18 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Chetodon with the body conitricted in the middle. 
THE numerous genus Chztodon contains fome 
f{pecies which, on account of their very near alliance in 
point of general appearance, are not eafily difcriminated 
from each other. The prefent fpecies, however, differs 
fo confpicuoufly from all others yet difcovered, as to 
caufe no difficulty in diftinguifhing it, even on the moft 
tranfient view; the body contraéting in diameter in a 
moit fingular manner in the middle. It is therefore 
from this circumftance that the fpecific chara¢ter is taken. 
It may, perhaps, be proper to add, that the Linnzean 
characters of the genus Chzetodon by no means apply 
with fufficient exactnefs to all the known fpecies; fome 
of which, inftead of flender and almoft fetaceous teeth, 
are on the contrary furnifhed with uncommonly {trong 
and broad ones. 
