PISHES. 23 



])eetore et precipue abdomine sape inter squamas apparet, quod pulchrum reddit piscem. 

 Pinna magis fuliginosa. Ad basin pinna dorsi posterioris et pinna ani striga pulcherrime 

 glauca seu e coeruleo alba. Pupilla olivacea. Iris nigra. Ordines novem spinarum cari- 

 natarum in posteriore parte piscis aquales ; sex ad basin pinna caicdali extenduntur. Pinna 

 dorsi anterior bi-radiata. 



" Squama in inferior e parte piscis sub-oJivacea quod inter cutem cosruleum strigas obliquas 

 olivaceas efficit. Pinna caudalis postice lunulato fascia nigricante ornata, limite posteriori 

 sordide glaucescente. Aelhi pahah or Aelhe pahahah." Solander, MS. An. Oc. Pacif. p. 86. 



BALISTES SENTICOSUS, Richardson. 



Radii.— D. 3|-25 ; A. 22; C. 12; P. 15. 



Plate IX. Fig. 5-8. 



This Batistes belongs to that division of the genus which has no peculiar armature on 

 the tail, for though the scales there are spiny, they are more or less so over the whole fish. 

 When newly removed from the spirits in which the specimens are kept, the form of the scales 

 cannot be well perceived, but as the skin is allowed to dry, it is seen to be covered with small, 

 roundish, or obscurely tetragonal, or hexagonal scales, which have an elevated point in the 

 centre, from whence lines radiate to the edges. On the scales of the head and breast, the 

 elevation of the central point is less, and it does not appear much more conspicuous than 

 several other rough points which stud the disk. On the back, sides, and tail, however, 

 the central point becomes a true, small, acute spine, and the disk of the scale is more 

 elevated, with radiating lines, but the other points are comparatively smaller. There are 

 nine rows of scales on the trunk of the tail, laterally, and the scales on the narrow upper 

 and under surfaces of that, have also spines, though not so large. On the under surface and 

 point of the pelvic bone, the central spines and other points on the scales are larger and more 

 acute, and on the edge of the dew-lap, between the pelvic bone and anus, the scales are 

 ranged in pairs, and their central spines are bifid. The front of the dorsal spine is roughened 

 by four rows of spinules, and the rays of all the other fins, pectorals included, are also 

 rough, except the upper and under ray of the caudal, which are smooth. The scales behind 

 the gill-opening are no larger than elsewhere, but on the immediate border of the opening 

 the points on the scales are smaller, and more equable in size, and numerous. 



The shape of this fish is much like that of B. capriscus. Its height is equal to half its 

 length, caudal included. It is much compressed, the greatest thickness being at the temples. 

 The space between the eyes is convex, and almost ridged in the specimen we have figured ; 

 but in younger individuals, from the greater prominence of the orbits, it appears concave. 

 The length of the head is contained thrice and nearly one-half in the total length of the fish. 

 The pectoral fin is small, the dorsal and anal high and rounded. The front spine of the first 



