THE SEA PORCUPINE. 
145 
Genus XII . — The Sea Porcupine *. 
This animal is placed among the orbs or globular filh, 
by Willoughby ; of all the inhabitants of the fea, it is the 
mod completely furnilhed by nature with detenfive ar- 
mour. Inftead of fcales, the whole ikin is covered with 
ftrong Iharp fpines, which are firmly inferted into it at the 
bafe. Thefe are all laid flat when the animal is at reft ; 
but when alarmed, they all around Hand upon end, fo that 
the fifti is inacceffible upon every quarter. There are 
v arious kinds of thefe animals ; all, however, feem equal- 
ly poffeffed of the power of railing ordepreffing their fpines 
at pleafure, and by that means of increafmg the terror of 
their appearance in proportion to the approach of danger. 
Together with the power of creeling their fpines, they 
Poffefs alfo that of inflating their bodies on the appearance 
of an enemy. This operation is performed by means of 
a bag within the body, which, by being filled with air, 
ln fiates the filh to a prodigious fixe : An animal of this 
tr ibe, that at firft view feems fmall and inoffenfive, is no 
J °°ner alarmed or provoked, than it fwells to the view, 
'he whole body becoming vifibly rounder and larger; 
w hile in the mean time all its prickles Hand upright, and 
threaten the invader on every fide f. The Americans of- 
ten amufe themfelves with the barren pleafure of catching 
*hefe frightful creatures, by a line and hook baited with 
^ 0 E. III. T apiece 
* Hiftrix, C'.ufii Erot. Hiftrix, Li?. Syft, 
' 0| >WfmiA's Nat. Hift. 
