22 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. SAMARANG. 



It is incorrect in the general profile of the fish, and in the vertical fins, Lacepede's figure is 

 better. The species enters the group, which is characterized in the Regne Animal by six or 

 seven rows of spines on the tail. Schneider attributes seven rows to niger, and eight to ringens. 

 Solander, again, mentions nine rows as existing on the tail of his fish. There are in our 

 specimen nine rows, four of which attain the base of the caudal, but the uppermost three and 

 the lowermost two are shorter. The upper rows begin opposite to the anterior third of the . 

 dorsal fin, and the lower ones above the same part of the anal. These lines can scarcely be 

 said to be spinous : they are rather low ridges, formed by a narrow, rough elevation of the 

 transverse or short diameter of each scale, (fig. 3.) The scales, generally, are regular rhombs, 

 having their surfaces densely, but equably scabrous, and are separated from each other by 

 smooth lines. The rhombs are mostly vertical, and are higher and proportionally narrower 

 on the tail than elsewhere. They are shorter, without losing their width near the pectoral fin, 

 are more oblique on the belly, and make an approach in form to hexagons on the cheek. 

 Behind the gill-opening there are a few scales, rather wider than the others, but not much 

 longer. The dorsal spine is stout, cylindrical, obtuse, and slightly curved. It is not serrated 

 in front, like the spine of Bloch's figure of ringens, nor does it taper so much. Its front is, 

 in fact, villous, appearing so to the eye, but feeling smooth to the touch ; and it is made rough 

 on the sides by fine and crowded, hard granulations. The second ray of the first dorsal is 

 short and slender, and the third one is far back, and so short, that it does not rise above the 

 level of the furrow, which receives the fin when depressed. The dorsal and anal are arched in 

 front, and lower and more even posteriorly. The exterior rays of the caudal are stout, with 

 rough surfaces, which project beyond the intermediate straight, or slightly convex border, 

 forming falcate points, equal in length to about one-thbd of the length of the fin. The ven- 

 tral spine is short and truncated, and is raised only by force from a depression into which it 

 fits. There is no thin membrane, nor appearance of rays behind it, the belly remaining 

 roundish between it and the anus; but the narrow rows of scales which converge towards that 

 part, are rough on the rim, or mesial line of the belly, making a low ridge. The length of the 

 head is contained four times and one-third, in the total length, caudal included. The mouth 

 is small, the eye quite round and high up, and the upper and under profiles of the fish are 

 alike. The height of the body equals two-fifths of the whole length. 



The colour of the specimen in spirits is dark brown, with a blacker face and chin. 

 Some pale lines cross the nape and forehead, and there are darker lines on the body and tail 

 corresponding to the centres of the rows of scales. The lines of skin, which appear between 

 the scales, are pale and bluish, though they have been represented necessarily by the artist 

 as dark. A milk-white line runs along the bases of the dorsal and anal rays, and there is a 

 dark crescentic line, edged with a pale tint, within the border of the caudal. 



The following is Solander's description, taken from his manuscript Animalia Oceani 

 Paciflci. 



" Balistes kadtjla. Totus piscis efusco nigricans, cute cceruled quce in inferiore capite, 



