61 



spine between tlie first and second dorsal fin. The first dor- 

 sal fin is composed of two spines, wliicli are entirely concealed 

 in a deep groove. Second dorsal fin long, triangular. Pec- 

 torals short and rounded ; the base under the second dorsal 

 spine. The pelvic bone terminates in a short and broad 

 spine, truncated at its tip. Contiguous to this spine arises a 

 low ventral fin^ containing seven short bifid spinous rays, at 

 the base of each of them, on each side, is a short horizontal 

 spine. The anal fin arises underneath the seventh ray of the 

 second dorsal, which it resembles in shape and size. The 

 tail is oblong, narrow in the middle, enlarged as the base of 

 the rays. The wide caudal fin has a double and broad emar- 

 gination ; in old specimens the caudal lobes are produced. 

 Blackish or dull brown above, lighter on the side ; young 

 specimens have numerous small dark brown spots. Length, 

 12 inches. 



Fin-rays :— D. 2, 1, 28 ; P. 14 ; V. 7 ; A. 25-2G ; C. 12. 



Balistes ccqjriscus, Gm. L. I. p. 1471 ; Lacep, I. p. 372, 

 pi. 13, fig. 3. 



— faliginosus, DeKay, New York Fauna Fish, p. 339, pi. 

 57, fig. 188. 



— castaneus, Richards Voy. Sulph. Fish, p. 120, pi. 59, 

 figs. 5-6. 



Occasionally met with on the coast of Worcester county, 



Acad. Coll. (Hatteras Inlet.) 



CER AT ACANTHUS, Gill. 

 C aurantinciS!*. 



Orange Pile Fish. 



Body subovate, much compressed. Facial line slightly 

 concave ; mouth prominent. Dorsal outline between the 

 spine and dorsal fin, horizontal. Abdomen tumid. Surface 

 covered with minute, acute, incurved prickles, which are felt 

 opposing the hand in all directions, and extend along the lays 



