129. TETRODONTID^ LAGOCEPHALUS. 859 



ISSV. A. scripta (Osbeck) Bleeker. 



Head and body with irregular blue spots and lines, and small, round 

 black spots. Skin finely velvety. Body oblong, its depth equal to dis- 

 tance from snout to posterior margin of orbit. Snout produced, the 

 upper profile concave. Dorsal spine very feeble, above middle of orbit. 

 Part of gill-opening in advance of orbit. Pectoral fin inserted below 

 orbit; caudal elongate, about as long as head; dorsal and anal low. 

 Depths. D. 4G; A. 50. {Gilnther.) Troi)ical seas; occasionally north 

 to South Carolina. 



{Balinies scrijdits Osbeck, Itin. i, 144, 1771: MonacaniJins scrijHus Giiiitlier, viii, 252.) 



Family CXXIX.— TETRODONTID^E. 



{The Puffers.) 



Body oblong or elongate, usually little compressed, and sometimes 

 very broad ; belly capable of great inflation ; skin scaleless, usually 

 more or less prickly, sometimes with strong spines. Teeth in each jaw 

 wholly confluent, forming a sort of beak which in each jaw is some- 

 times divided by a median suture; lips full; nostrils various. Fius of 

 soft rays only ; dorsal fin posterior, opposite and similar to the anal; 

 caudal fin distinct; no ventral fins; pectoral fin short and broad, its 

 upper rays longest. Pelvic bone undeveloped. Gill-openings small, 

 close in front of the pectorals; air-bladder present. Genera about 10; 

 species 80; inhabiting warm seas; noted for their habit of filling the 

 stomach with air. When inflated, the diameter of the belly is often 

 greater than the length of the body. 



{Gi/mnodoiitcs, group Tetrodontina Gliuther, viii, 270-31G. ) 



a. Botli j.aws divided by a median suture. (Tefrodouflrice.) 

 b. Nostril on each aide a single tube, with two openings. 



c. Dorsal and anal falcate, of 12 to 15 rays each Lagockphalus, 480. 



cc. Dorsal and anal of 6 to 8 rays each Tetuodon, 481. 



aa. Both .jaws entire, without median suture. ( DiodouUnw.) 



d. Spines very small, flexible, bristle-like, mostly two-rooted. 



Trichodiodon, 482. 



dd. Si)ines strong, stiff", erectile, mostly two-rooted Diodox, 483. 



ddd. Spines very strong, immovable, mostly three-rooted. 



Chilomycterus, 484. 



480.— L,AGOCEPIIALUS Swaiusou. 

 {Gastrophysua Mliller.) 

 (Swainson, Class. Fish. etc. 1839, 328: typo Tetrodon lagocephalm L.) 



Body comparatively elongate; skin smooth or variously i)rickly, the 

 prickles most developed on the abdomen; abdomen capable of very 



