338 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS ALUTERES. Cuvier. 



The pelvic bone entirehj concealed beneath the skin. Body elongated, covered with small 

 and scarcely visible grains. A single spine representing the first dorsal, as in the pre- 

 ceding genus. 



THE LONG-TAILED UNICORN-FISH. 



I 



Alhteres cnspicAUDA. 



PLATE LIX. FIG. 192. 



The Sharp-tailed File-fish, Balistes cuspica:ida. MlTCHiLL, Am. Month. Mag. Vol. 2. p. 326. 

 The Unicom File-fish, Aluteres mmoctros ? Stoeer, Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 175. 



Characteristics. Brown, varied with orange. Tail lancet-shaped, and nearly half the length 

 of the body. Length six to nine inches. 



Description. Body elongated; back nearly horizontal between the dorsal fin and spine. 

 Facial line straight, sloping. Abdomen regularly arched. Mouth prominent, projecting, small, 

 upturned. The surface of the body covered with minute asperities, like shagreen. Teeth 

 in the jaws lamellated, with pointed tips ; those of the lower jaw closing within the upper. 

 Lips thin and membranaceous, scarcely covering the teeth. Eyes large. Nostril in a line 

 with the upper margin of the orbit. Branchial aperture very oblique, and • 6 long. 



The dorsal spine stout, short, serrated, with a furrow behind for its reception ; second dorsal 

 low, with its middle rays highest, and reaching to within 0*8 of the caudal fin. Pectorals 

 short, and placed beneath the orbits. Anal terminates beyond the end of the dorsal ; the rays 

 of its posterior third portion are longest. The caudal fin arises from an elongated tail, with 

 its outer rays stoutest, and shorter than the others, which are alternately large and small, and 

 all serrated towards their bases ; the middle rays are two and a half inches long, and all, with 

 the exception of the two outer ones, are filamentous at their tips. 



Color. Yellowish brown, varied with irregular dashes and blotches, to such a degree that 

 scarcely any two individuals are precisely similar ; the general disposition is, however, to 

 oblique bands of dusky brown, with the intervening spaces lighter. Irides yellow. 



Length, 8 '5. Greatest depth, 2'5. 



Fin rays, D. 1.38; P. 13 ; V. 0; A. 42; C. 12. 



This is not an uncommon species in our waters. The monoceros of Storer is either very 

 closely allied, or what is more probable, is the young of our Long-tailed Unicorn-fish. The 

 color varies still more than is noted above. I have seen them of a uniform brown, without 

 any spots or clouds whatsoever. 



