CHIMERA. FISHES. 391 



Gen. 21. CHIMERA, Cuv. 



Body elongated, compressed; snout conical ; one branchial open- 

 ing on each side of the neck ; tail terminated by a long fila- 

 ment; second dorsal fin commencing immediately behind the 

 first. 



C. monstrosa, Lin. Northern Chimsera. Body compressed laterally, 

 silvery white, marbled with brown ; head large, two broad incisors 



in each jaw. 3 to 4 feet long. Inhabits Northern Seas. B 



Shaw, v. pi. 157. 



Gen. 22. CALLORYNCHUS, Gronov. Chimcera, Lin. 

 Snout terminated by a fleshy protuberance resembling a hoe ; 

 second dorsal fin commencing over the ventrals, and ending 

 opposite the beginning of the fin under the tail. 



C. Australis, Cuv. Body silvery, tinged with yellowish brown above; 



fins pale brown. 3 to 4 feet long. Inhabits South Seas Shaw, 



pi. 158, 158*. 



ORDER III. STURIONES. 



Branchial openings much cleft, furnished with an operculum, 

 but without rays in the membrane ; branchiae free. 



Gen. 1. ACIPENSER, Lin. 



Body elongated, and furnished, as well as the head, with rows 

 of bony prominences ; mouth placed under the snout, cylin- 

 drical, retractile, and without teeth ; four cirri beneath the 

 snout. 



The fishes of this genus have the general form of the sharks ; but their body is 

 more or less covered with bony prominences in longitudinal rows. Their eyes and 

 nostrils are on the sides of the head, the dorsal fin behind the ventrals, and the anal 

 under it. Sturgeons ascend the rivers in the northern seas at certain seasons in vast 

 numbers, and in these rivers their fishery is of great importance. Their flesh is an 

 agreeable food ; caviar is prepared from the roe ; and the large swimming-bladder 

 affords the isinglass of commerce. 



A. Sturio, Lin. The Sturgeon. Body long, pentagonal, cinereous, 

 with dusky variegations, and covered with five rows of large bony 

 tubercles, one on the back and two on each side ; belly flat, whit- 

 ish ; pectoral fins oval ; dorsal fin near the tail ; tail bifurcated, 

 the upper lobe much longer than the under. 10 to 18 feet long. 

 Inhabits European seas. Shaw, v. pi. 159. 



A. Ruthemis, Lin. The Little Sturgeon. Body elongated, brown- 

 ish, the sides spotted with pale red ; three rows of bony plates 

 above ; the lateral ones carinated and numerous, and those of the 

 belly flat. 3 feet long. Inhabits the Danube and other rivers 

 which run into the Black and Caspian Sea. Shaw, v. pi. 160. 



A. huso, Lin. The Great Sturgeon. Body black above, white be- 



