98 FISH AND PISH-LIKE ANIMALS OF N.S.W., 



CLVII. Family Balistidae. 



360. Balistes Linne, Syst. Nat. 10th. ed., 1758, p. 327 {vetula) . 



360a. B. jacksonianus. Id. Quoy & Gaimard, Voy. Uranie, Zool., 1824, 

 p. 209. 



A tiny specimen, li inches long* was obtained in Port Jackson in 1824, but 

 no other representative of the species has since been collected. 



(Balistes vidua Richardson, was recorded from Port Jackson by Ogilby, 

 Fish. N.S. Wales, 1886, p. 61, but the data accompanying his specimen was 

 quite unreliable. Balistes maculatus Linne, has likewise been incorrectly re- 

 corded from Sydney by Kner, Novara Zool. i., 1867, p. 401). 



CLVIII. Family Monacanthidae. 



A. Pubic bone ending in one or more spines. 

 B. Pelvic spine movable. 



C. Body and dorsal spine without or with small cutaneous filaments. 



Monacanlhus (361). 

 CC. Body and dorsal spine with large cutaneous filaments. 



Chaetodermis (362). 

 BB. Pelvic spine fixed. Cantherines (363). 



AA. Pubic bone without a terminal spine. 



D. Dorsal and anal fin long, with 42-46 rays. Osbeckia (364). 



DD. Dorsal and anal fins with less than 30 rays. Brachaluteres (365). 



361. Monacanthus Oken, Isis, 1817, p. 1181-3 (chinensis). 

 A. Ventral cutaneous expansion large, extending beyond the pelvic spine in adults. 



chinensis (361a). 

 AA. Ventral cutaneous expansion smaller, not extending beyond the pelvic spine. 

 B. More than 30 anal rays. 



C. D. 29-33, A. 31-33. sulcatus (361b). 

 CC. D. 35, A. 37. filicauda (361c). 



BB. Less than 30 anal rays. 



D. Each scale with 3-5 spinules directed backward. tomentosus (361d). 

 DD. Each scale with a single upstanding spinule. nitens (361e). 



361a. M. chinensis. Fan-bellied Leather-jacket. Balistes chinensis 

 Osbeck, Reise Ost. Indien China, 1765, p. 147. M. chinensis Bleeker, 

 Atlas Ichth. v., 1869, p. 125, pi. 222, 2 (PL xlii.). 

 Very common in Port Jackson, where it swims leisurely among weed-covered 

 rocks in search of the small organisms upon which it feeds. 



M. megalourus Richardson, has also been commonly recognised from New 

 South Wales. This is said to differ from chinensis in having larger scales and 

 a more slender dorsal spine, but it is probable that these are variable characters, 

 and that the two species are synonymous. Length 10 inches. 



361b. M. sulcatus. Id. Hollard, Ann. Sci. Nat. (4) ii., 1854, p. 363, pi. 



14, 3. M. isogramma Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. v., 1869, p. 128, pi. 222, 1. 

 This species was introduced into a New South Wales list by Ogilby, Cat. 

 Fish. N.S.W., 1886, p. 63, upon unreliable authority. 



361c. M. filicauda. Id. Gunther, Challenger Zool. i., 1880, p. 50, pi. 23, 



d (PL xlii). 

 A northern species, rarely wandering southward to Sydney. Length 5 inches. 



361d. M. tomentosus. Balistes tomentosus Linne, Svst. Nat. 10th. ed., 



1758, p. 328. Id. Bleeker, Atlas Ichth. v., 1869, p" 127, pi. 220, 1. 

 Another tropical species of which the New South Wales records are very 

 unreliable. Length 5 inches. 



