OETHAOoEisciDa:. PISHES. Balistids!. ccxxvii 
earlier times, or, like llie Leatlier 'I’ortoise, to liave 
stone, meule ; and in Spain it is called Bout, referring 
escaped the attention of Bsliennen and naturalists. 
to its stump-like body. Pliny records it as Rota, a 
Ev'eii in 1842 DeKay, in New YorJc Fauna, refers 
wheel, which is confounded by old writers with “a 
to Storer’s notice of the Fish as “ the only de- 
Whale or great Sea-fish.” Mola, which is retained as 
tailed account which we have had of this species on 
the specific term, seems to have the above derivation. 
tliis side of the Atlantic,” and adopts the latter’s 
description. DeKay says : “ 'I’he Great Sun-fish, or 
Family— DIODONTIDiE. 
Head-fish, is not unfrequently captured along the 
THE SPEING BOX-FISH (Ghilomycterus geometri- 
coast. * * * It is known to weigh four or five 
cus). — Called, also, Rabbit-fish, from the supposed 
hundred pounds.” Storer, in Fishes of Maasachu- 
resemblance of the flesh to that of the Rabbit. It is 
setts, 1839, remarks : “This is not a common Fish in 
found from Cape Cod to Hatteras. Plate 15, fig. 75. 
Massachusetts Bay. Its motions are very sluggish, 
THE HAIEY BOX-FISH {Trichodiodon piloaus ). — 
and it swims near or upon the surface of the sea.” 
Called, also, Bleeker. 'I'his is the same as named 
'J’lie unique character of tlie Fish may he somewhat 
by Mitchill. Habitat from Cape Cod to Hatteras. 
appreciated by the consideration of its dimensions. 
It bears something near the appearance of a Shark, 
Family— 'I'ETR ADO NTID iE. 
with its body abruptly truncated just behind the 
SMOOTH PUFFEK {Tetrodon leevigatus, Linn .) — 
pectoral fins, the dorsal and anal fins being very 
B^ound from Cape Cod to Hatteras. 
large and high, and directly opposite to each other. 
EOTJGH PUFFER [Ghilichthys turgidua {Mitch.), 
Its skin is similar to that of the Shark. The crea- 
Gill). — Named the Porcupine-fish, Blower, Swell- 
ture is quite thin and compact, and measures (in one 
FISH, and in Cuba, 'I'ambor ; described by Storer from 
instance, when the weight was two hundred pounds,) 
specimens taken in Boston Harbor and at Vineyard 
forty-five inches in length and thirty inches in depth. 
Sound, and is common in the latter waters. In New 
'I’he abruptly truncated terminal portion is edged 
York it is known as 'I'oad-fish. Dr. DeKay remarks 
with a thin and narrow border, quite fringe-like. 
that it is frequently taken while fishing for Black-fish, 
which answers to the tail. 'I'he dorsal fin in the 
and is even found in company with Cod and Haddock. 
above specimen was thirteen inches in length and 
It gets its name from its singular habit of puffing into 
twenty-one inches high ; the anal fin was twelve 
a nearly complete globe, when irritated. Habitat 
inches long and twenty-one inches high ; the pec- 
from Cape Cod to Florida. 
torals were four inches long and seven inches high. 
'I'he Sun-fish is now seen in the waters of Massachu- 
Family— OS'l'R A C 10 N'l'ID iE. 
setts Bay quite frequently during the warmer months. 
TRBNK-FISH {Lactophrys trigonua {Lmn.), Poey). 
VVe have several times encountered it, and always 
— -Called, also. Box-fish. Is accidental on our coast. 
when it seemed to be on its side, as if floating ; and, 
and native to Cuban waters. Dr. Storer records a 
when disturbed, it very clumsily left the surface and 
specimen of Ostracion which he says Dr. Yale, of 
disappeared. We have taken some pains to ascer- 
Martha’s Vineyard, sent him in 1833. 'I'his was 
tain whether this Fish is ever seen swimming upright. 
named at that time 0. yalei, but is, no doubt, the 
as it is evidently intended to do, and all observers 
species here recorded. 
that we have known agree in stating that the Fish 
Family— BALISTID HI. 
is always seen in the above position. Rev. J. G. 
Wood, in \\\!i Illustrated Natural History , states that 
LONG TAILED FILE-FISH {Alutera cuspicauda, 
“'I'he flesh of the Sun-fish is white and well-flavored, 
DeKay). — 'I'his is indicated by Baird as a doubtful 
and is in much request among sailors.” 'I’his does 
species. Mitchill called it. Sharp-tail (Balistes cu- 
not correspond to our experience, nor to that of 
spicauda) ; and Storer, the Unicorn File-fish (A. 
Dr. Storer, who says: “On account of the great 
monoceros). It is found from Cape Cod to Florida. 
elasticity of its flesh it is captured with great diffi- 
HOG-FISH ; FILE-FISH {Geratacanthua aurantia- 
cully ; it is generally gaffed at or near the branchial 
cus {Mitch.), Gill). — Called, also, the Orange File- 
apertures. Its flesh is sometimes used for balls.” 
FISH. Habitat, Cape Cod to Florida. 
Portions cut from its sides and shaped into balls will 
STORER’S FILE-FISH {StephanolepLs maasachusett- 
rebound like rubber; and one would as soon think of 
sensis {Storer), Gill), d. s.) — Fool-fish in New York. 
eating the latter substance. One of the largest spec- 
Found from Nova Scotia to Florida. 
imens was captured on our coast off Florida, and ex- 
EUROPEAN FILE-FISH {Balistes capriscus, Linn.) 
hibited in the New York Aquarium. It measured 
— Called in Bermuda the 'I’uRBOT. Found from Nova 
about five feet in length. Like other sluggish Fishes 
Scotia to Florida. 
of great size it is infested with parasitic forms. 'I'he 
POWEL’S FILE-FISH {Balistes poweli. Cope.), d.s.) 
Fennella and 'rristoina are almost always found 
— Considered to be an accidental species. Named 
attached to the gill-edges, or beneath the fins, and 
for Mr. Bowel, of Newport, R. I. 
several other forms are common. In the Report of the 
United States Fishery Commission, the range of this 
F amily— H 1 P PC C AM B 1 D RH. 
Fish isgiven as from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras. 
SEA-HORSE {Hippocampus hudsonms, DeKay). — 
Rondelet figures the Mola remarkably well, calling it 
Known as Horse-fish in some localities. Ranges 
Lune ou Mole. 'I'he latter term, according to this 
from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Storer records 
author, is derived from the resemblance to a mill- 
this as Short-nosed Sea-horse (H. brevirostris), 
