117 



CEPEDIAN PIKE. 



Esox Cepedianus. E. squatws quadrat is osseis, rostro lo?igo, 



maxillis spatulceformibus. 

 Pike with square bony scales, long snout, and spatule- shaped 



jaws. 

 Lepisosteus Spatula. Ccpedc. 5. p. 331. pi. 6.f. 2. 



SIMILAR to the preceding species in general ap- 

 pearance, bony scales, &c. but with the head more 

 compressed, flattened, and radiated with large bony 

 divisions : the sides of the upper jaw, which is a 

 trifle longer than the lower, are divided into four 

 or five radiated bony plates, and about the eyes are 

 several smaller divisions : the gill-covers are com- 

 posed, as in the former species, of three plates, but 

 the principal difference consists in the form of the 

 snout, which is not so long in proportion, is dilated 

 towards the tip into the form of a spatula, and is 

 beset on each side with short, unequal, and crooked 

 teeth, besides which the upper jaw is furnished with 

 another row of longer and sharper ones, at unequal 

 distances : the palate is also beset with several 

 small teeth : the fins, in their form and situation, 

 perfectly resemble those of the preceding species, 

 but differ in the number of their rays ; the dorsal 

 having eleven, and the anal nine, whereas in the 

 former species both the dorsal and anal have nine 

 only. Native of the American seas and rivers 

 Described by Cepede. 



