254 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



having produced a more marked lobe. The dorsal fin is higher, but 

 like the anal grows in height towards the posterior extremity, and 

 forms like it a more dilated lobe before it unites with the caudal. 

 This latter extends over an equal length above and below the tail. 

 It is separated from the dorsal and anal fins by a notch, beyond which 

 the fin arises to the height of the terminal lobes of the two anterior 

 fins, and preserves the same height along the whole circumference of 

 the tail, under the form of an elongated oval. Undulated, annular, 

 transverse lines, distinct enough on the sides of the body, corres- 

 ponding with the lateral muscles of the trunk, are very marked. 



This species is from Michipicotin, where we have picked up a rather 

 large number of specimens. 



LEPIDOSTEUS. 



This genus of fishes is known throughout the United States 

 under the name of gar-pike. It is a very singular animal, and its his- 

 tory is closely connected with the most important progress which has 

 recently been made in ichthyology. . 



The first knowledge naturalists had of this remarkable fish was 

 derived from Catesby, who published a figure and a short account 

 of it in his Natural History of South Carolina. 



V 



Linnoeus, who received specimens of the same species from Dr. 

 Garden of South Carolina, introduced it into his Systema Naturoe 

 under the name of Esox osseus, supposing it allied to the common 

 pickerel, because its dorsal and anal fins are opposite to each other 

 and far back, near the end of the tail.* 



Lacepede, who first noticed some of its peculiarities, removed it 

 from the genus Esox, and established a distinct genus for it, under 

 the name of Lepisosteus, which name, however, not being quite 

 grammatically correct, I afterwards modified to Lepidosteus, which 

 is now generally received. 



The French naturalist knew a second species of that genus, from 

 the Mississippi, which he called Lejridosteus Spatula. Afterwards 



* For some zoological particulars respecting this fish, see preceding Narrative, 

 page 33. 



