NOTES ON NEW JERSEY FISHES. 387 



Family OSTRACIID^E. 



Lactophrys triqueter (Linnaeus). 

 Trunk Fish. Bull Fish. 



Head 2V 10 ; depth ! 2 / 6 ; D. 9; A. 9; P. 11; greatest width ol 

 body 1 1 / 3 in its length ; greatest depth of body 1 1 / 3 ; snout 2 in 

 head; eye 2%; interorbital 1. 



Body shaped almost orbicular generally, upper and lower surfaces 

 convex, greatest depth nearly midway in length, and profiles simi- 

 larly convex, that of upper bulging more posteriorly and of lower 

 more anteriorly. Back with a high trenchant keel, beginning a little 

 before middle in length of body and continued to dorsal origin. Sides 

 of body constricted concavely. Lower surface convex. Edges of body 

 otherwise not especially carinated, convex. Caudal peduncle smalL 



Head large, deep, laterally compressed with concave sides, upper 

 and lower surfaces a little convex, anterior upper profile steep, though 

 more inclined than lower. Muzzle bluntly convex, rather short. 

 Snout deep, sides constricted concavely, profile slightly and evenly 

 convex. Eye large, rounded, high, near upper edge of head posteriorly 

 in its length. Teeth small, uniserial, convex, not numerous, and 

 simple. Lips apparently tough. A slight groove sloping down from 

 before front of eye anteriorly, and nostrils inconspicuous. Inter- 

 orbital space broad, depressed a little convexly, and slight convexity 

 rising out behind towards dorsal keel. 



Gill-opening small and inconspicuous above base of pectoral. 



Body encased in a bony cuirass made up of hexagonal plates. On 

 upper surface and sides they form ridges fashioned as rhombs, and 

 these becoming mostly smaller on head. Lower surface of body per- 

 fectly smooth. 



Dorsal small, posterior, its base entirely before that of anal, and 

 anterior rays longest, edge of fin rounded. Anal little larger than 

 dorsal, similar, and inserted directly behind base of latter. Caudal 

 small, oblong. Pectoral largest of fins, elongate, and upper rays 

 longest. Vent close before anal, rather large. 



Color of dried example mostly uniform dull brownish generally, 

 center of each hexagonal plate deep brown. Iris pale slaty. Fins dull 

 brown. Teeth deep horny-brown. 



