JFlshes of the Ohio and its Tributaries. 30 



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Art. XXV. — descriptions OF THE FISHES OF THE OHIO RIVER 

 AXD ITS TRIBUTARIES. By Jared P. Kirtland, M. D. 



(Contiaued from page 240.) 



AciPENSER. Lin. 

 A. ruhicundus. Le Sueur. The Lake Sturgeon. 



Plate XIV. Fis. 1. 



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Head one fifth the total length of the fish ; nose attenuated, 

 slightly recurved at the tip ; forehead broad between the eyes ; 

 sulcated longitudinally, a slight elevation on each side, situated 

 upon a line between the eyes, also a larger elevation on each 

 side of the sulcation in the centre of the forehead. Cirrhi four, 

 on a line transverse to the head. JSostrils double, superior and 

 anterior smaller and more circular ; eyes oblong, large ; irids 

 yellowish. Ojjerculum radiated, tuberculated, imperfectly 

 closing the branchial openings. Mouth projecting, pendulous, 

 oblong, lobed. 



Body armed with 15 plates anterior to the dorsal fin, all 

 except the posterior, carinated and terminating posteriorly in a 

 spine. Si.x osseous scales between the caudal and dorsal fins, 

 the posterior plate elongated, the two preceding in pairs, — all 

 are simple and armed with spines. 



Lateral rows furnished with 36 spinous plates. 



Abdominal rows with 9 simple plates. 



Two simple plates between the vent and the anal fin, the 

 anterior larger. 



