, FAMILY OSTRACIONIDiE — LACTOPHRYS. 341 



I have observed no other species of this genus on our coast. The Balistes sufflamen of 

 Mitchill (1. c. p. 467, pi. 6, fig. 2), does not exist on our coast. The specimen upon which 

 his description was founded, is in the Cabinet of the Lyceum, and is from the South Atlantic. 

 It has obvious spines along the sides of the tail. 



FAMILY OSTRACIONID^. 



Body triangular or four-sided, enveloped in a hard bony case, composed of numerous plates, 

 soldered together in such a manner that only the mouth, tail and fins are moveable. No 

 ventral fins. A single dorsal fin. 



Obs. a small but well defined group, containing about thirty species. 



GENUS LACTOPHRYS. 



Body triangular ; with strong spines directed backward before the anal fin. Orbits usually 

 spinous. 



THE DROMEDARY TRUNK-FISH. 



Lactophbts camelinhs. 

 PLATE LVin. FIG. 190. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEtJM.) 



Characteristics. Back elevated into a spine. Eight spines along the sides, over the orbits 

 and tail. Length three and a half inches. 



Description. Form triangular ; the sides compressed, approaching above, and dilated be- 

 neath. Abdomen flat, forming an angle with the sides. The whole surface covered with 

 plates of various sizes and shapes, but which may chiefly be resolved into hexagons, with 

 bony ridges from the centre of each plate, radiating to the angles ; on the abdomen, these 

 are most obvious. On the sides, the surface of the plates granulate ; the plates become 

 smaller and more confused about the head. An indistinct ridge from the orbits to the supra- 

 caudal plate, seems to indicate the position of the lateral line. Head rather suddenly decli- 

 vous to the snout, which is small and prominent over the jaws. Orbits very large, and dis- 

 tant a diameter apart. Orbits elevated into granulated crests, terminating in an elevated 

 spine over each, which is directed backward. Mouth small, and armed with about twelve 

 long equal teeth. Branchial aperture a vertical slit. Back much compressed, and regularly 

 attenuated above into a flat smooth spine, directed backward. The angular sides of the 

 abdomen are furnished each with four flat spines, directed backward ; the first arises under 

 the pectoral fin, is short, and contiguous to the second; the remainder equidistant, and 

 directed horizontally backward. The bony coat of mail terminates over the tail, in two 



