78 A Guide to the Zoological Collections 



parts of the Atlantic, Batistes being also represented in 

 the Mediterranean. One species of this genus, Batistes 

 maculatus, is found in the West Indian region, in the 

 Oriental region, and in Japan. 



3. Subfamily Ostracionina. In the Box-fishes, which 

 include the single genus Ostracion, the body is angular 

 and the integument forms a firm carapace of immovable 

 bony plates, from which the end of the tail projects. 

 There are no ventral fins. The species of Ostracion 

 occur in all tropical seas and two species are also found 

 in the Mediterranean. 



Family II. Gymnodontes [Cases 74-75]. 



In the family of Globe-fishes the bones of the jaws 

 form a beak something like that of a parrot, eminently 

 adapted for crushing the coral and mollusks on which 

 these fish feed, and there are neither spinous dorsal nor 

 ventral fins. The family is divided into three subfamilies 

 all of which are represented in India. 



1. Subfamily Triodontincs : contains the single genus 

 and species Triodon bursarius in which the upper valve of 

 the " beak " is divided into two halves by a median 

 suture : it inhabits the Indian Ocean and Archipelago. 

 Like the members of the next subfamily it can distend 

 its abdomen with air. The skin is covered with rough 

 scutes. 



2. Subfamily Tetrodontince : contains the Indian genera 

 Xenopterus and Tetrodon in which both jaws are cleft in 

 the middle line by a suture, and Diodon and Cliilomycterus 

 in which neither of the jaws are so cleft. Most of the 

 species are marine, but Xenopterus and several species 

 of Tetrodon enter estuaries and ascend into fresh water. 

 The skin, though often naked, is usually more or less 

 spiny or spicular, and in Diodon and Chiloinycterus the 



