238 
BULLETIN OF THE UNlTED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
spine ; the two first abdominal plates are imbricated, the remainder at equal distances, 
and seven on each side ; side plates twenty-six, dorsal plates nine, and one at the base 
of the fin ; between the dorsal fin and the tail, and likewise between the anus and anal 
fin, and the last and caudal fin, there are sometimes one simple plate, and sometimes 
several plates, in this species ; the head only presents the difference of its snout 
being a little more elevated, and it is not convex between the nostrils ; the small as- 
perities of the body are nearer together and more numerous than in the preceding. 
Inhabits the Delaware. 
“ Second variety. Dorsal plates ten, including that at the base of the fin, lateral 
plates twenty -three, abdominal seven ; all pretty regular and radiated, without cariua 
and spines — these plates appear to have replaced those of the first growth, they not 
having been worn or rubbed; head large, short, and resembling that of the first de- 
scribed of this species ; snout larger and rounder than in the first variety; length of 
specimen 2 feet 4 inches. Taken in the Delaware. 
“ Third variety. This individual resembled the last in its form and size, but had its 
snout more pointed, flatter above, and more elongated, narrower, and more concave; 
body with five rows of tubercles, those of the back nine, including the one at the base 
of the fin, regularly radiated, raised into a sharp keel, and terminated in a central 
point; lateral plates twenty-three, slightly cariuated ; the plates of the abdomen are 
seven with a hardly perceptible keel— the form and disposition of the tubercles are 
pretty regular ; between the lateral plates there are several smaller ones. It is very 
remarkable that the left side only of this specimen had a range of eleven tubercles and 
several rudiments of others, situate between the lateral and abdominal rows. Inhab- 
its the Delaware. 
“ This species, which is not the object of a special fishery, is nevertheless more 
sought after, and commands a higher price, than the large common species, which 
attains to the length of about 10 feet. The A. hrecirostrum and its varieties are brought 
to the Philadelphia market in the vernal season and fetch from 25 to 15 cents apiece. 
They are eaten by the common people only.” 
(These last remarks, as to the estimation in which the A. brevirostris was held in Le 
Sueur’s time, do not hold at present. It does not seem to be eaten at all by the present 
generation of Delaware fishermen.) 
The foregoing descriptions, based on the five specimens which fell into Le Sueur’s 
hands, agree in all essential respects with my own observations. He gives the color 
perhaps too dark, as is also shown by the skin in the museum of the academy, but 
that specimen shows the dark bluish oblique cloudings or bands which he refers to as 
occurring on the sides, and which are faintly perceptible even below the level of the 
lateral rows of plates. Some of my specimens are much darker than others, deep 
brown on the back, verging to a warmer, richer brown on the sides, but reaching 
only, as he observes, to the lateral rows of plates. 
Le Sueur also distinctly confirms my conclusion that the species is always small;' 
his largest example was a female measuring but 33 inches; the largest one that I 
obtained was only 23 inches long. He also states that it is rare, just as I learned was 
the case upon making an attempt to get a series of examples, all of which were taken 
in herring and shad gill nets. The characteristic dark-brown or brown color of the 
animal; its small size, wide mouth, comparatively smooth skin, early maturity, ren- 
der it impossible to question the identification which is thus established. The color 
