PERCHES. 
59 
I this be so or not, it is certain that they speedily 
exhibit symptoms of strong inflammation, at- 
I tended with acute pain, extending to a great 
distance from the part lacerated. The Weever 
appears to be perfectly aware of the power of 
I its weapons ; it buries itself in the mud or sand 
at the bottom, with its mouth, which opens up- 
wards, exposed. As it thus lies in wait for any 
I passing prey, it may often be touched by an un- 
conscious assailant, when instantly the little 
warrior strikes forcibly with his pointed spears, 
upwards and to each side. Pennant says of the 
Little Weever, that he has seen it direct its blows 
with as much judgment as a fighting-cock. 
The last Sub-Family, the Helotina^ ^^consti- 
tute,” says Cuvier, a group formed, as it were, 
to make naturalists despair, by showing how 
Nature laughs at what we deem characteristic 
combinations the genera possessing mutual 
relations sufficient to forbid their separation, and 
bearing a great resemblance to the other mem- 
bers of the common Family ; while the species 
exhibit in the subordinate characters, such as 
the number, form, position, and even presence of 
the teeth, much diversity. None, however, have 
more than six gill-arches ; they have no scales on 
the head, muzzle, or jaws ; the dorsal spines, 
when depressed, fall into a longitudinal groove on 
the back ; and the air-bladder is always divided 
into two distinct sacs, connected by a narrow neck. 
These too are chiefly inhabitants of warm lati- 
tudes, some marine, and some fluviatile ; they do 
not possess much attractiveness of appearance, 
their colour being, in general, silvery grey, 
marked with dusky longitudinal lines. 
