628 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



capable of considerable inflation, but less than in the common 

 swellflsh. 



A young example, 3 inches long, seined at Longport N. J. 

 Aug. 29, 1887, is much less elongate than the adult, and has the 

 orbital tentacles greatly developed. The black spot which is 

 present near the anal origin in the adult is absent in the young. 

 The species is known as " Cucumberfish " at Somers Point N. J. 

 It takes the hook. The fish is found occasionally in small num- 

 bers from May to October in Gravesend bay, but no very small 

 ones are seen. It lives in the aquarium in winter only in water 

 heated to a temperature of 68 to 70 F. 



305 Chilomycterus fuliglnosus (I)e Kay) 

 Burfish; Unspotted BaMoonfi&h 



Diodon fitliginosus DE KAY, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 324, pi. 55, fig.. 181, 1842, 

 Xow York Harbor; BAIRD, Ninth Ann. Rep. Smith Inst. 351, 1855. 



Great Egg Harbor River, N. J. 

 Chilomyctems geometricus subsp. (?) fuliginosm JORDAN & GILBERT, Bull. 



16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 864, 1883. 

 CMlomycterus fuliginosus BEAN, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 133, 1888; 19th Rep. 



Comm. Fish. N. Y. 243, 1890. 



The following is the original description of the species: 



Body subcubical, rather more slender toward the tail. 

 Irregular series of triangular spines on the upper surface, the 

 extremities of which, in the living animal, are furnished with 

 long strips of membrane.* Similar spines, but more numerous, 

 smaller and recurved, on the abdomen. Three spines over each 

 orbit, and another, equidistant between each orbit. Lips fleshy 

 and susceptible of being draw r n over the teeth. Three or four 

 minute barbels under the chin. Pectorals short and broad, with 

 a slightly sinuous margin; the upper rays longest. Dorsal 

 placed far back, and obtusely pointed. The anal fin long, placed 

 on an elongated fleshy base. Tail slender, supporting a lanceo- 

 late caudal fin. All the fins exceedingly feeble and delicate. 



Color. Above dark olive-green, tinged with brown, with 

 meandering dusky lines. . . chin yellowish white. Abdomen 

 black; but the bases of the spines are bright orange, which so 

 far predominates as to give this color to the whole underside. 



Length, 2 inches/ Depth and transverse diameter, 1 inch. 

 Fin rays, D. 14; P. 22; A. 8; C. 9. 



This species, which might be mistaken for the young of the 

 preceding, [the spot-striped balloonfish] is readily distinguished 



