306 THE DIODON. 



in Europe ; but here also occur forms, like the Chelonia 

 and Triffonocephalus, which remind you that these regions 

 are connected in their natural productions, with the 

 Islands of the Archipelago of Malayan Asia. 



Among Fish, a species of Diodon is common in the 

 bays of Pa-tchung-san and the adjacent islands. The 

 eye of this singular Fish is large, with a black pupil and 

 splendid golden iris ; when first caught it bites severely 

 with its trenchant teeth, and spits at those who approach 

 it. The Diodon swims heavily, and at the bottom, feeding 

 on small Crustacea, Shell-Fish, and Annelida ; when 

 irritated, it distends its mis-shapen ugly body, and when 

 puffed up in this manner, can, with difficulty, make pro- 

 gress through the water. I have seen seamen practise a 

 rather cruel experiment on the poor Diodon, which they 

 term " sprit-sail-yarding." This consists in passing a 

 thin piece of wood across the skin of the back, which 

 prevents the Fish from sinking, and at the same time 

 enables it to make use of its fins ; in this condition the 

 unfortunate animal progresses through the water, to the 

 great edification of Jack, who laughs, and calls it his 

 " little steamer ! " 



Octopi, of enormous size, are occasionally met with 

 among the Islands of the Meia-co-shimah Group. I mea- 

 sured one, which two men were bearing on their shoulders 

 across a pole, and found each brachium rather more than 

 two feet long, giving the creature the power of exploring 

 a space of about twelve feet, without moving, taking the 

 mouth for a central point, and the ends of the arms for 

 the periphery. Dorsal plates of Sepia, moreover, are 

 found strewing the beaches, a foot and a half in length. 

 These are not quite so monstrous, however, as those of a 



