PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 367 



OSTRACIIP^. 

 Genus LAOTOPHRYS Swiiiusou. 



5. Lactophrys trigonus (L.) Poey. 



A specimen in the State Museum at IJaleigli, Irom Beaufort. Two 

 specimens were found on tlie beach at Fort Macon by Dr. Yarrow. Nu- 

 merous specimens of another species {Lactoplirys quadricornis (L.)), from 

 the coast of South Carolina, are in the U. S. National Museum. This is 

 a, common West Indian species, not before recorded from our coast. 



BALISTID.E. 

 Genus ALUTEKA Cuvier. 



6. Alutera cuspicauda DeKay. — Fool-fidi. 



Kather common in Beaufort Harbor. Numerous specimens obtained. 



7. Alutera aurantiaca (Mitcliill) Jor. &, Gilb. — Fool-fish. 



(Ceratacanthus aurantiacu,'^ Gill, 1. c.) 

 Eather common ; with the preceding. We find no warrant for the genus 

 Ceratacanthus Gill, based on this species. It is certainly very closely 

 related to the i)receding. 



Genus STEPHANOLEPIS GUI. 



The genus IStephanoUim of Gill is essentially eqmvalent to Monacan- 

 thus as properly restricted by Bleeker and others. In this large genus 

 there are two types, which may be called genera, eaeh represented on 

 oiu' coast by one species. One of these, which contains the most of 

 the species, and for w^hich the name of Stephmwlepi^ may be retained, 

 has the abdominal flap small, and not exceeding the ventral sx)uie. Mon- 

 ncanthus proper lia« the abdominal flap greatly developed, much exceed- 

 ing the spine. Monacanthus setifcr Bennett, of the former group, is 

 verj' common on our coast. Monacanthus occidentalis Giinther, of the 

 latter group, is probably a straggler fiom the AVest Indies. Canthorhinus 

 Swainson, occasionally used for this latter group, is apparently synony- 

 mous with Liomonacanthus Bleeker, over which name it has priority. 

 Canthorhinns, thus defined, ditters from Monacanthus in having the ven- 

 tral spine inimovabl(\ and the dorsal spine without barbs. 



8. Stephauolepis setifer (Dfuuftt) Gill. — Common Fool-fish. 



One of the commonest fishes in Beaufort Harbor, swarming every- 

 where nbont tlio wharves. 



HIPPOCAMPID^ 



Genus HIPPOCAMPUS Cuvier. 



9. Hippocampus antiquorum \a"m-\\. 



Not common. Preserved Ly fishermen as a curiosity, and sold to 

 visitors at about twenty-five cents each. 



