D I O D O N . 125 



teen inches, and from one ridge or angle, to the 

 other, three inches, — giving the highest arch 

 of the back a circumference of nine inches. 

 They are in their own element, what the armadil- 

 lo, of South America, is on land. 



GEN. DIODON- 



Swell-Fish, Balloon-Fish, Blower, Puff- 

 er, — Tetraodon Turgidus. It is not common 

 to meet with the swell-fish at any other season, 

 than the heat of summer. Whenever caught 

 with tlie hook, it is in fishing for cod and haddock ; 

 hence it is inferred that they feed upon similar 

 food, and swim at about the same depth. 



The back has a tawny saffron color, the skin 

 rough,— giving the sensation to the finger of sand 

 paper. The only apology we can make for not 

 havinfr dissected one of them, w^th reference to 

 explaining their internal organization, is the poor 

 one, that there has not been time since the com- 

 mencement of this essay. Relying, however, 

 upon the assertions of comparative anatomists, the 

 following seems to be the peculiarity of its struc- 

 ture. 



A'valve is so constructed in the fauces, over 

 the orifice of a tube, communicating with an ex- 

 tensive series of air-cells, opening downwards, 

 that by drawing the atmospheric air in at the 



