fome terreftrial ones, which may therefore be faid, 
according to common conceptions, to be in fome 
degree allied ; and, confidered in this point of view, 
what has been affirmed by an ingenious Frenchman 
of the old dodrine of botanical fignatures, may 
in great meafure be granted, viz. that the notion, 
though loaded with errors, may be allowed upon 
the whole to contain almoft as many truths as 'falfe- 
hoods. Among!!: the animals which hand as exam¬ 
ples of this allowable nomination, the fifh repre- 
fented on the plate may ferve as a remarkable in- 
ftance ; its fpiny appearance naturally bringing to 
mind the quilly armour of the porcupine. This 
animal in the twelfth edition of the Syftema Naturae 
of Linnaeus, was ranked under the particular divi- 
llon of Amphibia termed Nantes, or (as it might 
with more propriety have floodJ Nantia. From a 
more accurate knowledge however of their anatomi¬ 
cal ftrudure than was then known, the naturalifts 
of the prefent day have pretty generally agreed to re¬ 
move thefe creatures from the Amphibia, and to re¬ 
mand them to their proper fituation amongft fiffies. 
The Diodon Hyftrix is principally found in the 
Indian and American Teas, and grows to a confide- 
rable flze ; having been feen of the length of about 
two feet. Its more general ilze is however much 
fmaller. Its colour is a pale brown; and the 
prickles are of a triangular fhape towards their bafe. 
The Diodon has the power of ereding or depreffing 
its fpines in a great degree, as well as of inflating 
or contrading its body. 
In 
