CHONDROPTERY.GIOUS FISH. 



OF THE STUBGEONS IN GENERAL. 



ALL the species of Sturgeons are inhabitants of the sea, though 

 tome of them occasionally go up the wider rivers to spawn. They 

 are of large size, seldom measuring, when full-grown, less than three 

 or four feet in length The flesh of the whole is reckoned extremely 

 delicious; and to the inhabitants on the banks of the Caspian Sea, 

 and indeed of many other parts both of Europe and America, theste 

 fish are very useful as an article of commerce. Their usual food 10 

 worms and other fish. 



THE COMMON STUR&EOIC. 



The teadrils on the snout of the Sturgeon are three or four inches 



in length, and have so 

 great a resemblance in 

 form 1 to earth- worms,, 

 that at first sight, they 

 might be mistaken- for 

 such. This c 1 u m s y> 

 toothless fish, is sup- 

 posed, by this contri- 

 vance, to keep himself 

 fea good condition, the solidity of his fiesh evidently showing him to 

 be a fish of prey. He is said to hide his large body among the weetta 

 near the sea-coast, or at the mouths of large rivers, only exposing his 

 tendrils* Small fish or sea-insects, mistaking these for real worms, 

 approach in the hope of obtaining food, and are sucked into the 

 jaws of their enemy. The Sturgeon has been supposed by some 

 persons, to root into the mud at the bottom of the sea o$ rivers ; but 

 the tendrils above mentioned, which hang from his snout over his 

 mouth, must themselves be very inconvenient for this purpose ; 

 as he has no jaws, he evidently lives by suction, and, during his 

 residence in the sea, marine insects are generally found in his stomach. 

 At the approach of spring, Sturgeons leave the deep recesses of tl a 

 *ea, and enter the rivers to spawn ; and from May to July the Arneri* 

 caa rivers abo-uad with them. Here they are often observed to leap 

 to the height of several yards out of the water ; this they do in au 

 erect position, falling back again on their sides with such noise, as to 

 be heard in still evenings at a great distance. They have often bcea 

 known, at these times,, ta fall into, small boats, and sink them, 

 45G 



COMMON 8TU3UJEOM. 



