HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 235 



FAMILY XXVI. OSTRACIONIDiE. 



Body triangular or four-sided, enveloped in a hard bony case, composed of nu- 

 merous plates, soldered together in such a manner that only the mouths and fins 

 are movable. No ventral fins ; a single dorsal. 



. • GENUS LACTOPHRYS, Dekay. 



Body triangular ; with strong spines directed backwards before the anal fin. Or- 

 bits usually spinous. 



Lactophrts Yalei, Dekay. 



Yale's Trunk-fish. 



(Plate XXXV. Fig. 3.) 



Ostracion Yalei, Storeb, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., I. p. 353, pi. 8. 



" " Yale's Trunk-fish, Stoker, Report, p. 176. 



Ladophrys Yalei, Yale's Trunk-fish, Dekay, Report, p. 362. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 498. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 246. 



Color. Above, of a light leaden color; beneath, nearly colorless. 



Description. Body triangular. Its entire surface is granulated and covered with 

 hexagonal plates, each containing six raised lines, which diverge from the centre 

 of the plate to the angles; these plates are much the larger posterior to the 

 pectoral fins. From the posterior angle of the eye to the ligamentary substance 

 at the base of the tail are included ten plates in a direct -line ; from the highest 

 point of the back to the abdomen are nine similar rows of plates. Behind the 

 dorsal fin is a surface of ligamentary substance, of a darker color than the rest 

 of the exterior, extending to the caudal fin, and containing, just back of the dor- 

 sal fin, one isolated plate, apparently composed of portions of several plates. Upon 

 the posterior portion of the abdomen are situated, laterally, two stout, naked, re- 

 curved spines. The mouth is large and prominent ; the jaws are armed with elon- 

 gated, strong teeth ; the eyes are large, and elongated horizontally ; the nostrils 

 are directly anterior to the anterior inferior angle of the eye. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 10. P. 12. A. 10. C. 10. 



Remarks. The only specimen of this species which has been seen was discovered 

 alive by Dr. Yale, in 1833, among the sea-weed on the beach at Martha's Vine- 

 yard, and was by him presented to the Boston Society of Natural History. In the 



vol. viii. 38 



