FISHES 477 



BONITO. 



Thynnus pelamys, C. and V. 



A Bonito of twelve pounds weight was captured by a trawl 

 boat between Workington and Whitehaven in September 1856. 

 It was announced in the local papers as ' a valuable addition to 

 the Fauna of Cumberland.' The following are the dimensions 

 published. Length, 27 inches; girth, at the dorsal fin, 8 \ 

 inches ; from the caudal to the first dorsal, 1 8 inches ; to the 

 second do., 10 inches; from the extremity of the upper jaw 

 to the operculum, 7 J inches ; from do. to the pectoral fin, 8 

 inches ; and to the ventral, 1 2 inches ; from the caudal to the 

 ventral, 9 J inches; length of dorsal fin, 7 inches, and height, 4 

 inches ; from the nose to the eye, 2 \ inches. This fish was 

 purchased by the late Mr. E. Eook, who, after sketching it, pre- 

 sented the specimen to Mr. Wallace of Distington. 



Order ACANTHOPTERYOII. Earn. TRACHINID^E. 



LESSER WEEVEB. 



Trachinus vipera, C and V. 

 In some seasons this fish is so numerous in the shallow waters 

 of the English Solway, as to be a source of great inconvenience 

 to the fishermen in sorting their shrimps, especially when that 

 operation is conducted by candle-light, for the ' sting' is 

 extremely painful. Hot salt water is locally considered to be 

 the best expedient for reducing the pain of a ' sting.' If stung 

 in the finger, as is usually the case, the fisherman ties a piece of 

 twine tightly round the finger above the puncture. This pre- 

 caution prevents the pain, which is very severe, affecting the 

 hand and arm. At one time, such numbers of these little 

 Weevers were caught off Cardunock, that they were boiled and 

 used to feed pigs. Curiously enough the flesh of this fish is 

 firm and wholesome. Fowls eat Weevers readily. An old man 

 who was pestered by cats tried to reduce their number by feeding 

 them on Viper Weevers, but he only became an object of increased 

 affection to the creatures of the goddess ' Pasht.' Weevers are 

 dangerous to bathers, because they bury themselves in the sand 



