186 THE WEAVER. 



in others great, tangled, half-rotten masses of dead 

 sea- weeds, such as Rhytiphlea and Fucus, with leaves 

 of the Zostera twining among them, fill the dredge ; 

 most disappointing, because both unpleasant and un- 

 productive. At other places we get stones, old shells, 

 and nice specimens of living weeds. 



The keer-drag on the sandy bottom takes several in- 

 teresting fishes. Among them is the Little Weaver 

 (Trachinus viperaj, a fish elegant in form and colour, 

 but dangerous, and reputed to be poisonous. The 

 first dorsal, which, being of a deep black hue, con- 

 trasts well with the chaste grey of the upper parts, is 

 armed with very strong spines, and there is a long and 

 very sharp one on each side of the head. The fish is 

 said to direct its blows with these spines with great 

 judgment and precision ; and wounds inflicted by 

 them are said to be peculiarly painful and difficult 

 of cure. Hence possibly it was the Soorpios of the 

 ancients : 



" Et capitis duro nooiturus Scorpios iotu." 



Otid. 



Other ground fishes I have also obtained here, as the 

 Solenette (Monochirus linguatulusj, and the Lemon 

 Sole (iSo/ea/Jij^Msa), besides more common kinds of 

 Flat-fishes; and other species resembling these in 

 form, colour and habit, and as it were representing 

 them, though widely differing structurally. I refer to 

 the Skates and their allies. Pretty little specimens 

 occur of the Thornback (Eaia clavataj, with numerous 

 white spots, very round, distinct, and ocellated; and of 

 the Painted Kay {R. microcellata), distinguished from 



