GEN. ESOX. THE COMMON PIKE. 89 



very far back, and begins in a vertical line above 

 the vent ; the pectoral and ventral fins are small ; 

 the caudal rays long and forked. The head is 

 elongated and depressed, the gape wide ; the teeth 

 in the vomer are small, those in the palatines larger, 

 those of the lower jaw the largest. The colour of 

 the head and upper part of the back is a dusky 

 olive-browTi, becoming lighter and mottled with 

 green and yellow on the sides, passing into silvery 

 white on the abdomen: the pectoral and ventral 

 fins are pale brown, the dorsal, anal, and caudal 

 somewhat darker, and mottled with w^hite, yellow, 

 and dark green; the iris yellow. When in high 

 condition Mr. Pennant states that their colouring 

 is very fine, being spotted with bright yellow which 

 often assumes a golden brilliancy; when out of 

 season the green changes to grey, and the yellow 

 spots turn pale. In certain waters, the fish becomes 

 yellow, with black spots, when it is called the 

 King of the Pikes, and is much esteemed ; and ac- 

 cording to Schwenckfeld, some are perfectly white. 

 They spawn in spring, the exact period differing 

 according to their age and the temperature. At 

 that season those w^hich are in lakes and ponds try 

 to ascend the rivers and approach the shore ; and 

 at this time the parent fish are so much occupied, 

 and so inattentive to every thing else, that they 

 may be almost caught with the hand. 



The Pike has a very extensive distribution, being 

 well known over the greater part of Europe and 

 Asia: concerning America, Dr. Richardson states 



