Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1745 



immovable; both jaws entire; nasal tube simple, with 2 lateral open- 

 ings. Pectorals broad, their margin undulate, the upper lobe longest; 

 vertical fins rounded, the dorsal and anal short, posteriorly inserted, sim- 

 ilar to each other. Tropical seas ; the lew species very widely distributed. 

 (dt$, two; 6dov$, tooth.) 



a. Spines terete. 



6. Frontal spines not as long as post-pectoral spines (in adults not as 

 long, about as long as eye) ; predorsal spines very short, 3-rooted, fixed or 

 nearly so; 20 spines in a series between snout and dorsal; post-pectoral 

 spines very much elongate, especially in the adult, shorter in the young; 

 dorsal rays 15; anal 15; upper lobe of pectoral little longer than lower. 

 Adult above everywhere covered with round black spots, these largest in 

 front of dorsal, smallest on naked area about month; white below; fins pro- 

 fusely spotted with black ; young with fewer spots, but never with large 

 blotches. HYSTRIX, 2162. 



bb. Frontal spines long, usually longer than post-pectoral spines, about twice as 

 long as eye in adult; predorsal spines not shortened, 2-rooted, erectile; 14 

 to 17 spines in a series between snout and dorsal; post-pectoral spines not 

 especially elongate, their development variable; dorsal rays usually 12; anal 

 12; pectoral broader than long, its upper lobe pointed, lower lobe rounded. 

 Body marked with black spots and blotches irregular in size, usually a 

 broad black bar from eye to eye, continued below eye as a narrow bar; 

 a broad bar across occiput ; a black blotch above each pectoral ; a short bar 

 in front of dorsal ; another in which the dorsal is inserted ; a blotch behind 

 pectoral, and many small spots and blotches on upper parts ; fins with few 

 spots, usually unmarked iu the young. HOLACANTHUS, 2163. 



aa. " Spines compressed laterally, short; 15 spines in a series between snout and dorsal; 

 upper parts covered with round spots, those about pectorals sometimes con- 

 fluent into a blotch ; fins immaculate." MACULIFER, 2164. 



2KJ2. DIODOX HYSTRIX, Linnreus. 



(PORCUPINE-FISH ; ERIZO; PUERCO ESPINO.) 



Head 3; depth 3. D. 13 to 15; A. 13 to 15. Spines strong, dilated at 

 base, with a pair of basal grooves; frontal spines not as long as post- 

 pectoral spines (in. adults not as long, about as long as eye) ; post- 

 pectoral spines longer than any others, especially in the adult, usually 

 about as long as pectoral fin, those of the posterior part of back and 

 tail short and broad, 3-rooted, and therefore not erectile; predorsal spines 

 very short, 3-rooted, fixed or nearly so; about 20 spines in a series 

 between snout and dorsal; upper lobe of pectoral little longer than 

 lower; upper and lower part of tail with 2 or 3 pairs of 3-rooted, im- 

 movable, recumbent spines. Adult above everywhere covered with small 

 round black spots, these largest in front of dorsal, smallest on naked 

 area about mouth ; white below ; fins all more or less spotted in the adult, 

 nearly plain in the young. Length about 3 feet. Tropical seas ; every- 

 where common; north to Lower California, Florida, and the Hawaiian 

 Islands; abundant in collections, being stuffed and dried as a curiosity; 

 not used as food, (liysirix, the porcupine.) 



Orbis echinatus, RONDELET, De Piscibus, 324, 1558, Northern Ocean. 

 (SiHiinajacuguara, MARCGRAVE, Hist. Nat. Bras., 159, 1648, Brazil. 

 Ortracion conico oblongui, ARTEDI, Genera, 60, No. 19, 1738. 



