FISHES. 523 



observations must determine. At present \vt seem better ac- 

 quainted with their figure than their history : their deformity is 

 obvious ; and the venomous nature of the greatest number, has 

 been confirmed by fatal experience — This circumstance, as well 

 as the happy distance at which they are placed from us, being all 

 found in the Oriental or American seas, may have prevented a 

 more critical inquiry ; so that we know but little of the nature 

 of their malignity, and still less of their pursuits and enmities in 

 tlie deep. 



In the first of this tribe we may place the Sea Orb, which is 

 almost round, has a mouth like a frog, and is from seven inches 

 to two feet long. Like the porcupine, from whence it some- 

 times takes its name, being also called the Sea Porcupine, it is 

 covered over with long thorns or prickles, which point on every 

 side ; and, when the animal is enraged, it can blow up its body 

 as round as a bladder. Of this extraordinary creature there are 

 many kinds ; some threatening only with spines, as the Sea 

 Hedgehog ; others defended with a bony helmet that covers the 

 head, as the Ostracion ; others with a coat of mail from the head 

 to the tail, where it terminates in a point, as the Centriscus ; 

 and others still armed offensively and defensively with bones and 

 spines, as the Shield Orb.* 



• The Eared Ottracioru— Thin fish has a brown spine over each eye, two 

 «n each side of the back, tlie same on each side of the abdomen, and one on 

 each side of the body. Its teeth are cylindrical, blunt, and pointing for. 

 wards. The whole body is mailed with a complete bony covering. This 

 species is found about the islands of the Pacific ocean, and is readily distin- 

 guished from the rest of its cogeners. Its length is about four inches ani^ 

 B half. 



The I.ineated Te^rorfon.— The jaws are bony, and divided at the tip ; th« 

 body is roughened beneath, and the ventral fins wanting ; the abdomen is 

 variegated by longitudinal brown bands. This singular fish, which is a na- 

 tive of the Mediterranean sea, is also said to bo sometimes found in the river 

 Nile. Like many others of its genus, it has a power of inflating at plea.sure 

 the skin of its body ; and being covered on the abdomen with numerous 

 draall spines, is said to inflict considerable pain on the hands of those who 

 incautiou-sly touch it. It grows to the length of from eight to ten inches. 



The Orbicular Diarfon.— This remarkable fish grows about a foot in length, 

 and is a native of the tropical seas. It is of a rounder shape than the Wa- 

 don llystria', or Porcupine Diadon: its jaws are bony, and undivided ; and 

 the body beset with moveable spines. The spines are much shorter than the 

 porcupine diadon, with broader bases, forming a kind of curved reticuliir 

 pattern on the skin. 



The SaOj Cenlritcus.—'IXxc head of this fish is oroduicd iutci a very uiir- 



