7S LECTURE VIIL 



fishes, and produce their young enclosed in ob- 

 long cartilaginous square sheaths, each corner of 

 which runs out into the form of a lengthened and 

 convoluted tendril. 



The Sturgeons which I shall next mention, 

 form a genus called Accipenser, and have a long 

 body, covered above with rows of large bony tu- 

 bercles ; a lengthened, obtuse snout, furnished 

 with four tendrils or beards ; and a mouth placed 

 entirely beneath, perfectly destitute of teeth, and 

 only capable of closing by means of a strong 

 cartilaginous edge or border. The Common Stur- 

 geon grows to the length of eighteen or twenty 

 feet, and is of a pale olive-brown above and white 

 beneath. It is a sea fish, but frequents the 

 mouths of large rivers during the early part of 

 summer in order to deposit its spawn. It has 

 been often celebrated as an excellent fish for the 

 table, and was held in high esteem among the 

 ancient Romans. From the roe or spawn pro- 

 perly pressed and salted is prepared the substance 

 called Caviare. The fish called the Isinglass Stur- 

 geon is of still larger size than the common one, 

 and is the A. Huso of Linnceus : it is of a dusky 

 blue colour above, and white or reddish white be- 



