Storeys Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. 243 



been cut away. Dorsal and anal, each high and pointed, are united to the 



caudal. No natatory bladder ; stomach small, and immediately receiving the 



biliary canal. 



1. Orthagoriscus mola, Lin. 



Form oblong, elliptical, compressed, subtruncated behind. Depth two thirds of its length. 

 Back dark gray ; sides of a dusky white ; abdomen nearly white ; a broad black band at base 

 of tail, running from origin of dorsal to origin of anal. Cuticle granulated, covered with a 

 thick adhesive mucus. Dorsal and anal not united to caudal fin. Caudal formed of several 

 digitations, varying in their height. Eyes moderate, convex ; snout prominent. 



D. 13. P. 12 or 13. A. 13 to 15. C. 9. Weight, 200 to 400 pounds. 



Massachusetts, Stoker. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



Tetraodon mola, Lin., Syst. Nat., p. 412. 



'• Short T Pennant's Brit. ZoSl., Hi. p. 172, pL 22. 



Diodon mola, Bloch, pi. I 

 i phalus brei . . ShortSun fish, Mi w, 'si 437, pi. I". 



" " Mitchill, l'i ins 1 ■: tnd PI) So of N V., I. p. 471. 



Orthagoriscus mola, Short Sun-fish (Schneider), Jenyns's Brit. Vert., p. 490. 



" •• Griffith's ( li \ \ 



" " Short Sun-fish, 1 Brit. Fishes (2d edit.), n. p. 462 and fig. 



" " " '■ Stober's Report p. 170 pi : ' -. I. 



" " Short Head-fish, Pekay's Report, p. 331, pi. 59, fig. 193. 



FAMILY XXX. BALISTID-E. 



Body compressed. Snout prolonged from the eyes. Mouth small, with a 

 few distinct teeth in each jaw. Skin roughened with prickles or scales. Dor- 

 sals, two ; the anterior sometimes represented by a single spine. Ventrals 

 often wanting or indistinct. Pelvic bone prominent. 



GENUS I. BALISTES, Cuv. 



Entire body covered with large scales, very hard and rhomboidal, not im- 

 bricated. The first dorsal with three prickles or spines, the first of which is 

 much the largest, the third very small, and separated, further back. The ex- 

 tremity of their pelvis is always salient and prickly, and behind it are some 

 spines engaged in the skin, which, in the long species, have been considered 

 as rays of the ventrals. 



1. B-alistes fuliginosus, Dekav. 



Body oblong, elliptical. Dusky brown, unspotted. Caudal fin doubly emarginated ; a 

 single spine between the first and second dorsals ; first dorsal spine is roughened with asper- 

 ities upon its anterior edge, and broadly channelled behind. 



