140 ICHTHYOLOGIA OHIENSIS 



large. Tail not obliqual. All the fins with rays. 



A very singular genus, which comes very near to 

 the last subgenus ; but differs by the snout, mouth, 

 tail, scales, &c. It must belong however to the 

 same family. The name means Stony scales. 



91st Species. Devil- Jack Diamond-fish. Litho- 

 lepis adamantinus. Litholepe adamantin. 



Snout obtuse as long as the head ; head one fourth 

 of total length ; body fusiform blackish : dorsal and 

 anal fins equal and with many rays: tail bilobed, 

 lateral line obsolete. 



Litholepis adamantinus. Raf . in American Monthly 

 Magazine, 18 18, Vol. 3, p. 447, and in Journal de 

 Physique et Hist. Nat. 70 N. G. d'Animaux, G. 20. 



This may be reckoned the wonder of the Ohio. 

 It is only found as far up as the falls, and probably 

 lives also in the Mississippi. I have seen it, but 

 only at a distance, and have been shown some of its 

 singular scales. Wonderful stories are related con- 

 cerning this fish, but I have principally relied upon 

 [III. 173] the description and figure given me by Mr. 

 Audubon. Its length is from 4 to 10 feet. One was 

 caught which weighed 40olbs. It lies sometimes 

 asleep or motionless on the surface of the water, and 

 may be mistaken for a log or a snag. It is \yf\ 

 impossible to take it in any other way than with the 

 seine or a very strong hook, the prongs of the gig 

 cannot pierce the scales, which are as hard as flint, 

 and also proof against lead balls! Its flesh is not 

 good to eat. It is a voracious fish. Its vulgar names 

 are Diamond-fish, (owing to its scales being cut like 

 diamonds,) Devil-fish, Jack-fish, Gar-jack, Devil-jack, 

 &c. The snout is large, convex above, very obtuse, 

 the eyes small and black, nostrils small round before 



