SPOTTED FILE-FISH. 415 



above the base of the ventral fm, are three or four 

 parallel longitudinal rows of short spines : the skin 

 is every where marked into scale-like divisions. 

 Native of the Indian and American seas. It is 

 supposed to have obtained its popular title of the 

 Old Wife Fish from the appearance of the mouth 

 when viewed in front, as well as from the slightly 

 murmuring noise which it utters when first taken. 



SPOTTED FILE-FISH. 



Balistes Maculatus. 15. subviolaceus, caruko maculaius, uhdo" 

 mine albido. 



Subviolaceous File- Fish, with blue spots and whitish abdomen. 

 Balistes pinna anali lata, aculeis duobus in prima pinna dorsali. 

 Lin. Gmd. Block, t. 151. 



Shape oval : length from one to two feet : colour 

 pale violet, browner on the back, and pale or 

 whitish beneath : skin strongly marked into lozenge- 

 shaped reticulations : first dorsal fm three-rayed ; 

 the first very strong : ventral spines rough and but 

 slightly projecting : tail somewhat convex in the 

 middle of its outline, with falcated tips : whole body, 

 dors.al, and anal fin marked with numerous round, 

 blue spots. Native of the Indian and American 

 seas. 



