PLATE C. 
species . both the jaws are armed with a number of small and very 
e teeth, interspersed with a few of a larger size, every third or 
tth tooth being rather larger than the rest. But the species is more 
tail) distinguished by the strong osseous scales with which the 
^ e body is covered, and protected : those are of a rhomboidal 
b d rat ^ er prominent in the middle, and are disposed across the 
wh^ ^ an °k^ Ue ^ lrect:ion - The fins are of a rounded form, and 
th fi ^ ' CI y remarkable > tbe brst ray of all the fins, and in the tail, 
j rst ra h both above and beneath, consists of small pointed bony 
P ates, which slope obliquely one over the other, and form by that 
a senated edge. Bloch considers this as a sufficient character 
pecies, observing, that it differs in this particular not only 
j 1 tbe rest of the genus, but from the whole of the fish tribe *. 
r specimen the dorsal fin, which is situated close to the tail, 
of eight rays : pectoral fin of nine rays : ventral five : anal 
t£n : and caudal eleven. 
conception ' ,10 " eTer ’ cansl< lercd as a specific character, is liable to some mis- 
,0^::: tlie mu,ds ° f those not wei1 c ° nversaut th ° sub ><*. ** « wm no t be 
appearance v ai ‘terior part of the fins of the common Sturgeon exhibits a serrated 
deeH Ce VCr> S " 1Ul;lr *° tlmt of Esox ° ssens - In the former fish this serration is in- 
ucea occasioned bv th ■ 
of the ant ^ ° United pomts of man J bon y rays instead of the peculiar structure 
ond miuht | “ a '° ne> 1)111 t *’ 1S )s a sub j ect rather for the critical than cursory observer, 
instanc k CCn aV0) ^ CC *' Ipecifical distinctions assigned by Bloch are in 
looked ^ t *'' m e)t * ler tbose °I Artedi or I.inmeus, hut in the presout he lias 
conceived ' tbaracter adopted by the latter in search of another that may be mis 
latitude of his expression with regard to all other fishes. 
are in some 
over- 
I .< 
VOL. v. 
E 
