192 CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



muzzle excessively long. The contents of these divisions 

 are very unequal ; and it will be seen that, from the 

 absence of a -fifth type, they do not form a circular 

 group : but this is a matter of inferior moment ; 

 since it will subsequently appear that the four, above 

 named, find their representatives in four of all the other 

 ichthyological circles. It may here be observed, that 

 very few of this order are found in the European seas, 

 and that none of them are esteemed as food. 



(I69.) The family of Balistidcs, or cheloniform 

 fishes, is the most interesting, as it is the only one in 

 which any vivid colouring is found; many of the 

 species, indeed, are remarkably beautiful: neither is the 

 form, in general, devoid of symmetry. They are very 

 numerous in tropical seas, and present many modifica- 

 tions of form, which have not yet been accurately 

 defined and arranged; but only one species (the 

 Capriscus Rondeletii of our celebrated Willughby) 

 occasionally wanders to our coasts. Having paid much 

 attention to this interesting family, we are enabled to 

 determine, as we believe, the five sub-families. The 

 two first are the Ostracince, or trunk-fish, and the 

 Balistince, or file-fish : these we regard as typical: they 

 are distinguished by having the body covered with an- 

 gulated plates, or hard and reticulated skins ; the mouth 

 being furnished with real teeth. The three aberrant sub- 

 families are the Tetradonince, or hare-fish; the Diodo- 

 nince, or globe-fish ; and the Cephalince, or sun-fish : the 

 circular succession of these groups into one is effected 

 by the Orthagoriscus oblongus*, whose hard skin is 

 divided into those angular compartments which is the 

 peculiar characteristic of the Ostracince. We shall now 

 collect together the few points of general interest that are 

 at present known respecting these groups; and then 

 compare them, in their analogical relations, with others. 

 They have hitherto been much neglected, even in the 

 latest systems ; and this will account for our not being 



* Bl. Sch. pi. 97. 



