Jordan and ILTirinann. — Fishes of lYori/i America. 625 



toothed ; branchiostegals 12 to 20. Scales small ; lateral line weak, obso- 

 Jete ill young specimens, developed iu the adult. Dorsal posterior, oppo- 

 site and similar to anal; caudal fiu emarginate; pectoral fins small, 

 inserted low ; ventrals rather posterior ; vent normal ; no adipose fin ; no 

 barbels ; stomach not ccecal, without pyloric appendages ; pseudobranchia) 

 glandular, hidden; air bladder simple. Basis cranii double (Cope.) 

 Fishes of moderate or large size, inhabiting the fresh waters of the north- 

 ern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. A single genus with 

 6 species, one of them cosmopolitan, the rest all confined to America. 

 The species are all noted for their greediness and voracity ; " mere 

 machines for the assimilation of other organisms." The flesh is excellent, 

 being white and flaky and of delicate flavor. The larger species are much 

 valued as food. {Esocidce, Gunther, Cat., vi, 226-230, 1866.) 



299. LUCIUS,* Rafiuesque. 



(Pikes.) 



Esox, Artedi, Genera Piscium, 14, 1738, (in part, three species: The Pike, Garfisli, and Gar Pike; 



no type indicated, but the Pike was to Artedi the best-known species). 

 Esox, Linn,t:i'S, Sjst. Nat., Ed. x, 1758, 314, (in part, Indus, belona, ossens); (rcstrictt<l by Kafin- 



ESQUE, 1810, to Esox helone). 

 Lucius, Bafinesque, Caratteri di Alcuui Nuovi Geaeri, 59, 1810, {liwivs). 

 PivurelUis, t Eafinesque, Ich. Oh., 70, 1820, {litlalKs, a mythical species). 

 Mascahiiif/iis, Jordan, Klippart's Report, Ohio Fish Comm., 92, 1878, (nobilior). 

 Keiioza, Jordan & Evermann, now subgenus, (ttmericanns). 



Characters of the genus included above. (Lucius, the Latin name of 

 the Pike.) 



<i. Cheeks entirely scaly; branchiostegals 11 to 16. 

 Kenoza (an Indian name of tlio Pike, variously spelled by authors): 

 h. Operclcs entirely scaly; dorsal rays 11 tu 14; color greenish, barred or reticulated with 

 darker. 

 i: Branchiostegals normally 12, (11 to 13); scales in lateral line 105 to lOS; dorsal rays 11 

 or 12; anal rays 11 or 12; snout short, the middle of eye nearer tip of lower jaw 

 than posterior margin of opercle. Species of small size, the fins unspotted. 



*In retaining the generic name Lmiiis for the Pike, in preference to E<^ox, we have followed 

 the strict law of priority. The genus Esox of Linna/us, composed primarily of E. Inciiis and 

 E. belone, with a few associated species, was iirst subdivided by Bafinesque in 1810, the second 

 species, llrUme, being chosen as the type. Later, in Cuvier's arrangement, hictus was left as the 

 type of Esox and a new name, Behne, given to Esox belone. This later arrangement has received 

 the sanction of general usage. It lias the further justification, that the name Esox itself was 

 adopted by Artedi and Linnseue, from Plinj-, who applied it to the Pike, its application to the 

 Garfish also liaving been taken 1>3' Linn.TUS from Artedi. It is true that Linna'us would have 

 regarded the Pike as his type of Esox. It is, however, also true that Bjifinesiiue had the right 

 to select either species as the typo in dividing the genus, and in his arrangement, the Garfish 

 remains Esux, and a new name, Litcius, is given to the Pike. 



Bafinesque says : "11 genero TvsoxdiLinneo e stato divisodaLacepede in quattro generi, Etox, 

 Sphyrwyia, Sifnodus e Lepisostevs, id propongo di dividere nuovamente in due il suo genere Esox. 

 Lasciero questo nombrealle specie marineche hanno il corpo tetragouo con due lineo lateral! da 

 ogni lato como nel genere Exocu'lus, le mascelle lunghe o strette, le ale dorsali luugho, giungendo 

 dall' ano fill!) alia coda e falciformi, etc. Blentre formero un nuovo genere col nome di Liicitis 

 delle specie fluviatili che Iianno il'corpo cilindrico, una sola linealaterale, le mascelle larghe e le 

 ale dorsali ed anali corte o rotondate." 



f The name Picorellns, Eafinesque, can not properly be retained for any section of this genus, 

 as Esor j'i(/rt/!(s, Bafinesque, on which it is based, is a mythical species described by Bafinesque* 

 from a rude drawing, jierhaps based on hearsay, and certainly not representing any known 

 species. 



V. N. A. 41 



