106 THE SEA-rORCUPINE. 



the mouth of which was not less than a yard wide. The under 

 jaw of this animal is much longer than the upper. The eyes 

 are placed on the top of the head, and encompassed with prickles. 

 The colour of the upper part of the body is dusky, but the belly 

 is white, and the skin smooth. The fishermen in general have 

 a great regard for this monster, as it is known to be an inveterate 

 enemy to the dog-fish — the bodies of these voracious creatures 

 being often found in its stomach : on this account, therefore, 

 whenever they catch the fishing-frog, they generally set it at 

 liberty ; and it must be considered as a fortunate circumstance 

 in its favour, that it has thus conciliated their friendship. 



THE SEA-PORCUPINE, 



From its extraordinary figure, deserves to be mentioned. Like 

 the land porcupine, it is covered with long prickles, which point 

 every way ; and when it is enraged, it can blow up its body as 

 round as a bladder. These frightful fishes consist of several dif- 

 ferent species, and are of various sizes, some not larger than a 

 football, and others as large as a bushel. Their bodies are al- 

 most round, with the mouth like that of a toad, and enormously 

 wide. When caught with a bait, the spines, which before laid 

 flat, are immediately erected, and the animal appears armed at 

 all points, so that it is impossible to lay hold of it in any part. 

 It must, therefore, be dragged by the line to the shore where it 

 soon expires. 



Having exhibited a slight view of some of the wondrous works 

 of* the Creator, displayed in this class of fishes, we shall prepare 

 to diversify the subject, by a concise description of a few of the 

 next class. 



CHAPTER III. 

 SPINOUS FISHES. 



" Thus the mail'd tortoise, and the wand'ring eel, 

 Oft to the neighbouring beach with silence steal." 



Appian. 



We have already stated that the third grand division of fishes 

 is that of the spinous, or bony kind. These are obviously distin- 

 guished, by having a long covering to their gills ; by being fur- 

 nished with no other instruments of respiration than gills ; by 

 their bones, which are sharp and thorny ; and by their tails, 

 which are placed in a situation perpendicular to the body. 



The bones of this order of fishes are exceedingly numerous 



