MITCHILL 0> THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 467 



His moulh has an excessive gape. The lower jaw projects. The 

 teeth are commonly exposed. The throat is unusually wide and 

 capacious. The creature may be said to consist of head and tail, with 

 verv little intervening body. The gill membrane is extensive and flab- 

 by, containing cavities from the opening, like pockets. 



Var. — Foliated Angler. (Lovhius foliatus.) With a leafy expansioa 

 on his dorsal rays. 



Agrees generally with the L. piscator, but the linear tentacula or pro- 

 cesses, situated along the back, are some of them expanded at their 

 summits to the form of leaves, and others distinguished at their sides by 

 little knobs resembling vegetable buds. 



BALISTES. FILE-FI^H. 



Generic Character. 



Teeth several in both jaws. Body compressed. Abdomen carinated. 

 Skin tough, often reticulated by scale-like divisions. 



1. Tutmouthed file-fish. (Batistes broceus.) With brown skin, ser- 

 rated horn, and small mouthed turned up. 



Usual length seven or eight inches ; sometimes more. 



Body brown, without lines, spots, or bands ; and exhibiting only va- 

 riations of shades, and a roughness like shagreen. 



A single horn rising from a knob between the eyes. The horn 

 .straight, slender, and somewhat serrated on its posterior part. 



Dorsal and anal fins delicate, and consisting of many rays. 



Belly more pale than the back and sides* and pendulous like a pouch. 

 Caudal fin long. 



2. Trigger file-fish,. (Batistes suffiamen.) With the skin marked into 

 rhombic divisions. 



Length fourteen inches ; depth five, exclusive of the dorsal fin. No 



