ISSf).] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 239 



the specimeiis examined by ii.s we find no variation iu the development 

 of the i)rickles, and we rej^ard this speeies as more constant in this 

 respect than are most of the tropical forms. This is the only species of 

 Spliwroides commonly found on coasts of temperate regions. Its strong 

 resemblance to S. spengleri indicates the probability that it is a geo- 

 graphical variety of the latter, but we have seen no intermediate ex- 

 amples. 



The name Tetrodon liispidus var. macuJatus is based on the excellent 

 description of Schopf , and see no reason why it must not stand in place 

 of the later name of turgidus. 



8. Sphaeroides politus. 



Tetrodon politub Ginud, U. S. Pac. R. R. Expl., 1859, 340 (San Diego, California) ; 

 Giinther, Fish. Centr. Amer., 1869, 489 (San Jos6 de Nicaragua) ; Giiutber, 

 viii, 281, 1870 (San Jos6, California); Jordan &, Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 1881, 274 (Pnnta San Ygnacio, Gulf of California); Jordan & Gilbert, 

 1. c, 1880, 453 (San Diego, Cal.) ; Jordan & Gilbert,!, c, 1882, 631 (Panama) ; 

 Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. U. S. Fish Coinm., 1882, 108 (Mazatlan) ; Jordan & Gil- 

 bert, Syn. Fish, N. Am., 1883, 860. Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 392 

 (San Diego, Mazatlaj]); Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Am., 140, 185. Rosa Smith, 

 Fishes of San Diego (San Diego). 



Habitat. — Pacific coast of Tropical America, San Diego to Panama. 



All the specimens thus far known of this species are of large size 

 (about a foot in length). These differ from JS. testudineus (annulatus) 

 only, so far as we can see, in the absence of prickles. With the knowl- 

 edge which we now have of the variations iu this respect in S. spengleri, 

 we see little reason to doubt that Sphceroides politus is simply the adult 

 form of 8. testudineus annulatus. However, till this matter is clearly 

 proven, we may admit it as a doubtful species. 



9. Sphasroides testudmeus. 



a. Atlantic specimens (testudineus). 



Oslracion ohloxgus glaber Artedi, Species 21, Genera 60. Balk, Amcen. Acad., 1, 



591, 1749. 

 Orbis Icpvis varicfiadis (the Globe-fish) Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carol., 1743, pi. 28, 



("Virginia")- 



Tetraodon iesfndineus Liuuauis, Syst. Nat., Ed.X, 1753, 332 (based on Balk and 

 Artedi>; Linuipus, Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, 1766, 410; Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 1788, 

 1446 (copied) ; Walbanm, Artedi Pisuinm, 1792, 590 (coijied) ; Giinther, viii, 

 282, 1870 (Jamaica, Dominica, St. Croix, Puerto Cabello, British Guiana, 

 Bahia); Poey, Ennnieratio, 1875, 172 (Havana) ; Jordan & Gilbert, Syn. Fishes. 

 N. A., 1883, 861 (West Indies) : Bean, Cat. Intern. Fish. Exhib., 1883, 43, Indian 

 River, Fia.); Gil], Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, 421, Bean & Dresel, Proc. U. 

 S. Nat. Mus., 1834,151 (Jamaica); Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 372 

 (Panama) ; Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Am., 1885, 140 (^uot of Bloch, who has used. 

 this name for an East Indian species). 



Cirrosomus testudineus Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1878, 366 (Beau- 

 fort, N. C.) ; Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1879, 109 (Mouth of St. Johns, Fla). 



Tetrodon punctatus Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth., 1801, 506 (Brazil) (description 

 inaccurate?); Miiller & Troschel "in Schomburgk's British Guiana, 111,641," 

 1842 (Guiana). 



