PLECTOGNATHI OK PUFFEKS, ETC. 



some species the egg-sacks are on the breast or belly ; in 

 others, on the tail. 



SUB-SECTION VII. 

 THE OKDEE or PLECTOGNATHI OR PUFFERS, ETC. 



FIG. 312. 



Sun-Fish, Orthagoriscus mola, Schreiber. 



FIG. 313. 



Trunk-Fish, Lactophrys camelinus, Dekay. 



THE name Plecto- 

 gnatlii comes from the 

 Greek plectos, twisted 

 or conjoined, and gna- 

 t/ios, jaw, and is given 

 to fishes known as the 

 Puffers, the Sun-fishes, 

 etc. or the Diodontidae, 

 and the Trunk-fishes or 

 Ostraciontidse, all of 

 which have the maxil- 

 laries and premaxil- 

 laries fixed together, 

 and the whole united 

 firmly by suture to 



FIG. 314. 



Puffer, Telraodon turgidus, Mitchell. 



the cranium. The Puffers have the power of greatly 

 inflating themselves by swallowing air, and hence their 



12 



