Storer’s Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. 495 
been cut away. Dorsal and anal, each high and pointed, are united to the 
caudal. No natatory bladder ; stomach small, and immediately receiving the 
biliary canal. 
1. Orthagoriscus mola, Lr. 
Form oblong, elliptical, compressed, subtruncated behind. Depth two thirds of its length. 
Back dark gray ; sides of a dusky white ; abdomen nearly white ; a broad black band at base 
of tail, running from origin of dorsal to origin of anal. Cuticle granulated, covered with a 
thick adhesive mucus. Dorsal and anal not united to caudal fin. Caudal formed of several 
digitations, varying in their height. Eyes moderate, convex ; snout prominent. 
D. 13. P.120r13. A.13to15. C.9. Weight, 200 to 400 pounds. 
Massachusetts, Srorer. New York, Mircuriy, Dexay. 
Tetraodon mola, Lry., Syst. Nat., p. 412. 
ee “Short Tetraodon, PENNANT’sS Brit. Zodl., 111. p. 172, pl. 22. 
Diodon mola, Brocu, pl. 128. 
Cephalus brevis, Short Sun-fish, Saaw’s Gen. Zodl., v. p. 437, pl. 175. 
Us «*  Mircuit, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., 1. p. 471. 
Orthagoriscus mola, Short Sun-fish (ScuNEWER), JeENyNs’s Brit. Vert., p. 490. 
ff “  Grirriry’s Cuv., x. p. 569. 
= “Short Sun-fish, Yarrext’s Brit. Fishes (2d edit.), 11. p. 462 and fig. 
LD Us ce ce SrorEr’s Report, p. 170, pl. 3, fig. 1. 
at ‘Short Head-fish, Dexay’s Report, p. 331, pl. 59, fig. 193. 
FAMILY XXX. BALISTIDZ. 
Body compressed. Snout prolonged from the eyes. Mouth small, with a 
few distinct teeth in each jaw. Skin roughened with prickles or scales. Dor- 
sals, two; the anterior sometimes represented by a single spine. Ventrals 
often wanting or indistinct. Pelvic bone prominent. 
GENUS I. BALISTES, Cvv. 
Entire body covered with large scales, very hard and rhomboidal, not im- 
bricated. The first dorsal with three prickles or spines, the first of which is 
much the largest, the third very small, and separated, further back. The ex- 
tremity of their pelvis is always salient and prickly, and behind it are some 
spines engaged in the skin, which, in the long species, have been considered 
as rays of the ventrals. 
1. Balistes fuliginosus, DeKay. 
Body oblong, elliptical. Dusky brown, unspotted. Caudal fin doubly emarginated ; a 
single spine between the first and second dorsals ; first dorsal spine is roughened with asper- 
ities upon its anterior edge, and broadly channelled behind. 
