3. PHiONmus. 347 



3. PRIONURUS. 



Prionurus, Lacep. Ann. Mus. iv. p. 205. 



A single series of compressed denticulated incisors in each jaw. 

 Tail with a series of several keeled, bony laminse. Ventral fins com- 

 posed of one spine and five rays. One dorsal fin, the spinous por- 

 tion of which is less developed than the soft and composed of eight 

 or nine spines ; anal spines three. Scales minute, Branchiostegals 

 five ; air-bladder large, forked posteriorly. Intestinal tract with 

 several circumvolutions ; pyloric appendages five. 



Herbivorous fishes from the coast of Japan and the Galapagos 

 Islands. 



1. Prionurus microlepidotus. 



Lacep. Ann. 3Ius. iv. p. 205 ; Cuv. Sf Vol. x. p. 295. pi. 292. 

 D.|. A.^. V. 1/5. Csec. pylor. 5. 



Snout moderately produced, vdth the upper profile straight. A 

 series of six laminae on each side of the tail ; a pair of small ones 

 above, and another below that series. Uniform brownish. 



Hab. ? 



2. Prionurus scalprum. 



Acanthiuios scalprum, Langsd. 



Prionurus scalpnmi, Cui: Sj- Val. x. p. 298 ; Schleg. Faun. Japon. Poiss. 



p. 129. pi. 70. 

 Naseus scalpmrn, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. vi., Japan, vi. p. 79. 



_ D.^. A.|. Y.1/5. 



Snout produced, with the upper profile very sKghtly concave. A 

 series of four or five laminae on each side of the tail. Nine incisors 

 on each side of the upper jaw. Uniform blackish. 



Sea of Japan. 



a, h. Adult : stuffed. Japan. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 

 3. Prionurus laticlavius. 



Valenc. in Voy. Venus, Poiss. p. 335. pi. 7. fig. 2. 

 D.-i. A.-^. 



28 25 



Snout produced, with the upper profile very concave. A series of 

 three laminae on each side of the tail. Eight incisors on each side 

 of the upper jaw. YeUowish : brown along the sides. {Val.) 



Galapagos Islands. 



4. NASEUS*. 



Na-seus, Commerson. 

 Monoceros, Bl. Schn. p. 180. 



* 1. Naseus punetxilatus, Cuv.^- Val. x. p. 289. — Hab. ? 



2. unicolor. Lienard (Bia. Rapp. Soc. Hist. Nat. Maur. p. 38) gives 



the following iusufRcient description : " Deiix lanc<?s a la queue. Bleu 



