70 



the largest lie toward* the end, and have many small onc« be- 

 tween them: they are however all of the same structure, im- 

 planted in sockets and conical, base grey, striated and hollow, 

 •■.op white smooth, curved and very sharp. The longest meas- 

 ure one and a ball' inch, and are three quarters of an inch thick 

 at the base. The diameter of the body is nearly one sixth of 

 ihe total length. The anal and dorsal fins arc small and with 

 ibw ray*. It is celled the Alligator fish or Alligator gar, and 

 by the Louisianians Pgisson Cayman. The scales are large, 

 convex, aid rhomboidal. 



XXiJw Genus. Diamond Fisii. Litholepis. Litholepe. 

 Body fusiform, covered with hard stony pcntaedral scaler,,' 

 vent nearly raedjul, Abdominal fin near the vent. One dorsal 

 fin opposite to the anal. TToad bony scaleless protruded anteri- 

 orly in u long suout, mouth beneath the head, jaws not elonga- 

 ted, with strong unequal teeth. Opening of the gills very large. 

 Tdiiiict ebliqual. All the fins with rays. 



A very singular genus, which comes very near to the last sub- 

 genus; but differs by the snout) mouth, tail, scales, &c. It 

 must belong however to the same family. The name means 

 Slony scales. 



9ii;t opecies. Deviju-Jaok BiA.v.GND-FisH. Litholejiis ad- 

 mmantiiius. Litholepe adamanlm. ■ 



Snout obtuse as long as the head; head one fourth of total 

 icuglhi body fusiform blackish: dorsal and anal fm$ equal and 

 with many rays: tail biieb„d, later:! line obsolete. 



Lltholt^ns udapiantinua. Raf. in American Monthly Mag- 

 azine, 18 is. Vol. 3, p. 447, and in Jojtrnalde Physique et Hist. 

 J>'aJ, 70 Al G, d'Jnimauxj C. CO. 



TUU may bo reckoned the wonder of the Ohio. It is only 

 .fo. nd as. far up as the ialls, and probably lives also in the Mis- 

 SLS-appi, I have seen it, but only at a distance, and have been 

 shown some of lis singular scales. Wonderful stories arc rc- 

 l_ied concerning this lish, but I have principally Jclied upon 

 -the description and figure gi v en me by Mr. Audubon. Its 

 luujjlh is from 4 iq 10 feet. One was oaught which weighed 

 40oibs. It lies sv\iuetiin,es %&iecp or motionless en the surface 

 pfahe v itler, uu.d;u.y be njialakcn hr a log or a.snag. It is. 



