1818.) NEW SPECIES OF FISHES. 229 



These rows defend a broad membranous expansion, that 

 accompanies the interior contour of each arc, between 

 the bristles, the base of the membranes bein£^ furnished 

 with small and very compact cartilaginous laminae, and 

 behind the arcs is a branchiferous membrane, to support 

 the pectinated structure, with free extremities. The 

 shoulder bones are covered with trifid papillce, which re- 

 semble a small insect. 



Fins very like those of the sturgeon, rays bony, arti- 

 culate and divided, the first usually strong, at the upper 

 part of the tail they are very strong. The inferior rays 

 have a long articulation. 



Tail large, notched^ with pointed lobes. 



The lateral line commences on the head, branches to- 

 wards the eyes, towards the sides in front of the pra^ oper- 

 culum, across the neck, extends on each side of the 

 back, beginning to decline a little in front of the dorsal 

 fin, and terminates at the tail. In its whole length are to 

 be seen minute ramifications, straight and curved more 

 or less distant from each other. 



Colour, This cannot be strictly given from a dried 

 specimen, but on a comparison with several dried sturge- 

 ons; the present species seems to be of an olive red. 



Length from the end of the snout to that of the tail 

 three feet ten inches. Snout from its extremity to the 

 eyes twelve inches long, and three inches wide. 



P. 26.— D. S^.—Y. 40 a 50.— A. 56.— C. ^X. 



The above description was made from -two individu- 

 als taken in the Ohio, one in the cabinet of the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences, presented by Mr. Samuel Hazard, a 

 member, the other in Peak's museum, bearing this in- 



