ACANTHOPTFRYGIANS. \2l 



thus bringing them within reacli. It is a cornraon pastime of the 

 Chinese at Java*. 



Heniochus, Ciiv., 



The Coachmen, differ from the true Chietodons, because the first spines of 

 the back, and particularly the third or fourth, rapidly increase in length, 

 forming a filament sometimes double the length of the body, and resem- 

 bling a kind of whipf . 



Ephippus, Cuv., 



The Horsemen, are distinguished by a dorsal deeply emarginated between 

 its spinous and soft portions ; the spinous part, which has no scales, can 

 be folded into a groove formed by the scales of the back. 



In one of the subdivisions there are three spines in the anal fin, and 

 oval pectorals. 



America produces a species {Eph. gigas, Cuv.) remarkable for the 

 very great enlargement into the shape of a club of the first inter- 

 spinal of its dorsal and anal fins, and by a similar enlargement of the 

 crest of the cranium J. 



In a second subdivision from the Indian Ocean, there are three spines 

 in the anal, and long and pointed pectorals §. 



A third, also from the Indian Ocean, has four anal spines, and very 

 small scales. 



One species, Chcetodon argus, L., Bl. 204, 1, has the reputation 

 of feeding, by preference, upon human excrements j]. 



Another species of this same subdivision has been discovered in a 

 fossil state in Mount Bolca^. 

 The Taurichtes are the Horsemen of India, which have an arcuated 

 and pointed horn over each eye**. 



HoLACANTHUS, Lacep., 



Have for their distinguishing character a large spine at the angle of the 

 preoperculum, and the edges of the same bone, in most species, dentated. 

 Their flesh is excellent, and they are remarkable for the beauty of their 

 colours, and the regularity v/ith which they are distributed. Numerous 



* Sclilosser, Trans. Pliil, 1767, p. 39. — Add, Ch. longirostris, Brousson, Dec. 

 Icthyol. 



f Chatodon macrolepidotus, L., Bl. 200, 1 ; — the Chcet. acumlnatiis, L., Mus. Ad. 

 Fred. XXXIII, f. 2, appears to be a mere individual variety of it; — the Chat, cor- 

 nutus, L., Bl. 200, 2, of which the ChiBt. canescens, L., Seb. Ill, xxv, 7, is only a 

 young uncoloured specimen. 



I Add, Ch(Ftodonfaher, Brousson, pi. 212, 2, of which the Chat. Plumieri, Id. 211, 

 1, may be a variety;— CV;<y<. orhis, Bl. 202, 2. 



§ ChcEt. punctatus, L., ov Latte, Russ. 79; — Chest, longimanus, Bl. Schn., Russ. 80; 

 — Eph. ierla, Cuv., Russel, 81. 



II Add, Chcpt. tetracanthus, Lacep. Ill, xxv, 2. 



i[ Ittiolitologia Veronese, pi. v, f. 2, where it is figured as the Argus, but it is a 

 different species. 



** The Buffalo-fish of the Malays, Taurichtys varius, Cuv., well figured by Ren. 

 I, XXX, 1C4, Valent. No. 71 ;— T. viridis, Ren. II, x, 49, Valent. No. 161. 



