3. TKTRODON. 299 



44. Tetrodon meleagris. 



Tetrodou meleagris, Lacep. i. pp. 47(;, 505 ; Bl. Schn. p. 507; Eichank. 



Vol/. Sulphur, Fish. p. 122, pi. 57. figs. l-;3. 

 ? Tetrodon lacrjiiiatus, {Cuv.) Quoy Hf Guim. Vol/. Uran. Poiss. p. 204. 



The entire body densely covered with small spines from the lips 

 to nearly the root of the caudal fin. Snout short, one-third of the 

 length of the head (to the base of the pectoral fin), and equal to the 

 width of the interorhital space, which is flat. Upper profile of the 

 snout concave. Length of the caudal fin rather less than its distance 

 from the dorsal. Brown, all parts covered with small whitish 

 spots, largest on the abdomen, but not larger than the eye or wider 

 than the ground-colour between them ; they are smallest, merely 

 dots, on the chest and throat, and veiy distinct on aU the upper 

 parts. 



Polynesia. 



a. Five and a half inches long. Presented by Vice-Admiral Sir E . 

 Belcher. 



45. Tetrodon firmamentum. 



Tetraodon firmamentum, Schleij. Faun. Japan. Poiss. p. 280, pi. 12G. 

 fig. 2 ; Bhek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxvi. N. Nalez. Japan, p. 124. 



Small two-rooted spines cover the entire body, except the snout 

 and the posterior part of the caudal peduncle ; there are about fifty 

 spines in a longitudinal series between the nostril and dorsal fin. 

 The length of the snout is contained twice and two-thirds in that of 

 the head, and a little less than the width of the intororbital space, 

 which is rather convex. Grepsh above, lighter below, all parts with 

 ovate white spots, smaller than the eye and than the interspaces of 

 the ground-colour. 



Japan. 



Of. Stuffed, 1\\ inches long. From the Leyden Museum. — One of 

 the typical specimens. 



46. Tetrodon fluviatilis. 



Tetrodon fluviatilis, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganq. p. 6, pi. 30. fig. 1. 



nigroviridis, Proce, Bull Philom. 1822, p. 130. 



sinuilaus. Cantor, Mai. Fish. p. 374. 



potamopliilu.si, Bleek. I'crh. Bat. Gen. xxii. Madura, p. 16, or 



xxiv. Blootk. p. l7. 

 Arothron dorsovittatus, Bhjth, Journ. As. Soc. Benr/. xxix. 1861, 



p. 173. 

 Crayi'acion fluviatilis, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Gymnod. p. G8, pi. G. fig. 4 ; 



Day, Pish. Malah. p. 256. 



Body apparently smooth, the spines being hidden in the skin ; they 

 are not vciy numerous, and do not extend on to the snout and tail. 

 Snout short and obtuse, nearly twice the length of the eye, which is 

 somewhat nearer to the end of the snout than to the gill-opcning. 

 Interorhital space very broad and convex. Length of tlie caudal fin 

 equal to its distance from the front margin of the doi-sal tin. Upper 



