Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-08
ITO Re CONTINUED
THE BALLOON FISH.
Known Also ~ the Swellflsh or swcl1toad
aud as the Spiny BOxfish.

Known Also ~ the Swellfish or swclltoad
aud as the spiny Bo1fish.
The balloon fish, described also as tho
spotted and striped balloon fish, is 80 called
on account Of Its power OF Initiating itself
into a shape somewhat resembling that Of
q balloon which 1t does by taking air or
water, usually air, into the abdominal
cavity. 1t is also known as tho swelltlsh,
or swelltoad.
Another name for this fish is the spiny
boxfish. The balloon fish has no scales
Projecting through its skin are numerous
short and thick but sharp spines, some
what resembling little horns. Each of
these spines springs from a broad base be-
meath the skin. The bases of the spines
form practically bony covering under tho
skin protecting the soft part of the iish's
body. From the shape of the fish itself
and from this boxlike covering over the top
and sides Of its body and the projecting
spnes the fish takes Its name OF spiny
boxflsh.
Initiation may be tho means Of enabling
the balloon fish to evade capture. The 1ish
may, when distcnded, be larger than tho
mouth Of its pursuer. If captured, by eject
ing the air or water with which it Is In
flated the fish may reduce itself to Its
usual size and thus escape Its sharp
spines are another means of defense.
The balloon fish's body Is broad, and
not of great depth. Its belly, or under
side, which is the infiatablo part OF the
body Is when not inflated almost fiat,
straight across from side to side OF the
fish. Its designation of spotted and striped
comes from the peculiar pattern OF It's color
alton. The body has q number OF large
black spots and numerous parallel black
stripes running irregularly, something
after the fashion of the zebra's stripes, and
separated by yellow interspaccs of about
the same width, SO that the fish seems to
be striped black and yellow The belly, or
underside of the body, is of light yell
low Above each eye there is q short fla
ment of skin, like tuft of seaweed or
little bag or tassel. Similar tilamcnts pro-
iect above some of the spincs.
The eyes are large, placed high up and
separated by wide face. The breast fins
are large, and, when expanded fan shaped.
The dorsal and anal fins are large and far
back toward the tall The tail fin is large
and fan shaped While tho balloon fish
has large fins, it is still heavy swimmer.
This is due partly to its clumsy shape,
partly to the fact that its dorsal and anal
fins are both of small base, thus giving
these fins comparatively small power, and
partly to the rigidity Of the tall due to
the boxlike bony covering in which the
body of the fish is inclosed, and conse-
qucntly the development of less power IN
the tail fin.
The balloon fish has but single tooth in
each jaw. The upper tooth is deeply notch
cd in the middle The lower tooth Ia so
shaped as to fit into the notch of the upper
one the two forming n sort of beak, which
is we'll adapted to the fish S requirements In
feeding. Itfceds upon barnaces and coral
polyps and the small fixed marine animals
In general, such as live in shells attached
to some objoct-pilcs, rocks and so OH
and it eats also some hard shell mollusks
and small crustaceans. The balloon fish
itself Is not good to eat.
The balloon fish is little fish. 1t grows
usually to be or 7 inches In length,
though sometimes more. 1t is common i'll
the waters of the West Indies and in the
gulf of Mexico and along the coast of the
United States as far north as Massachu-
sets New York Sun.