7. OSTBACION. 257 



Lactoplirys oviceps, Kaup, Wiegm. Arch, 185-'5, p. 218. 

 Lsetophrys tiig-onus, Pocj/, Rep. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 441. 

 undulatus, Poci/, I. c. 



Carapace three- ridged, with a flat prominent spine on each abdo- 

 minal ridge ; this spine h opposite to or but slightly in advance of 

 the loot of the dorsal fin. No other spines. The carapace is not 

 continuous behind the dorsal fin, the back of the tail being covered 

 by a single osseous shield. Interorbital space concave ; anterior 

 profile of the snout very steep and nearly straight. Caudal fin sub- 

 truucate. Carapace and tail with some scattered small whitish 

 spots. Young examples with a black blotch behind the gill-opening 

 and on the middle of the side. 



West Indies. 



a-c. Half-grown and young. St; Croix. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. 

 d-e. Adult and half-grown ; skins. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. 



Parnell. 

 /. Several adult (18 inches), half-grown, and young ^..araples : skins. 



3. Ostracion bicaudalis, 



Willughhy, Append, p. 20, pi. J. 17. 



Ostracion, sp., Artcdi, Syuon. p. So. no. 12; Geu. p. 57. no. 8. 



Seba, iii. tab. 24. fig. 7. 



Ostracion bicaudalis, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 408; Bl. taf. 132; Bl. Schn, 



p. 499 ; Lacep. i. p. 46-'5 ; HoUard, Ann. Sc. Nat. 1857, vii. p. 153 ; 



Poey, Repert. JFis.-nut. Cub. ii. p. 442. 



Carapace three-ridged, with a flat prominent spine on each ventral 

 ridge ; this spine is opposite to or but slightly in advance of the 

 root of the dorsal fin. No other spines. The carapace forms a con- 

 tinuous bridge across the back of the tail, behind the dorsal fin. 

 Interorbital space concave. Hind margin of the caudal fin rounded, 

 flarapace, tail, and caudal fin with numerous small, round, brown 

 spots (from five to nine on each hexagonal plate). 



"West Indies. 



a. Half-grown, liehze. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. 



b. Adult. Jamaica, run liased of Mr. Higgins. 



c-f. Half-grown : skinf^. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. Parnell. 



g. Several adult (17 inci^ s), half-grown, and young examples: 

 skins. West Indies. 



7i. Very young. Island "of Ascension. Presented by Mr. J. Ro- 

 binson. 



i. ? Adult. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. 



4. Ostracion quadricornis. 



Willughby, Ap])end. p. 10, tab. J. 15 (spine on tail placed too much 



backwards), and p. 20, tab. J." 14. 

 Ostracion, sp., Artedi, Synon. p. 85. nos. 9 & 10 ; Gen. p. 56. nos. 5 



&6. 

 Ostracion tricornis, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 408; BL Schn. p. 499. 



quadiicornis L. Si/^f Nnt. i. p. 40^); 7?/. taf. 134; Bl. Schn. 



vor. vni. s 



