I. OSTRACIOX. 



255 



I 



6. ANACANTHUS. 



Anncanthus, Gra;/, Zool. Mine. 1<S.'?1, p. 8. 

 Pofjondpiathus, lileek. J^erh. Bat. Gen. xxiv. Balist, p. 23. 

 Psilocoplialus, [Swains.) Bkck. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. 18GG, iii. p. 14. 



Jjody compressed, elongate, covered with minute asperities. Den- 

 tition as in Monacanthus, The first dorsal fin reduced to a single 

 feeble spine. Ventral fins none. Lower jaw with a fleshy barbel. 

 Vertebra; 29-30. 



East-Indian archipelago. 



1. Anacanthus barbatus. 



Balistes (Anacanthus) barbatus, Grai/, Ind. Zool. c. fig., and Zool. 



Misc. 1831, p. 8. 

 Alutarius barbatus, Cant Mai. Rept. p. 357, pi. 8. fig. 1. 

 Pogouognathus barbatus, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen, xxiv. Balid. p. 24, 



pi. 5. fig. 11. 

 Aluterus barbatus, Hollard, Ann. Sc. Nut. 1855, iv. p. 17, pi. 1. fig. 4. 

 Psilocepbalus barbatus, {Swains.) ^ Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Bu/ist. p. l43, 



pi. 226. fig. 1. 



D. 1 I 44-51. A. 59-65. 



The height of the body is two-fifths of the length of the head, which 

 is two-fifths of the total (without caudal). Caudal fin much elongate, 

 longer than the head. Dorsal spine very feeble, setiform, above the 

 hind margin of the orbit. 



East-Indian archipelago. 



a. Several specimens : skins. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Col- 

 lection. 

 h, c. Adult and young. 



Thii'd Group. OSTRACIONTINA. 

 7. OSTRACION. 



Ostracion, Artedi, Genera, p. 55; Hollard, Ami. Sc. Nat. 1857, vii. 

 p. 121 et scqq. 



The integuments of the body are modified into a carapace composed 

 of juxtaposed hexagonal osseous scutes, the snout, bases of the fins, 

 and hind part of the taU being covered by soft skin. Mouth small, 

 maxillary and intermaxillary bones coalescent, each jaw with a 

 single series of small slender teeth. One short dorsal fin (without 

 spine) opposite to the short anal. Ventral fins none. Vertcbraj 14, 

 the five last extremely short, the anterior elongate ; ribs none. 



The species may be referred to two subgenera : — 

 a. Carapace closed behind the anal Jin : t)stracion, p. 256. 

 /3. Carapace open behind the anal fin : Aracaua, p. 266. 



