CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 669 



" This species is met with in the Delaware in proportion to 

 the other, at about five to one. It never is taken of as large a 

 size. As an article of food it is equally good." 



Section HOLOSTEI. 

 Order GINGLYMODI. 



Family LEPIDOSTEID^. 



Oar Pikes. 



Tail heterocercal ; body covered with rhombic plates, imbricated in 

 oblique series running downward and backward ; jaws beak-like, the 

 upper the longer ; maxillary bones divided into several ; lower jaw 

 of several pieces ; mouth armed with series of small and of large 

 teeth, the latter set in a groove and having pulp cavities ; no 

 spiracles ; pseudobranchiae, four gills and an additional slit present ; 

 air-bladder lung-like, with a glottis ; dorsal fin nearly opposite anal. 



LBPIDOSTBUS, Lac 



L. osseus, L. {huronensis, oxyuris.) Common Gar Pike. Billiish. 



Long-nosed Gar. Bony Gar. 



Only one row of large, several rows of small teeth ; snout 

 slender, more than twice length of head; olivaceous, pale silvery 

 below ; posterior part of body with round black spots ; a black 

 lateral band in very young. Length, 2 to 5 feet. 



" This, the largest of the river fish found in the State, with 

 the exception of the sturgeon, is not abundant in any of the 

 streams, but appears to be more numerous in the Delaware River 

 than elsewhere within State limits. It remains in the river 

 probably throughout the year, and during the summer secretes 

 itself in the patches of tape-grass that grow on the bottom of the 

 stream, and from it dart out ever and anon, to seize some one of 

 the many mammoth chubs that are ever moving abo'Ut. 



" The young of this species are beautifully spotted, with round 

 markings of a dark brown, and until over two feet in length. 



