708 THE TETRAODONTOIDEA GILL. 



genus, that beiug the form originally used by Linnteiis (1758, p. 352). 

 The change of the name to Tetrodon by Linuieus, Giinther and other 

 authors was unnecessary, inasmuch as the original form is sanctioned 

 by classical usage, as in the case of zerpaodla and Tsrpadduc (quadrivium), 

 TBTpadpyuUiq (four fathoms in extent), rerpaopia (four-horsed chariot), etc. 

 The genus appears to contain few specjies. Four have been referred 

 to it by Bibron, (1) T. Uneatus Linn.; (2) T. patoca Horn (Buchanan); 

 (3) T. dorso-unicolor Bib.; and (4) T. bouronensis Bib. The last tw^o 

 have never been described, and it is not known what they are. The 

 T. patoca has been referred to a distinct section of the genus by Dr. 

 Giinther. The absence of specimens in the National Museum prevents 

 me from forming an opinion. 



1798.) SPHEROIDES. (Lar-6pede) DumMl. 



The nomenclature of this genus has been considered by Jordan and 

 Edwards,* Jordan t alone, Gill,| and again by Jordan § alone, and Boll- 

 man, || and we have now no points of difference; all American authors 

 who have expressed their sentiments^ are of the same opinion. Ee- 

 luctant as I am to adopt the name given under the conditions Spheroides 

 was, there seems to be more possibility of agreement by so doing than 

 by any other course. 



A notice of A wc/MSomiis has been overlooked. It occurs in remarks 

 by Kichardsou on " Anchisomus reticularis (Kaup)." 



"The species of this genus mentioned in Dr. Kaup's list are Anchisomus 

 Spengleri, angusticeps, multistriatiis, reticularis, scalaris, geonietricus, and 

 tiirgidus. Anchisomus, Gastrophysus^ Gheilichthys, and Leiosomus form 

 a group of Tetrodontidce, in which the nasal cavity is small and flat, with 

 two nostrils."** 



I83i).) LAGOCEPHALUS. (Swainson. 



The nomenclature of this genus is now clear, and therefore needs no 

 consideration here. 



1839.) CANTHIGASTER. (Swainson. 



Canthig aster is now accepted by me in place of Psilonotus, formerly 

 used, liichardson (in 1854)tt and Bleeker(in 1859) employed Psilono- 

 tus, and in 1876 and 1884 I followed them in so doing. Jordan and Ed- 



*. Jordan and Edwards < Proc. U. S. N. M., 1886, p. 233. 

 t Jordan, <^ o. c, 1887, p. 481. 

 {Gill, < 0. c, 1888, pp. C07, (508. 

 S^ Jordan, <^ o. c, 1889, pp. 183, 651. 

 II Jordan and BoUniau, <^ o. c, 1889, ]>. 183. 



U Gilbert, <^ o. c, 1890, p. 455. Evermanu and Jenkins, <^ o. c, 1891, p. 165. 

 **Zool. Voyage Herald, 1854, p. 162. 



tt Richardson described the typical P. rostratiis as " Prilonotiis (or Anchisomus) 

 Cauda cinctua.^' Prilonotus was evidently a slip for Psilonotua. 



