A C C I P I T R E S. 



maxillary bones of the sturgeons, while the under 

 jaw of the sharks is articulated by a single tubercle 

 This particular form of articulation, 

 however, enables the jaws of the 

 shark to act with much more power 

 than those of the sturgeons or in- 

 deed of almost any other fish, as be- 

 sides the motion of closing they have 

 a lateral grinding one, and also sepa- 

 rate motions of the teeth. The lower 

 jaw of the sturgeon is furnished with 

 a sort of beard of soft fibres. The 

 eyes and nostrils are placed laterally 

 and wide from each other. There 

 are no external ears, but the laby- 

 rinth of the ear is much better g 

 formed within the bones of the era- v 

 nium than in the bony fishes ; though 

 there is not an external opening of 2 

 the ear, as in the cartilaginous fishes 

 that have the gills fixed. There is 

 indeed a small hole behind the 

 temple, but it does not lead to the 

 labyrinth of the ear. The dorsal fin 

 is placed behind the ventrals, and 

 the anal fin under it. The caudal 

 fin surrounds the extremity of the 

 tail, but is not much produced, ex- 

 cept in a lobe on the under part. 

 The air-bag is very large, and com- 

 municates with the gullet by an 

 aperture of considerable magnitude. 



Fishes of this genus are mostly large, and inhabit 

 the great rivers and shores of the temperate latitudes 

 rather than either the torrid or the cold. In Britain 

 they are rare, and they are not very common on the 

 west coast of Europe, or in the rivers which empty 

 themselves into the seas there. In the east of Europe 

 and west of Asia they are much more numerous. 

 The flesh of some of them is highly prized, and more 

 ables meat than fish, both in texture and in 

 flavour ; that of others is unpleasant, and in some 

 instances unwholesome. The fish, and especially 

 their roes, which in a prepared state are called 

 rf/riar, form an important article in eastern com- 

 merce, the more so that the species which are most 



'ied are found in the more northerly rivers. 

 The whole body of the sturgeon is very gelatinous ; 

 and the air-bag, when freed from fat and oil, is the 

 purest gelatine and therefore the best jelly or glue 

 that is obtained in the animal kingdom. It forms the 

 genuine isinglass of commerce. The same substance 

 may, however, be obtained from the fins and other 

 refuse, and indeed from the refuse of any fish ; and 

 there is as much of that description of matter not only 

 wasted, but wasted in such a way as to be very offen- 

 sive, at our fishing villages, and many of our fish- 

 markets, as would supply all the arts abundantly with 

 that very useful, and in the culinary art very wholesome 

 article. There are four European species. 



1. The great sturgeon (Accipe riser huso), common 

 in the Danube, the Po, and some other large rivers of 

 south-eastern Europe, and occasionally found in the 

 Atlantic. It has the skin smooth, the plates flattened, 

 and the filaments that form the head short. It is a 

 very large fish, twelve to fifteen feet in length, and 

 weighing from two to three hundred weight. Cuvier 

 mentions that specimens nearly 3000 pounds in weight 

 have been seen. Indeed, as these cartilaginous fishes 



do not appear ever to " get old," or to cease from 

 growing, it is not possible to fix the maximum dimen- 

 sions which they shall not exceed. This species is 

 neither palatable nor wholesome. 



2. The Sc/icrg sturgeon (Accipcnscr pelops) is much 

 smaller, being seldom above four feet in length. It 

 has the osseous plates more produced into spines than 

 any of the others, and the muzzle longer in proportion 

 and more slender. It is very abundant in many of 

 the Russian and German rivers, but its flesh is little 

 esteemed or sought after. 



3. The little sturgeon (Accipenser ruthcnus) is the 

 smallest European species, seldom measuring more 

 than two feet in length ; but it is the most highly 

 prized of the order, and both the flesh and the roe are 

 accounted delicate food ; the plates on it are very 

 numerous, they are keeled on the sides, but flat toward 

 the belly. 



4. The common sturgeon (Accipenscr stitrio) grows 

 to the length of six or seven feet. The plates 

 are arranged in five longitudinal rows upon each side, 

 very firm in their structure, and sharp and spiny at 

 their points; the muzzle also is pointed, and the fila- 

 ments of the head are longer than in any of the other 

 European species. This is the species which is best 

 known in domestic economy. 



Several species have been mentioned as inhabiting 

 the larger rivers of North America ; but our acquaint- 

 ance with them is still very incomplete. For an account 

 of these fishes as articles of commerce, as well as for 

 any further light that may, in the interim, be thrown 

 upon their history, we must refer to the article 

 STURGEON. 



ACCIPITRES (Takers by Force). RAPACIOUS 

 BIRDS, OR BIRDS OF PREY. A numerous and highly 

 interesting order of birds, displaying the peculiar 

 characters of the class in the very highest perfection, 

 and forming one of the grandest features of animated 

 nature. Their general habit is to feed upon warm- 

 blooded animals, which they overtake by speed of 

 flight and kill by strength ; and some^of the most bold 

 and daring of them subsist wholly upon this species of 

 food, and will suffer the greatest extreme of hunger 

 before they partake of any other. Some, however, 

 Peed more upon carrion and offal ; others 'upon fish, 

 reptiles ; and some occasionally upon insects. The 

 characters and the haunts of the different species 

 vary with the nature of their food, and the manner 

 which that food is obtained. But though 

 they are thus different, and their appearance and 

 conduct strike us as being in some species sub- 

 ime, and in others the reverse, they are all so admi- 

 rably adapted to their peculiar modes of life, that it is 

 impossible to say which affords the finest instance of 

 that wonderful coincidence between purpose to be 

 obtained and means of obtaining that purpose, of 

 which creation is so very full, and the contemplation of 

 which is calculated to inspire us with so much vene- 

 ration for the great Author of nature, and at the same 

 ime to afford us models in all our useful arts, which 

 our utmost skill can never excel. 



In this order of birds we have the perfect model of 

 strength combined with swiftness ; and also of power 

 and energy, when in action, united with calmness and 

 epose when that action ceases to be necessary. The 

 )irds are preyers, but they have their appointed prey ; 

 and though, of course, they have no design in the 

 matter, they exist for the preservation of the very 

 aces upon the surplus of which they feed. The 



