the Fishes of Massachusetts. 353 



I 



contains several distinct black dots. Look at the speci- 

 men; each plate lias an elevated centre, from which 

 raised radii diverge to each of its angles. This error 

 would not, however, have been referred to, before a sci- 

 entific society, had it not been continued in the catalogue 

 under consideration — which, appearing as it does, among 

 the labors of several of the most accurate naturalists of 

 our State, may be accounted by the student as authority. 

 I suppose this to be an undescribed species, and, in 

 honor of its discoverer, would call it Ostracion Yalei. 



L 



O. Yalei. Body triangular, all upper portion, of a 

 light lurid appearance, covered with hexagonal plates, 

 each containing six raised lines; two subcaudal spines, 

 short and somewhat incurved ; back of dorsal fin^ a large 

 isolated plate three quarters of an inch in length, com- 

 posed of portions of several plates, separated from the 



rest of the homy cuticle by a continuation of the liga- 

 mentary substance in which is imbedded the fin. 



Form of the body very similar to the licaudalis ; the 

 entire surface, as far back as the dorsal and ventral fins, 

 is covered with hexagonal divisions or plates. 



These are very large, back of the eyes and ventral fins, 

 and include an immense number of small granulations, 

 which are subdivided by six elevated lines of similar 

 tubercles ; in front of the eyes and pectoral fins, these 

 plates are smaller and less distinct; the body beneath, 

 white and covered with similar 'scales ; from the angle of 

 the eye to the ligaraentary substance at the base of the 

 tail, are included ten plates in a direct line ; from the 

 highest point of the back to the belly nine similar rows 

 of plates ; behind the dorsal fin is a surface of ligamentary 

 substance, three inches in length, of a darker color than 



TOL. I. PART III. 46 



