FISHES-SAURIDAE-LEPIDOSTEUS LEPTORHYNCHUS. 
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anterior margin of all the fins exhibits a double row of spine-like scales. The insertion of the caudal fin is oblique ; a portion 
of its rays being inserted at the extremity of the vertebral column ; the other portion under it. The dorsal is inserted far back, 
opposite the anal fin. The ventrals are abdominal. The stomach has no coeca; the pylorus having numerous short appendages. 
The intestine recurs twice upon itself. The air bladder is cellular, and through an elongated split it communicates with the upper 
wall of the throat. 
Syn. — Lepidosteus, Lacep. Hist. nat. Poiss. V, 1803; ed. 800, IV, 1819, 59.—Cuv. Rbgn. Anim. II, 1817, 181; 2d ed. II, 
1829; &, ed. Hlustr. Poies. 286.— Agass. Rech. Poiss. foss. II, ii, 1833, 4; &, Lake Super. 1850, 254.— 
DeKay, New Y. Faun. IV, 1842, 271.— Mull, in 1 Yiegm. Archiv fur Naturg. 1845, I, 119. —Storer, 
Synops. 1846, 213.— Dum. Ichthyol. analyt. 1856,434. 
For years past ichthyologists have been looking forwards for a promised monograph of this 
genus by Professor Agassiz, and since- his studies of this peculiar group must necessarily he 
based upon a large amount of material, they would have proved of great assistance to us in the 
preparation of the present report. The above diagnosis is derived chiefly from Professor 
Muller’s description of this genus. 
There are three well marked groups in the genus Lepidosteus; the first one is characterized 
by a very narrow and prolonged snout, the mouth being longer than the head, properly so called, 
with hut one row of larger teeth at the upper as well as lower jaw : Lepidosteus oxyurus is the 
type of this group. In the second group ( Cylindrosteus) the snout is depressed, rather broad, 
equal in length to the head, properly so called, with hut one row of larger teeth at the upper 
as well as at the lower jaw : Lepidosteus platostomus is the type of this second group. Finally, 
the third group ( Atractosteus ) is characterized by a very broad snout, nearly equal in length to 
the rest of the head, or somewhat longer, with two rows of larger teeth at the upper jaw: 
Lepidosteus ferox being the type of this group. 
1. LEPIDOSTEUS LEPTORHYNCHUS, Grd. 
Spec Char.— Body anterior to the ventrals cylindrical, and posteriorly deeper than broad (thick); dorsal region sub-concave, 
broader than the abdominal region. Peduncle of tail very much compressed. Head constituting a little less than the third 
of the total length. Eyes well developed, sub-elliptical; horizontal diameter of the orbit entering fifteen times and a half in the 
length of the side of the head; nearly thrice and a half time behind its posterior rim. Anal smallar than the dorsal; either 
of these fins not extending the tip of their longest rays as far as the base of the caudal. Ventrals much larger than the 
pectorals, inserted further apart the thoracic belt than the anterior margin of the anal, and much nearer the posterior edge 
of the caudal than the tip of the rostrum. Olivaceous, upper regions spotted with black. 
The specimen before us measures from thirty-four to thirty-five inches. The head is slender, 
very much depressed, broader than deep, tapering gradually forwards into an elongated 
rostrum. The upper jaw projecting beyond the tip of the lower one, which is entirely overlapped 
when the mouth is closed. The lower jaw is a great deal more than twice the length of the 
rest of the side of the head, although not quite twice and a half as long. One series of large 
conical and acute teeth may he observed right and left on either jaw, with an external series 
of much smaller teeth. The inner edge of the dental groove exhibits at the lower jaw two series 
of rasp-like teeth, the innermost of which is more slender than the other, whilst at the upper jaw 
there is hut one series of similar teeth, resembling those of the slender kind just alluded to. 
The dorsal and anal fins are of moderate development, much higher or deeper than long. 
The ventrals are more stoutly built and much larger than the pectorals. 
D 7; A 8 ; C 12 ; Y 6; F 12. 
The rays in all the fins are very strong, sub-divided and branched off; the outermost pectoral 
