SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 



349 



This, the largest of the American puffers or swell-fishes, occurs coastwise 

 from Massachusetts to Brazil, but is not common north of Cape Hatteras. The 

 type came from Charleston. There are but few records of the fish in North 

 Carolina waters, owing chiefly to the fact that it has no economic value. 

 Yarrow's note on the species in the Beaufort region in 1871 was as follows: 



Found in small streams running through salt marshes; but few seen. Found in nets, and 

 is taken with the hook. Never eaten, being considered poisonous. Size, from 3 to 6 inches. 



Fig. 157. Puppbh; Rabbit-fish. 



Imvigatus. 



Subsequent collectors recorded the species from that locality only on the 

 authority of Yarrow until 1899, when a specimen 16 inches long was taken in 

 June on Bird Shoal. Another specimen, representing the maximum length 

 attained by the species, was caught on Bird Shoal OctoberSl, 1904, and is nowin 

 the Beaufort laboratory; its length is 25.75 inches over all, 21.25 inches long to 

 base of caudal, head 5.75 inches, depth 5.37 inches. The foregoing diagnosis 

 is based on this example. Recently a specimen only 2.25 inches long has been 

 added to the laboratory -collection. 



Family DIODONTID^. The Porcupine-fishes and Bur-fishes. 



Similar to the puffers (Tetraodontidae) , but with the scaleless body thickly 

 beset with conspicuous spines and with the teeth represented by a single bony, 

 beak-like plate in each jaw. Body short, rounded; abdomen inflatable with 

 air or water, but to a less degree than in the puffers; mouth small, terminal, the 

 jaws strong; nostrils tubular, each with 2 openings; gill-opening restricted; 

 spinous processes with 2 or 3 roots, inserted on all parts of the body except 

 about mouth and caudal peduncle; fins small, the pectorals largest; a single 

 dorsal fin, placed posteriorly, opposite anal; caudal rounded; ventrals absent. 

 A rather small family, with weak swimming powers, living mostly on the bottom 

 in warmer seas; of no food value, but often sold as curiosities, the dried distended 

 skins being met with in all parts of the world. Three American genera, 2 with 

 members in North Carolina. 



i. Skin prickles long, slender, erectile, and mostly 2-rooted Diodon. 



a. Skin prickles short, blunt, immovable, and mostly 3-rooted CHn^oMTCTERUs. 



