366 PROCEEDINGS GF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



DIODOXTID.^. 



Genus CHILO:^.IYCTEEUS Bibrou. 



2. Chilomycterus geometricus (L.) Kaup. — SweJl-toad. 



Yery abimdaiit ; taken in eAery seine 5 sold by small boys as curiosi- 

 ties, at from one to five cents each. 



TETEODONTID^. 

 Genus LAGOCEPHALUS Swainsou (Gill). 



(Tctrodoii Gill, 1. c. The geuus Tdrodon, as first restricted by Swainsou, is essen- 

 tially equivalent to Arothrov Miiller, wliicli diliters from Lagoixphahis in its closed nasal 

 tentacles. The name Lar/ocejjlialu.s is theretVne accepted by Professor Gill for the pres- 

 ent genns. ) 



3. Lagocephalus laevigatus (L.) Gill. 



Found by Dr. Yarrow "in small streams running- tlirougli salt marshes. 

 But few seen." 



Genus CIEBISO:\riTS Swainsou. 



(ChUicliihiis Miiller, Gill, 1. c. The genus Cirrhisomus of Swainsou (1839) is liased on 

 Cliiliclithiis spenr/Ieri {Tetrodon spe»gJeri Bloch). and therefore antedates and must super- 

 S3de CMlkldhys Muller (1841).) 



The name is given in allusion to the short, lleshy appendages or bar- 

 bels along the sides in the t^ducal specie^;. These are not found in the 

 other species of the genus, but the name cannot be set aside on that 

 account. ChiUchthys may perhaps l>e retained as a subgeneric nainr for 

 those species without fleshy sli])s. 



Clmsomiis difiers from Laiiocepludiifi chiefly in the form of the lius. 

 In the latter genus, the dorsal and anal are falcate, of 11 to 14 rays each, 

 and the caudal lin is forked. In CirrisomHs;, these flns are idl more or 

 less rounded, and the dorsal and anal contain but (» to 8 rays each. In 

 LagoccphaJiis, the body is elongate, the caudal peduncle especially so, the 

 skin comparatively smooth, except on the inflated part of the abdomen. 

 There is a fold of skin, along each side of the tail below (usually well 

 marked, but nearly obsolete in L. Jcvvigatus). The coloration is peculiar, 

 the skin having a metallic lustre. In Cirrinomus, the bodj' is com])ara- 

 tively short and broad, with short caudal peduncle. There is usually no 

 fold along the lower side of the tail. The coloration is usually variegated, 

 and without metallic lustre, and the prickles are variously aiTanged. 

 Four species of C(rri)ioi}nis are found ou our Atlantic coast: C. titrfjidus 

 (L.), C. festudineus L., C. trichoccjyhahiN (Cope), and C. sjyenyleri (Bloch). 

 The first is common: the others are rare, or occasional visitants. 



4. Cirrisomusturgidus (L.) Jor. &■ (n\]K-*SiccU-toad; riijjcr. 



Very common everywhere about Beaufort; taken in the nets with 

 Cliilomycteriis geometricus. 



