Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/233

186 in others great, tangled, half-rotten masses of dead sea-weeds, such as Rhytiphlea and Fucus, with leaves of the Zostera twining among them, fill the dredge; most disappointing, because both unpleasant and unproductive. At other places we get stones, old shells, and nice specimens of living weeds.

The keer-drag on the sandy bottom takes several interesting fishes. Among them is the Little Weaver (Trachinus vipera), a fish elegant in form and colour, but dangerous, and reputed to be poisonous. The first dorsal, which, being of a deep black hue, contrasts well with the chaste grey of the upper parts, is armed with very strong spines, and there is a long and very sharp one on each side of the head. The fish is said to direct its blows with these spines with great judgment and precision; and wounds inflicted by them are said to be peculiarly painful and difficult of cure. Hence possibly it was the Scorpios of the ancients:

Other ground fishes I have also obtained here, as the Solenette (Monochirus linguatulus), and the Lemon Sole (Solea pegusa), besides more common kinds of Flat-fishes; and other species resembling these in form, colour and habit, and as it were representing them, though widely differing structurally. I refer to the Skates and their allies. Pretty little specimens occur of the Thornback (Raia clavata), with numerous white spots, very round, distinct, and ocellated; and of the Painted Ray (R. microcellata), distinguished from