440 Fishes. 



THE GLOBE FISH, (Tetraodon hispidus,) 



Is an oblong fish, inhabiting the seas of Carolina, and 

 endowed with an extraordinary power of swelling its 

 under surface into a large globe. This sudden enlarge- 

 ment not only alarms the enemies of the Tetrodon, but 

 prevents them from making good their hold, by pre- 

 senting to their grasp little more than an inflated bag. 

 It is also covered with spines, which merely adhere 

 to the skin, and are capable of being erected on any 

 sudden emergency ; thus giving to an innocent and de- 

 fenceless creature a most formidable appearance. 



When inflated, they roll over on their backs, floating 

 in this position, without any power of directing their 

 course. Some species are reckoned poisonous. One is 

 electrical, (Tetraodon lineatus,) and is found in the Nile; 

 when left on shore by the inundations, it always inflates 

 its body, becomes dried in this condition, and is then 

 picked up by the children, and used as a ball. 



