5. MON ACANTHUS. 229 



5. MONACANTHUS *. 



Monacantlius et Alutariuti, Cxv. lieyne An. 



Stophanolepis, Gill, Pruc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phihul. 18G1, p. 78. 



Mouacanthus, Chajtodermis, Paramonacantlius, Ainanses (Gra;/), 

 Pseudomonacanthus, Lionioiiacanthus, Oxviuonacanthii.*, Bracha- 

 lutei'cs, Acanthaluter(;s,Ceratacantlius, Paraluteres, Pseiidaluteres, 

 Aluteres, lileek. Ked. Tyds. Dierk. iii. 18G0, pp. 11-10. 



Body compressed, covered with very small or minute rough scales ; 

 adult males of some of the species with a peculiar ai'mature on the 

 side of the tail, which, in females, is much less developed, or entirely 

 absent. Upper jaw with a double series of incisor-liko teeth, six in 

 the outer, and four in the inner series ; lower jaw with six similar 

 teeth in a single series. The first dorsal fin reduced to a single 

 strong spine, behind which generally another rudimentary spine. 

 Ventral fins reduced to a simple osseous fixed or moveable small 

 api)e)ulage, which is sometimes rudimentary or entirely absent. No 

 barbel. Vertebraa ttt:. 



11-14 



Tropical and subtropical seas. 



* 1. Monacaninu8 pusilhis, Ei'(pj>. Afl. FitTh. p. 34. — Massowah. 



2. Balistes freycineti. Cuv. in Q. cf-. G. Voy. Uran. Zool. p. 213; Monacati- 

 thus freycineti, Hullurd, Ami. Sc. Nat. 1854, ii. p. 33(1, pi. 12. fig. 3. — 

 Mauritius. 



3. broccus, Mitch. Trana. Lit. ^ Phil Soc. New York, i. p 467 ; 



Bckay, N. York Faun. F/.<h. p. 33o, pi. 56. fig. 183.— New York. 



4. Alouterius maculosus, Richardson, Proc. Zool. Soc 1840, ]\Iarch lOll*; 



Trans. Zool. Soc. iii. p. 170 ; Voi/. Kreh. ^- Terr. Fish. p. 07, })1. 3o. 

 figs. 5-7 ; Hollard. Ann. Sc. Nat. 1854, ii. p. 359. — Tasmania, New 

 South Wales. 



5. Monacantlius brevispinosus, Hollard, Ann. So. Nat. 1854, ii. p. 335. — 



Indian Ocean. — D. 36. A. 34. Dorsal and anal fins much elevated in 

 front ; profile of forehead rather convex. 



6. freycineti, Hollard, I. c. p. 336, pi. 12. fig. 3, from New South 



Wales and Mauritius, is probably identical with one of our .Australian 

 species; however, the caudal spines (which stand in two series) are said 

 to have the points directed backwards. The profile of the snout is 

 convex according to the description, but concave in the figure.- — D. 36. 

 A. 35. 



7. platifrons, Hollard, I. c. p. 341. — New South Wales. 



8. serrasquamosus, Hollard, I. c. p. 345 — Bay of Islands. 



0. tricuspis, Hollard, I. c. p. 351, pi. 13. fig. 3. — Indian Ocean. — 



D. 27. A. 27. 

 10. dumerilii, Hollard, I. c. p. 361. — Mauritius ? — D. 34. A. 31. 



Taclies lactecs seraees sur un fond obscur. 

 11. nitens, Hollard, I.e. p. 364, pi. 14. fig. 4.— Tongatabu.— D. 30. 



A. 24. 



12. trachyderma, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Ncerl. viii. Japan, vi. p. 70. 



— Japan.— D. 26. A. 27. 



13. Aluteres holbrookii, Hollard, Ann. Sc. Nat. 1855, iv. p. 7. — North 



America.— D. 36. A. 39. 



14. Balistes cuspicauda, Mitch. Am. Mouth. Mac/, ii. p. 326; Aluteres cuspi- 



cauda, Bekay, New York Fcnin. Fish. p. .■'.38, pi. 59. iig. 192, Storcr, 

 Mem. Am. Ac. viii. 1861, p. 427 (pi. 35. fig. 2).— New York.— D. ,38. 

 A. 42. 



15. Monacantlius lineolatus, Richards. Ichth. Chin. p. 201. — China. — A. 34. 



