117 



CEPEDIAN PIKE. 



Esox Cepedianus. E. sqmmis quadratis osseis, rostro longOf 



maxiU'is spafulcefonnibus. 

 Pike with square bony scales, long snout, and spatule-shaped 



jaws. 



Lepisosteus Spatula. Cepede. 5, p. 331. pi. 6.f. 2. 



Similar to the preceding species in general ap- 

 pearance, bony scales, kc. but with the head more 

 compressed, flattened, and radiated with large bony- 

 divisions : the sides of the upper jaw, which is a 

 trifle longer than the lower, are divided into four 

 or five radiated bony plates, and about the eyes are 

 several smaller divisions : the gill-covers are com- 

 posed, as in the former species, of three plat^ ^^nt 

 the principal difference consists in the forr ^» a 

 snout, which is not so long in proportion, is u .ed 

 towards the tip into the form of a spatula, and is 

 beset on each side with short, unequal, and crooked 

 teeth, besides which the upper jaw is famished wit h 

 another row of longer and sharper ones, at unequal 

 distances : the palate is also beset with several 

 small teeth : the fins, in their form and situation, 

 perfectly resem_ble those of the preceding species, 

 but differ in the number of their rays ; the dorsal 

 having eleven, and the anal nine, whereas in the 

 former species both the dorsal and anal have nine 

 only. Native of the American seas and rivers 

 Described by Cepede. 



