78 VOYAGE IN SEARC!I 



practice had already fucceeded fo completely 

 "vvith the filliermeii of the Efperance in D'Entre- 

 cafteaux's Strait, that they had laid in feveral 

 months flock of fifh, which fome of them kept 

 in a ftrong pickie, and others dried them. 



I happened to be prefent feveral times during 

 the day, when they were hauling the feine; 

 and I always obfcrved fome new fpecies of fea 

 hedge-hog. I admired the promptitude with 

 which thefe little fifhes, by fwelling themfelves, 

 as foonas they were handled, erecled the prickles 

 with which they are covered ; but they let them 

 fall, and kept them, throughout their vv^hole 

 length, drawn in clofe to their fkin, as foon as 

 they thought themfelves out of danger. From 

 this obfervation it is evident, that the attitude 

 which is given to fiflies of this genus, by 

 fwelling them as much as poiTible, and in v/hich 

 they are exhibited in cabinets of natural hifiory, 

 is not that which is mod common to them. 



\\c put on fhore, near the northern bank of 

 this bay, a flie-goat which was with kid, and a 

 young he-goat, lincerely wiihing that the fa^ 

 vages might allow thefe quadrupeds to propa^ 

 gate in their ifland. Perhaps they may there 

 multiply fo as to occaiion a total change in 

 the mode of life of the inhabitants, who, be- 

 ing then able to become a paftoral people, will 

 abandon, witbouL regret, the fea-fnores, and 



enjoy 



