teachinid^. These are distinguished by an 

 elongated body, attenuated backward from the head, a compressed, oblong head, with 

 the snout very short, a deeply cleft oblique moutli, and a long s])ine jjrojecting 

 backward from each operculum, and strengthened by extension on the sui-face of the 

 operculum, as a keel. The dorsal fins are distinct, the first composed of strong, pun- 

 gent spines, radiating from a short base, and about six or seven in number. The 

 second dorsal and anal are very long. The pectorals have the lower rays un- 

 branched ; and the ventrals are in advance of the pectorals, and have each a spine 

 and five rays. The species of this family are mostly found along the European and 

 western African coast ; but, singularly enough, a species closely related to the old- 

 world form is found on the coast of Chili. Xone have been obtained from the inter- 

 mediate regions, or from the American coast. Two species are found in England, and 

 are known under the name of the greater weever {Trachinus draco), about twelve 

 inches long, and tlie lesser weever (7Vac7w?ji<s yt/jera), about six inches long. They 

 are perhaps the most dreaded of the smaller English fishes. The foi-midable opercu- 

 lar spines are weapons of defence ; and, when seized by the fisherman, the fish is apt 

 to thi'ow its head in the direction of the hand, and lance a spine into it. The pungent 

 dorsal spines are also defensive. Although without a poison gland, such as some fishes, 

 distantly related, have at the base of the spines, they cause very severe wounds, and 

 death may occur from tetanus. They are therefore divested of both opercular and 

 dorsal spines before being exposed for sale. The various popular names which the 

 weevers enjoy, in addition to their general designation, mostly refer to the armature 

 of the spines, or are the result of the armature ; such are adder-fish, sting-fish, 

 and sting-bull. 



Two families of small fishes are closely related to the TJranoscopidae, but do not 

 demand special notice. They are the LeptoscopidjE and DACTYLOSCOPiD.a!. Another, 

 less closely related, is the Teichodontid^. 



