12'i TETRAODON OCliLLATUS, 



XXII. 



TETRAODON OCELLATUS. 



Occllated Sun-fish. 



Order Branchiostegi, Lin. Plectognathi. Cuv. 

 Family Gymnodontes, Cuv. 



Gen. Char. Jaws divided in the middle by a suture in 

 such a manner as to present the appearance of four 



teeth, two above and two below ; skin furnished with 

 small spines ; body capable of inflation. 



Spec. Char. Body dull green above, whitish beneath, 

 with a black crescent over the shoulders and spot on 

 the back, both edged with yellow. 



Piscis venenosus de Opblaser dictus; Kwmpfer, Amwn. p. 883. Tetrodon fascia 

 m iniliinuri in dorso; Block, Ichthyol. v. t. 145. Tetrodon ocellatus j Sysl. Nat. 

 (imclin, iii. p. 1445. 



llenison-croissanty Fr.j Gejllccktcr Stachelbauch, Ger. ; Kaipo-y, Chin.; 

 Furube, Jap. 



The Tetraodon Ocellatus, a fish which is common in the Indian 

 Seas, is known to possess very deleterious properties. It is a dimi- 

 nutive species, varying in length from four to six inches. The head 

 is small and somewhat compressed laterally ; the opening of the 

 mouth is round ; the jaws bony, and furnished at the tip with two 

 broad flattish teeth. The body is thick, ovate, contracting suddenly 

 towards the tail, and thickly studded beneath with short spines. 

 The prevailing colour is deep green above, gradually growing paler 

 on the sides and abdomen, which is whitish. The eyes are middle- 

 sized, and placed high and rather distant from the mouth. Across 



