FAMILY SAURID^E LEPISOSTEUS. 273 



THE FLAT-NOSED BONY PIKE. 



Lepisosteus platyrhinces. 

 plate xliii. fig. 137. — (cabinet of the lyceum.) 



Characteristics. Jaws broad, elongated. Breadth of the upper jaw at the rictus, to its length, 

 as one to three. Scales smooth; dorsal series subcordate. Length 2 feet. 



Description. Body cylindrical, subfusiform, with smooth siliceous rhomboidal scales, arranged 

 in fifty-two oblique series ; the scales on the sides convex on their posterior and inferior mar- 

 gins, rather acutely pointed behind (see figure 2), the radical portion terminating in a sort of 

 pedicel ; the scales at the basis of all the fins elongated, acute. The lateral line descending 

 from the upper angle of the opercle, thence straight ; its course indicated by short vertical 

 slits on each scale. Head four-sided, flattened above ; the opercular bones forming a right 

 angle beneath. The upper surface of the head and mandibles (see figure 1) broad, flattened, 

 tubercular, with irregularly elevated and parallel lines and dots radiating in all directions. 

 Jaws scarcely as long as the head, measured from the rictus to the posterior margin of the 

 opercles. Upper jaw longest, with two sinuous furrows above ending in the posterior nares ; 

 a transverse furrow from the anterior nares to its opposite ; from the centre of this line, a short 

 furrow proceeds forward to the end of the jaw. Around the end of the jaw, a series of open 

 pores. This jaw is enlarged at the extremity as in the preceding species, and is 0'4 longer 

 than the inferior. Teeth in both jaws, long, acute, distant, with smaller intermediate ones. 

 In the palatine series, I observed a tooth of so remarkable a configuration, that I deemed it 

 worthy of especial note (see figure 3). It was loosely attached, and may possibly be extra- 

 neous. The figure represents it of the natural size. 



Dorsal fin with seven aculeated rays, and eight bifid scales over its first ray. It arises 

 opposite the penultimate ray of the anal, (this is wrongly given by the draftsman,) which it 

 resembles in shape and size. Pectorals long and narrow. Ventrals midway between the 

 pectorals and anal, with six rays and seven bifid scales. Anal with nine bifid scales. Caudal 

 obliquely rounded, with fourteen or fifteen bifid scales on each external ray. 



Color. Greyish above, separated by the lateral line from the soiled white or yellowish 

 beneath. 



Length, 25 - 0; of head and jaws, 4 "4. 

 Fin rays, D. 7; P. 10 ; V. G ; A. 8 ; C. 12. 



This species is found in Florida and the western rivers, and will probably be found in some 

 of their sources within this State. 



We have another species within this State, which, however, I have not seen. It may be 

 the longirostris hereafter mentioned. 



Fauna — Part 4. 35 



