24(» SCLERODERMT. 



Monacanthiis setifer, DcVaij, New York Faun. Fish. p. 837, pi. 50. 



fig. 194. 

 nifissacliusettensis, Stover, Fish. Mass. p. 174, and Mem. Am. Ac. 



viii. p. 425 (pi. 34. fig. 4) ; Dekay, I. c. p. 336, pi. 57. fig. 187. 

 koimiki, Bleek. I. c. pi. 3. fig. 3, and Verh. Ak. Wet, i. Japan^ 



p. 13, c. fig. 



aiiratus, Caddnuu., Pous. (TAfr. Austr. p. 77. 



? Monacanthiis oppositus, Puey^ Mon. Cub. ii. p. 331. 



D. 28-34. A. 29-33. 



Scales minute, but distinct, not very rough, the skin having a 

 velvety appearance ; sometimes with minute cirrhi. In old examples 

 the sides of the tail are covered with short, delicate bristles. Dorsal 

 spine above or immediately behind the hind margin of the orbit, 

 granular in front, and armed with a double series of barbs behind. 

 Body elevated, its depth being one-half or more than one-half of 

 the total length (without caudal). The origin of the dorsal fin is the 

 highest point in the dorsal profile. Snout moderately produced, with 

 the upper profile straight. Caudal fin rounded. Ventral spine move- 

 able, small, attached to the abdominal membrane. Dorsal and anal 

 fins of moderate height ; the second dorsal ray is in some adult spe- 

 cimens produced into a very long filament. Brown, with obscure 

 blackish spots or streaks. 



Va)\ a. Dorsal spino rather feeble, one-half or two-fifths of the 

 length of the head. Japan and China ; (East Africa.) 



a-d. Adult (10 inches long): stuffed. Japan. Purchased of Hr. 



Frank. 

 e-g. Adult and young. North China. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. 

 h. Young. China. Presented by Vice-Admiral Sir E. Belcher. 

 i. Adult : skin. Zanzibar. From Lieut. -Col. Playfair's Collection 



(521). 

 I'-l. Half-grown and young. From Mr. Stokes's Collection. 



Var. /3. Dorsal spine strong, more than one-half of the length 



of the head. Tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic ; East 



Africa. 



m. Adult. Madeira. From the Haslar Collection. 



n. ^dult (10 inches long). Lanzarote. Presented by the Rev. R. 

 T. Lowe. 



0. Adult. Cape Verde Islands. Presented by the Rev. R. T. Lowe. 



p. Several half-grown specimens : skins. Jamaica, Purchased of 

 Mr. Parnell. 



q. Half-grown. Cuba. From the Collection of the Zoological So- 

 ciety. 



r. Young. Trinidad. Presented by J. B. Richardson, Esq. 



s. Young. West Indies. From M. Salle's Collection. 



t, u-v. Adult and half-grown. Port Natal. From Mr. Ayres'a Col- 

 lection. 



vj. Half-grown. 



