TRIQUETRAL TRUNK-FISH. 4*21 



the ridge of the back, and the abdomen being flat : 

 the whole animal, except to within a small distance 

 from the tail, is completely enveloped in a bony- 

 covering, divided into well-defined hexagonal spaces, 

 and covered (as in the whole genus) with a trans- 

 parent epidermis like that of the Armadillo among 

 quadrupeds : the usual colour is a subferruginous 

 brown, with a white spot in the centre of each 

 hexagon, which is also marked by fine rays diverg- 

 ing from the centre to the edges: the fins are 

 yellowish, and the tail rounded ; the naked part of 

 the extremity of the body or base of the tail being 

 marked with white specks, similar to those on the 

 crustaceous part of the animal : the pectoral fins are 

 rather small than large, and of a rounded shape : 

 the dorsal and anal are also rather small, and are 

 situated opposite each other towards the extremity 

 of the body, and, like all the rest of the genus, this 

 fish is destitute of ventral fins. It is a native of the 

 Indian and American seas, and is supposed to feed 

 on the smaller Crustacea, shell-fish, and sea worms. 

 It is said to be considered as an excellent fish for 

 the table, and is held in high estimation among the 

 East-Indians. 



