61. FISTULAKIID^ FISTULARIA. 389 



with prolonged snout and different v'entral fins. A single genus, Fistu- 

 laria, with two or more species. 



{Fistularidw, ]>art, geuiis Fisiular'm Gihither, iii, 529-535.) 



190.— FISTULARIA Linu;rns. 

 Trumpet -fishes. 



(LiuuiLHis, Syst. Nat. 1758: typo Fintnlaria tabaccaria L,.) 



Characters of the genus included above. The bony shields, charac- 

 teristic of this genus, are thus enumerated by Dr. Giinther: 



"1. A narrow strip along the median line of the back behind the 

 skull (confluent neural spines). 



"2. The pair of broader lateral dorsal shields are ])eculiar bones, 

 separated processes of the occipital bone — similar to those we have 

 observed in 3Iugil, where, however, they are not separated from the 

 occijiital, and arise more outwardly than in Fistularia. These shields 

 are the longest, provided anteriorly with a ridge, which is prolonged 

 and extends far backwards between the muscles of the back. This 

 ridge is flexible, and does not interfere with the lateral movements of 

 the fish; it appears to serve as a base for the attachment of nuiscular 

 fibres. 



"3. The narrovp" shield on the side is the coracoid, and composed of 

 two bones, the i^osterior of which is somewhat dilated and fixed to the 

 lateral dorsal shields. 



" ~L The ventral shields are the pubic bones ; their i)osterior half is 

 broadest, porous iuferiorly ; they are narrower before the middle, leav- 

 ing a free lanceolate spa^e between them, and are again a little widened 

 anteriorly, where they join the humerus and uroliyal." {Giinther, iii, 

 532.) {hutin, fistula, a tube or pipe.) 

 a. Skin covered with dermal ossifications. 



6ati— F. tuSiucvaria l^'iun.—Trumpct-fisli. 



Eeddish brown above, variegated with, numerous blue spots on the 

 sides and back. Mouth slightly oblique, lower jaw the longer, over- 

 lapping the upper; snout nuich i)rolonged, tapering but little forward; 

 its edges with fine serrations or none. Margin of orbit with sharp com- 

 pressed points in front and behintl. Mandible about -1 iu snout; snout 

 3^ in length of body. Head 2^. D. 14; A. 13. Warm seas; occa- 

 sional on our South Atlantic coast. 



(Linn. Syst. Nat.; Gunthcr, iii, 529.) 



