407 



PATCHED FILE-FISH. 



Balistes Bicolor. B. niger, maculis magnis alhis. 

 Black File-Fish, with large white spots. 

 Balistes Americanus. Lin, Gmel. p. 1473 ? 



Length about ten inches : shape broad oval, or 

 similar to that of the ringent file-fish : colour black, 

 or very deep brown, marked about the lower or 

 under parts by numerous large ovate white or 

 yellowish-white spots, of unequal size : in some 

 parts, as about the breast and towards the tail, 

 the spots are more or less confluent so as to form 

 abrupt bands : across the head, from eye to eye, a 

 white band or crescent : mouth edged by two con- 

 centric white bands, of which the first is broadest : 

 dorsal and anal fin white or pale: tail rounded, 

 and tipped by a broad white band : fin above the 

 head consisting of two or three rays united by a 

 membrane ; the first ray very thick, rough, and 

 much depressed : ventral processes of similar ap- 

 pearance: skin marked into squares as in the B. 

 ringens : teeth strong and white. Native of the 

 Indian seas. An elegant specimen is preserved in 

 the Leverian Museum. 



