858 CONTEIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



aa. Veutral spiue fixed; dorsal spine weak, without barbs; abdominal flaj) moderate. 

 (Cantherines* Swaiuson.) 



1335. M. puUus Ranz. 



Coloratiou variable, generally with a whitish spot behind the last 

 dorsal ray. Body moderately elevated. Snout moderately produced, 

 with the upper profile slightly concave. Posterior margin of eye di- 

 rectly above axil. Adults with two pairs of strong recurved spines 

 on each side of tail; caudal short. Dorsal spine nearly straight, rather 

 shorter than head, without barbs, situated above the front of eye. Skin 

 with a velvety appearance; the scales minute. Depth about 2. D. I- 

 35; A. 31. {Gilntlier.) Troi)ical Seas, north to Southern Florida. 



(Ranzaui, Nov. Comm. Act. Sci. Inst. Bonou. v, 4, 1842: 'I Monacanllms pardalis Riip- 

 pell, N. W. Fish. 1855, 57: Monacanlhus pardalis Giiuther, viii, 230.) 



479.— ALUTEKA Ciivier. 



File-fislies. 



(Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 2, ii, 829, 1829: type Brilistes monoceros Osbeck.) 



Body oblong or rather elongate, strongly compressed, covered with 

 minute, rough scales. Mouth and teeth essentially as in MonacanthuSy 

 but the lower jaw more ])rojectiug, so that the lower teeth are directed 

 obliquely upward and backward. Gill-opening an oblique slit, longer 

 than eye, situated below and in advance of eye, its i)OSterior end be- 

 hind base of pectorals. Pelvic bone long, falcate, movable under the 

 skin, without spine at its extremity. Dorsal sj^ine small, inserted over 

 the eye, rough, but without barbs; soft dorsal and anal long, each of 

 30-50 rays; caudal fin convex; i)ectorals small. Species numerous. 

 (? u?.<iuT<iq, unwashed.) 



1326. A. sclioppm i^Walb.) Goode. 



Dull-greenish, marbled with lighter and darker ; lower lip dusky. 



Eye small, about 4 in snout. Gill slit nearly twice as long as eye, its 



upper i)Osterior edge nearly under the middle of the eye. Pectoral fins 



scarcely half longer than eye. Dorsal spine slender; dorsal and anal 



fins low; caudal very long in the young, becoming shorter in the 



adult. Scales minute, shagreen-like, uniform over the body. Head 



33- in length; depth 2^. D. 1-36; A. 38. L. 16 inches. Cape Cod to 



West Indies; abundant southward. 



(Balistes sclicepffi Walbaum, Artedi, Pise. 1792, 4G1: Balistes aurantiacus Mitchill, 

 Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. i, 468, 1815 (adult): Abttera cuspicauda Dekay, New 

 York Fauna, Fish. 1842, 338 (young): Ceratacanthus aurantiacus Gill (adult).) 



*Swainson, Class. Fish. etc. ii, 327, 1839: tyj)e Canfherines natsutus Swainson: Balis- 

 tes sandwivhentsisCi. &(i. {nayOoi, ass; piVjSuont.) (=iioniOHacan</tus etc. Bleeker.) 



