////: .ST.V./ />// 



nautical pn-jn piit.-with.-ut foundation, tli- tl-sh l-ing sweet and nutritions, 



though rather coarse. < >n the al-l-m-n then* in a l~.n\ K.-.-I. and on . .-. h >i.|- of the tail there 



.u- nveml rows oj bong ipfan - i Ui -i- i- - h hmnd in .'..| une dm in oola M i- DM 

 of the most striking of its --mi-. U-ing t.-l-nii.|\ large, and black in < -lor. diversified by some 

 large, pal- \-,|.. .-r whit.- s|,ts U ]M>n the sides of tile abdomen. Two other species are also 

 given in order to exhibit the curious \ari-ty <-f form and coloring found in tli. -s. i-maikaM.- 

 tish. Tli- I'-Ki-ii.'v Ti:i..i>Klt-KI-H is notable from the quant : isil- like appendages to 



the tail, while the gen-nil api-aian. f the I \ M:\II.I. THKMJEB-KI-II apjiears to be smooth nil 



.\-r its b.|\. Th- name <>f Balistes is derived from t he ancient weapon of war, tinned the 

 . u Inch ]>n>jected a spear or heavy stone with exceeding violence. The curious 



which the back : 1 -ri ' i ' 1 id]- nrrrtort nntl tloprnoatid, in if nh i with us] 



and has b<vn compared to the weapon alxive nicntion.-d. It has l*en thought, that the flesh 

 of these fishes is poisonous, but th- truth of this opinion is very dubious. They are all deco- 

 rated with bold and sometimes beautiful markings, Mark, ashen-gray, bine, and \-llow being 

 their usual colors. 



All the fishes of this genus (which has been divided by some authors into several 

 Other genera) are inhabitants of the tropical seas, where they haunt the rocky coasts, and 



mak- the MM :.. :;.r/ :'!, :'..-.! :.;! 'i':'::,.- I'., all RppeHBMet, lh-\ ai- \.--tal.l-- 



feeders, as nothing but crush. -d sea-weed has been found in their stomachs. 



In the menibers of the family Gymnodontes, or Naked-toothed fishes, the jaws project 

 from the mouth, and are covered with a kind of ivory or bony substances, composed of very 

 little teeth fused together. 



Tile fishes - A/> n/'-ra) are equally so. Then there are the Puffers ( Tdraodon}, Blowers, and 

 Sw-11-toad, so call-d. quit.- curious to behold as they paddle in the sea, like heavy hulks that 

 have little propelling power. Allied here is the curious porcupine-fish (Diodon), a veritable 

 h\ siri\ in :ipj>a ranee, sometimes reaching three feet in length. 



The URCHIN-FISH, or SEA Hi I.I:HOO, is a good example of the genus Diodon, or Two- 

 toothed fishes; so called because their jaws are not divided, and only exhibit one i 

 of bony substance above and another below, looking as if the creature only possessed two 

 large teeth. 



This curious fish is remarkable for the tremendous array of spiny point* which it bean 

 on its skin, and for the power of inflating its body into a globular form, and thus causing the 

 spines to project in e\-ry direction, like the quills of an irritated porcupine or a hedgehog that 

 has coiled itself into a ball. From this custom of inflating its prickly body it is sometimes 

 termed the Prickly Globe-fish. 



When full-grown, a fine specimen of this fish will measure more than twelve inches 

 in diameter. 



The HAIRY URCHIN-FISH is easily recognized by the bristle like fineness of the spine*. 



Closely allied to the diodons are the Tet radons, or Four toothed fishes, so called because 

 both jaws are divided in the middle, giving them the appearance of possessing four teeth, two 

 above and two below. The spines of these fishes are comparatively small. Th- T-t rodons are 

 popularly known by the title of BALLOON 1 1-11. as. like the diodons, they have the power of 

 distending themselves with air, and causing all the spines to erect tli.-ms.-lv.-s. \\ h-n 

 inflated, they necessarily turn on their backs. The STRIPED SPINE-BELLY is a good example 

 of this genus. 



BESIDES the tetrodons, this group includes another genus called Triodons, or Three- 

 toothed fishes, the upper jaw being divided into two parts, and the lower remaining entire. 

 The spines are short, and a moderately large sac is seen beneath the body. The POUCHED 

 TRIODON (Triodon burt&riut) may be selected to represent the genus.. 



OCR last example of this curious order is the well-known Sry-FisH. which looks just as if 

 the head and shoulders of some very large fish had been abruptly cut off, and a fin supplied to 



the severed extremity 

 VOL m-r. 



