Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1727 



supraoccipital, the postfrontals confined to the sides, ethmoid more or less 

 projecting in front of frontals; postfrontals extending outward as far as 

 frontals; prosethmoid short and narrow, little prominent to view above; 

 vertebrae few, 7 or 8 -f 9 to 13. Gill openings small, placed close in front 

 of pectorals; air bladder present. Genera about 10, species about 60, 

 inhabiting warm seas; fishes of sluggish movements, noted for their habit 

 of filling the stomach with air. When disturbed they then float on the 

 surface belly upward. Not used as food, the flesh being ill flavored and 

 reputed poisonous. (Tetrodontina, part, Giinther, Cat., vm, 270-316, 1870.) 



TETRAODONTINJE : 

 a. Frontal bones expanded side wise and forming the lateral roofs of the orbits, the 



postfrontals limited to the posterior portions. Species chiefly marine. 

 b. Nostril on each side with 2 distinct openings ; frontal region longer than hroad. 

 c. Dorsal and anal fins comparatively long, falcate, each of 12 to 15 rays; 

 caudal lunate; vertebra about 8 -f 13 = 21; nostrils sessile, or nearly so, 

 not forming a distinct papilla ; mucous tubes on upper part of head and 

 on sides of body very conspicuous. LAGOCEPHALUS, 677. 



cc. Dorsal and anal fins comparatively short, rounded, each of 6 to 8 rays; 

 caudal usually rounded ; vertebrae about 8 + 10 = 18; nostrils at the 

 summit of a hollow, simple (or lobed) papilla; mucous tubes incon- 

 spicuous. SPHEROIDES, 678. 

 bb. Nostril on each side with a bifid tentacle without distinct opening; frontal 

 region broader than long ; fins and vertebra3 as in Spheroides. OVOIDES, 679. 

 COLOMESIN.E : 



aa. Frontal bones narrowed and excluded from the orbit, the postfrontals being elon- 

 gated and projected forward and connected with the prefrontals; dorsal and 

 anal fins short, rounded ; snout very obtuse ; vertebra? 8 + 11 = 19 ; nostrils 

 (probably) as in Spheroides. Fluviatile species. COLOMESUS, 680. 



677. LAGOCEPHALUS, Swainson. 



Lagocephalus, SWAINSON, Nat. Hist, and Class'n Fishes, u, 194, 328, 1839 (pennanti= 

 lagocephalua) . 



Physogaster, MULLEB, Abhandl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 252, 1839 (1841) (lunaris) ; name pre- 

 occupied. 



Gastrophysus, MULLER, Wiegmann's Archiv, ix, 1843, 330 (lunaris). 



Les Promecocephales (Promecocephalus), BIBRON, Kevue de Zoologie, 279, 1855 (argentatus) . 



Tetrodon, GILL, Cat. Fish. East Coast N. A., 15, 1873 (Icevigatus) ; not of LINNAEUS, as prop- 

 erly restricted. 



Body comparatively elongate; skin smooth or variously prickly, the 

 prickles most developed on the abdomen; abdomen capable of very great 

 inflation. Dorsal and anal rather long, falcate, of 12 to 15 rays each; 

 caudal lunate. Nostril without distinct papilla, each one with 2 distinct 

 openings; mucous tubes on upper part of head and on sides of body very 

 conspicuous. Lower side of tail with a fold. Species reaching a rather 

 large size, chiefly tropical, one of them, Lagocephalus lagocephalua L., reach- 

 ing the coasts of southern Europe. Vertebrae in increased number (about 

 8 -f 13=21). The increased number of vertebra) and of rays in the verti- 

 cal fins mark a transition toward the allied family, Chonerhinidce, in which 

 there are about 29 vertebrae, the dorsal rays about 35, the anal 30. (hayo$, 

 hare; He$aA.rf, head, from the incisor teeth.) 



a. Body elongate; head 3 in length; depth 4. UEVIGATUS, 2143. 



aa, Body stout ; head 2 in length ; depth 3. PACHYCEPHALUS, 2144. 



