FAMILY SAURIDA — LEPISOSTEUS. 273 
THE FLAT-NOSED BONY PIKE. 
LEPIsOSTEUS PLATYRHINCUS. 
PLATE XLIII. .FIG. 137. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 
Characteristics. Jaws broad, elongated. Breadth of the upper jaw at the rictus, to its length, 
as one to three. Scales smooth; dorsal series subcordate. Length 2 feet. 
Description. Body cylindrical, subfusiform, with smooth siliceous rhomboidal scales, arranged 
in fifty-two oblique series ; the scales on the sides convex on their posterior and inferior mar- 
gins, rather acutely pointed behind (see figure 2), the radical portion terminating in a sort of 
pedicel; the scales at the basis of all the fins elongated, acute. The lateral line descending 
from the upper angle of the opercle, thence straight ; its course indicated by short vertical 
slits on each scale. Head four-sided, flattened above ; the opercular bones forming a right 
angle beneath. The upper surface of the head and mandibles (see figure 1) broad, flattened, 
tubercular, with irregularly elevated and parallel lines and dots radiating in all directions. 
Jaws scarcely as long as the head, measured from the rictus to the posterior margin of the 
opercles. Upper jaw longest, with two sinuous furrows above ending in the posterior nares ; 
a transverse furrow from the anterior nares to its opposite ; from the centre of this line, a short 
furrow proceeds forward to the end of the jaw. Around the end of the jaw, a series of open 
pores. This jaw is enlarged at the extremity as in the preceding species, and is 0°4 longer 
than the inferior. ‘Teeth in both jaws, long, acute, distant, with smaller intermediate ones. 
In the palatine series, I observed a tooth of so remarkable a configuration, that I deemed it 
worthy of especial note (see figure 3). It was loosely attached, and may possibly be extra- 
neous. ‘The figure represents it of the natural size. 
Dorsal fin with seven aculeated rays, and eight bifid scales over its first ray. It arises 
opposite the penultimate ray of the anal, (this is wrongly given by the draftsman,) which it 
resembles in shape and size. Pectorals long and narrow. Ventrals midway between the 
pectorals and anal, with six rays and seven bifid scales. Anal with nine bifid scales. Caudal 
obliquely rounded, with fourteen or fifteen bifid scales on each external ray. 
Color. Greyish above, separated by the lateral line from the soiled white or yellowish 
beneath. 
Length, 25°0; of head and jaws, 4°4. 
Bingrayss: Dis P. VOR) Via6r, AN Sis, Cale. 
This species is found in Florida and the western rivers, and will probably be found in some 
of their sources within this State. 
We have another species within this State, which, however, I have not seen. It may be 
the longirostris hereafter mentioned. 
Fauna — Parr 4. 35 
