FISIIES —SAURIDAE-LEPIDOSTEUS BERLANDIERI. 
353 
In a similar oblique row taken posteriorly to tbe ventral fins we count from thirty-one to 
thirty-three scales, a dorsal series ; nine or ten from the dorsal region to the lateral line, and 
eleven from the lateral line to the middle abdominal series. The lateral line is yet quite con¬ 
spicuous upon the specimen now before us, and which measures seventeen inches in total length. 
The color of the upper region is bluish grey, whilst the inferior region is dull yellow. The 
fins assume the uniform tint of the region to which they belong. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
No of 
spec. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of 
specimen. 
Collected by— 
984 
i 
Pecos river_ 
1855 
Capt. John Pope_ 
Alcoholic_ 
Capt. Pope -_ 
3. LEPIDOSTEUS (ATRACTOSTEUS) BERLANDIERI, Grd. 
Spec. Char.— Body depressed, broader (thicker) than deep. Dorsal region depressed or sub-convex. Peduncle of the tail 
compressed and tapering backwards. Head contained three times and a half in the total length ; three times, the caudal fin 
excluded. Eye well developed, sub-circular ; diameter of orbit entering about eight times in the length of the side of the 
head: about twice and a half behind its posterior rim. Anal and dorsal fins nearly alike ; the extremities of their longest 
rays extending beyond the insertion of the outer rays of the caudal fin. Yentrals more slender than the pectorals, and 
inserted somewhat nearer the posterior edge of. the caudal fin than the extremity of the snout. Dark greyish olive above ; 
lighter beneath. Body and fins unicolor, except the caudal, which appears to be obsoletely spotted. 
We have before us a specimen nine inches and a half in total length ; hence quite immature. 
The scantiness of the materials at our disposal forbid us entering more at length into the com¬ 
parative features between this species and L.ferox , the type of the group to which it belongs. 
This can only be accomplished in the forthcoming monograph contemplated by Prof. Agassiz. 
The teeth of the lower jaw are largest; the palatine seiies is next in size; then the maxillar 
series (upper jaw) properly so called ; the lower jaw being somewhat longer than the rest of 
the side of the head. 
The dorsal and anal fins are almost alike in size and shape. The pectorals are sub-lanceolated 
and shorter and broader than the ventrals, which are rather slender. The rays we have counted 
as follows: 
D9 + 1; A 9 + 1; C12; V6; P13. 
The number of the scales in an oblique series across the body, beginning under the ventrals 
and extending upwards and forwards, is sixty-three: one dorsal median series ; nine from the 
latter to the lateral line, and twenty-one from the lateral line to the middle series under the 
abdomen. 
In a similar oblique series, taken posteriorly to the ventral fins, there are fifty-nine scales: 
the dorsal series as usual; eleven from the dorsal series to the lateral line, and seventeen from 
the lateral line to the middle region under the abdomen. 
The scales of the dorsal series assume a different shape from those on the rest of the body. 
The surface of the scales is rugose or finely granular, like sand to the touch ; more so on the pos¬ 
terior half of the body than on the anterior half. The abdominal scales are not yet in contiguity: 
an area under the thorax, between the pectoral fins, is naked and scaleless ; a similar but smaller 
45 a 
