580 SUPPLEMENT ON 



robust jaws. It seldom removes to any distance from the 

 coasts. 



The males are smaller than the females, which usually 

 arrive to the length of fifteen or eighteen inches. 



It is difficult, and even dangerous, to take this fish in the 

 hand, for it knows very well how to defend itself by bristling 

 up its spines. It is principally when it is attacked that it 

 inflates its body, and then, all on a sudden, it forcibly expels 

 the air which it has swallowed, and this air, rushing through 

 the mouth and the apertures of the gills, produces a roaring 

 sound, like that sent forth by the balista and some other 

 fishes. Marcgrave is the first naturalist who has spoken of 

 this circumstance. 



This diodon is usually caught in nets, with other fishes. It 

 is also taken with the hook, to which is attached the tail of 

 some crustaceous animal, by way of bait. 



Its flesh is hard, and not very savoury ; it forms, however, 

 an article of food. Pison assures us that its gall is poisonous, 

 and that if it be not removed, it causes death to those who are 

 so imprudent as to eat of the animal thus prepared. Their 

 sensibility becomes blunted, the tongue immoveable, the 

 limbs grow stiff, and life is extinguished, while a cold and 

 colliquative sweat inundates the entire body. The wound 

 inflicted by its prickles, or spines, is likewise considered 

 dangerous. Serious accidents are also said to be expe- 

 rienced, if care be not taken to withdraw from the viscera of 

 these animals, when they are prepared for the table, the re- 

 mains of the aliments which they may be found to contain. 



The swimming bladder of the atingas is very large. M. 

 de Lacepede thinks, that by preparing it in a proper manner, 

 a very excellent isinglass might be made from it. 



The stomach of these diodons is thin, and furnished with 

 many appendages, which, like so many small ccecal pouches, 

 may augment the quantity of the gastric juices, or contribute 



