* 3 # 
THE DX ADOS'* 
Section VII. 
Genus X . — The Diadon. 
J HE cartilaginous clafs of fifties abounds with animals 
of anomalous and monflrous figures, which no pen can 
defcribe, and which even the pencil of the artift cannot 
imitate ; fuch are the endlefs variety of orbs, of triangu- 
lar and quadrangular fifh deferibed by Clujius , and after 
him by Willoughby *. They are moftly exotic animals, 
exhibiting the rich exuberance of nature on the warmer 
coafts of America , India , and the Mediterranean. From 
all thefe hideous animals, the Britijh feas are happily 
free : Their utility to man cannot be difeovered ; their 
deformity is obvious, and the venemous nature of man/ 
of them has been fo often confirmed by fatal experience, 
That it can no longer be doubted. From the diftance of 
their fituation, as well as their unattractive form, their 
hiftory is but little known ; we iliall felect, therefore, * 
few only for a particular diicuffion. 
* Ichthjologia, p. r43 
