T h e colour o f the hotly darkish; the second dorsal, anal, and caudal flns, bluish; the membranes feel to tlie
touch like thin leather.
T h e length, from the rostrum to the end o f the caudal fin - - - 8 o
greatest breadth - - - - - - - - - - - 3 8
from the eye to the point o f the rostrum - - - - s 8
No. XXI.
B a l i s t e s sp in is bints v e r ru co s is loco p in n a rum vm lr a l iu m ; p in n a p r im a d o r s i ma cula a ir a ,
r a d i is spin os is 4 - 5 , quorum a n te r io r p r e lo n g u s , v e r ru co sus , s er ra tu s , su b-r ec tu s , a cu tu s , sub-
r etrq flexu s ; p in n a c a u d a li p r o fu n d e b ijid a .
T h e B a l i s t e s w ith tw o ru g g ed sp in e s in p la c e o f v e n tr a l fins ; th e a n te rio r d o rsa l fin
m a rk e d w ith a larg e b la c k sp o t, a n d consists o f fo u r, o r five, sp in o u s ray s , th e first o f
w h ic h is v e ry lo n g , ru g g ed , s e rra ted , n e a rly s tra ig h t, s lia rp , b e n d in g a little b a c kw a rd s ;
th e tail d e e p ly fo rk e d .
C a lled b y th e N a tiv e s B o w e e e , o r A b a t o o .
_5, i_
D . 5. 25. P . 14. V. 2. A . 20. C. 16.
T h e body compressed, thin, v ery broad, between the first dorsal fin and ventral spines, narrowing gradually
to the end o f the second dorsal fin, where it tapers rapidly, and from flat becomes round. T h e re are no scales
but the skin is harsh and rough like shagreen.
T h e head nearly as broad as the body, much compressed; but, narrowing equally above and below from the
vertex and the ventral spines, it forms a triangle ending obtusely in the short round rostrum, at the end o f
which the v ery small mouth is placed. T h e lips thickish; the jaws very short, equal, not extractile. T h e teeth
close, a little bent and truncate, the two middle in each jaw the longest, and behind them are two tubercular
teeth. T h e tongue cartilaginous, oblong, rounded, immoveable.
T h e eyes near the vertex, oval, in a deep socket, the iris golden and pearl colo ur ; the nostrils double, a
little before the eyes, small, oval, open, the posterior largest.
T h e linear branchial aperture is directly before the pectoral fin.
T h e trunk; the back rising in an arch from the vertex, is carínate, and crowned b y the first dorsal fin ; from
the beginning o f the second dorsal, it declines towards the tail. T h e belly is flattish, and armed with a strong
bone, to which tiie ventral spines are connected. T his is moveable with the spines, covered with the skin, and
extends backward nearly to the anus. T lie lateral line is high, a t first arched like the back, but afterwards
straight, running along the middle o f the tail.
T h e Jins. T h e first dorsal is placed on the highest part o f the back, consisting o f one v e ry strong spine, two
inches and a ha lf in length, straight, wa rty, serrated on both sides, and sharp-pointed; and o f three (sometimes
four) short spinous rays. T h e lower part o f the front spine, and a ll the others with the connecting membrane,
are black. T h e second dorsal is nearly one inch behind, on the declivity o f the back, and terminates two Indies
from the ta i l; the pectoral in a line with the mouth, short, and rounded.
T h e two spines in the place o f ventral fins are an inch shorter than that o f the dorsal, but like it rougli, and
serrated; the anal rays gradually shortening, terminate on a line with the second dorsal; the caudal is
deeply forked.
T h e colour o f the back, ■when fresh from the water, is a dusky glittering yellow, but all below the line, that
o f burnished silver. T h e first dorsal fin is black and yellow, with a narrow white streak near the e d g e ; the
second dorsal and anal have a faint yellowish cast; the pectoral and caudal fins are yellow.
Leji^th o f the subject described.
° Indies. Lincs.
From the rostrum to the caudal fin - - - - - 9 5
the caudal fin - - - - - - - - 2 2^
breadth from the dorsal to the ventral spines - - 3 5
R EM A R K S .
These fish are caught in vast numbers after the month o f Ma y, so as to injure the nets; and being thrown
away b y the fishermen as useless, are often left to putrify in numbers strewed on the beach.
I t is the Balistes Biaculeatus, in Gmelin’s edition o f Linmeus; and described b y Gronovius, Mus.
Ichthyol: No. IJ5.
No. X X II.
B a l i s t e s p in n a p r im a d o r sa li tr ira d ia ta , r a d iis lo n g is , sp in os is, a cu tis , u ltim o ab a lte r is r em o to ;
r a d iu s p r im u s pimice ven tra lis , osseus, cra s sus , a sp e r , retu su s ; cau d a lu n a ta , va r ia .
T h e B a l i s t e s w ith th e an te rio r dorsal fin o f th re e long, sp in o u s , slia rp ray s , o f w h ic h the
last is d istan t from th e o th e r s ; th e first r a y o f th e v e n tra l fin, is a th ic k , ro u g h b o n e,
w ith a b ro k e n ru g g ed p o i n t ; th e tail lu n a te a n d v a rieg a ted .
Called b y th e n a tiv e s L a m a Y e l l a k a i i .
J . ±
D. 3 . 27. P . 14. V. 8. A . 25. C. 1 2 .
T h e body oblong, broad, compressed, ventricose, narrowing towards the tail, which is small and round. The
skin leathery, reticulate, rough.
T h e head nearly as broad as the body, compressed, obtuse; the vertex a little depressed, the front sub-cari-
nate, declining to the mou th; the mouth on a line with the pectoral fin, small, the lips thick; the jaws not
extractile, set regularly with teeth, those in the front long. T h e tongue thick, soft, obtuse, the point sheathed.
T h e eyes very high, distant from the rostrum, large, orbicular. T h e nostrils double, on the edge o f a groove
a little before the e y e ; both small, but (what is unusual) the posterior nostril smallest.
T h e trunk. T h e back, from the beginning o f the first to the second dorsal fin, straight, it then declines to
the tail; the sides compressed ; the abdomen prominent. T h e lateral line imperceptible, except a little on the
tail, where it appears straight and carinate. T h e anus is nearer the tail than the head.
T h e fins. T h e three rays o f the first dorsal fin are rough, long, and sharp, reclining when not erect, into a
deep groove : the posterior ray is at a considerable distance from the other tw o ; the second dorsal is situated
on the declivity of the back, exactly opposite to the anal, both being o f the same le n g th ; the short, roundish,
pectoral fin, is situated immediately behind the branchial aperture; the ventral two inches further back, its
first ray, a strong, rough, short bone; the anal rises very near it, and is continued to the tail; the caudal
is lunate.
T h e colour o f the head and trunk dusky, sprinkled below the pectoral fin with small, oval, light yellow