118 PISCES. 



TV. aspera; Viviani; Rondel., 296. Short muzzle, rough 

 scales, velvet head; sharp crests along the dorsals; temple emar- 

 ginate. These two last species are small, and peculiar to the 

 Mediterranean. (1) 

 M. de Lacepede has separated three genera from Trigla: 



Prionotus, Lacep. 



American fishes resembling the Tr. hirundo. Their pectorals, how- 

 ever, are longer, and can support them in the airj their distinguish- 

 ing character, however, consists in a band of small crowded teeth 

 on each palatine. (2) 



Peristedion, Lacep. 



This genus has been separated from Trigla with still more proprie- 

 ty. The whole body is mailed with large hexagonal scales, forming 

 longitudinal ridges; the muzzle is divided into two points, under 

 which are branched cirri: no teeth. 



P. cataphracta; Trigla cataphracta, L.; Rondel., 299. Red; 

 a foot long; from the Mediterranean; the only species well 

 known. (3) 

 The best of these divisions is 



Dactylopterus, Lacep. 



So celebrated under the name of Flying Fishes; the subpectoral 

 rays are much more numerous and longer; and instead of being free, 

 as in the preceding ones, they are united by a membrane so as to 

 form a supernumerary fin, longer than the fish, which supports it in 

 the air for some time. Thus they are seen flying above the surface 

 of the water, in order to escape from Dolphins and other voracious 

 fishes; they fall into it again, however, in a few seconds. 



Their extremely short snout has the appearance of a hare-lip; 

 the mouth is beneath, and the jaws are only furnished with rounded 

 teeth, in small patches (en petits paves); the helmet is flattened, rec- 

 tangular, and rough; the preoperculum terminates in a long and 

 stout spine, which forms a powerful weapon; all their scales are ca- 

 rinated. 



(1) Add the neighbouring' species: Tr. papilio, Cuv.; — Tr. phalxna,- — Tr. 

 sphinx, described in our fourth volume. 



(2) Tr. punctoia, Bl. 353 and 354; — Tr.strigata, Cuv., evolam, L.., or lineatus, 

 Mitchill, New York Trans., I, pi. iv, 4; — Tr. Carolina, L., ov palmipes, Mitchill, 

 I, cit.; — Tr. tribulus, Cuv. 



(3) The fig. of Bloch, 349, is incorrect, and gives too many rays to the second 

 dorsal. Several other species are found in the East Indies. 



