1744 B^dletin ^7, U7iited States National Muse^im. 



De Kay, in the Fauna of New York, jiage 326, lias the following descrip- 

 tion of JJiodon j;i7o«Ms, from a specimen 2 inches long, accompanied by a 

 figure which evidently represents the young of IHodon hystrix : "Body 

 oblong, cuboidal. Every part of the surface except a small s^jace round 

 the mouth and eyes, and another including the base of the caudal fin, 

 furnished with bristles; these are from ^% to -,% long, directed backward, 

 though probably capable of erection at the will of the animal. They are 

 somewhat longer and more crowded on the dorsal and posterior parts of 

 the body; they are all soft and flexible, suggesting the idea of hair-like 

 processes. Eyes large and lateral; the space between the orbital margins 

 depressed, concave. Nostrils single, with an obliquely truncated tubular 

 orifice. Mouth terminal, broad, with thin membranaceous lips. Jaws, or 

 rather the teeth, ending in an acute tip in front. Branchial orifice ear- 

 shaped, placed in front of the upper part of the base of the pectorals. 

 The dorsal slightly anterior to but over the anal, rounded on its margin, 

 higher than wide; pectoral short and broad, its upper rays longest; anal 

 fin broad, and similar in shape to the dorsal ; caudal lanceolate. Brownish 

 above; ashy white beneath; the prickles of a metallic golden color; on 

 the back and along the sides several oblong, distant, blackish-brown spots. 

 Length 2 inches. Fin rays, D. 12; P. 20; A. 14; C.9. This remarkable little 

 species, which has been occasionally taken in tlie bay of New York, was 

 first described by Mitchill. It was subsequently referred by Cuvier (Op. 

 sup. cit.) as the young of a species which he names a.s2>e?", 2i feet long. 

 It is probable that his opinion underwent some modification subsequent to 

 the publication of that paper; for in the last edition of his Ri-gne Animal 

 X). pilostis is cited as a distinct species." 



While we may infer that the specimens of Mitchill and De Kay were 

 both supposed to come from Ne\r York Harbor, it is not likely that Diodon 

 hystrix was ever found in this locality, and it is probable that the speci- 

 mens called "2)ilosus" came from some warmer region. We have never 

 seen any species referable to the genus Trichodiodon, and doubt the exist- 

 ence of Trichodiodon pilosus as a distinct genus or species, (pilosus, hairy.) 



Biodon pilosus, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. T., I, 1815, 471; supposed to be 



from New York Harbor; specimen 1^ inches long. 

 Diodon asper, Cuvier, Mem. du Museum, iv, 1818, no locality; specimens 2^ feet long. 

 ? Triehocyclus erinaceus, GOnthee, Cat., Vii, 316, 1870, no locality; specimen | inch long. 

 Trichodiodon pilosus, Gunthee, Cat., viii, 316, 1870; Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 862. 



683. DIODON, LinniBUS. 

 (Porcupine Fishes.) 



Diodon, Linn^US, Syst. Nat., Ed. X, 335, 1758 {hystrix). 



Paradiodon, Bleekek, Atlas Ichth., Gymnodonts, 56, 1867 (hystrix) ; name a substitute 

 for Diodon, transferred to another genus; the first species mentioned by Linnteus 

 being Diodon atinga, -which was therefore taken by Bleeker as the type. 



? Trichodiodon, Bleekeb, Atlas Ichth., Gymn., 49, 1867 {pilosus,- larva?). 



? Triehocyclus, GtJNTHEE, Cat., Viii, 316, 1870 {erinaceus; larva?). 



Body robust, the belly moderately inflatable. Dermal spines strong, 

 stiff, most of them 2-rooted and erectile, a few 3-rooted and therefore 



