CLASS PISCES. 389 



has its edge formed by the intermaxillary, or, at least, 

 when this does not form it altogether the maxillary is 

 without teeth, and concealed in the thickness of the 

 lips. These fishes are voracious ; their intestine is 

 short, without cceca: several of them re-ascend into 

 the rivers ; all have a natatory bladder. Except mi- 

 crostoma, all those with which we are acquainted 

 have the dorsal opposite to the anal. 

 Linnaeus united them in his genus of 



Esox, L. 

 Which we divide as follows : 



Esox (properly so called), Cuv. 



Have small intermaxillaries furnished with small 

 pointed teeth at the middle of the upper jaw, of which 

 they form the two-thirds ; but the maxillaries which 

 occupy the sides have no teeth. The vomer, the pa- 

 latines, the tongue, the pharyngeals, and the arches 

 of the branchiae are bristled with teeth like those of a 

 card ; on the sides of the lower jaw is, moreover, a 

 series of long pointed teeth. Their muzzle is oblong, 

 obtuse, broad, and depressed; they have but one 

 dorsal, opposite to the anal. Their stomach, ample 

 and folded, is continued with a slender intestine, and 

 without cceca, which is twice folded. Their natatory 

 bladder is very large. 



We have one in Europe, Esox lucius, L., Bl. 32., 

 (the common pike), universally known as one of the 

 most voracious of fishes, and one of the most de- 



