HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 429 
FAMILY XXVI. OSTRACIONIDZ. 
Body triangular or four-sided, enveloped in a hard bony case, composed of nu- 
merous plates, soldered together in such a manner that only the mouths and fins 
are movable No ventral fins; a single dorsal. e 
GENUS LACTOPHRYS, Dexay. 
Body triangular; with strong spines directed backwards before the anal fin. Or- 
bits usually spinous. : 
Lacropurys Yarrr, Dekay. 
Yale's Trunk-fish. 
(Prate XXXV. Fio. 3.) 
Ostracion Yalei, Storer, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., 1. p. 353, pl. 8. 
x E, Yale's Trunk.fish, SronER, Report, p. 176. 
Lactophrys Yalei, Yales Trunk-fish, DEKAY, Report, p. 362. 
S is STORER, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, 11. p. 498. 
E - ej Synopsis, p. 246. 
Color. Above, of a light leaden color; beneath, nearly colorless. 
Description. Body triangular. Its entire surface is granulated and covered with: 
hexagonal plates, each containing six raised lines, which diverge from the centre 
of the plate to the angles; these plates are much the larger posterior to the 
pectoral fins. From the posterior angle of the eye to the ligamentary substance 
at the base,of the tail are included ten plates in a direct line; from the highest 
point of the back to the abdomen are nine similar rows of plates. Behind the 
dorsal fin is a surface of ligamentary substance, of a darker color than the rest 
of the exterior, extending to the caudal fin, and containing, just back of the dor- 
sal fin, one isolated plate, apparently composed of portions of several plates. Upon 
the posterior portion of the abdomen are situated, laterally, two stout, naked, re- 
curved spines, The mouth is large and prominent; the jaws are armed with elon- 
gated, strong teeth; the eyes are large, and elongated horizontally; the nostrils 
are directly anterior to the anterior inferior angle of the eye. 
'The fin rays are as follows: — D. 10. P. 12. A. 10. C. 10. 
Remarks. 'The only specimen of this species which has been seen was discovered 
alive by Dr. Yale, in 1833, among the sea-weed on the beach at Martha's Vine- 
yard, and was by him presented to the Boston Society of Natural History. In the 
VOL. VIII. 56 
