LECTURE VIII. 81 



One of these is the Diodon Hystrix, or Porcu- 

 pine-Fish, which grows to the length of about 

 a foot and half, and is covered over with a strong 

 skin, beset with very long and sharp-pointed 

 spines, so that in point of habit or external ap- 

 pearance it may be said to connect in some de- 

 gree the class of fishes witl> that of the spiny 

 quadrupeds, ;such as the Porcupines and Hedge- 

 hogs. Another species has shorter spines with a 

 much broader base. 



There is a very remarkable European fish, 

 sometimes referred to this genus, but which in 

 reality should form a distinct one, commonly 

 called the Sun-Fish or Diodon Mola. It is of 

 a silvery colour with a cast of blueish brown ; 

 grows to a very large size, and perfectly repre- 

 sents the head of some large fish abruptly cut 

 off from the body. 



I must not omit observing that the genus 

 Diodon is that which misled Linnaeus into the 

 idea that the Cartilaginous fishes were furnished 

 with a kind of lungs as well as with gills. In 

 order to ascertain this point he requested Dr. 

 Garden of Carolina to examine into the organs 

 of the Porcupine and other Diodons in a living 



LftCT. II. G 



