FAMILY SAURID-C — LEPISOSTEUS. 271 



FAMILY SAURIDJE. 



Body covered with scales of a stony Imrdnrss, irhich arc extended into imhricated spines 

 upon tlic first rays of all the fins. In some genera, dorsal finlels, each supported by a 

 strong spine. 



Obs. The fislies composing litis group arc so obviously distinct from all others of the family 

 Clupid.e, with which they arc arranged, that I have been in a measure compelled to treat of 

 them separately. Their situation even among the soft-rayed fishes scarcely appears to be 

 natural. To avoid the introduction of a new name, I make use of that already employed by 

 Agassiz, and which also comprises the Polyptcrus of the Nile. I have not had an opportu- 

 nity of referring to his description, and have framed the characters with reference both to the 

 American and Egyptian genera. To this family may be referred many of the American 

 fossil genera of fishes, which are included by Agassiz under the name of Ganoidci. 



GENUS LEPISOSTEUS. Lacepede. 



Snout formed hy the union of the intermaxillaries, maxillaries and palatines, with the vomer 

 and ethmoid, and much elongated. Jaivs sligluli/ nnequal ; both furnished, over their whole 

 internal surface with rasp-like teeth, and a row of long and pointed teeth along their edges. 

 Dorsal and, anal opposite and far hack. Air-hladdcr celhdur, as in Amia. 



Obs. This species is peculiar to the rivers and lakes of America. When more thoroughly 

 investigated, it will doubtless admit of subdivisions ; but it will be requisite to make such 

 divisions after an attentive study of the characters on the fishes themselves, and not (as has 

 been done) from an inspection of drawings, which were niaae by persons not even versed in 

 the department of Ichthyology. 



THE BUFFALO BONY PIKE. 



LEPISOSTEUS EISON. 



ri.ATE XLIIl. FIG. 133. 



Esox nsseus, Bnny-scalcd Pike. RhTCHII.L, Tr;ins. Lit. anil IMiil. .Soc. Vol. I, p. .M4. 

 Boni/scaUd Pike, E. osacus. Id. Am. Month. -M:)^'. \o\. 'J, p. j-1. 



Characteristics. Scales smooth. With narrow elongated jaws, and a broad dusky band on the 

 side. Breadth of the upper jaw at the rictus, to its length, as one to six. 

 Length one to three feet. 



Description. 15ody clongatc<l, cylindrical, compressed towards the tail. Scales arranged 

 in obH(|Uc scries, of which there arc sixty-fuiir IViim the branchial aperture to the tail. The 

 scales arc smooth, thick, rhomboidal, terminating on the caudal fin m an obli(iue line, which 



