300 Notes on tlie 



During the spring a crest is developed upon the back of the 

 male, between the nape and the dorsal fin; a similar crest is 

 developed upon the ventral surface of the female, between the 

 vent and the caudal fin. 



The crest on the male was first noticed by Dr. B. G-. Wilder, 

 in 1875, and was then considered ^to ^be characteristic of the 

 males of Cayuga Lake, and made the basis of a new species. 



The crest has since been found characteristic of specimens 

 from the Atlantic slope. It is said by Seeley to be a feature of 

 European specimens, during the breeding season. The crest is 

 seasonal and sexual, and, so far as I know, is characteristic of 

 this species only. Daring other seasons of the year, the differ- 

 ence between the sexes of this fish is not easily, if at all, recog- 

 nizable. 



Family II. ACIPF.NSERIDiC:. 



3. ACIPENSER JEtUBlCUNDUS* liC Sueur. 



(Sturgeon.) 

 A.. 345. B.,|87. C, 13. 



A large specimen of this species, now in the museum of Cor- 

 nell University, is reported as being from Cayuga Lake. 



Mr. Seth Green informs me that sturgeons ^have occasionally 

 been taken in Cayuga Lake; but, so far as he knows, they have 

 never been found in any other of the small lakes of Central !N'ew 

 York. 



I copy the following extract from a letter of recent date from 

 Mr. H. V. Kipp, Montezuma, JST. Y. : 



^ ^ There have not been any sturgeons taken from Cayuga Lake 

 since 1880, but quite a number before that date, and the largest 

 known weighed thirty-five pounds." 



Family III. L,EPIDOSTEIDiE. 

 4. liEPIDOSTEUS OSSEUS I^innaens. 



[(Gar-pike: Bill-fish.) 

 A., 342. B., 91. C, 13. 



Occasionally taken from the northern end of the Lake. Not 

 as numerous as they used to be (Kipp). 



