I--0RTHAG0RISGID1;. 



MOLA, Ciiv. 

 M. rotunda. 



The Ocean Snn-rish, or Short Head. 



Broad oval, blunt behind, compressed, no scales, nor lat- 

 eral line. Head not distinct from the trunk, back dark grey, 

 abdomen white, the sides soiled white Avith silvery reflections, 

 a broad, almost black band, commences at the origin of the 

 dorsal fin, is continued in front of the caudal and anal fins to 

 the vent. Length, 3 to 4 feet. 



Fin-rays:— D. 13; P. 12—13; A. 13—15; C. 8—9. 



The caudal fin is connected both with the dorsal fin and 

 the anal. 



M. rotunda, Gill. 



Orthngoriscus mola, Delvay, New York Fauna, fishes, p 

 331, pi. 59, fig. 193. 



Occurs in the ocean on the coast of Worcester county. 



II-DIODONTIDiE. 



DIODON, Cuv. 



D, hystrix. 



The Sea Porcupine. 



Form oval, dilated like a cushion, but flattened on the 

 back, beset with moderately long, white spines, which slant 

 backwards when the creature is not irritated ; color pale 

 brownish, beneath whitish, the sides and back with round, 

 brown dots, and the fins with smaller, closer dots ; length 

 extending to two feet, but always smaller in Chesapeake Bay. 



Fin-rays:— D. 13; P. 25; A. 14; C. 8. 



I), liystrix, Bloch, Poissons, vol. 4, pi. 12G; Naturalists' 

 Library, vol. 35, pi. 16. 



Has been caught a few times with hook and line on the 

 coast of Worcester county, and in the Chesapeake off the 

 southern extremity of St. Mary's county. 



Being covered with stout and sharp spines; it is an object 

 of great disgust to the unlucky fisherman who chances to 

 find one attached to the end of his line. They swell them- 

 selves into a round ball, beset in every direction with long 

 spines, and with the spaces between the spines too small to 

 admit the fingers of the human hand. 



Acad. Coll, 



