PINTADO TETRODON. 449 



the eyes, and following the direction of tlie back till it 

 reaches the tail, which is small, and slightly round- 

 ed: under parts thickly beset with small spines: 

 native of the Indian seas, and sometimes of the 

 adjoining rivers, particularly those of China and 

 Japan. It is of an extremely poisonous nature, if 

 eaten without the greatest care in properly clean- 

 ing it before 'dressing, and is said to have some- 

 times proved fatal in the short space of two hours. 

 Kaempfer adds that the poisonous quality is still 

 increased by the addition of a species of Illicium, 

 but the symptoms, according to Rumphius, may be 

 cured by the timely administration of a vegetable 

 which he calls rex amaroris^ , The Emperor of 

 Japan prohibits his soldiers, under very severe 

 penalties, from eating this fish : the rest of his sub- 

 jects may, as Mr. Pennant observes, run the risque 

 of being poisoned with impunity. 



PINTADO TETRODON. 



^ Tetrodon Meleagris. T. fuscus aibo-punctatus. 

 Brown Tetrodon speckled with white. 

 Tetrodon Meleagris. Cepede. 



Colour as in the specific character : skin rough- 

 ened by innumerable small spines : native of the 



^ * Linnaeus says curatur rege anmroris/' an expression which 

 seems to have been frequently misunderstood : rex amaroris is a 

 vegetable described by Rumphius in his Herbarium Jmboinense. 

 In the Count de Cepede's Ichthyology I observe a singular mis- 

 take^ perhaps owing to typographical negligence ) viz. rege amuris. 



