282 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. voI,.^-xIv. 
Lagocephalus Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class. Fishes, II, 18.39, pp. 194, 328 
{pennanti^lagocephalns) . 
Clrrhisomus Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class. Fishes, II, 1839, ])p. 194, 328 {gpcngleri). 
Cheilichthys MtJLLER, Abhandl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1839 (1841), p. 252 {tef<ti(- 
dineus). 
PhysogaMer MiJhhER, Abhandl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1839 (1841), p. 252 {hwaris) 
(name preoccupied). 
Gaf<trop}t!/siif> MvLhER, Wiegmann's Archiv., IX, 1843, p. 330 {Innaris). 
Hohtcantlmx Gronow, Syst. Nat., p]d. Gray, 1854, ]). 23 (includes all Tdmndonfidx 
and Dindontldic); name preoccupied. 
Anchisormts Kaup MS., Richardson, Voyage Herald, 1854, ])p. 156, 162 {spen- 
gleri, etc. ) . 
Les stenometopi's (Stenometopus) Bibron, Revue de Zoologie, 1855, p. 279 (teMiidi- 
neus, etc. ) . 
Geneion Bibron, Revue de Zoologie, 1855, p. 279 [maculatum). 
Catophrynchiis Bibron, Revue de Zoologie, 1855, p. 279 (Imirprh). 
Les j)romecocephales {PromecorepJtalus) Bibron, Revue de Zoologie, 1855, p. 279 
( argentalus) . 
Apsicephalus Hollarp, Etudes sur les Gynniodontes, 1867, j). 324 {testiidineus, 
etc.). 
lAosacoiH GiJNTHER, Cat. Fish., \'III, 1870, p. 297 (cutaneus). 
Body oblong or elongate; skin variou.sly prickly or smooth, .some- 
times with cirri. A single, short, simple nasal tube on each side, with 
2 rather large openings near its tip, the tube sometimes reduced to a 
mere rim. Dorsal and anal lins of 6 to 15 mys each; caudal truncate, 
rounded, or concave. Vertebrae IS to 21. Frontal bones expanded 
sidewise and forming the lateral roof of the orbit, the postfrontals 
limited to the posterior portions. Species verj^ numerous in warm 
seas. The group contains 2 or 3 strongly marked subgenera, which 
would be regarded as distinct genera if only extremes were considered. 
But the transition is very gradual from Lagocephalus., with elongate 
body, silvery skin, prominent lateral fold, long falcate dorsal and anal, 
with forked caudal, to typical Spheroldes^ with short fins and the form 
of Tetrodon. Most Japanese species belong to the subgenus Lagoce- 
phalus. 
{ff(])aip(x^ sphere; eiSog^ resemblance; the genus based on a front 
view, in which the fish was represented as spherical.) 
a. Lagocephalus. Dorsal and anal each with 12 to 14 rays, the fin usually acute at 
tip; nostril short, scarcely produced as a pajiilla. 
b. Caudal fin more or less distinctly lunate; dorsal and anal falcate; mucous tul)es 
on head distinctly developed. 
c. Lateral fold on sides of body evident. 
d. Back and belly distinctly prickly, the prickles sometimes embedded in the 
skin. 
e. Back with rather large scattered black spots; sides with a silvery band; 
gill opening black sceleratus, 2. 
ee. Back nearly plain gray, without spots; sides silvery; gill opening pale. 
spadiceus, 3. 
eee. Back with close-set black dots, coarse or fine; sides not silvery; prickles 
very small, often entirely hidden stictonotus, 4. 
