GAR-PIKES, OLD AND YOUNG. 195 



ing Lepidosteus ; and the geological, the zoological, and the embryo- 

 logical series, upon the whole, have a recognizable correspondence. 



So far, the writer has endeavored to give an outline of the natural 

 history of the gar-pike as a peculiar American tish, concerning which 

 little has liitherto been published even in strictly scientific works, 

 and almost nothing in a form generally accessible. 



In so doing he has purposely avoided the presentation of contro- 

 versial points, or, in reference to the nomenclature of the air-bladder 

 and of the tail, has presented opposing views, with an abstract of the 

 evidence, so far as known to him ; admitting his inability, as yet, to 

 form a definite conclusion. 



But there is another and, in some respects, most interesting and 

 important light in which the gar-pike may be considered, namely, as 

 to its relations with other fish-like forms. 



Is Lepidosteus merely a somewhat peculiar fish ? Or may it, with 

 Polypterus and some fossils, be separated as a distinct group ? Or 

 should there be added to this group Amia and the sturgeons ? Or 

 should the catfishes and their kindred, with the pipe-fishes, globe- 

 fishes, and others, be likewise included ? 



Upon what grounds may this group be defined? What is its 

 grade, class, sub-class, or order ? And how may it be subdivided ? 



Attempts have been made to find answers to these questions by 

 the study of the scales, the skeleton, the limbs, the gills, and various 

 internal organs. The embryology of the sturgeons is not fully known, 

 while notliing whatever has been observed of the earlier stages of the 

 so-called typical Ganoids. 



It is probably within the truth to say that, from the time of Cuvier 

 down, no two authors upon fishes agree upon all the points, while any 

 contemporary discussion, whether verbal or in print, is almost certain 

 to be attended with a degree of heat quite incompatible with the ap- 

 parent importance of the subject. 



The fact is, however, that the so-called Ganoids occupy a very 

 peculiar position. None of them can be touched witliout aiFecting the 

 entire series of fish-like forms. Ichthyology is in a state of instability, 

 and every important new fact, every decided expression of opinion 

 by high authority respecting the Ganoids is liable to require a revision 

 of all our ideas. 



To present even an outline of the many views, and of the facts and 

 considerations upon which they are based, would require an entire 

 article, with many figures and some anatomical description. 



To the reader who has become interested by the foregoing imper- 

 fect sketch of the gar-pike, and who has the good fortune to live within 

 reach of it, of Amia, and of the sturgeons, the writer would earnestly 

 recommend a careful and systematic investigation of their habits and 

 their structure especially that of the brain and of their develop- 

 ment, as likely to furnish the most reliable basis for their classification. 



