•132 



GLOBE DIODON. Class IV. 



56. Gloee. Tetraodon laevigatus. Lin, fyji, 411. 



THIS fpecies is common to Europe and South 

 Carolina, As yet only a fmgle fpecimen has 

 been difcovered in our feas; taken at Penzance in 

 Cornwall. 



The length was one foot feven : the length of 

 the belly, when diftended, one foot -, the whole cir- 

 cumference in that fituation two feet fix. 



The form of the body is nfually oblong, but 

 when alarmed it has the power of inflating the bel- 

 ly to a globular fhape of great fize. This feems de- 

 figned as a m.eans of defence againft fifh of prey : 

 as they have lefs means of laying hold of it ; and 

 are befides terrified by the numbers of fpines with 

 which that part is armed ; and which are capable of 

 being eredted on every part. 



' The mouth is fmall : the irides white, tinged 

 with red : the back from head to tail almoft ftrait, 

 or at leail very (lightly elevated ; of a rich deep 

 blue color. It has the pecloral, but wants the ven- 

 tral fins. The dorfal is placed low on the back 5 

 the anal is oppofice : the tail almofl: even divided 

 by an angular projedtion in the middle : tail and 

 fins brown. 



The belly and fides are white, ihagreened or 

 wrinkled ; and befet with innumerable fmall fharp 

 fpines, adhering to the fl^in by four proceiTes. 



Thick 



