246 Storer's Synopsis of the Fishes of North Jlmerica. 



3. Aluteres angusticauda, Mitchill. 



Shades of brown over entire surface. Gibbous before the eyes ; belly prominent and 

 flabby; snout projecting; mouth small. Tail isthmus-shaped, narrow immediately behind 

 the anal and dorsal fins, and wider towards the origin of the caudal fin. 



D. (?). P. (?)■ V. (>). A. (>). C. (?). Length, (.'). 



Balistea angusticauda, Narrow-tailed File-fish, Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag., n. p. 327. 

 Aluteres angusticauda, Narrow-tailed File-fish, Dekay's Report, p. 339. 



FAMILY XXXI. OSTRACIONLLVE. 



Body triangular or four-sided, enveloped in a hard, bony case, composed 

 of numerous plates, soldered together in such a manner that only the mouth 

 and fins are movable. No ventral fins ; a single dorsal. 



GENUS I. LACTOPHRYS, Dekay. 



Body triangular ; with strong spines directed backwards before the anal fin. 

 Orbits usually spinous.* 



1. Lactophrys sex-cornutus, Mitchill. 



With six spines ; two in front of the eyes, two on the sides of the abdomen, and two at 

 the extremity of their bony corselet, one above and one below the tail. Skin somewhat 

 clouded or streaked lengthwise. Beneath white. 



D. (?). P. (?). A. (?). C. (.'). Length, 7 inches. 



Gulf of Mexico, Mitchill. 



Ostracion sex-comutus, Six-horned Trunk-fish. Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag., II. p. 328. 

 Lactophrys sex-comutus, Six-horned Trunk-fish, Dekay's Report, p. 343. 



2. Lactophrys Yalei, Storer. 



Back convex ; no spines upon the orbits ; two abdominal spines. Of a uniform light, lurid 

 color above ; back of dorsal fin darker-colored ; body beneath much lighter. 

 D. 10. P. 12. A. 10. C. 10. Length, 14 inches. 

 Massachusetts, Storer. 



Ostracion Yalei, Storer, Bost. Joum. Nat. Hist., I. p. 353, pi. 8. 



•' ( " Yale's Trunk-fish, Storer's Report, p. 17G. 



Lactophrys Yalei, Yale's Trunk-fish, Dekay's Report, p. 312. 



* Although I have not seen the necessity of this genus, I am not disposed to reject it on that 

 account only. 



