Jordan and F.veniiann. — Fishes of North America. 101) 



fin short, rather high, posterior, nearly opposite the anal, which is simi- 

 lar in form ; tail heterocercal, in the young produced as a filament beyond 

 the caudal fin ; caudal convex; veutrals nearly midway between pecto- 

 rals and anal ; pectorals and veutrals moderate, few-rayed. Stomach not 

 cu?cal; pyloric appendages numerous. Spiral valve of intestines rudi- 

 mentary. Fishes of the fresh waters of North America and China, of 

 sluggish habits, but voracious and destructive to smaller fishes. Thefiesh 

 is tough and rank, valueless as food. One geu us with about 5 species, 

 although more than 40 have been described. These fishes are of much 

 interest to geologists from their relationship to extinct ganoid genera, 

 many of which are usually placed in this family. (LEPiDOSTEiD/E,Giin- 

 ther. Cat., Vlll, 328-331.) 



66. LEPISOSTEUS, Lacdpede. Gar Pikes. 



Lepiioslens, Lacepkde, Hist. Nat. I'oiss., v, 331, 1803, {gacialis — osseiis). 

 Oyliiulrosteits, Rafinesque, Idi. Ohieusis, 72, 1820, (plalustoiims). 

 Atractosleiis, Bafinesque, /. c, 72, (/erox). 

 Sarchirtts, Rafinesqiie, i. f._ 8G, (aigeiileus). 

 Lepidosteus, Agassiz, (corrected spelliug). 



Upper jaw with an outer series of small, sharp, even teeth, then a 

 series of large teeth, some of the auterior teeth being usually movable; 

 next comes a series of fine teeth, in one row in front, becoming a band 

 behind. In some species, the inner row of these teeth contains larger ones ; 

 next the vomerine teeth, also in a long band, and posteriorly a palatine 

 band. These bauds on the roof of the mouth are fre(iuently somewhat 

 confluent or irregular. In young specimens some of the palatine teeth are 

 often enlarged, these sometimes forming regular series. Lower jaw with 

 an outer series of small teeth, next a series of large teeth, next agiiiu a 

 broad band of fine teeth on each side. Each of the large teeth fitting into 

 a depression in the opposite jaw. Rivers of North America. A single 

 species (L. sinensis, Bleeker) found in China. {Tieivi^, scale ; oariov, bone.) 



II. Largo teeth of upper jaw iu a single row oa each side. 



Lepisosteus; 



6. Beak long and slender; the snout more than twice the length of the rest of the head. 



OSSEUS, 1.51. 

 CYUNDROsrEUS, (KvAir^po?, Cylinder; oo-reoi', bone) : 



66. Beak shorter and broader, little longer than rest of head. I'I.atostomus, 152 



Atractosteus,* (drpaKTo?, spindle; b<neov, bone): 

 aa. Large teeth in upper jaw in 2 rows on each side; beak short and broad, not longer tlian 

 rest of head, 

 c. Scales in lateral line about GO. tbistceuuus, 1M. 



cc. Scales larger, those in lateral lino 52. tropicus, 154. 



Subgenus LEPISOSTEUS. 



151. LEPISOSTEUS OSSEUS, (Linna-us). 



(LONO-NOSED Gar; Billfish; Common Gar Pike.) 



Snout a little more than twice the length of the rest of the head, its 

 length 15 to 20 times its least width. Olivaceous, pale, and somewhat 



*The name Litholepix, Rafinesque, applied by him to a gigantic gar, Lilholepit aihviitwlhius, the 

 "I>evil-jack Diamond tish," is based on a drawing by Audubon, not intended by .\udubon to 

 represent any possible lish. 



