CLASS Y. PISCES: ORDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 



433 



The fishes of the genera Diodon and Teiraodon, popularly called Sca-Porcujmics, have a large 

 air-bladder, which they inflate by swallowing air, till they appear almost like balls. They 

 are also covered with spines which they erect at will. Several species of Diodon., called Bal- 

 loon-Fish, are common in our waters. They are of very small size. Those of the genus Teira- 

 odon are called Puffers: several species are met with in the American seas. The Common 

 Puffer, T. turgidus, which has the various designations of Blower, Toad-Fisli, and /Swell-Fitsh, 

 is six to twelve inches long ; is abundant on our shores, and is frequently taken by anglers 

 seekino- for tautog. When taken out of the water it will puff itself up like a distended bladder ; 

 the boys, in a spirit of cruel sport, sometimes throw a large stone upon it in this state, when it 



bursts with a loud explosion. Several 



known 



along 



the 



pennant's globe-fisu. 



other species are 

 American coast. 



Pennant's Globe-Fish, T. Pennantii, 

 is found in Europe ; it occasionally hap- 

 pens that this, as well as other species, 

 when they have pufted themselves up, 

 lose their balance in the water, and 

 float about, belly upward, in a most help- 

 less condition. The sharp spines on 

 their stomachs, however, protect them 

 from their enemies. Pennant's Globe- 

 fish is about eighteen inches long; a 

 smaller kind, found in the Nile, T. line- 

 atus, is said to have electrical properties, and occasionally being driven on shore, it dies and 

 becomes dried, and is used for balls by the children A very small species of globe-fish is found 

 on our coast. 



The largest species of this family is that of the Sun-Fisii or Short Sun-Fish, Orthagoriscus 



mola, which is almost of a circular foi-m, 

 with long dorsal and anal fins, projecting 

 like handles from its hinder parts. It at- 

 tains a great size, sometimes as much as 

 four or five hundred pounds' weight, and 

 measures four or five feet in length. It 

 has a silvery appearance, and at night is 

 highly phosphorescent, whence it is called 

 Sun-Fish, and in some places Moon-Fish. 

 Its flesh is not good, but it yields consider- 

 able oil. It is found on the coasts of Eu- 

 rope and America. It is here often called 

 Head-Fish. 



THE LOPIIOBEANCHIA. 



To this division, so called on account of 

 the tufted gills of the species, belongs a single 

 family, of very curious formation, bearing 

 the name of Sea-Horse, one species of which 

 is found in Europe — the Short-nosed Sea- 

 HoRSE, HijJjwcamjms hrevirostris. These 

 animals have a head of the shape of a horse, 

 and a long tail without any fin, but which 

 is used by the fish to lay hold of sea-weed 

 and other objects. They are common in the tropics, and are often brought home by sailors. 

 Vol. II. — 55. 



THE SHORT SUN-FISH. 



