FAMILY BALISTIDJJ MONOCANTHUS. 335 



THE LONG-FINNED FILE-FISH. 



MONOCANTHUS BROCCUS. 



PLATE LVI. FIG. 183. 



Batistes tomentosus? Bloch, p. 373 ; Bonnaterre, Ency. Method. Vol. 18, pi. 10, fig. 32? 

 Tui-mouthed File-fish, Batistes broccus. Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Sac. Vol. 1, p. 407. 



Characteristics. Uniform brown. Dorsal fin with an equal convex margin. Mouth promi- 

 nent, projecting. Length eight inches. 



Description. Body subovate, and covered with asperities, which, under the lens, appear to 

 be composed of small scales, each with a prickle directed backwards. No lines nor spots on 

 the body. Back regularly convex, until a short distance before the eyes ; thence sloping, 

 with a slight concave curve to the jaws. Abdominal outline angular, caused by the promi- 

 nence of the ventral fin. Eyes large, under the dorsal spine, and slightly in advance of it, 

 with a nictitating membrane. Branchial fissure small, oblique, sublunate, and between the 

 eyes and pectoral fins. Six to eight sharp incisorial teeth in the upper and lower jaws. 



The first dorsal represented by a sharp recurved spine an inch long ; along its length, on 

 each side, a row of from six to eight sharp white teeth directed downward, and resembling 

 white enamel. The second dorsal high, rounded equally on its margin ; the anterior rays 

 highest, ending near the caudal, and coterminal with the anal. Pectorals subacute, rounded. 

 The anal long and low, not as high as the dorsal. The place of the ventral is supplied by an 

 elongation of the pelvis. It presents externally a sharp rough spine, with three or four small 

 white teeth on each side, similar to what we have noted on the dorsal spine. A loose rough- 

 ened membrane, which is a prolongation of the skin, with prickles on its edge, extends from 

 the pelvic spine to the vent. Caudal long and rounded, with its rays very ramose. Along 

 the base of the dorsal and anal fins, a series of foramina are noticed when held up against the 

 light. 



Color. A uniform slate-brown, without spots or stripes. Irides yellowish white ; pupils 

 black. 



Length, 8"0. Greatest depth, 3'0. 



Fin rays, D. 1.32; P. 13; V. ; A. 32; C. 13. 



This small species is not uncommon in the harbor of New- York, being frequently found in 

 the nets set for other fishes. Our fishermen apply to it the whimsical name of Fool-Jish, in 

 allusion to what they consider its absurd mode of swimming with a wriggling motion, its body 

 being sunk, and its mouth just on a level with the water. The specimen which has furnished 

 the above description was recent. I refer to the description of Bonnaterre with great doubt ; 

 the general shape agrees tolerably well, but I saw no trace of a second dorsal spine ; and if 

 the species be indeed identical, the subvillous appearance near the tail is hardly rendered by 



