131 



PORCUPINE ACANTHICUS. 



Acanthicus histrix. 



PLATE I. 



Le Rhinelepis pore-epic ; Rhinelepis histrix, Vulenc, I. xv. 

 p. 486. Loricaria histrix Vandelli, (auct. Valenc). 



The very remarkable appearance of this fish will 

 strike any observer, and from all our knowledge of 

 the habits and nature of the Loricarinse, we are un- 

 able to see for what purpose their strong plates and 

 armatures are intended. In Acanthicus, the spination 

 of the plates and fin-rays, indeed of every part of 

 the body, is carried to the utmost extent, and in 

 general appears as if intended both for offence and 

 defence. The tufts of strong spines anterior to the 

 opening of the gills, and which appear to be move- 

 able, together with the spines of the pectoral fins, 

 may serve for two purposes, either that which 

 M. Valenciennes attributes to somewhat similar 

 tufts in Hypostoma, which he thinks are used in 

 assisting to support themselves against strong cur- 

 rents, or, in the fish before us, to disturb or rake up 

 the sand or mud at the bottom of the rivers, where 

 they lie in watch, and in this way insidiously 



