Father. lasher. 
S05 
Father Lajher *» 
^"his lingular animal is about half a foot ift length, and 
ln lhape rcfembling the goby ; the head and anterior parts 
being difproportionably large, the pofterior flender as 
they approach the tail. It has no fcales ; but the lides 
are divided each by a rough lateral line. The head is 
blackifh ; the back variegated with pale and black 
Patches, placed tranfverfely •. Below the lateral lines, the 
•“des are yellow, and whiten as they approach the belly, 
^he coverts of the gills and the crown of the head are 
befet with formidable fpines, by the ftroke of which 
this fmall filh can inflift a painful wound j-. 
The whole afpect of this filh is threatening 5 and as it 
■snows the ufe of its defenlive weapons, it can increafe 
*he terror of its enemies, by fvvelling the opercula of 
l be gills and the cheeks to an enormous lize. It feems 
to have been long well known in the Mediterranean , 
[bough not for its peaceable and innoxious habits ; for it 
ls thus characterifed by the poet ; 
Ft capitis duro nociturus fcorpius i£lu. 
The fcorpion threatening wounds with its bony head. 
The 
f Cottus Scorpius, Lin. Syft. Father I.qjhcr, Will, 
■' ^ r illough. p. ij*. 
