TRIURUS. TRIPLE-TAIL. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum cylindricum. 

 Dens unicus in utraque 



maxilla. 

 Pinna dorsi anique ultra 



caudam extensa. 



Snout cylindric. 



Tooth single in each jaw. 



Fin dorsal and anal extend- 

 ed beyond the tail. 



COMMERSONIAN TRIPLE-TAIL. 



Triurus Commersonii. T. orifido operculorum valvula clausili. 

 Triple-tail with the branchial orifice closed at pleasure by a 



valve. 

 Le Triure Bougainvillien. Cepede pise. 1. p. 201. 



JL H E genus Triurus is instituted by Cepede from 

 a remarkable fish discovered by Commerson in the 

 Indian seas, and of which the following is the de- 

 scription. Its general appearance and size is that of 

 a herring : the body is much compressed, and co- 

 vered with scales, so small and deeply seated, that, 

 at first sight, the animal appears destitute of any : 

 the head, which is compressed as well as the body, 

 and a little flattened above, is terminated by a very 

 lengthened snout in form of a strait tube, at the 

 end of which is a round hole by way of mouth, and " 

 which the fish has no power of closing : in the bottom 

 of this tube are the two bony jaws, each composed 



