FAMILY TEUTHIDA — ACANTHURUS. 139 
FAMILY XI. TEUTHID. 
Body compressed, ovate, oblong. Mouth small, not protractile. Teeth often dentated, and 
disposed ina single row in both jaws. Palate and tongue smooth. A single dorsal, 
usually long. 
Oss. This family, which is peculiar to the warmer regions of the ocean, has been esta- 
blished upon a few genera, which, at the end of the last century, did not comprise more than 
eight or ten species. In the great work of Cuvier and Valenciennes, now in course of publi- 
cation, one hundred species are enumerated. It is allied to the family Scombride, and might 
be considered as a group subordinate to that family. The species appear to be chiefly her- 
bivorous. Iam not aware that we have more than one representative of this family on the 
coast of New-York, although farther south we shall undoubtedly find many others. 
GENUS ACANTHURUS. Cuvier and Valenciennes. 
Teeth cutting and serrated. A movable spine on the side of the tail. Head deep, com- 
pressed. Eyes placed high up on the head. The skin thick, and usually covered with 
small scales. 
THE SURGEON. 
ACANTHURUS PHLEBOTOMUS, Jeuthrce Retin OMtAned 
PLATE LXXIIlI. FIG. 234. 
Barbero. Parra, Desc. de diff. &c. p. 45, pl. 21, fig. 2. 
L) Acanthure saigneur. Cuv. et Van. Hist. des Poiss. Vol. 10, p. 176. 
Characteristics. Opercles deeply striated; the scapular also striated. Bluish brown. Tail 
nearly even. Length 6-12 inches. 
Description. Body elliptical and compressed. Front nearly regularly curved to the snout. 
Mouth very small. The opercles with radiating striae, and the scapular equally so with the 
humeral bone. Nostrils double, approximated, and the small posterior one very near the 
orbit. Scales small, rounded, extending over all the body and head, except on the opereular 
bones. Lateral line concurrent with, and near the dorsal outline. On each side of the tail 
is a strong, acute, compressed, lancet-shaped spine, narrowed at the base. This lies ina 
furrow, but can be elevated forwards at an angle of 45°, and become a powerful weapon. 
Teeth not covered by the lips, wide, compressed, serrated on their edges; from twelve to 
fourteen above, and about twenty below. Branchial rays five. 
The dorsal fin compound, extending from above the branchial aperture nearly to the tail, 
and nearly subequal throughout; the first spinous ray very short. Caudal fin very slightly 
excavated, nearly even. 
