218 MALACOPTERYGII. — ESOCID^. 



Generally the body is more or less lengthened, 

 somewhat flattened on the summit of the head, 

 and along the back : the mouth is commonly large, 

 and frequently armed with formidable teeth. The 

 intestine is short, and destitute of ccBca; the swim- 

 ming bladder is present. 



About a hundred and twenty species consti- 

 tute this Family ; few of which are European. 

 They are scattered, however, over the waters of 

 both hemispheres ; some are inhabitants of lakes 

 and rivers, many are oceanic, and most are marine. 

 They fall into two subordinate groups. Pikes and 

 Flying-fishes. 



1. Belonina. In this group, containing the 

 Pikes, Gar-fishes, &c., the pectorals are of small 

 size ; the body is more or less lengthened ; the 

 muzzle much developed, either in breadth or 

 length ; the mouth widely cleft, and armed with 

 numerous teeth. Great voracity is characteristic 

 of these fishes. Beside the Pike, presently to be 

 noticed, the most interesting forms in this division 

 are the Gar-fishes (of which the British seas pre- 

 sent three examples), remarkable for their length- 

 ened eel-shaped bodies, and the excessive prolon- 

 gation of one or both of their jaws into slender 

 horny spears. Another singular genus is Stomias, 

 whose widely cleft mouth is set with sharp and 

 curved teeth, so enormously long, that when the 

 mouth is shut, they project above and below, like 

 immense tusks. In other respects also this is a 

 curious form, 



2, Exoccetina. Here the body is herring-shaped, 

 but broader on the back : the pectorals are greatly 

 enlarged, as are frequently the other fins also : 

 the mouth is small, obliquely cleft ; the teeth few 



