114 A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS 



something like a hornet striped fore-and-aft instead of 

 crosswise, and it is a very conspicuous object. There 

 can be little doubt that the glaring colours of Plotosus 

 arab act as a warning- signal, for this fish also 

 resembles a hornet in being able, with the large barbed 

 spine of its dorsal fin, to inflict a venomous wound, 

 causing great pain and serious consequences. No 

 doubt there are a good many other species of cat- 

 fishes, not in any way conspicuous for their colouring, 

 which can inflict nasty wounds with the spines of their 

 dorsal and pectoral fins ; but within my own experi- 

 ence, none of them have the same venomous potency 

 as Plotosus arab, whose virulence may be appreciated 

 when I mention that a wound inflicted in my fore- 

 finger, by a little individual not 3 inches long, made 

 my arm numb and useless for several days, although 

 remedies were applied without any delay. 



As has already been observed, the signal colours 

 by which many dangerous and offensive animals are 

 distinguished are not supposed to have been acquired 

 on altruistic principles for the benefit of the world at 

 large. Whether or not, like all rationally-utilised self- 

 regarding acquirements, they do profit the world in 

 general is another question ; but they are believed to 

 have originated, in the first instance, for the sole 

 advantage of the said dangerous and unpleasant species 

 themselves. Individuals of these odious species must, 

 of course, occasionally perish by violence ; but this. 



