Balistf. s . Long File-fijh. Body not very deep; the 
fkin divided by fmooth furrows into fmall rough fcale-like fpaces: 
each of thefe on the fides have a fmall fpine pointing towards the 
tail: the firft dorfal fin has three fpines; the firft of which is very 
large and rough in front like a file; (hence the Englifii name): the 
third very fhort, and fituated at a confiderable diftance from the 
other two : fkin of the back and belly at the bafe of the dorfal and 
anal fins drawn out and comprefTed: pedloral fins fmall: dorfal and 
anal fins triangular, and fituated nearly oppofite each other: tail 
even at the end. D. 3. 24. P. 14. A. 19. 
This genus takes its name from a fingular property of the firft 
dorfal fin of feveral of the fpecies; viz. no force can deprefs the 
firft fpine; but if the laft be depreffed, in ever fo gentle a man¬ 
ner, the other two immediately fall down with it; and as inftanta- 
neoufiy as when a crofs-bow is let off by pulling the trigger. It 
is on this account likewife, that one kind taken in the Mediterra¬ 
nean, is called at Rome, Pejce Balejlra-, i. e. the Crojs-Bow Fijh, 
and the genus B a l i s t e s. 
