312 FISHES. 



and rather distant; lateral scutes 35; ventral scutes 9; 

 snout rather blunt, becoming more so with age, rather 

 shorter than rest of head; barbels nearer to end of snout 

 than to eye; scutes relatively smaller, smoother and less 

 crowded than in the preceding; blackish, sides paler or 

 reddish; length 2 to 6 feet; D. 37. Great Lakes and 

 Western Rivers. 



2. SCAPHIRHYNCHUS, Hajckel. SHOVEL- NOSED STUR 

 GEONS. 



1. S. platyrhynchus, (Raf.) Grd. SHOVEL-NOSED STUR 

 GEON. Tail wider than deep, extending beyond caudal 

 rays and ending in a filament; snout nearly the form of 

 a spade; whole body rough with small prickles; dorsal 

 shields 15 or 16; lateral shields 40 to 46; abdominal 10 

 to 13; all the shields rough and strongly carinated, the 

 keel ending behind in a spine which points backward; 

 size large. Mississippi Valley. 



