7. AXOPOMVCTERUS. 315 



cations, each of wliich is provided with a spine ; the anterior are 

 two-rooted and erectile, the jjostcrior three-rooted and imraoveabJe. 

 Nasal tentacle with two cyUndrical and tapering branches; no 

 nostril. 



Australia ; Cape of Good Hope. 



This genus is very distinct from Chilomydenis, with which it was 

 confounded by Dr. Bleeker. 



1. Dicotylichthys punctnlatus. 



Dicotylichthys pmictulatus, Kaiip, Wic(jm. Arch. 18o5, p. 230. 



Dorsal spines much shorter than those on the sides and abdomen, 

 those in front of the pectoi'als erectile, those behind three-rooted. 

 Eack of the tail without ossifications ; but a root of the last dorsal 

 spine reaches across behind the dorsal fin. There are about 13 

 transverse series of sjnnes between the snout and the dorsal fin. 

 Body with small, round, scattered black spots. A black vertical bar 

 below the eye, a second in front of and a third behind the root of 

 the pectoral fin. 



Australia ; Cape of Good Hope. 



a, b, c. Adult (11 inches), half-grown, and young. Sydney. Pre- 

 sented by G. Kreff't, Esq. 



d. Adult : stufi'ed. Cape. Presented by Sir A. Smith. — Tj'pc of 



the species. 



e. Adult : stuffed. Mauritius ? Presented by Lady F. Cole. 

 f-g. Adult (14 inches) : stuffed. 



7. ATOPOMYCTERUS. 



Diodon, sp., Kemp. 



Atopomycterus, Bleek. Atl. Iclith. Gymnud. p. 49. 



Jaws without median suture. Body covered with dermal ossifi- 

 cations, each of which consists of two roots and an erectile spine. 

 Nasal tentacle as in DkotyJiclithys. 



Australia. 



This genus is so closely allied to DkotylkMlujs that the propriety 

 of separating it may be questioned. 



1. Atopomycterus nychtliemerus. 



Diodon nicthemerus, Cuv. I.e. p. 135; ? Jmt/ns, Voy. Beagk, Fish. 

 p. 150; Kmip, Wieiim. Arch. 1855, p. 228; Bleek. Verhand. Ak. 

 Wet. Ainderd. ii. Van Dieviens Land, p. 25. 



All the spines slender, rounded, Avithout ridge. Upper pai't of 

 the tail without spines. The roots of the spines are very short and 

 feeble. There are about thirteen transverse series of spines between 

 the snout and dorsal fin. Upper parts blackish brown : in young 

 individuals the dark colour descends on the sides in four bands, viz. 



