CLASS PISCES. 571 



ber, to each jaw ; their skin is generally rough or 

 clothed with hard scales. Their natatory bladder, 

 oval, large, and robust. 



Balistes, L., 



Have the body compressed ; eight teeth on a single 

 range in each jaw ; most frequently trenchant ; the 

 skin scaly, or grained, but not absolutely osseous. 

 There is a first dorsal composed of one or several 

 prickles, articulated on a particular bone, which at- 

 taches to the cranium, and presents a furrow into 

 which the prickles may be withdrawn ; there is also a 

 second dorsal, soft, and long, and placed opposite an 

 anal pretty nearly similar. Although they have no 

 ventrals, we observe in their skeleton a true pelvic 

 bone suspended to the bones of the shoulder. 



These fishes are found in great numbers in the 

 torrid zone, near rocks, on a level with the water, 

 where they shine, like the chaetodons, with brilliant 

 colours. Their flesh, generally but little esteemed, 

 is said to become dangerous during the season in 

 which they feed upon the coral polypi. I have found 

 nothing but fucus in those which I have opened \ 



Balistes, (properly so called), 

 Have the entire body clothed with large scales, very 



1 Balistes is a name given to these fishes by Artedi, from their 

 Italian name Pesce bale sir a, which is itself derived from some fancied 

 resemblance between the movement of their great dorsal spine, and 

 that of a cross-bow. 



