324 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



concave. Tiie whole surface, except the chin and tail, covered with sharp, recurved, trian- 

 gular, compressed spines, each with a trifid base, and forming in the dried specimen a sort 

 of bony coat of mail over the whole animal; these spines are larger above than beneath. 

 There are prominent ones over the eyes, and a single one between the orbits. The barbels 

 are disposed in pairs ; one pair between the eyes and snout, with a slight imperforate cavity ; 

 another pair under the lower jaw, " 2 in length ; and a third, half an inch long, on each side 

 of the vent. Branchial aperture semilunate, and covered with a loose valvular membrane. 

 The mouth terminal, broad, with fleshy puckered lips. Teeth slightly crenulate on their 

 margins. Tongue smooth, large and fleshy. 



The dorsal fin on the posterior part of the body, over the vent, composed of thirteen rays, 

 with a fleshy ridge in front. Pectorals four-sided, broader than long, slightly excavated on 

 its margin. Anal opposite the dorsal, short, and rounded on its margin. Caudal long, nearly 

 even. 



Color, of a living specimen. Bright sea-green above, with longitudinal olive-brown irre- 

 gular stripes on the back and upper part of the sides ; on the cheeks, below the eyes, these 

 stripes are oblique ; transverse across the snout, and sloping downward over the fleshy por- 

 tion of the tail. The large olive-brown spots are irregularly rounded, occasionally approach- 

 ing a quadrate form, and eight in number ; one on each side, above the base of the pectorals, 

 of an oblong oval form ; one on each flank, behind and partially covered by the pectoral, 

 irregularly subquadrate ; one on each side of the base of the dorsal, ascending upon that fin ; 

 this is considered by Cuvier as a single spot ; finally a small oblong spot on each side, about 

 midway, between the dorsal fin and the vent. Abdomen light-colored, with a light tinge of 

 pink. Spines on this portion of the body, inclining to orange. Pupils dark greenish ; irides 

 yellow. 



Length, 7-0. Depth, 2-5. 



Fin rays, D. 13 ; P. 24 ; A. 12 ; C. 9. 



This species is not rare in our waters in summer, and is occasially taken with the hook at 

 the wharves of the city in July and August. The specimen described was a female. Its 

 stomach was large and very delicate, filled with fragments of shells chiefly of a species of 

 Nassa. It is a southern fish, and has not yet been observed north of the latitude of New- 

 York. 



THE UNSPOTTED BALLOON-FISH. 



DiODON FULIGINOSUS. 



PLATE I,V. FIG. 181. Magnified tiieee times. 



Characteristics. Unspotted. Dark olive green above ; bright orange beneath. Caudal fin 

 lanceolate. Length two inches. 



Description. Body subcubical, rather more slender towards the tail. Irregular series of 



