OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 65 



IV. 



THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEPIDOSTEUS. 

 By Alexander Agassiz. 



Presented Oct. 8, 1878. 



PART I. 



It has been my good fortune this spring to succeed in hatching 

 Lepidosteus from the egg, and in raising the young until they showed 

 externally, at least, the principal structural features of the adult. 



Like many other American naturalists, I had for many years been 

 on the lookout for the breeding-places of our Lepidosteus and Amia ; 

 but although it was generally known that dui'ing the last part of May 

 they appeared in large numbers in the Potomac, as well as in many 

 Western rivers, and also in parts of the great lakes, no one had been 

 fortunate enough to catch these fish while spawning. It was there- 

 fore with great expectations that I sent Mr. S. W. Garman to Ogdens- 

 burgh, N. Y., when Mr. S. S. Blodgett informed me that the garpike 

 usually appeared on the 20th of May for the purpose of spawning. 

 Mr. Blodgett did all in his power to make the expedition a success ; 

 and he has not only my thanks, but will have those of all naturalists, 

 for the aid he has given so effectually in obtaining this ichthyological 

 prize. 



The following notes by Mr. Garman describe the method of 

 spawning : — 



" Black Lake is well stocked with bill fish. When they appear, 

 they are said to come in countless numbers. This is only for a few 

 days in the spring, in the spawning season, between the loth of May 

 and the 8th of June. During the balance of the season, they are 

 seldom seen. They remain in the deeper parts of the lake, away from 

 the shore, and, probably, are more or less nocturnal in habits. Out 

 of season, an occasional one is caught on a hook baited with a minnow. 

 Commencing with the 20th of April, until the 14th of May we were 

 unable to find the fish, or to find persons who had seen them during 

 vol. xiv. (n. s. vi.) 5 



