140 PHYSOSTOMI. 



Pike, Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, iv, p. 150, pi. ccx. 



B. xiv, D. 20-23 ( T f:-h-), P- 13-14, V. 9-10, A. 17-19 G^), C. 19, L. 1. 125- 

 130, L. tr. 13/30, Vert. 41-43/21-20. 



Length of head 3-|- to 4, of caudal fin G, height of body Q\ to 7 in the total 

 length. Eyes situated in about the middle of the length of the head, the 

 diameter of each 7 to 12 times in the length of the bead, 4 to 6 diameters from 

 the end of the snout, and 1^- to 2 apart. The dorsal and abdominal profiles 

 nearly horizontal and parallel, causing the body to be of an almost equal height 

 from the head to the commencement of the dorsal and anal fins : its head flattened 

 above, while its length is equal to nearly twice that of the height of the body. 

 Cleft of mouth very deep, equalling about half the length of the head : lower 

 jaw a little the longer. The middle of the upper jaw is slightly emarginate, 

 and receives the head of the vomer : on either side are the short premaxillaries, 

 which ai-e not nearly so long as the maxilla, which is composed of two pieces, 

 is capable of a considerable amount of motion, and reaches posteriorly to beneath 

 the front edge of the eye. Nostrils large, and nearer the orbit than the end 

 of the snout. Numerous glandular orifices on the head. Teeth* none on the 

 maxillary : large ones and of unequal sizes on the mandibles : present on the 

 vomer and palatines, the inner row of which are the larger, more or less strong 

 and depressible : also fine ones on the tongue. Fins the dorsal is situated in the 

 last fourth of the total length (excluding the caudal fin), and slightly in advance 

 of the origin of the anal. Pectoral placed low down and below the subopercle. 

 The ventral slightly behind the middle of the total length (excluding the caudal 

 fin). Caudal emarginate or slightly forked. Scales small, present on the 

 cheeks, upper portion of the opercle, and over the body. Lateral-line nearly 

 straight. Colours when in the greatest perfection of a green colour, becoming 

 lighter on the sides and beneath : numerous yellow blotches, spots, or lines along 

 the head and body : dorsal, anal and caudal fins of a light ground colour with 

 irregular blotches, spots and bands of dark. When out of season the green 

 becomes of a gray, and the yellow markings pale or white. 



Varieties. It has been recorded by M. Tilesius that he had frequently seen 

 captured in 1806 and 1807, at St. Petersburg, examples from the Neva in which a 

 single median barbel existed beneath the lower jaw as in the cod. Specimens were 

 not preserved. American examples are said to generally possess 17 anal l'ays, but 

 occasionally 19 ; the example figured from Gloucestershire had 18. 



Montalambert (Hist. Acad. Sc. 1748, p. 27) observes that in the river Gabard 

 in Prance there is a pool containing blind pike. 



Names. Hacod, Anglo-Saxon. This fish was first termed a jac7e,f then a 

 pickerel, and lastly a luce. Gedd or gade in or near the Moray Firth and in 

 Lowland Scotch : gullet, Northumberland. Haked, a large pike in Cambridge- 

 shire. Morris, a large pike (Halliwell). Erie, a very young pike. Picche, or, if 

 only nearly full grown, pod (Halliwell). The term pike is suggested to have 

 been derived from the Saxon word piik, signifying " sharp pointed," having 

 reference to the form of its head. Penhwyad, Welsh. Ansjovis, Dutch. In 

 French it is termed Brocket or Brocheton from its spit-like shape, Lance or Lanceron 

 from its speed, and Becguet from its muzzle bearing somewhat of a resemblance 

 to a duck's bill. 



Considerable discussions have from time to time arisen as to whether the pike 

 is an acclimatized or indigenous fish in this country. We are told Edward I 

 fixed its value above that of salmon, and more than ten times that of turbot or 

 cod. Also that in the time of Henry VIII a large one was sold in February for 

 double the price of house lamb, and a pickerel or small pike for more than a fat 

 capon. Probably more attention was paid to inland fisheries in those days than 

 now, and such forms as possessed insatiable appetites were only kept in numbers 



* See Tomes, On the Hinged Teeth of the Common Pike, Qy. J. Microp. Sc. xviii, pp. 1-16, 



pi. i. 



t A jack or pickerel becomes a pike at 2 feet (Walton) and 2 lb. or 3 lb. weight. Some see no 

 distinction, calling all pike, others fix the limit iu ditfereut ways. 



