in ichthyology, a genus of fishes belonging to the order of amphibia nantes. The characters are these: the head is flat; there are eight teeth in each side, and the two anterior ones are longest; in the place of gills, the balistes has an aperture immediately above the pectoral fins; the body is flat, the scales are joined together by the skin, and the belly is keeled. The species of this genus are eight; viz. 1. The monoceros, whose head-fin consists of but one ray, and the tail-rays are carinate. It is called the unicorn-fish by Catesby; who informs us, that the guts of this fish are full of small shells and coraline substances, which by the strength and hardness of its jaws it is enabled to ground very small. These fish, he adds, are not eat, being accounted poisonous. They most frequent those seas, amongst the Bahama islands, where the corals are in greatest plenty. 2. The hispidus, whose head-fin is uniradiated; and there is a round black spot in the tail-fin. The body is rough, and bristly towards the tail. The spine or horn is situated between the eyes; the snout is jubulated; and instead of a belly-fin, it has a jagged sharp spine. This species is a native of Carolina. 3. The tomentefus, whose head-fin is biradiated, and the body of it towards the hind part is hairy. It is a native of America. 4. The papillofus, has a biradiated back-fin, and a papillous body. 5. The verrucolus, has a triradiated back-fin; and the tail is full of little warts. In the place of a belly-fin, this species has a large, thick, warty ray. It has 25 small reversed sharp spines at the side of the tail, disposed in four rows. It is a native of India. 6. The aculeatus has a triradiated back-fin; and the spines of the tail lean upon each other. It is also a native of India. 7. The vetula, or old-wife, has a triradiated back-fin; the belly-fin is longitudinal, and somewhat carinate; and the tail-fin is forked. It is found at Ascension island. 8. The ringens, has a triradiated back-fin; there are three folds on each side of the head, and the tail-fin is forked. This species is likewise found at Ascension island.