68 
FISHES. 
Fam. syngnathidae. 
Syngnathus perlatus. 
Syng. corpore lieptagono, cauda quadratd : lateribus infra alhido-punctatis : pinna anali nulla. 
J). 24.? P. 10.? C. 13. 
PLATE XXI. FIG. 1. 
Hub. apud Loo-Choo. 
A specimen of this pretty species was preserved by Capt. Belcher, R. N., and presented by him 
to the Museum of the Zoological Society. Its total length is four inches and eight lines : its greatest 
breadth three lines. The plates of the body are sixteen in each row; those of the tail are thirty-six. 
The eye is small, and is placed midway between the tip of the snout and the edge of the operculum. 
The tip of the snout is slightly turned up. The line of profile is continued straight along the snout to 
the forepart of the orbit ; from whence it rises in a gentle curve to the back, the greatest elevation of 
which is about midway between the pectoral fins and the anus ; in this situation the height of the 
body is about three lines ; the height at the anus is little more than two lines: from the anus the tail 
tapers regularly and gradually to its tip, where it is less than one line in height. The breadth of the 
back over the anus is about one line and a half ; at the tip of the tail half a line. The snout before 
the eyes is much compressed : behind them the sides of the head and opercula are broader, and nearly 
equal the breadth of the body. The dorsal fin commences behind the point opposed to the anus. From 
the tip of the snout to the eye the distance is three lines : the diameter of the orbit is one line: from the 
orbit to the edge of the operculum, three lines: hence to the anus the distance is one inch and four lines. 
The dorsal commences two inches behind the tip of the snout : its length is less than five lines. 
The general colour of the specimen is dusky. The lower part of the sides of the body is paler, 
and is marked with three series of small rounded white spots, disposed in a quincuncial order; each scale 
having three spots, one at its upper, another at its lower, and a third at its middle height in front. The 
belly is livid white. The throat and lower part of the opercula is milk-white, through which passes a 
black interrupted line, which extends forwards from the commencement of the lateral keel bounding the 
belly, to the lower part of the orbit. 
Order BRANCHIOSTEGI. 
Fam. BALISTID Ji. 
Balistes Willughbeii. 
Bal. oblongo-ovalis, infra, confertim albido guttatus : squamis lateralibus posticisque sitb-spinosis : pinnis dorsali secundd 
analique elevatis , triangidaribus ; cmidali triloba. 
D. 3,20. P.14. V. — . A. 17. C. 12. 
PLATE XXI. FIG. 2. 
Guaperva longa, &c. Will., Ichth. App. p. 21. tab. 1. 20. — Ray, Syn. Pisc.p. 48. 
Prickle or longest File-fish. Grew , Rar. p. 113. tab. 7. 
Hub. in Oceano Pacifico prope Acapulco. 
A specimen of this fish was preserved by Capt. Belcher, R. N., and presented by him to the 
Museum of the Zoological Society. Its form is more elongated than is usual among its congeners, 
its height being less than one-third of its total length. Its surface, as in the other species of Balistes, 
Is divided into compartments, of which those behind the gill-openings on each side are not evidently 
larger than the adjoining ones, their distinction in this part being very faintly marked : each of the 
compartments posterior to the pectoral fins, excepting those of the back and belly, is furnished to- 
wards its anterior part with a short whitish somewhat spinous tubercle directed backwards. On the 
tail these tubercles form nine rows, but none of them are sufficiently strong to deserve the name of 
spines ; and they can only be regarded as representing the strong armature of this part in some other 
species. 
