174 GLOBE TETRODON. Class IV. 



3. Globe. Tetrodon lagocephalus. T. ab- to et subrotundo. Artedi 



domine aculeato, corpore Syn. 86. Gron. mus. 1. re. 



laevi, humeris prominenti- 120. 



bus. Gm. Lin. 1444. ? L'Orbe etoile.* Block ichth. 



Ostracion catheroplateo-oblon- iv. 127. tab. 140.? 

 gus, ventre tantum aculea- 



JL HIS species is common to Europe and South 

 Carolina. As yet only a single specimen has 

 been discovered in our seas, which was taken at 

 Penzance in Cornwall. 

 Descrip- The length was one foot seven inches ; the 

 length of the belly, when distended, one foot; 

 the whole circumference in that situation two 

 feet six. The form of the body is usually 

 oblong, but when alarmed it has the power of 

 inflating the belly to a globular shape of great 

 size. This seems designed as a means of 

 defence against fish of prey ; as they have less 

 means of laying hold of it ; and are besides ter- 

 rified by the numbers of spines with which that 

 part is armed, and which are capable of being 



* Some doubts may be entertained whether this is the Orle 

 ctoili of Block, as it differs materially in color, and the spines 

 on the belly arise from four instead of three processes which 

 distinguish the fish described by the German naturalist; it may, 

 however, be remarked, that his figure does not correspond with 

 the description in respect to the number of processes. Ed. 



