61. FISTULARIID^: FISTULARIA. 389 



with prolonged snout aud different ventral fins. A single genus, Fistu- 

 la ria, with two or more species. 



(Fistularidce, part, genus Fistularia Giinther, iii, 529-535.) 



19O. FISTULARIA Linuanis. 



Trumpet-fishes. 

 (Liuureus, Syst. Nat. 1758: type Fistularia talaccaria L. ) 



Characters of the genus included above. The bony shields, charac- 

 teristic of this genus, are thus enumerated by Dr. Giinther: 



" 1. A narrow strip along the median line of the back behind the 

 skull (conflmut neural spines). 



"2. The pair of broader lateral dorsal shields are peculiar bones, 

 separated processes of the occipital bone similar to those we have 

 observed in Mugil, where, however, they are not separated from the 

 occipital, and arise more outwardly than in Fistularia. These shields 

 are the longest, provided anteriorly with a ridge, which is prolonged 

 and extends far backwards between the muscles of the back. This 

 ridge is flexible, and does uot interfere with the lateral movements of 

 the fish; it appears to serve as a base for the attachment of muscular 

 fibres. 



"3. The narrow shield on the side is the coracoid, and composed of 

 two bones, the posterior of which is somewhat dilated and fixed to the 

 lateral dorsal shields. 



"4. The ventral shields are the pubic bones; their posterior half is 

 broadest, porous inferiority ; they are narrower before the middle, leav- 

 ing a free lanceolate spase between them, and are again a little widened 

 anteriorly, where they join the humerus and urohyal." (Giinther, iii, 

 532.) (Latin, fistula, a tube or pipe.) 



a. Skiu covered with dermal ossifications. 



635} F. taE>uccaria Linn. Trumpet-fish. 



Eeddish brown above, variegated with numerous blue spots on the 

 sides and back. Mouth slightly oblique, lower jaw the longer, over- 

 lapping the upper; snout much prolonged, tapering but little forward; 

 its edges with fine serrations or none. Margin of orbit with sharp com- 

 pressed points in front and behind. Mandible about 4 in snout; snout 

 3f in length of body. Head 2|. D. 14; A. 13. Warm seas; occa- 

 sional on our South Atlantic coast. 



(Linn. Syst. Nat.; Giinther, iii, 529.) 



