70 AMPHIBIANS AND FISHES. 



shaped fish, and we have seen specimens nearly 

 3 feet in length, whose whitish enamelled plates re- 

 minded us strongly of what many of the ancient 

 primary fishes must have been. The habits of this 

 suggestive fresh-water fish very much resemble those 

 of its English namesake, hence, no doubt, the reason 

 why it was called " gar-pike " by the colonists. We 

 hardly need point out the advantages which large 

 aquaria possess in making us acquainted with the life- 

 history of desirable fishes, before we attempt their 

 acclimatisation for ulterior purposes. Hitherto we 

 have done this quite at a venture. 



