27. LEPIDOSTEID^ LEPIDOSTEUS. 91 



small, sliai'i), even teeth, then the series of large teeth, some of the 

 anterior teeth being usually movable. Next comes a series of fine 

 teeth, in one row in front, becoming a band behind. Then the vom- 

 erine teeth also in a long band, and posteriorly outside of the vomerine 

 band a palatine band. These bands on the roof of the mouth are fre- 

 quently somewhat confluent or irregular. In young specimens some 

 of the i)alatine teeth are often enlarged, sometimes forming a regular 

 series. Lower jaw with an outer series of small teeth, then a series of 

 large teeth, then a broad band of fine teeth on each side. No teeth on 

 tongue. Each of the large teeth fitting into a depression in the oj)- 

 posite jaw. Waters of the United States. (/;-k, scale; oVr^ov, bone.) 



* Beak long and slender ; the snout more than twice the length of the rest of the 

 head. (Lepidosteus. ) 



80. Ij. OSSeus (L.) Agassiz. — Lonj-nosed Gar; BiU-Jhh ; Common Gar Pike. 

 Olivaceous, pale and somewhat silvery below. Vertical tins and pos- 

 terior i)art of the bod3' with round black spots, which are more distinct 

 in the young. Very young with a blackish lateral band. Snout a little 

 more than twice the length of the rest of the head, its length 15-20 

 times its least width. Head 3 in length ; dejith 12. D. 8 ; A. 9. ; V. 

 6 ; P. 10 ; Lat. 1. about G2. L. about 5 feet. Great Lakes and rivers 

 of the United States from Vermont to the Eio Grande ; generally abun- 

 dant.* 



{Esox osseus Linn. Syst. Nat. : Lepisosteus oxyurus Raf. Ichth. Oh. 73 : Lepisosteus huron- 

 etisis Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. iii, 2'M ; Giinther, viii, 330.) 



** Beak shorter and broader, little longer than the rest of the head. {Cylindro8teu8\ 

 Rafinesque. ) 



81. lA platystossius Raf. — Short-nosed Gar. 



Colors of L. osseus or rather darker. Snout usually about one-third 

 longer than the rest of the head, sometimes about equal to it, its length 

 5-6 times its least width. Head 3J in length ; depth 8. D. 8 ; A. 8 ; 

 V. 6 ; Lat. 1. about 5G. L. 2-3 feet. Great Lakes antl southern and 

 western rivers, with the x)recediug, but less abundant northward. 



{Lepisosteus Xilatostomna Raliuesque, Ichth. Oh. 72; Giinther, viii, 329.) 



"M. Augusto Dnm^ril (Hist. Nat. Poiss.) divides this species, as represented iu th© 

 Museum at Paris, into seventeen, which are distinguished by trifling differences in pro- 

 portions and numbers of scales. It is seldom safe to found either a species or a genus 

 of iishes on differences iu proportions alone. 



t Rafinesque, Ichth. Oh. 1820, 72 : type Lepisosieua platoatomus Raf. {Kvlivipog, cylin- 

 der; uGTEov, bone.) 



