. CXV. 345 



* Rows of bony bucklers distinct throughout; spiracles present; 



snout rather narrow, sub-conical. . . ACIPEXSEH, 1. 



** Rows of bony bucklers confluent behind, entirely surround- 



ing the depressed tail ; no spiracles ; snout flattened, rather 



broad, shovel-shaped. . . . SCAPHIRHYNCHOPS, 2. 



/. ACIPENSER, Linnaeus. STURGEONS. 



* Marine species ascending rivers; lateral shields 22 to 32. 



1. A. sturio, L. COMMON SEA STURGEON. SHARP- 

 NOSED STURGEON. Snout pointed, half the length of 

 head; dorsal shields 11 to 13; lateral shields 26 to 31; 

 D. 37 to 44 rays. Atlantic Ocean S. to Africa and West 

 Indies. (A. oxyrhynchus, Mit., the American form.) 



2. A. brevirostris, LeSueur. BLUNT-NOSED STURGEON. 

 Snout blunt, one-quarter length of head; dorsal shields 

 8 to 10; lateral shields 22 to 28; abdominal 8 to 10; D. 

 30 rays; skin with minute scattered prickles and stellate 

 ossifications. Cape Cod to Fla. 



** Species of fresh water; lateral shields 33 to 38. 



3. A. maculosus, LeSueur. ROCK STURGEON. BONY 

 STURGEON. Snout pointed, nearly as long as rest of 

 head; head 3 in length of body; bony shields large, 

 close together, 13 to 16 in front of dorsal, 33 to 38 on 

 sides, 9 or 10 on abdomen, all of them rough and strongly 

 radiated, with more or less hooked or incurved tips; skin 

 rough; D. 37 to 45. Great Lakes (?), Ohio R. and south- 

 ward. 



4. A. rubicundus, LeSueur. RED STURGEON. LAKE 

 STURGEON. Head 4^- in length; eye 10 in head, nearly 

 midway; dorsal scutes 16 (to base of D), relatively small 

 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 



