134 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS 



of the Southern Atlantic States. 2. L. spatula or 

 the Gar of Chili. 3. L. indicus or the East Indian 

 [7^] Gar. I suspect however that there are more 

 than ten species of these fishes in the United States, 

 and many others in South America, &c. The Gars 

 of the Ohio partake of the inclinations and proper- 

 ties of the Pikes; but they are still more dangerous 

 and voracious. Their flesh may be eaten : but is 

 often rejected owing to the difficulty of skinning 

 them, the operation may however be performed by 

 splitting the skin beneath in zig-zag. Their scales 

 are very singular, they are not embricated as in all 

 other fishes; but lay over the skin in oblique rows, 

 and are as hard as bones. They have many other 

 peculiarities in common which have been stated 

 by Cuvier, or may be collected from the following 

 descriptions. 



I Subgenus. Cylindrosteus. 



Body cylindrical, dorsal fin beginning behind the 

 anal fin. The name means bony cylinder. 



86th Species. Duckbill Garfish. Lepisosteus 

 platostomiis. Lepisoste platostome. 



Jaws nearly equal, as long as the head, about one 

 ninth of total length, and flattened; body cylindrical 

 olivaceous brown above, white beneath: fins yellow- 

 ish, dorsal and anal spotted with eight rays, abdom- 

 inal fins with seven rays, tail obtuse oboval and 

 spotted with brown : lateral line nearly obsolete. 



This species is not uncommon in the Ohio, Miami, 

 Scioto, Wabash, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, 

 Cumberland, &c. and other tributary streams. It 

 reaches the length of four feet. It is taken with the 

 seine, the hook, and even with the gig or harpoon. 



