130 BULLETIN 05^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



outlines evenly convex; eye small; snout blunt; jaws subequal, the 

 lower slightl}' included. Teeth white, free, convex, incisorlike, 

 those in the upper jaw arranged in five oblique rows, extending up- 

 ward and backward, those in front of jaw slightly irregular in ar- 

 rangement, those in lower jaw in about six oblique rows extend- 

 ing downward and backward, these rows not having a common 

 starting point at the symphysis, being arranged along the sides of 

 the dental plate ; no canines ; upper lip double for its entire length ; 

 lips nearly covering teeth. Scales large, thin, their edges mem- 

 branous; four scales on median line of back, in front of dorsal; 

 cheek with a single row of four scales; lateral line continuous, pores 

 numerously and widely branched ; base of dorsal and anal with scaly 

 sheath. Dorsal spines flexible, the membranous covering of spines 

 extending into a long filament, those posteriorly becoming shorter; 

 caudal rounded, its lower rays somewhat shortened; pectoral 

 rounded, upper divided rays equaling middle rays in length. 



Color in spirits: Slaty gray; scales on the sides and belly with a 

 brownish tinge in the center nnd a lighter margin; dorsal, caudal, 

 and anal dusky, mottled with indistinct round spots; ventrals body 

 color; pectoral slightly lighter. 



Color of specimens freshly dead, chiefly dark green above, lighter 

 below, with a tinge of red on throat, belly, and lower part of sides, 

 and also on the distal part of ventrals. 



Comparative measurements of the paratype : Head 3.15 in length ; 

 depth 3; eye 5.54 in head; snout 2.55; interorbital 3.32; pectoral 

 1.66; ventral 1.84; D. IX, 10; A. Ill, 9; scales 1^-25-6. 



This individual has more of a brownish wash; soft dorsal mem- 

 branes dusky translucent; rays with alternating brown and light 

 areas; caudal brown with round white dots, which are smaller than 

 eye ; anal dusky ; ventrals slaty ; pectoral rays brownish, membranes 

 translucent. 



Family BALISTIDAE. 



THE TKIGGERFISHES. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



a\ Gill opening with a number of enlarged bony plates or scutes behind it; 

 ventral flap movable, supported by a series of spines, more or less free at 

 tip, and resembling fin rays ; cheek entirely scaled, without naked grooves 

 or patches; eye with a groove before it; scales rather small, 50 to 75 

 Batistes, p. 131. 



a*. Gill opening with only ordinary scales behind it; no enlarged plates or 

 scutes ; ventral flap scarcely movable, its surface scaled ; lateral line 

 obsolete ; third dorsal spine small or wantiiig ; vertical fins in adult more 

 or less angulate or falcate : Canthidermis, p. 131. 



