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LITTLE FOLKS 
Its color is blue-black above, and white below, and it is usually ten 
or twelve feet long, sometimes much longer. 
This fish sometimes has serious fights with the saw fish. It 
is not good to eat. 
The fishermen of the Mediterranean who fish for this creature, 
have a curious superstition about it. While out seeking them, the 
men chant a song set to Greek words, and believe that the fish will 
follow as long as they sing that. They say, however, that one 
word of Italian will drive them back to the bottom of the sea. 
Sweet creature! What a delightful object he would be to 
encounter. 
He is cabled Diodon, because he has but two teeth, or rather 
his lower jaws are not divided, so that the upper part is one tooth, 
and the lower another. 
This creature is dressed in spiny points — as you see — and can 
inflate himself into the shape of a ball, making his spines stick out 
in every direction. He has also the name of Prickly Globe Fish. 
He's a spunky fellow; after being some time out of water, he will 
puff himself up, stick up his spines, gnash his teeth, and make 
some sort of a sound. 
