240 Stover's Synopsis of the Fishes of JYorth Jlmerica. 



divided internally into lamina, the general appearance of which somewhat re- 

 sembles the bill of a parrot, and which is essentially composed of true 

 teeth united together, and succeeding one another in proportion as there are 

 any worn out by trituration. Opercula small ; their rays five in number. 



GENUS I. DIODON, Lin. 



Jaws undivided, presenting but one piece above and below. Behind the 

 trenchant edge of each is a round part, furrowed crosswise, which forms a 

 powerful instrument of mastication. No ventral fins. Skin armed with slen- 

 der prickles or stout spines. 



1. Diodon maculato-striatus, Mitchill. 



Body subcubical. Greenish, with numerous meandering, olive-brown stripes, and a few 

 dark-colored, large blotches, margined with green. The whole surface, except the chin and 

 tail. covered with sharp, recurved, triangular, compressed spines, each with a trifid base. 

 Tail even. 



D. 13. P. 24. A. 12. C. 9. Length, 5 to 7 inches. 



Connecticut, Linsley, Aykes. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



Diodon maculato-striatus, Spot-striped Diodon, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 470, pi. 6, 



fig. 3. 

 Diodon rivulatus, Cuv., Memoires du Museum d'Hist. Nat., IV. p. 129, pi. fi. 

 Diodon maculato-striatus, Spot-striped Balloon-fiel), Dekay's Report, p. 323, pi. 5G, fig. 135. 



" « (Mitchill), Ayres, Eost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 2S4. 



" " Linsley's Cat. of Fishes of Connecticut. 



Diodon fuliginosus, Unspotted Balloon-fish, Dekay's Report, p. 324, pi. 55, fig. 1S1 (young). 



2. Diodon pilosus, Mitchill. 



Body oblong, cuboidal. Brownish above ; ashy-white beneath ; on the back and along 

 the sides, several oblong, distant, blackish-brown spots. Every part of the body except a 

 small space round the mouth and eyes, and another including the base of the caudal fin, 

 furnished with soft, flexible bristles, of a metallic golden color. Caudal lanceolate. 



D. 12. P. 20. A. 14. C 9- Leagth, 2 to 4 inches. 



New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



Diodon pilosus, Hairy Diodon, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 471, pi. 6, fig. 4. 

 Diodon asper, Cuv., Memoires du Museum d'Hist. Nat., iv. p. 138. 

 Diodon pilosus, Griffith's Cuv., x. p. 567. 



" " Hairy Balloou-fish, Dekay's Report, p. 326, pi. 55, fig. 1?0. 



3. Diodon verrucosus, Mitchill. 

 Body cuboidal, oblong, small. Cinereous-brown above ; yellowish white beneath. With 

 rounded areolae, from which arise soft, flexible spines. Caudal long, emarginate. 



