iis LV). 8) UR GE Ou. 99 
the Yaik and Volga. * Icthyocolla, or ifing-glafs, is 
alfo made of the found of our fifh, as well as that 
of the others, but the Beluga affords the beft**. 
The fturgeon grows to a great fize, to the length 
of eighteen feet, and to the weight of five hundred 
pounds, but it is feldom taken in our rivers of that 
bulk. The largeft we have known caught in thofe 
of Great Britain weighed four hundred and fixty 
pounds, which was taken about two years ago in the 
Efe, where they are more frequently found than in 
our fouthern waters. 
Defcr. 
The nofe is very long, flender, and ends ina 
point, The eyes are extremely fmall; the noftrils 
placed near them: on the lower part of the nofe are 
four cirri or beards: the mouth is fituated far be- 
neath, is {mall, and unfupported by any jaw bones ; 
neither has it any teeth. } 
The body is long, pentagonal, and covered with 
five rows of large bony tubercles: one row of 
which is placed on the back, and two on each fide. 
The whole under fide of the fifh, from the end of 
* PLil. Tranf. \vii. 354. a very fmall quantity is;made from 
this fpecies, and that only defigned as prefents to great men, 
as Mr. For/fer affured me. 
** The antients were acquainted with the fifh that afforded 
this drug. Pliny lib xxxii. c. 7. mentions it under the name of 
Icthyocolla, and fays, that the glue that was produced from it had 
the fame title ; and afterwards adds, that it was made out of 
the belly of the fith. The Mario, faid by Pliny lid. 1x. c. 15. to 
be found in the Danude and the Bory/thenes, was certainly of this 
genus, a cartilaginous fifth (nullis ofibus /pinifve jnterfitis) refem- 
bling afmall porpefle (Porculo marino fimillimus ;) and very pro- 
bably may be the fame with the Beluga, which, according to 
Mr. Forffer, Phil. Tranf. \vii. 354. has a short blunt nofe, agree- 
ing in that refpect with the porpeffe. 
the 
