244 Slorer's Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. 



D. 2, 1,28. P. 14. V. 7. A. 26. C 12. Length, 12 inches. 

 New York, Dekay. 



Balistes fuliginosus, Dusky Balistes, Dekay's Report, p. 339, pi. 57, fig. 188. 



GENUS II. MONACANTHUS, Cov. 

 Body covered with very small scales, bristling with stiff excrescences, and 

 extremely crowded. The extremity of their pelvis projecting and spiny, as 

 in the Balistes, but they have only one large dentated spine to their first dor- 

 sal, or at least the second is almost imperceptible. 



1. Monacanthus aurantiacus, Mitchill. 



Oval. Of an orange-yellow, except the chin, lips, and belly, which are bluish-white. 

 Dorsal and anal tinged with dusky. Tail doubly emarginate. Abdomen tumid. Lower 

 jaw largest, with eight thin, flattened teeth, of which those in front are long and large, with 

 emarginated edges ; upper jaw with smaller flat and lanceolate teeth. A rounded promi- 

 nence anterior lo second dorsal fin ; anal extends further back than dorsal fin. 



D- 1, 36. P. 12. V. 0. A. 30. C 12. Length, 1 to 2 feet. 



Maine, Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Linsley. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



Balistes aurantiacus, Orange File-fish, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 468, pi. 6, fig. 1. 

 Monacanthus aurantiacus ('/), Orange File-fish (Mitchill), Dekay's Report, p. 333, pi. 57, fig. 186. 

 " " Stokeb, Proceed. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., II. p. 72. 



2. Monacanthus broccus, Mitchill. 



Body subovale. Uniform brown. Covered with asperities. Dorsal fin with an equal, 

 convex margin. Mouth prominent, projecting ; six to eight sharp incisorial teeth in both 

 jaws. Anal not as high as the dorsal ; caudal long and rounded. 



D. 1,32. P. 13. V. 0. A- 32. C. 13. Length, 8 inches. 



Connecticut, Linsley. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



Balistes broccus, Tut-mouthed File-fish, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 4G7. 

 Monacanthus broccus, Long-finned File-fish, Dekay's Report, p. 333, pi. 56, fig. 183. 



3. Monacanthus Massachusettensis, Storer. 



Body elliptical, much compressed. Yellowish brown, variegated over its entire extent with 

 brownish markings and blotches, which are less obvious beneath. Anal and dorsal yellowish 

 green ; caudal light olive-green ; pectorals light reddish. Faint, abbreviated, dark oblong 

 streaks along the sides. Surface rough, with numerous minute cilia suspended from its 

 sides. Dorsal emarginated posteriorly; ventral fold roughened by sharp stellated spines- 



D. 1,34. P. 12 to 15. V. (?). A. 30 to 34. C. 13. Length, 3 to 4 inches. 



