174 FISHES. CHONDROPT. Acipexsee. 



and claspers. The whole evidence respecting this animal, as published in the 

 Wern, Mem. i. 431, and the accompanying observations by Dr Barclay, ren- 

 der probable the opinion, that it is a species of a genus not yet established in 

 the systems of zoologists. Sir Everard Home is inclined to consider it as no- 

 thing more than a Squalus maximus ; an opinion deriving no support from any 

 circumstance yet published respecting it. It has been conjectured, that the 

 Stronsa animal may be the same as the Sea Snake of Pontoppidan. 



The animal referred to by the Rev. Mr Maclean of Small Isles, Warn. 

 Mem. i. 442, which erected its broad oval head and narrow neck above the 

 water, and gave chase to the boat in which he was, may have been similar to 

 the Stronsa animal ; but its motions, especially raising its head above the wa- 

 ter, and viewmg distant objects, intimate its want of connection with the class 

 of Fishes. 



OSSEOUS FISHES. 



Tribe I. Jaws imperfect, exposed and covered with ivory. 

 a. Body capable of spontaneous inflation. 

 Tetraodon. 

 a a. Body incapable of inflation. 

 Orthagoriscus. 

 Tribe II. Jaws perfect. 



a. Gills interrupted, in tufts. Mouth terminal. 

 Syngnathus. 

 a a. Gills on the arches in continuous pectinated ridges. 



Malacopterygious Fishes. Fins supported by caitUaginous articu- 

 lated rays. 



AcANTHOPTERYGious FisHEs. The first rays of the dorsal, anal, and 

 ventral fins, supported by simple spinous rays. 



J 



Gen. XVIII. TETRAODON.— Jaws with a suture, giving 

 the appearance of four teeth in front. Body tapering be- 

 hind. Belly spinous. 



31. T. stellatus. — Abdominal spines straight, arising from a 

 root of four rays. 



Globe Diodon, Penn. Brit. ZooL iii. 132 — T. stellatus, Don. Brit. Fishes, 



tab. 60 Rare on the English coast. 



Length about a foot and a half. Back blue ; belly white. The whole sur- 

 face of the abdomen covered with distinct and rather distant spines. Dorsal 

 fin of 11, pectoral of 14, anal of 10, and caudal of G rays. Mouth small; 

 irides white, tinged with red. Middle of the tail prominent. Pennant ap- 

 pears first to have described this species, from a specimen taken at Penzance 

 in Cornwall. Mr Donovan mentions a second example from the Cornish 

 coast, in the collection of the late Mr John Hunter. 



1 



