FISHES. 



S 6i 



The Sclerodermata are distinguished by their conical or pyramidal 

 snout, terminating in a little mouth armed with true teeth ; the 

 skin is generally stiff and covered with hard scales. The File-fish, 

 Batistes, and the Trunk-fish (Ostrafion), are selected for notice. The 

 File or Rudder-fish (Fig. 368) has the body compressed ; the jaws are 

 furnished with eight teeth, arranged in a single row on each jaw, and 

 covered with true lips ; the eyes are nearly level with the skin ; the 

 mouth is small, and the body enveloped in very hard scales, which 



Fig. 368. The File-fish (Balistes) . 



are connected in groups and distributed into compartments more or 

 less regular, and strongly connected by means of a thick skin. The 

 animal is thus protected by a sort of cuirass and casque very difficult 

 to penetrate. 



With the exception of one species, the genus Balistes inhabits the 

 tropical seas. They are generally brilliantly coloured ; they herd 

 together in great numbers, and in their gambols produce curious com- 

 binations of brilliant colouring in the equatorial seas. Their flesh is 

 held in slight estimation, and at certain periods of the year is even 

 said to be dangerous. 



The Trunk-fish, or Ostracion (Fig. 369), is without scales, but 

 covered with regular osseous plates, which are so jointed the one to 



