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several of them were not a little absurd, although prescribed 
by eminent physicians. Paulus .ZEgineta gives an enumeration 
of these remedies; but Pliny and Dioscorides are content with 
the body of the fish itself, to be cut open and applied to the 
wound. If conveniently to be obtained, it is probable that 
friction with olive oil, in which a little camphor and tincture 
of opium are diffused, would be effectual; but if left to itself 
it is said that the pain will subside spontaneously in twelve 
hours, which space of time was supposed to be connected with 
the duration of the ebb and flowing of the tide. 
This species has a wide range of distribution, and is found, 
not only in the Mediterranean, but on the coast of Africa, 
as far as the Cape of Good Hope. In our own islands it is 
most abundant in the West of England and Ireland, and is 
caught most frequently in summer and autumn; but it has 
been found also in the German Ocean, and the farthest north 
of Scotland, but has not been recognised on the north coast 
of Ireland. As food it is not thought of with us, but it is 
described by French writers as of superior delicacy. It seems 
probable that the spawn is shed at the beginning of summer. 
A young example, measuring only three fourths of an inch in 
length, taken in a drift-net in the month of August, was of 
interest as displaying the order and degree of development of 
its parts at that early stage of its existence. The long and 
sharp spine on the hindward part of the neck had not come 
through the skin, but as the skin became dry the ridge formed 
by it could be seen. The bony structure before the eye was 
visible, but not prominent. The colour had begun on the 
anterior portion of the body only, and a large part of the 
sides, belly, and tail remained transparent. The top of the 
head and neck possessed colour, with dots of fine star-like 
spots; more slightly coloured along the back with some 
transverse bands, which are more faint backward, and none 
appear near the tail. The lower half of the pectoral fins have 
colour, _ but the upper portion are without it. Two or three 
rays on the inner portion of the ventral fins are black. It 
takes a bait, and I have found shrimps and small fishes in 
its stomach. From one example I took two Gobies and a 
Launce: from another a Squid, (Loligo media,) five inches in 
length. 
