330 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



which it is placed. Caudal fin wide, broadly excavated behind, almost lunate ; its central 

 rays somewhat longer than the immediately adjacent ones on the sides. Its lobes frequently 

 unequal. 



Color. On the back, dark olive-brown, passing into yellowish green on the sides, which is 

 distinctly separated from the flesh-colored or white parts beneath. Pupils black ; irides yel- 

 lowish. 



Length, 23 - 0; from the branchial aperture to the jaws, 5'5. 



Fin rays, D. 14 ; P. 17 ; A. 12 ; C. 13. 



This species was first sent to Linneus from Carolina, and by him described. Bonnaterre, 

 in his compilation, added a few additional characters made up from a fanciful figure. It was 

 subsequently noticed by Schcepff, but without affording any additional information. The 

 Linnean phrase, " Ventre ab ore ad finem p. pectoralium tantum aculeato," is far from being 

 exact, and probably misled Mitchill, and induced him to describe it as distinct. He had, 

 however, previously referred it in his first ichthyological essay to the T. Icevigatus. It is called 

 Rabbit-fish, according to Schcepff, on account of the whiteness of its flesh. 



The Lineated Puffer is by no means a common species in our waters. It ranges from the 

 Gulf of Mexico to Rhode-Island, and, according to Parra, is poisonous. 



GENUS ACANTHOSOMA. 



Body globular, subcompressed, armed with spines, and susceptible of inflation. Dorsal, 

 caudal and anal united. Teeth as in Diodon. 



THE SMALL GLOBE-FISH. 



ACANTHOSOMA CARINATUM. 

 PLATE LV. FIG. 179. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 

 Diodon carinatus. Mitchill, Annals Lye, Nat. Hist. New-York, Vol. 2, p. 264, pi. 5, fig. 1. 



Characteristics. Small. Olive-brown above ; silvery on the sides and beneath. Length one 

 inch. 



Description. Body vertically oval, being higher than long. The prickles or spines are 

 pointed, distant and striated on the sides, with a dilated rounded base, distributed in the fol- 

 lowing manner : One, small, in the centre of facial profile, over the upper jaw ; one over each 

 orbit, and another behind ; three equidistant along the dorsal outline, to the dorsal ; two above 

 the pectoral fin, and one between this fin and the caudal ; below the pectoral, a row of four 

 on each side, extending from the chin to the caudal ; rudiments of two other rows below these. 

 The abdominal outline with three inequidistant spines ; the spaces between them being filled 

 up with numerous small pointed tubercles, which become obsolete on the sides of the abdomen. 



