THE FIRE-FLARE. 
1X3 
But the fpine of the fire-flare, though unattended with 
any poifonous qualities, is {till a formidable weapon. — 
There is reafon to believe, that in early times, before the 
ufe of iron, the fpears and darts were headed with this 
bone, inftead of that metal. The arrow of many of the 
South American tribes, are {till pointed with the bones 
of this tiih ; and from its liardnefs and (harpnels, it makes 
no contemptible weapon *. 
The fire-flare, formidable as it has been deemed, is ne- 
ver rejected by the fifliermen when found in his tackle ; 
he commonly cuts away the tail, and expofes it for fale, 
deprived of this inftrument of mifchief. This fpecies 
never grows to the fixe of thofe above defcribed ; the 
moil common fized weigh about eight or ten pounds, 
and are about two or three feet from the fnout to the end 
of the tail f ; the nofe is very (harp at the point, but ihort ; 
the mouth is fmall, and provided with granulated teeth ; 
the eyes are protuberant ; the irides pf an oblong {hape, 
and of the colour of gold. The whole body of the ani' 
rnal is fmooth, fiat below, but rounded above, and more 
elevated in the middle than any of the other rays f. 
The fire-flare cafts its fpine, and renews it annually 5 
and that it may at no time be without a proper inftru- 
ment of defence, it is fometimes feen with the new one 
growing up, before the old drop off. That nothing relat- 
ing to this animal might be diverted of the marvel!ous> 
its firti was faid to have the peculiar quality of exciting 
concupifcence ; and when ufed in a decoction of oil, it was 
reckoned a cure for the leprofy : The point of its fpin e > 
when introduced into a difeafed tooth, made it fplintet 
and drop from the jaw ||. 
* Robertfon’s Hift. of South America. | Will. p. 67. 
J Brit. Zool. I! Vide Gefner. > 
