162 TELEOSTOMES 
parenthetically (Fig. 165 A) be inserted; it is of especial 
interest as suggesting an approximation of the type of the 
modern sturgeon to that of the Palzoniscoid ; its snout is 
shorter than in Acipenser ; its jaws larger, and apparently 
less protrusible; its dermal plates of the head region, 
including the branchiostegals, are clearly of the ancient _ 
pattern, and the fins, fin supports, and vertebral characters, 
Fig. 166.— The shovel-nose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platyrhynchus (Raf.), 
Gill. xX}. Mississippi basin. (After GOODE in U. S. F. C.) 
together with the general small size of the fish, suggest 
intermediate conditions. 
Of the remaining sturgeons, the shovel-nose, Scaphi- 
rhynchus (Fig. 166), of the Mississippi and of Central Asia, 
seems to possess the closest relations to Acipenser; 
although it is apparently a more modified form, on account 
of its elongate body shape and flattened snout, it still 
retains many interesting and archaic features. Among 
Fig. 166 A. —Psephurus gladius,Giin. x 3. Rivers of China, (After GUNTHER.) 
= 
these it includes the most complete dermal armouring of 
recent forms, its hinder body region being entirely encased. — a 
Psephurus (Fig. 166 A), of the Chinese rivers, and Poly 
odon, or Spatularia (Fig. 165 4), of the Mississippi, are 
the other forms of living sturgeons. Their greatly elon- 
gate snouts, giving them the popular names of Spoonbills, 
Paddle-fish, Spear-fish, are among the most remarkable 
