TETRAODON SCELERATUS. 12? 



the middle of the back, reaching to each pectoral fin, is a broad 

 black crescent, bordered with yellow, and pointing backwards. At 

 the base of the dorsal fin is a round black spot surrounded with 

 yellow. There is no ventral fin. The tail is small and slightly rounded. 

 Like the other species of this genus the ocellated Tetraodon pos- 

 sesses the singular power of inflating its abdominal cavity at plea- 

 sure. This inflation is produced by air sent from the gills into a 

 sac formed of a duplicature of the peritoneum, which aids the 

 animal in the water, and brings the organs of defence into a more 

 favourable position for resistance. 



The Ocellated Sun-fish abounds on the coasts of China and 

 Japan. It is accounted very delicious by the inhabitants of the 

 latter country, but is known to be so poisonous that the military 

 are forbidden, by a royal edict, from eating it. If properly cleaned 

 before dressing, and eaten as soon as caught, it may be partaken of 

 without much danger. Rumphius says its poisonous effects may 

 be removed by the timely administration of a vegetable which he 

 calls rex amaroris. 



TETRAODON SCELERATUS.— Nowious San-fish. 



Spec. Char. Head very large ; kngtfi two feet or more. 



TetrodoD scclcratus ; Syst. Nut. Gmelin, i. p. 1441 ; Forster, Voy. i. p. 643. 



Another fish of the same genus, the Tetraodon sceleratus, or 

 Noxious Sun- fish, is said to produce very dangerous symptoms 

 when taken as food. It is a native of the American and Pacific 

 Oceans, and is mentioned by Koempfer as occurring at Japan, 

 where it is sometimes employed as a means of committing suicide. 

 " People," says he, " that by some long and tedious sickness are 

 grown weary of their lives, or are otherwise under miserable cir- 

 cumstances, frequently choose this poisonous fish instead of a knite 

 or halter to make away with themselves. A neighbour of my ser- 

 vant, at Nagaski, being so strongly infected with a certain disease 

 that his nose was ready to drop off, resolved to take this meal, in 



