FAMILY BALISTID^E MONOCANTHUS. 333 



weighed two hundred pounds. Its flesh is represented to be worthless as an article of food. 

 In the young, according to Yarrel, there are within the lower jaw tooth several dull pearl-like 

 teeth of various shapes ; some thin and flat, presenting an edge ; others behind, cylindrical, 

 short, and rather pointed. These disappear with age ; for we learn from Jenyns, that in the 

 adult, the lamellated substance is undivided. Various parasitical animals, such as Pennella 

 sagitta and Tristoma coccineum, are found frequently adhering to his body. It is a sluggish 

 dull fish, and is easily captured. It has been known to weigh four hundred or five hundred 

 pounds. 



FAMILY BALISTID&. 



Body compressed. Snout prolonged from the eyes. Mouth small, with a few distinct teeth 

 in each jaw. Skin roughened with prickles or scales. Dorsals two; the anterior some- 

 times represented by a single spine. Ventrals often wanting or indistinct. Pelvic bone 

 prominent. 



Obs. The number of species hitherto observed is about seventy, principally inhabitants of 

 the tropical seas. They are often distinguished by their brilliant colors. 



GENUS MONOCANTHUS. Cuvier. 



Body covered with very minute scales, assuming the form of prickles. Extremity of the 

 pelvis salient and spinous. A single large dentated spine, in place of the first dorsal ; 

 occasionally a small and almost imperceptible spine. 



THE ORANGE FILE-FISH. 



MONOCANTHUS AURANT1ACUS. 

 PLATE LVII. FIG. 186. 

 The Change File-fish, Balistes aurantiac-us. Mitchill, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 408, pi. 6, fig. 1. 



Characteristics. Oval. Brilliant yellow or orange. Tail uneven. Dorsal and anal bordered 

 with dusky. Length one to two feet. 



Description. Body much compressed, subovate. Mouth prominent. Facial line slightly 

 concave. Dorsal outline, between the spine and dorsal fin, horizontal. Abdomen tumid. 

 Surface with minute, acute, incurved prickles, which are felt opposing the hand in all direc- 

 tions, and extend along the rays of all the fins. Very small naked furrows maybe perceived 

 with a lens, traversing the surface, and separating the spiny prickles into minute patches or 

 plates. Depth of the body rather more than half the total length. Mouth small and pro- 

 duced ; the lower jaw longest, and armed with eight thin flattened teeth, of which those in 



