'SHE FIRE-FRARE 
HI 
poifon, grows like a fpine from the tail ; it is about five 
inches long, and about four inches behind the body. Ac- 
cording to the tremendous fables of Pliny, it is furnilhed 
■with a venom fo potent, as to affect even the animal cre- 
ation. Trees that are {truck with it, inllantly lofe their 
Verdure, and rocks themfelves are incapable of refilling 
Ibis powerful virus *. It was with the fpine of the try- 
gon, or fire-flare, that the enchantrefs Circe armed her 
ibn ; and with this irrefiftible weapon, he, unintentional- 
ly, became the murderer of his father UlyJJes. What a 
happinefs it is that thefe animals do not frequent the 
Vvoods, and are fo feldorn feen alhore ! 
Succeeding naturalifts finding the tafte for the marv.el* 
Pus had decreafed in their age, have been obliged to give 
the hiftory of this filh a greater degree of verifimilitude ; 
Purtailing it of its powers again!! inanimate nature, they 
have contented themfelves with making it formidable to the 
filhermen f. Tiieir opinion has been fan&ioned by the 
Uamc of Linnams, who aferibes poifonous qualities to no 
kfs than three different tifhes ; the fire-flare, the torpe- 
do, and the tetrodon lineatus %. It may be juflly doubt- 
e d, however, whether any filh has a fpine charged with 
5 Plual poifon ; as far as the Jting is concerned, we know 
?bat this is not the cafe : The fpine is its peculiar v/ta,f 
P°n of offence, and is capable of giving a very bad 
"'fund, which being commonly inflified on the tendonous 
P^rts of the body, and by thofe who are conftantly vvork- 
ln g in cold water, is fometimes painful, and difficult to 
Pure §. 
But 
C piSoria animal. f Vide Gefr.cr, Aldrovandus and Rondeletiur 
1 Syft. "Natur*. § Brit. ZooL 
