Description of a new species of Diodon. 265 



had a sort of wrinkled or puckered skin at the base ; and con- 

 sisted of about twenty-three rays, of which the foremost was 

 considerably longer than the rest, which shortened as they 

 approached the tail. Though on minute examination, there 

 was a series of delicate rays like hairs, all the distance to the 

 caudal fin. This latter, as far as could be ascertained, had 

 thirteen rays, and was somewhat rugose at the base. There 

 were neither ventral nor anal fins. Above the mouth, there 

 was a space between the eyes, which may be called the front, 

 that was almost flat. 



Prickles, or spines, were distributed over the skin in the 

 following manner. There were three distinctly planted be- 

 tween the dorsal fin and the front ; and one between the front 

 and the mouth. There was a spine in advance of each eye, 

 which with another above each eye, and three others, extend- 

 ed toward the tail in a curvilinear course, above the pectoral 

 fins. Below the pectoral fins, there was a row of three spines 

 on each side, more nearly horizontal. 



But one of the greatest peculiarities of this small animal, was 

 its deeply carinated belly, which was armed with three spines, 

 and considerable asperities between them, more especially 

 between the middle one and the hindmost. 



I propose to distinguish the species by the name of Diodon 

 carinatus. 



