328 



LEPIDOSTEII)^. 



1. Calamoichthys calabaricus. 



J. A. Smith, I. c, and Trans. H. Soc. Edinh. 1806, p. 4o7, pis. 31 & 32 ; 

 Traquair, Ann. ^- 3Iaq. Nat. Hist, xviii. pp. 112, 49-5, or Froc. R. 

 Soc. Edinb. 1865-66, p. 657. 



Prom nine to eleven dorsal finlcts. Four scales in an oblique 

 series between the lateral line and dorsal fink'ts. L. hit. 110. 

 Vert. 100/10. 



Old Calabar. 



a~h. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. 



Fam. 3. LEPlDOSTElDiE. 



Muller, Ahlumdl. Ak. Wiss. Bed. 1844, p. 147. 



Scales ganoid, lozenge-shaped ; fins with fulcra ; 

 dorsal and anal fins composed of articulated rays only, 

 placed far backwards, close to the caudal. Abdominal 

 part of the vertebral column much longer than caudal. 

 Opercular gill and pseudobrancliise present. 



Fresh waters of Central and North America, and Cuba. 



Oue genus only. 



1. LEPIDOSfEUS. 



Lepidosteus, Laccp. v. p. u.'il ; Af/ansiz, Foiss. Foss. ii. 2. p. 1 ; Muller, 



Abhandl. Ak: Wiss. Berl. 1846, p. 147. 

 Lepidosteus, Cylindrosteus, Atractosteus, Girard, U. S. Fac. R. R. 



Evped. Fish. p. 351. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical ; snout elongate, spatulate or beak- 

 shaped ; cleft of the mouth wide ; upper jaw rather longer than 

 lower ; both jaws and palate armed with bands of rasp-like teeth 

 and series of larger conical teeth. Nostrils near the extremity of 

 the jaw. Front of the fins with fulcra. A short dorsal fin opposite 

 to the anal and close to the caudal, the insertion of which is oblique, 

 partly ou the extremity, partly below the vertebral column. Upper 

 jaw composed of mnnerous pieces ; vomer double ; lower jaw com- 

 posed of as many pieces as in reptiles. Vertebrae convex in front, 

 concave behind. Four free gills ; an accessory opercular gill and 

 pseudobranchia ; no spii'acles. Three branchiostegals. Air-bladder 

 cellular, communicating with the pharynx. Stomach without blind 

 sac ; numerous pyloric appendages ; intestine with a rudimentary 

 spiral valve. 



Fresh waters of North America ; Cuba. 



On the osteology and anatomy sec Agassiz, Poiss. Foss. ii. 2. pp. 1 

 et senq. ; Miillcr, 1. c. ; Poey, Mem. Cub. i. p. 273 ; Van der Hoeven 



