5. CniLOMYCTERTJS. 313 



6. Chilomycterus jacnliferus. 



Diodou jacnliferus, Cuv. Mem. Mns. 1818, p. 130, c. fig. 



Two spines above the orbit ; none in the middle of the forehead ; 

 no tentacle ; there are only five spines in a straight longitudinal 

 series from the parietal spine to the side of the dorsal fin. Inter- 

 orbital space quite flat ; nostrils in front of the orbit. The roots of 

 four spines surround the tail behind the dorsal and anal fins. Spines 

 on the lower parts rather feeble. Jaws strong. P. 19. J). 16. 

 A. 15. C. 9. Three black spots on each side of the body, one in 

 front of the gill-opening, one behind the pectoral fin, and a third 

 somcAvhat in advance of the dorso-anal interspace. 



New Zealand. 



We possess two examples from New Zealand, one of which is dis- 

 tinguished by the extraordinary length of certain spines (supraorbital, 

 dorsal, postdorsal, and postpectoral), as noticed by Cuvicr. In the 

 other example these spines are but slightly enlarged, and, in fact, 

 all the spines are rather feeble. Yet both examples agree so well in 

 the number and arrangement of the ossifications that there is no 

 doubt that they are of the same species, the differences being pro- 

 bably dependent on the sex. 



a. Stufied, 13 inches long. Bay of Wellington. 

 h. Dried, 13 inches long (fins mutilated). New Zealand. Presented 

 by Dr. Sinclair. 



7. Chilomycterus reticulatus. 



Orbis muricatus ct reticulatus, Willvylihy, p. 155, tab. I 7. 

 Ostracion, sp., Artedi, Gen. p. 59.. uo. IG. 

 Diodon reticulatus, L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, i. p. 334 



atinga, var. /3, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 413. 



Chilomycterus tigrinus, Kaiip, Wieym. Arch. 1855, p. 233 (not Cuv.). 



Spines very short, compressed, with long, strong, flat, ridged roots, 

 the anterior root being the longest. Forehead flat, without spine. 

 Three feeble supraorbital spines, the inner root of the foremost over- 

 lapping the frontal bones. Nostrils in front of the orbit. Generally 

 two osseous stripes across the back of the tail, behind the dorsal fin ; 

 abdominal ossifications nearly as much developed as those on the 

 back ; there are eight in a longitudinal series nearest to the median 

 line of the back. All the upper parts and all the fins are densely 

 covered with small round blackish-brown spots; those of the back are 

 more or less ocellated, and of the size of the pupil ; those of the fins 

 are much smaUer. P. 12. D. 13. A. 13. C. 10. 



Tropical parts of the Atlantic. 



a. Skin, 27 inches long. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, 



Esq. (xcix.). 

 h. Adult : stuffed, 23 inches long. Bermudas, Presented by Capt. 



Taylor. 

 c-rj. Adult : stuffed. 



