EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS 63 



the body. A bright blue spot surrounds the caudal spine. The dorsal has 

 wavy longitudinal streaks of light blue, or lavender, and light yellow. The 

 anal is dark blue edged with light blue, and the caudal is tinged with blue. 

 The ventrals are dark brown, nearly black. The young has all of the 

 vertical fins edged with bright blue, and a broad, light diffused stripe crosses 

 the caudal peduncle. 



Family BALISTID^. 

 196. Balistes vetula Linnseus. 



Specimens were taken at Natal. 



Family MONACANTHID^. 



197. Monacanthus hispidus (Linnaeus). 



One specimen was procured at Natal. 



198. Monacanthus ciliatus (Mitchill). 

 A single specimen taken at Natal. 



199. Alutera punctata Agassiz. 



Three specimens, from 15 to 17 inches in length, were caught in a trawl 

 in deep water. The head, from the upper end of the gill opening, is con- 

 tained from 3^ to 33/^ times in the entire length to the caudal; the depth 

 is from 2^/^ to 2]/^ times. The dorsal numbers 36 or 37, and the anal 38 

 or 39. In life they were dark slate-color, with small yellow spots scattered 

 over the side. 



Comparing these with a specimen of similar size of Alutera schozpfil from 

 Florida, the latter is found to be rougher, with enlarged sharp spinules scat- 

 tered among the finer ones; the double curve from the tip of the snout to 

 the dorsal spine is much more pronounced, and the color is very much lighter, 

 or almost white, with considerable silvery pigment and no spots. 



Family OSTRACIID^. 

 200, Lactophrys tricornis (Linnseus). 

 A couple of specimens from Natal. 



Family TETRAODONTID^. 

 201. Spheroides testudineus (Linnaeus). 



This fish is as common at Natal as it is reported to be throughout its 

 range. There is an astonishing variation in the size of the eye. 



