338 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
GENUS ALUTERES. Cuvier. 
The pelvic bone entirely concealed beneath the skin. Body elongated, covered with small 
and scarcely visible grains. <A single spme representing the first dorsal, as in the pre- 
ceding genus. 
THE LONG-TAILED UNICORN-FISH. 
ALUTERES CUSPICAUDA, 
PLATE LIX. FIG. 192. 
The Sharp-tailed File-fish, Balistes cuspicauda. Mircnitt, Am. Month. Mag. Vol. 2, p. 326. 
The Unicorn File-fish, Aluteres monoccros? StToRER, Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 175. 
Characteristics. Brown, varied with orange. ‘Tail lancet-shaped, and nearly half the length 
of the body. Length six to nine inches. 
Description. Body clongated; back nearly horizontal between the dorsal fin and spine. 
Facial line straight, sloping. Abdomen regularly arched. Mouth prominent, projecting, small, 
upturned. The surface of the body covered with minute asperities, like shagreen. Teeth 
in the jaws lamellated, with pointed tips; those of the lower jaw closing within the upper. 
Lips thin and membranaceous, scarcely covering the teeth. Eyes large. Nostril in a line 
with the upper margin of the orbit. Branchial aperture very oblique, and 0°6 long. 
The dorsal spine stout, short, serrated, with a furrow behind for its reception ; second dorsal 
low, with its middle rays highest, and reaching to within 0°8 of the caudal fin. Pectorals 
short, and placed beneath the orbits. Anal terminates beyond the end of the dorsal; the rays 
of its posterior third portion are longest. ‘The caudal fin arises from an elongated tail, with 
its outer rays stoutest, and shorter than the others, which are alternately large and small, and 
all serrated towards their bases ; the middle rays are two and a half inches long, and all, with 
the exception of the two outer ones, are filamentous at their tips. 
Color. Yellowish brown, varied with irregular dashes and blotches, to such a degree that 
scarcely any two individuals are precisely similar; the general disposition is, however, to 
oblique bands of dusky brown, with the intervening spaces lighter. Irides yellow. 
Length, 8°5. Greatest depth, 2°5. 
Fin'rays, Decl 883" P./13'3\ Vi Os Ana erCe lie, 
This is not an uncommon species in our waters. The monoceros of Storer is either very 
closely allied, or what is more probable, is the young of our Long-tailed Unicorn-fish. The 
color varies still more than is noted above. I have seen them of a uniform brown, without 
any spots or clouds whatsoever. 
