Fishes of Brookhaven^ L. I. 269 



As to the genus Hydrargira I cannot forbear a few remarks. 

 There are several of our small fishes which we are not able to 

 include in any of the genera mentioned by Cuvier, as Fundu- 

 lus, Pcecilia, &c. They form an exceedingly natural group, 

 and as that group had been distinguished by Le Sueur under 

 the generic name Hydrargira I saw no reason for not adopt- 

 ing it. To that group the three species here mentioned be- 

 long. Dr. Dekay has retained the genus Hydrargira, though 

 he speaks of it as defective, and if the genus is retained, 

 these species seem to me necessarily included in it. They 

 certainly must be placed with midtifasciata, which in the pe- 

 culiar form of the mouth, teeth in the throat, &c., agrees en- 

 tirely with them ; and this multifasciata is by Dr. Dekay still 

 called Hydrargira. 



Esox RETicuLATUs. Lc Sucur. 



The pickerel, incorrectly called Esox lucius by Dr. Mitchill, 

 is very abundant in the ponds and streams on the south side 

 of the island, but is commonly of small size, those of half a 

 pound weight being very rare ; in Great Pond, however, they 

 are found much larger. 



I examined these pickerel with much care, and was unable 

 to perceive sufficient differences to warrant my considering 

 them distinct from Le Sueur's reticulatus ; and this opinion I 

 have not since found occasion to alter. Dr. Dekay has given 

 a very fine figure of them, and described them under the 

 name fasciatus. Of this I cannot see the necessity or propri- 

 ety ; for though by taking two extreme instances of this fish 

 and a larger pickerel, a pound weight for instance, we may 

 find differences apparently enough to prove them distinct, yet 

 the interval between the two is filled up by others which so 

 blend together that no line of separation can be drawn. In 

 the smaller fish we find the part of the head anterior to the 

 eyes proportionally shorter, tlie body often deeper and com- 

 monly the colors darker. But, as before remarked, these 

 characters are by no means permanent. As we examine other 

 specimens we find the head become longer, and the body 



