263 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



round weeds or other objects, and darts at its prey 

 with great dexterity." 



6. PLECTOGNATHI (Plaited jaw). 



The Sea Porcupine (Diodon hystrix) belongs to this order. 

 These Pish are of a peculiar thick rounded form, and 

 occasionally innate their stomachs with air, which makes 

 them almost spherical, in which state they float with the 



TIG. 43. THE SUN-FISH (Orthagoriscus). 



belly upwards, and being covered with spines, present 

 rather a formidable object to attack ; the flesh is 

 unwholesome, and, it is said, the liver is violently 

 poisonous ; some of the species of this fish are phos- 

 phorescent, and from this appearance they derive the 

 name of Sunfish, as they shine very brightly in the dark. 

 The short Sunfish (fig. 43) turns round as it swims ; 

 it is very large, sometimes weighing from three to 

 four hundred pounds. They yield a considerable 

 quantity of oil, for which they are caught. Their jaws 

 are not divided into teeth, but consist each of a single 

 piece; they live upon seaweeds and various crus- 

 taceans. 



