Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1914 — WATS OF SEA HEDGEHOGS. [ARTICLE]

WATS OF SEA HEDGEHOGS.

tow tt Protects Itself From the Hx» gry Shark. Of fishes a largo number are protected from hostile attack by a cow trlng of pfickles. By far the most lurlous examples are the globe fishes or “sea hedgehogs” of the Atlantic ind Indo-Faciflc oceans. The ex>xeme length of the globe fish Is tomethlng less than two feet. It las thick lips and goggle eyes, which live it the appearance of a good-nat-ired countryman. Courage It seems to lack, and one might suppose that mch a simpleton would fall an eaay prey to the first shark or dogfish It inoountered. Tot the globe fish In' ibie to take care of itself. It never, under any circumstances, attacks the onemy, yet Is always ready to revive him in a suitable manner should he provoke hostilities. Let us suppose that a shoal of globe fishes is iwlmming tranquilly in the clear waters when It is suddenly surprised by a hungry shark. Of course the little fellows scuttle hither and thither in uncontrollable alarm. But the shark, poising hlmsdlf upon bis powerful tall, leisurely singles out one of the fleeing globe fishes and sets out in pursuit. Now, although the globe fish Is a good swimmer, it ano matoh for the shark. Thu chase Is in every way unequal and can have but one ending. Within a few minutes of Its commencement the shark must overtake the globe fish; But the quarry is well aware of Its danger. It makes a bee-line for the surface, and as soon as it gets there begins to take in great gulps of air. Then a strange thing happens. The fish that only a moment before was thin and small begins to grow stouter and stouter until, like the frog in the fable, it seems in danger of bursting. It stops inflating itself, however, just in time to avert this catastrophe. But its skin has become as taut as a drumhead and the whole of its body is covered with sharp erect prickles. It has become a sea hedghog, and the hungry shark which comes surging through the water dares not touch it, but turns tall in search of something more eatable. Of course the globe fish was covered with prickles all the time, but In periods of tranquility these lie comfortably along Its sides, just as'do those of the hedgehogs. Unlike its land prototype, however, the sea hedgehog is unprovided with a special muscle for erecting) its prickles, so when danger threatens ,it has recourse to the mechanical methbd of inflating the whole body with air or with water if it cannot reach the surface quickly.