'262 ZOOLOGY. 



THE LONG HEADED FILE-FISH. 

 (Batistes Oiri, N. Sp.) 



Head elongated. Three longitudinal rows of curved 

 prickles on each side the tail; the two upper rows 

 containing ten prickles, the lowest three ; a black spot 

 on the skin around the base of each spine. Back 

 dusky, marked with longitudinal black lines ; abdomen 

 white. Light-blue lines on the sides of the head, and 

 encircling the mouth. Lips orange-colour ; broad bands 

 of the same hue extending from the mouth to the 

 pectoral fins. Iris silvery ; a yellow zone around the 

 pupil. Fins white. A very distinct ventral fin is 

 attached to the abdominal spine (balistd) of this fish. 



Habitat. Coral reefs of Raiatea, Society Isles. Native 

 name, Oire. 



ORDER, BRANCHIOSTEGI. 



THE SUN FISH. 



(Orthagoriscus Mola, Cuv. Diodon Mola, Bloch.) 



Two Sun Fish, referrible to the above species, were 

 harpooned by our crew, in lat. 39<> N., Pacific Ocean, 

 while swimming leisurely, as is their custom, with their 

 dorsal fin raised high above the surface of the sea. 

 They were alike in size, colour, and form, but, being 

 young, had not, probably, attained their full magnitude. 

 Their size, the body being nearly orbicular, was about 

 four feet in diameter;* their colour dark-gray, with 

 large silvery blotches. The skin is rough, destitute of 



* One example of this species, which we harpooned on the Equator, 

 in long. 167 W., measured six feet from snout to tail, and seven feet 

 fiom the extremities of the dorsal and anal fins. 



