308 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OP AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



Family I. SCLERODEEMI. 



Snout somewhat produced ; jaws armed with distinct teeth in 

 small number. Skin with scutes or rough. The elements of a 

 spinous dorsal and ventral fins generally present. 



Genus Triacantiius, Cuv. 



Body compressed, covered with very small or minute rough 

 scales. Tail narrow, prolonged. Teeth in a double series in 

 each jaw, those of the outer series incisor-like, ten in number, 

 those of the inner more rounded, two or four in number. 

 Anterior dorsal fin with three or five small spines behind a very 

 large one. Ventral fin formed by a pair of strong spines joined 

 to the pelvic bone. Vert. 9/10. 



Indian and Australian Seas. 



987. Triacantiius biaculeatus, Bl. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes, VIII., p. 210.— Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Balist., 



pi. 8, fig. 3. 



D. 5/22-25. A. 16-19. 



The height of the body is contained from twice and a half to 

 thrice and one-fifth in the total length without caudal fin. Snout 

 produced, with the upper profile distinctly concave. The first 

 dorsal spine as long as the head, and sometimes considerably 

 longer ; the second very short not much longer than the third, 

 the fin with or without black spot. 



Port Essington, Cape York. 



Genus Balistes, Cuv. 



Body compressed, covered with juxtaposed, moveable scutes; 

 some species with series of spines or tubercles on the side of 

 the tail. Upper jaw with a double series of incisor-like teeth, 

 eight in the outer and six in the inner series; lower jaw with 

 eight similar teeth in a single series. The first dorsal fin reduced 



