ACIPENSER STELLATUS. 135 



ACIPENSER STELLATUS.— Stellated Sturgeon. 



Spec. Char. Body dusky brown, spotted with white on 

 the lower part of the sides ; abdomen white ; snout 

 somewhat spathulate, recurved ; cirri near the mouth; 

 lips entire. 



Acipenscr Kostar; Gmelin, II. iii. p. 23S ; Acipcnscr slellatus s St/at. Nat .Gmelin, 

 Up. 1486. 



Closely allied to the Sterlet, but distinguished from it by its 

 more slender form, its longer fins, its subtetragonal head, and by 

 having the sides marked with white spots. It is found in the Cas- 

 pian sea, from which it migrates in large shoals into the rivers, and 

 it is also common in the Danube. Length from four to five 

 feet. 



