Birds and Beasts that Bluff 



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tion and defy the enemy to find an exposed point 

 for attack. 



There is one sort of fish, however, represented 

 by several species in Northern seas, as well as 

 many in the tropics, which combines a strong 

 disposition to bluff with a very good " hand." 

 This is the tribe of globe-fish or porcupine fish, 

 of which the little puffer or swell-doodle of our 

 Atlantic coast is a good example. 



These fishes when quiet look much like others, 

 except that they have a rough, leathery skin 

 instead of a scaly one, and are everywhere (ex- 

 cept along the abdomen) covered with bristle- 

 like appendages. Let one of them be alarmed 

 in any way, however, and an almost instan- 

 taneous change takes place. It sucks in water 

 by rapid gulps until it swells into a ball studded 

 with stiff spikes. In this condition it rises to 

 the surface of the water and spins and bobs 

 about, giving queer audible grunts, and making 

 a most extraordinary and to our eyes comical 

 appearance. 



This is enough to make 'most any thought- 

 ful fish repent the error of its intention, and 



+$ 127 



