342 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



granulate elongate processes above and beneath the tail ; the upper obtusely pointed, the 

 lower broader and rounded. 



The dorsal fin higher than broad, arising on the posterior declivity of the dorsal hump. 

 Pectorals placed low down, with its superior rays longest. Anal fin posterior to the dorsal, 

 and nearly in the centre of the infracaudal plate. The vent lies just anterior to the base of 

 this fin. Caudal fin long, rounded, and fan-shaped. 



Color. Ashen grey, with irregular black blotches on the dorsal hump and the sides. Ab- 

 domen soiled yellowish white. 



Length, 3* 5. Extreme height, 1 " 5. Extreme width of abdomen, 1  6. 

 Fin rays, D. 9 ; P. 10 ; A. 10 ; C. 6. 



I know nothing of the origin of this species, except that it is said to have been taken on 

 the shore of Long island. It is possibly the species named triqueter by Dr. Smith, and which 

 he represents as " inhabiting the vicinity of Long island, New-York, but rarely makes its 

 appearance so far to the north as Massachusetts, unless driven on shore by the violence of 

 storms." The triqueter of Artedi, however, has no spines. It bears a considerable resem- 

 blance to the O. turritus of Forshal, from the Red Sea ; but that species is quadrangular. 



YALE'S TRUNK FISH. 



Lactophrys talei. 



Chapin. Paeea, Des. difF. piezas, &c. p. 31, pi. 17, fig. 1. 



0. bicaudalis ? Smith, Nat. Hist. Massachusetts, p. 123, fig. 



Ostracion yatei. Storer, Boston Jour. Nat. History, Vol. 1, p. 353, pi. 8. 



O. id., Yale^s TrunJt-JUk. Id. Report on the Fishes of Massachusetts, pi. 177. 



Characteristics. No orbital spines. Back elevated, but not spinous. One spine on each side 

 of the abdomen. Length fourteen inches-. 



Description. Body covered with hexagonal plates, each with six raised lines. Two sub- 

 caudal (lateral?) spines, short, stout, smooth, and somewhat incurved. Back of the dorsal fin 

 a large isolated plate, three quarters of an inch long, composed of portions of the several 

 plates, separated from the rest of the horny cuticle by a continuation of the ligamentary sub- 

 stance in which is imbedded the fin. Surface of the plates granulated. Mouth, large, promi- 

 nent, armed with large strong teeth. Eyes large, and distant 1 • 5 from the mouth. Nostrils 

 less than a quarter of an inch in front of the eyes. 



Color. Light lurid above ; the space between the dorsal and caudal darker. Abdomen 

 white. 



Length, 14-0. 



Fin rays, D. 10; P. 12; A. 10; C. 10. 



This large species was found alive on the shore of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. 



