204 



year (November, December, January, and February). They are 

 not used for food, and the fishermen are in the habit of throwing 

 them away whenever they catch them. It is probably due to 

 this circumstance that I have yet only been able to obtain three 

 of these sorts. They are all known under the name of Leather 

 Jackets. 



MONACANTHUS PEEONTI. 



Monacanthus Peronii, Hollard, Ann. Sc. Nat., 1854, vol. xi., 



p. 356, pi. 13, fig. 4. 

 GuntJier, Catal., viii., p. 249. 



This sort enters in Dr. Gunther's division, characterized by 

 "anal fin with less than forty rays ; dorsal spine with four series 

 of barbels, the edges being equidistant, and armed with barbs." 

 The upper profile is concave in front of the dorsal spine, and con- 

 vex behind it ; the central profile is considerably distended. 

 The body appears entirely granulated ; these granulations are 

 formed of minute tubercles ; towards the tail and near the anus 

 they take a more spinous form. The dorsal spine is inserted over 

 the centre of the eye ; its length is equal to one and a-half the 

 transverse diameter of the orbit ; it is straight and even a little 

 curved outwards near its end ; the barbs that extend on its 

 edges are strong, particularly the external ones ; the second ray is 

 contained four times in the length of the spine. The dorsal is 

 formed of thirty-three rays, the caudal of twelve, the anal of 

 thirty-two, and the pectorals of thirteen. The ventral spine is 

 small, fixed, and armed with five or six rather strong spinelets. 



The colour is of a dark brown, the back much lighter, and 

 of a dirty yellow on the belly ; the lower parts are covered 

 with very irregular brown spots ; the dorsal and anal have 

 an orange tinge. 



Only seen one in April ; length six and a-half inches. 



MONACANTHUS PORSTEBI. 



The anterior upper profile, in front of the dorsal fin, is concave, 

 and the posterior one convex ; the general form is elongated, 

 being contained two and one-third times in the total length ; 

 the snout from its extremity to the anterior edge of the orbit is 

 contained four and one-third times in the same length ; the 



