536 FISTULARII)^. 



1. Aulostoma coloratum. 



Purra, j). 65. lam. 30. fig. 2. 



Fistularia chinensis, part., L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 515. 



Solenostomus, Gronuv. Zoophyl. p. 119. no. 366. 



Aulostomus chinensis, part., Lacej). v. p. 357. 



Aulostoma colorntum, Midi. 8f Trosch. in Schornb. Hist. Barbad. p. 673. 



maculatum, Valenc. in Cuv. Regne Anim. III. Poiss. pi. 92. fig. 2. 



Solenostomus chinensis, Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 147. 



D. 9-10 1 23-24. A. 24-26. V. 6. P. 15. C. 3 + 15 + 3. 

 Caec. pyl. 2. 



The anterior rays of the soft dorsal and anal fins with a black 

 cross-band, parallel to, and somewhat remote from, the base of the 

 fins. Yentral fins immaculate. 



Caribbean Sea. 



a, h-c. Adnlt and half-grown, Cuba. From the Collection of the 



Zoological Society. 

 d-l. Adult and half-grown : stuff'od and skins. Caribbean Sea. 

 m, n, 0, p-q. Adult, half-grown, and young. 

 r. Adult : skin. From Gronow's Collection. 



Description. — The head of this singular fish is produced into along 

 compressed tube, terminating in a . mouth which is comparatively 

 small. The length of the head is somewhat less than one-third of 

 the total. The cleft of the mouth is slightly oblique when closed, 

 with the extremity of the lower jaw somewhat prominent and com- 

 pressed into a sort of keel. A small barbel hangs doAvn from the 

 symphysis. The intermaxillary is feeble, styliform, not protractile, 

 whilst the maxillary is broad, lamelliform, and triangular. The 

 upper jaw is united to the lower by a broad membrane, which renders 

 the cleft of the mouth much narrower than one would expect from 

 the extent of the jaw-bones. 



Although Cuvier and the following authors have denied the pre- 

 sence of teeth, patches of minute ones are distinctly visible ; they 

 become more conspicuous if the head is allowed to dry. The inter- 

 maxillaiy is perfectly tootliless ; the mandible has a short and narrow 

 band on the edge near the symphysis, and a broad rough patch on its 

 inner sm^face ; there is a similar patch on the palatine bones, whilst 

 the vomer is provided with a long, very narrow band of minute teeth. 

 The inner concave part of the branchial arches and the upper and 

 lower pharyngeal bones have patches of villiform teeth. 



The diameter of the eye is one-half or two-fifths of the extent of 

 the part of the head behind it ; the space between the orbits is flat 

 or a little concave, with a slight ridge on each side, both converging 

 anteriorly and soon meeting in a point. The eye does not appear to 

 be comparatively smaller in adult specimens than in young ones, as 

 is the case in most Teleostei. The nostrils are close together, one 

 before the other, in front of the orbit and on the side of the head. 

 The operculum is subquadrangular, longer than high ; the suboper- 

 culum occupies a triangular space between the operculum and prae- 

 operculum, and is carried backwards along the inferior margin of the 



