21 2 SCLERODF.EMI. 



BalistapLis, Tiles. Mfm. Ac. Sc. St. Petersh. vii. 



Xenodon, RUppcU. 



Erythrodon, Ri'qypvU. 



Pyrodon (Rilpp.), Melichtliys (Swains.), Balistes et Ealistapus, Kaiip. 



Leiurus {Sirains.), Erytlirodou, Meliclithys et Balistes (with the 



subgen. Parabalistes, Pseudobalistes, Balistapus, Balistes, Canthi- 



demiis), Bleck. Ned. Tyds. Dierh. iii. p. 10. 



Body compressed, covered with juxtaposed moveable scutes ; some 

 species with series of spines or tubercles ou the side of the tail. 

 Upper jaw with a double series of incisor-like teeth, eight in the 

 outer, aud six in the inner scries ; lower jaw with eight similar 

 teeth in a single series. The first dorsal fin reduced to three spiues, 

 the anterior of which is by far the strongest. Ventral fins reduced 

 to a simple osseous appendage. No barbel. Vertebra) 7/10. Bran- 

 chiostegals six. 



Tropical and subtropical seas. 



On the anatomy, see HoUard, Ann. Sc. Nat. 1853, xx. pp. 71-111, 

 pi. 1 ; Owen, Osteolog. C'atal. i. p. 76. 



The species may be subdivided thus : — 



A. The free portion of the tail is depressed (i/;»'Hs), p. 212. 



B. The free portion of the tail is compressed. 



1. Teeth white, uneven, more or less deeply notched : Balistes. 



a. A groove in front of the eye, below the nostrils. 



a. Cheeks entirely scaly. 



aa. No osseous scutes behind the gill-opening {Canthidermis), 

 p. 213. 



bb. Osseous scutes behind the gill-opening. 

 aa. Tail without spiues or tubercles, p. 215. 

 /3/3. Tail with recurved spines or well-developed tubercles, 

 p. 218. 

 /3. Cheeks with naked grooves or stripes (Parabalistes), p. 221. 



b. No groove in front of the eye, p. 223. 



2. Teeth white, even, incisor-like (Mekmichthys), p. 227. 



3. Teeth brownish red, the lateral upper pair much projecting * (Ery- 

 throdon), p. 228. 



A. The free portion of the tail is depres.'^ed : Liurus. 



1. Balistes steUatus. 



Wilhtyhhy, Append, p. 1, tab. 1. fig. 1 ; Valent. fig. 202; Renard, 

 ii. tab. 33. fig. 153; Ruysch, Amb. tab. 2. fig. 8. 



Balistes stellatus, Lacep. i. p. 350, pi. 15. fig. 1 ; Rii]j2). Atl. Fish. 

 p. 31 ; Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxiv. Balist. p. 13. 



* This peculiar form of the dentition cannot be used as a generic character 

 by itself, as it is observed also in other species, although in a less degree. 



