122 



boidal scales of Balis tes, Ej., — this fish might be regarded as the type 

 of a distinct subgenus among the Balistida. 



" The strong dorsal spine, the spinous processes of the pelvic 

 bones, and the cluster of lateral spines, added to the tough indu- 

 lated epidermis of this fish, form an armour excellently adapted for 

 its protection against its more powerful enemies. 



" It is an inhabitant of the Indian Ocean, frequenting the shores 

 and coral reefs. The present specimen was brought from the Mau- 

 ritius by Dr. Hibbert, Surgeon, 99th Regiment. This species is 

 stated to be also found abundantly on the western coast of Australia, 

 where it is known to the settlers by the name of " leather-jacket," 

 — a denomination which is probably applied to it in common with 

 other species of Balistidce." 



Mr. Gray exhibited a drawing of this specimen, and stated his 

 intention of publishing a figure of it in the concluding Number of the 

 ' Illustrations of Indian Zoology,' which is about to appear. 



Mr. Gray called the attention of the Meeting to two new species 

 of Sturgeon ; one from China, of which he exhibited a specimen, and 

 the other from the Mississippi, of which he showed a drawing taken 

 from a specimen in the British Museum. The former species belongs 

 to the same section of the genus with the Acipenser glaber of Mar- 

 sigli, characterized by its conical muzzle, and the smooth and silvery 

 nature of the skin between its 5 rows of jilates. It was sent to En- 

 gland by Mr. John Russell Reeves, and is distinguished by the fol- 

 lowing characters : 



Acipenser Sinensis. Acip. lavis, superne hrunneus; rostro gra- 

 ciliyConico, acuto, mutico ; fronte arcuato; scutis seriei dorsalis 

 15 — 16, radiatim suJcatis, alte carinatis, carind posticl uniden- 

 tatd, anteriorihus gradatim minoribiis, duohus ultimis ecarinatis ; 

 serierum lateralium hrevioribus, carind postice bidentatd; caudd su- 

 perne serie radiorum slmplicium, ad latera squamis angustis tcctd. 



Hub. in China. 



Scuta dorsalia 16 ; lateralia superiora 40 — 41, inferiora 13 — 14. 



The other species was stated by Mr. Gray to belong to a new sec- 

 tion intermediate between the true Sturgeons and the Spatularia, 

 having a broad expanded muzzle, flat above, shelving on the sides, 

 and concave, and furnished with a central ridge beneath. 



Acipenser CATAFHRACTus. Acip. brunneus, squamis parvis rugo- 

 sis caudam versus majoribus Icevioribusque ; rostro depresso apice 

 spatulato, carind laterali occipiteque ad latera spinosis; scutis ru- 

 gosis, acute carinatis, carind postice unidentatd ; vertcbralibus 

 posterioribus muticis, lateralibus posterioribus multo majoribus. . 



Acipenser cataphi-actus. Rapp, MSS. 



Hab. in fluvio Mississippi. 



The beards are 4 in number ; and the hinder part of the body 

 elongated, slender, and depressed. The snout is composed of a large 

 number of small long bones, radiately grooved, owing perhaps to the 



