ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 137 



hexagonal, in young with striae radiating from center to angles of 

 each scale, in adult armed simply with tubercules, 9 to 10 in longitu- 

 dinal series from gill opening to tail, 8 in median line of ventral sur- 

 face, 8 between ventral keel and angle of back ; posterior dorsal 

 scute unarmed. Branchial aperture oblique, its length greater than 

 diameter of eye, descending before base of pectoral. Fins obtusely 

 rounded ; caudal of moderate length and rounded. Color, dark 

 brown, thickly studed with circular spots of yellowish white, each 

 about yi of an inch in diameter ; the position of these spots appears 

 to have no relation to the shape of the plates of the carapace ; ven- 

 tral surface lighter and spotless ; epidermis often abraded, leaving 

 the shell uniform tawny white ; lips, bases of the fins, and tail stem 

 brown like the ground color of the body. In dried specimens the 

 epidermis dries and loses its color, and the shell shows through with 

 a lighter shade. Giinther states that the lips, roots of the fins, root 

 of the tail, and tip of the caudal are black. (Goode.) Length, lOf 

 inches. Young, in life, light olive, covered everywhere above and 

 below with round darker spots of greenish blue about as large as 

 pupil ; fins plain ; caudal peduncle with a few spots." 



Illustration. Page. 



146. "LACTOPHRYS TRICORNIS." 639 1724 



Cow-fish ; All of the so-called shell-fishes are usually caught 



Cuckold ; w hile fishing for other fishes, and are only curiosities. 



The meat is said to be sweet, but I will leave that to 



persons who desire to try them. 



147. "LAGOCEPHALUS L.EVIGATUS." 642 1728 

 Smooth Puffer. 



148. "LAGOCEPHALUS PACHYCEPHALIA." 1728 



Jug-fish. No illustration. 



149. "SPHEROIDES SPENGLERI." 644 1732 



Swell-fish. " Head 3. D. 7 ; A. 6. Head compressed, 



Southern Puffer ; narrow ; interorbital space very slightly concave, 

 Swell Toad ; or finish ^th a slight median ridge, narrow, 



about }£ as broad as eye, its width 5 to 6 in head, 

 2yi to 3 in snout, which is 2 in head ; profile of snout not steep. Body 



