4. BALISTES. 227 



Tail with six strong spines on each side, arranged in a donble series. 

 Twenty-four scales in a transverse series, running from the origin of 

 the dorsal fin to the vent. Some small osseous plates behind the 

 gill-opening. Dorsal and anal fins rather low, with roundcnl profile ; 

 caudal fin subtruncate. Blackish brown ; head and body with 

 numerous oblique and somewhat undulated yello-«nsh or reddish 

 stripes ; two, bi'oader than the others, proceed from the lips, and are 

 confluent into one posteriorly. The first dorsal fin black, the other 

 fins orange-coloured. The spines on each side of the tail in a black 

 patch. 



Indian and Pacific Oceans. 



a. Adult : stufi'ed. Red Sea. From Dr. Riippell's Collection. 



b. Half-grown : skin. Zanzibar. From Lieut.-Col. Playfair's Col- 



lection. 



c. d-e. Half-grown. Moluccas. 



/. Adult : skin. Sumatra. From Mungo Park's Collection. — Type 



of the species. 

 f/-7i. Adult and half-g^o^vn. Ambo5'na. Purchased of Hr. Frank. 

 ?'. Several specimens. Coram. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. 

 Jc-Tii. Adult and half-grown. Zebu (Philippines), Purchased of 



Mr. Jamrach. 

 n. Adult. China. Presented by Vice-Admiral Sir E. Belcher. 

 0. Adult : stufi'ed. Japan. 

 l')-(]. Adult : stufi'ed. Louisiade archipelago. 

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

 n-t. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 

 u. Adult: skeleton. From the Haslar Collection. 



The following species appears to belong to this division : — 



24. Balistes oire. 



Bennett, JMiaUnci J'or/age, ii. p. 202. 



" Head elongated. Three longitudinal rows of curved prickles on 

 each side the tail ; the two upper rows containing ten prickles, the 

 lowest three ; a black spot on the skin around tlie base of each spine. 

 Back dusky, marked with longitudinal black lines ; abdomen white. 

 Light blue lines on the sides of the head, and encircling the mouth. 

 Lips orange-colour ; broad bands of the same hue extending from 

 the mouth to the pectoral fins. Iris silvery ; a yellow zone around 

 the pupil. Fins white. A very distinct ventral fin is attached to 

 the abdominal spine (balista) of tins fish. 



" Habitat, Coral reefs of Raiatea, Society Isles. Native name, 

 Oire." 



2. Teeth white, even, incisor-Ukc : INIelaniclitliys. 



25. Balistes buniva. 



Willughhi, tab. J. 24. 



Capriscus, no. o, Klein, Pise. Miss. iii. p. 25. 



Galafate. r.irra, p. 18. lam. 11. fig. 1. 



