FISHES OF NKVV YOUK 627 



peduncle very short, one third as long as the head, its least depth 

 one half of its greatest depth, and less than diameter of eye. 

 Eye placed high, one fourth as long as the head, al>out equal to 

 width of gill opening; interorbital space broad, concave. Snout 

 nearly equal to eye. A cirrus, longer than pupil, above each 

 eye. Origin of dorsal four times as far from tip of snout as 

 from base of middle caudal rays. Dorsal base one third as long 

 as the head; longest dorsal ray one half as long as the head. 

 Anal immediately under the dorsal and about equal to it in size. 

 Caudal rounded, the middle rays as long as the postorbital part 

 of the head. Pectoral one half as long as the head, its depth 

 when expanded six sevenths of length of head. A small cirrus 

 on chin. About nine spines between eye and tail, their hight 

 about two thirds diameter of eye; spines on belly much smaller, 

 partly embedded in skin; some of the posterior with cirri; spines 

 on caudal peduncle; anterior root of each spine little if any larger 

 than others. D. 12; A. 10; C. 9; P. 20. 



Color of a living specimen as given by De Kay: '* Urighl sea 

 green above, with longitudinal olive-brown irregular stripes on 

 the back and upper part of the sides; on the cheeks, below the 

 eyes, these stripes are oblique; transverse across the snout, and 

 sloping downward over the fleshy portion of the tail. The large 

 olive-brown spots are irregularly rounded, occasionally ap- 

 proaching a quadrate form, and eight in number; one on each 

 side, above the base of the pectorals, of an oblong oval form; 

 one on each flank, behind and partially covered by the pectoral, 

 irregularly subquadrate; one on each side of the base of the 

 dorsal, ascending upon that fin; this is considered by Cuvier as 

 a single spot; finally a small oblong spot on each side, about 

 midway between the dorsal fin and the vent. Abdomen light- 

 colored, with a light tinge of pink. Spines <»n this jxulion of 

 the body inclining to orange. Pupils dark greenish; irides 

 yellow." Other writers speak of the spots and striju-s as of a 

 black color, and state that the belly is often black in the young. 



The spiny boxfish grows to the length of ten inches. It is 

 found on our coast from Cape Cod to Florida. The body is. 



