1060 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
ing youth is about 55 % a , in old specimens about 63— 
65 % of that of the pectoral tins. At the base of the 
anterior margin are set two short and thick supporting 
rays, similar to fulcra, and the following 6 or 7 simple 
rays gradually increase in length out to the tip of the tin. 
Both in form and structure the ventral tins are thus not 
unlike the vertical. The preabdominal length measures 
about 33 — 37 %, the postabdominal about 12%, of the 
length of the body. The latter (the distance between 
the anterior margins of the ventral and anal fins) is, 
however, not fully entitled to the above name, for the 
vent lies rather far in front of the beginning of the 
anal tin, the distance between them being 5 — 7 % of 
the length of the body. 
The coloration of the Sturgeon is simple, its salient 
features calling to mind that of the Codfishes 6 . The dor- 
sal side is of a reddish or bluish gray, gradually paling- 
down the sides of the body, though a distinct boundary- 
line, about half-way between the plates of the lateral 
lines and those of the ventral margins, divides this colour 
from that of the belly, which has a bluish tinge above, 
sometimes with a silvery lustre, and below is pure white. 
Above the ventral tins, however, runs a broad stripe, in 
an obliquely forward direction, joining the bases of these 
tins to the dorsal coloration. In young Sturgeons Kro- 
ner found, “between the plate-rows of the dorsal and 
lateral lines, blackish spots, giving this part a chequered 
appearance”. The outer parts of the tins are of a more 
or less pronounced ash-gray, becoming paler towards 
their bases. The pectoral tins are darkest, but share, 
as well as the dorsal and caudal, iii the coloration of 
the back; the ventral and anal tins are palest. The iris is 
of a brassy yellow; the black pupil has a dash of green. 
The Sturgeon is a salt-water fish with the migratory 
instinct of the Salmons, an anadromous form that as- 
cends from the Atlantic into the rivers of North Ame- 
rica and Europe in order to spawn. From the Atlantic 
its range extends into the Baltic and the Mediterranean 
including the Adriatic Sea. Whether it penetrates into 
the Black Sea", is doubtful. Neither Heckel and Knee 
nor Nordmann found it there''. In the Baltic, on the 
other hand, it makes its way to the head of the Gulf 
of Bothnia, according to a statement by Wi degree", even 
up the Tornea Elf. Now and then it is met with off 
all parts of the east coa.st of Sweden as well as on the 
Finnish coast, and occasionally it ascends into the Swe- 
dish lakes 7 ; but it is common in the Baltic proper only 
to the south and in the German rivers falling into those 
waters 6 '. It is common in all Danish waters, says Win- 
tiier; but as the Danes do not ply any special Stur- 
geon-fishery, it is not seen very often. The case is the 
same throughout the west coast of Sweden, especially 
off Mount Kullen and in Laholm Bay; and in the Gota 
Elf it has been found at Lilia Edet, 33 miles above 
Gothenburg (Nilsson). In Norway too the same ob- 
servation has been made: the Sturgeon is not taken 
anywhere in numbers, but solitary specimens are fre- 
quently met with throughout the coast-line, both in the 
sea and the river-mouths, even east of the North Cape 
(Collett and Storm). Off’ Iceland it is rare. It is 
common enough in the rivers running from the east 
into the North Sea. In Great Britain and Ireland it is 
not much commoner than in Sweden; but into the 
French rivers with a westward course, especially into 
the Garonne, the Sturgeon ascends more frequently and 
in greater numbers (Moreau). Its most constant habitat- 
lies, however, in the Mediterranean and Adriatic as well 
as the rivers flowing into these seas. On the east coast 
of North America its range extends from Cape Cod to 
Florida. A fresh-water form, considered to be a distinct 
species' 1 , inhabits the Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes 
with their feeders, and the basin of the Albany River. 
On one occasion this American Sturgeon is supposed to 
have extended its wanderings into Scotch waters, and 
Gunther* * was of opinion that the young Sturgeon from 
Bohuslan, described by Malm under the name of Aci- 
penser sturioides, should be referred to this species. So 
wavering are the specific distinctions within the genus; 
° Sometimes 50, according to Kroyer. 
* The name of ovio/.og was thus applied by the ancient Greeks both to Codfishes and the Sturgeon. 
c Grimm, 1. c., states that it occurs there. 
d In the Black Sea and the Danube lives a species very nearly allied to the Sturgeon, the Ossetr ( Toks , Acipenser Guldenstadtii) , which 
has a broader mouth. Cf. below, as to the difference between the American fresh-water Sturgeon and the present Sturgeon. 
c Landtbr. Akad. Hnndl., I8:de delen (1858), p. 181. 
/ According to Lilljeborg a specimen has been found in Lake Limmar (Roslagen, just south of Norrtelje). 
g In the Baltic Provinces of Russia the Sturgeon is rare, according to Seidlitz, Fauna Baltica, p. 89. 
h Acipenser rubicund, us = Ac. maculosus. According to Milner it has a broader mouth than our Sturgeon. No other distinction of 
any significance seems to be given between them. 
1 Cat. Brit. Mils., Fish., vol. VIII, p. 339, note. 
