2,62 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Fishes of sluggish habit in wann seas. Noted for their habit 

 of fining the stomach with air when distrubed, and then floating 

 on the surface of the water belly upward. They are not used as 

 food, the flesh ill-flavored and reputed poisonous. Two species 

 on our coast. 



Key to the genera. 



a. D. and A. comparatively long, falcate, 12 to 15. 

 aa. D. and A. comparatively short, rounded, 6 to 8. 



LAGOCEPHALUS 

 SPHEROIDES 



Genus Lagocephalus Swainson. 



The Rabbit Fishes. 

 Lagocephalus laevigatas (Linnaeus). 



Puffer. Rabbit Fish. 



Rabbit Fish. Lagocephalus Iccz'igatus (Linnaeus), 



Head 3>4 ; depth 2,%; A. i, 12 ; A. i, 11 ; width of head 1^3 

 in its length; snout 2; eye 4^^ ; mouth 5^; interorbital space 

 2}i ; dorsal along anterior margin 1%; anal 2; upper caudal 

 lobe 1% ; least depth of caudal peduncle 5^ ; pectoral 2. Body 

 elongate. Caudal peduncle long, tapering till rather slender, de- 

 pressed somewhat, and each side below with a fold. Head large, 

 robust. Snout long, convex. Eye large, elongate, high and near 

 last ys in length of head. Teeth large. Lips very thick, fleshy 

 and papillose. Interorbital space broad and flattened. Nostril 



