9$ STINGRAY. CIa&s IV, 



rows of fome of the South American Indians^ and is, 

 from its hardnefs, fharpnefs, and beards, a moll 

 dreadful weapon. 



But in refpecl to its venemous qualities, there 

 is not the left credit to be given to the opmion, 

 though it was believed (as far as it affedled the 

 animal world) by Rondektius^ Aldrovand^ and 

 others, and even to this day by the filhermen in fe- 

 veral parts of the kingdom. It is irr fa<5t the wea- 

 pon of offence belonging to the fifh, capable of giv- 

 ing a very bad wound, and which is attended with 

 dangerous fymptoms, when it falls on a tendi- 

 nous part, or on a perfon in a bad habit of bo- 

 dy. As to any fifh having a fpine charged with 

 adlual poifon, we muft deny our alTent to it, 

 though the report is fandlified by the name of Lin- 

 naus *. 

 Descrip. This fpecies does not grow to the bulk of the o- 



thers : that which we examined was two feet nine 

 inches from the tip of the nofe to the end of the 

 tail \ to the origin of the tail one foot three inches \ 

 the breadth one foot eight. 



The body is quite fmooth, of a fliape almoft 

 round, and is of a much greater thicknefs, and 



* Syji. Nat. I. ^4.^. He inilances the Fafiinaca, the TV- 

 'fedoy and the Tetrodcn Uneatus. The iirft is incapable of con* 

 veying a greater injury than what refults from the meer 

 wound. The fecond, from its eledlric effluvia : and the 

 tliird, by imparting a pungent pain like the fting of nettlcff^j 

 occafioned by the minute fpines on its abdomen. 



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