130 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1897. 



to dorsal ; only the snout, axil of pectoral and caudal peduncle 

 naked. Lateral line very faint, extending obliquely upward from 

 side of snout under eye, then backward, curving slightly downward 

 under dorsal, most distant on side of tail. 



Color, in alcohol : Above very dark brown, with black blotches, 

 the sides lighter with very pale reticulations, a series of about a 

 dozen irregular black spots along lower side; below white; caudal 

 slightly dusky, with no indications of bars, other fins colorless. 



This species differs from Spheroides spengleri in the high and 

 prominent eye, the very narrow interorbital, the strongly concave 

 outline of snout, the extensive distribution of prickles, and in color. 



175. Spheroides testudineus (Linnseus). Blow Fish. 



Tetrodon testudineus Linnaeus, X, 332, 1758 ; Giinther, Cat., VIII, 282. 

 Spluzroides testudineus, Jordan & Edwards, I'roc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1886, 239. 



The specimens here noted have been compared with specimens of 

 Spheroides annulatus from various localities on the Pacific Coast. 

 The spots on the sides are much larger in our specimens and the 

 dorsal not so high; height of dorsal 2 2 in head, when depressed, 

 reaching about half way to caudal. In the Pacific Coast specimens 

 the height of the dorsal is 2 or slightly less than 2 in head, when 

 depressed, extending over I or f of the caudal peduncle. 



DIODONTLDJE. 



176. Diodon hystrix Linnreus. Soursap ; Porcupine Fish. 



Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., Ed. X, 335, 1758 (India, after Artedi) ; 

 Eigenmann, American Diodontidse, 297, 1885. 



Several specimens 2* to 11 in. long and a skin 20 in. long. Those 

 about 6 or 7 inches long have the frontal and postpectoral spines 

 about equal, and all spines are covered with thick skin nearly to their 

 tips. There is a deep black blotch below and above the eye, a broad 

 one across the nape, a large one above each pectoral, a larger one 

 just behind middle of hack and one around base of caudal ; besides 

 these there are numerous, small, round spots about the size of the 

 pupil or smaller and about as numerous as the spines, scattered over 

 the body, there being three on each side of the tail and three on 

 upper side ; two or three of these behind and in front of the pectoral 

 forming- a single blotch. Ground color white below, dun color 

 above. Fins all colorless. 



The larger specimens have the frontal spines much shorter than 

 the postpectoral spines, There are no large blotches, but the dorsal 

 surface and fins are everywhere thickly covered with small round 

 black spots, very numerous around eye and on snout. 



