406 FISHES OF THE FIRTH UF FORTH. 



broad, slightly carinated, and, like those on the central ridge, not 

 hooked in the centre, as is observed in the sharp-nosed sturgeon. 

 From the tip of the snout to the commencement of the first free 

 shield on the dorsal ridge, one foot eight inches ; from the tip of 

 the nose to the orbit measures six inches ; the snout at the extremity, 

 three inches wide and one deep ; from the tip of the nose to 

 the mouthj six inches and a half ; the space between the eyes 

 measures five inches ; the cirri, which are four in number, are 

 placed two inches and a quarter from the tip of the snout. Mouth 

 two inches and a half wide ; the upper lip with three fleshy lobes ; 

 the under lip with two lobes ; summit of the head rough, with the 

 central plates beautifully radiated and of a fibrous appearance ; po- 

 sition of the fins the same as in other sturgeons. 



This fish differs from the common Sturgeon ( Acipenser 

 sturioj in having the tip of the snout much broader than 

 the mouth ; in the keels of the dorsal plates being but slight- 

 ly elevated ; and in having the cirri placed nearer the tip of 

 the snout than to the mouth. It was taken with a net in the 

 month of July near Alloa, and sent to the Edinburgh 

 market, where it received a sale of a shilling a pound. A 

 few weeks after another of nearly equal size was captured 

 in the Tay, which was also sent to the Edinburgh market, 

 and on close examination I was unable to discover any 

 characteristic differences between it and the one taken in 

 the Forth. 



This sturgeon I believe to have been hitherto an un- 

 described British species, nor have I as yet been able to 

 identify the fish in any of the works of continental authors, 

 therefore I have proposed, in the mean tune, tlie name 

 lalirostris, as characteristic of the species. 



In the stomach of the one from the Tay was found an 

 entire specimen of the sea mouse ( Aphrodita aculeuia. ) 



