276 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



Russia and Siberia, but does not enter those of the Trans-Caucasus, and 

 the Crimea. On the south it enters Roumania, and has been found in the 

 Lake of St. Stefanos, near Constantinople, in the lagoons of Venice, in 

 Switzerland and France, but not in the Iberian peninsula. 



It is found in all parts of Germany, not only in the high mountain 

 region, but along the sea-coast of Northern Germany, and even close to the 

 shores of the Baltic. The highest vertical distribution on the northern side 

 of the Alps, is in the Tyrolean Take of Halden, 3,618 feet. On the 

 south, it occurs in certain lakes of the Tyrol, and in the Lake of Reschen, 

 4,637 feet, which is apparently the loftiest point of its distribution. In 

 Switzerland, according to Tschudi, it ranges to 3,398 feet. 



The climate of England and Germany seems suited to its best develop- 

 ment, and its persistence in low latitudes will probably be found to be due 

 to a special adaptability for hybernation. 



The Muskellunge, Esox nobilior, is the rival of the Pike in size and 

 vigor, but is very limited in its geographical range, occurring only in the 

 Great Lake region of America, and in the St. Lawrence River.* It is 

 very like the Pike, but has a head proportionally somewhat larger, and its 

 color is markedly different. In general hue, it is dark grey, with silvery 

 lustre, belly white, sides dotted with round, blackish and brownish 

 blotches, and the fins fleeted with black. The Pike on the other hand has 

 its markings white or yellowish, upon a darker background of green, dark 

 grey or brown ; in European examples the lighter markings are often con- 

 fluent and band-like. 



THE CHAIN PICKEREL, 



The " Pickerels," of American nomenclature, are three in number, and 



* It has frequently been said in print that Muskellunge were introduced into a pond near Bellow's Falls, 

 Mass in 1838, and that they have since escaped into the Connecticut, where they have become abundant. 

 This is a great' mistake. I have examined several of these would-be Muskellunge from the Connecticut, but 

 all of them proved to be overgrown Pike. This species probably does not occur in the Connecticut. 



