46 



geological system, attained theii' maximum in Mesozoic times. Hugli 



Miller in his lectures on geology says, "It would almost seem as if the 



lepidosteus had been spared amid the wreck of genera and species, to 



serve as a key by which to unlock the marvels of the icthyology of those 



remote periods of geological histoiy appropriated to the dynasty of jBsh." 



The manner of seizing their prey differs from that usually observed in 



fishes and resembles tliat of reptiles ; instead of taking their food at once 



■with open mouth, they hold it crossways until by a series of 



movements it is placed in a proper position for being swallowed 



in the manner of alligators and lizards. The ball of food is also 



seen to distend the body as in snakes. The vertebral column 



of this fish is more perfectly ossified than in any other existing 



species, and the vertebrae are remarkable as being opistkoccelian 



in type, i.e., hollow behind and convex in front. Its scales are thick, 



smooth and firmly attached to each other by their upper and lower 



margins, and of a stony hardness, in fact a perfect coat of mail so thick 



as to be impregnable to the spear. The jaws are much elongated like the 



snout of an alligator or a porpoise, and both are furnished internally with 



rasp-like teeth, and a row of long pointed teeth along their edges. The 



jaws are hinged together similar to those of the" alligator, with the ball 



and socket jointure. It is a formidable fish and very destructive in its 



habits. The fishermen when they haul it in with their nets invariably 



kill it and throw it away. In the young of this species the lateral 



line is strongly marked and a curious protuberance is visible at the end 



of the snout. These peculiaiities have caused it to be described as a 



distinct species (Z. Lineaius), but this is an erroi-. The gar fish was 



noticed by Charlevoix, who says they not only prey upon fish, but also 



birds, and he thus describes their mode of capturing them. I give his own 



description as translated : " Concealing itself among the reeds growing 



in the marshy border of a lake or river, he thrusts his bill out of water 



in an upright position. A bird wanting a rest takes this for a broken 



bough or reed and perches upon it, the fish then opens its mouth and 



makes such a sudden spring that the bird seldom escapes." The same 



Avriter also assures us that the Indians regarded the teeth of this fish 



as a sovereign remedy for the headache, and that pricking with them 



where the pain was sharpest, took it instantly away. 



