Jordan and Eveimann. — Fishes of North America. 1699 



e. Dorsal and anal fins falcate in the adult; caudal lobes acuminate 

 in adult; lateral line slender, undulate, more or less developed; 

 scales of tail and posterior parts unarmed, similar to those on 

 rest of body ; ventral flap with slender, sharp spines ; third 

 dorsal spine little smaller than second and remote from it. 



Balistks, 667. 

 ee. Dorsal and anal fins low and rounded, their angles and those of 

 caudal not produced ; lateral line obsolete, or with a trace at 

 the shoulder; scales of posterior parts each with a blunt 

 spine or tubercle ; ventral flap narrow, its supporting spines 

 stout and thick in the adult; third dorsal spine small. 



Pachtnathus, 668. 

 (fd. Gill opening with only ordinary scales behind it; no enlarged plates 

 or scutes; ventral flap scarcely movable, its surface sealed; lat- 

 eral lino obsolete; third dorsal spine small or wanting; vertical 

 fins in adult more or less angulate or falcate. 

 /. Chin not projecting; cheeks closely scaled; dorsal spines 3; 

 scales of posterior parts unarmed or keeled. 



Canthidehmis, 669. 

 ff. Chin much projecting; cheek with 3 to 5 narrow parallel 

 grooves ; dorsal spines 2 ; scales of posterior parts more or 

 less keeled. Xanthichthys, 670. 



cc. Teeth even, incisor-like ; scales of posterior parts more or less keeled ; a 

 groove before eye, enlarged scutes behind it; lateral line obsolete; 

 third dorsal spine small or wanting ; cheeks entirely scaled, but marked 

 by narrow grooves ; enlarged scales present behind gill opening; ven- 

 tral flap scarcely movable, its surface scaled; vertical fins more or less 

 angulated. Melichthys, 671. 



667. BALISTES (Artedi) Linmeus. 



(Triggeu-fishes.) 



Balistes (Artedi) Linn.eus, Sy.st. Nat., Ed. x, 327, 1758 (vetula). 



Capriscus, Rafinesque, ludiee, 41, 1810 (eapriscus), 



Ohalisovia, Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class'n Fishes, 11, 325,1839 (pulclierrima). 



Capriscus, Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class'n Fishes, 11, 326, 1839 (capriscus, after Capriscus of 



WiLLUGHBY) . 



Body compressed, covered with thick, rough scales or plates of moder- 

 ate size, 50 to 75 iu a lengthwise series ; a naked groove before eye below 

 nostrils; lateral line more or less developed, very slender, undulate, con- 

 spicuous only when the scales are dry, extending on the cheeks. Pelvic 

 flap large, movable, supported by a series of slender, pungent spines. 

 Caudal peduncle compressed, its scales unarmed, without spines or dift'er- 

 eutiated tubercles similar to those on rest of body. Gill opening with 

 enlarged bony scutes behind it; cheeks entirely scaly, without naked 

 patches or grooves. Both jaws with irregular, incisor-like teeth, usually 

 4 on each side in each jaw. First dorsal of 3 spines, the anterior of which 

 is much the largest, the second acting as a trigger, locking the first when 

 erected; the third nearly as large as second and remote from it ; second 

 dorsal and anal long, similar to each other, in the adult always falcate or 

 filamentous in front ; caudal fin rounded, with the outer rays much pro- 

 duced in the adult; branchiostegals 6; vertebne T-flO. Species rather 

 few, chiefly American ; some of them straying to the Old World. (/idAAai, 



