306 



distinct species, which I have called E. nohilior ; and the expe- 

 rienced fishermen of Lake Champlain never apply the name of 

 Maskallonge to any other fish, unless for the purpose of imposi- 

 tion. The Maskallonge is comparatively much rarer, grows to 

 a much larger size, is a much better fish for the table, and is, 

 therefore, more eagerly sought after than the estor, or common 

 lake pickerel. The fishermen, well knowing all this, sometimes 

 seek to procure a more ready sale and a higher price for their 

 large pickerel, {E. estor,) by crying them in the market as 

 Maskallonge, (jB. nohilior.) 



It is stated on page 173 of the Proceedings of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History, that, " in the E. estor, there is a 

 mark of scales on the anterior edge of the operculum." In the 

 specimens of this species which I have examined, no such mark 

 of scales exists. Such a mark of scales is usually found on the 

 operculum of the E. nohilior^ but is not constant in that species. 

 Independent of colors, perhaps the most obvious mark by which 

 the two species may be readily distinguished is this, — in the E. 

 eslor the whole cheek in front of the preoperculum is covered 

 with scales, while in the E. nohilior the lower half of the cheek 

 is entirely naked, or scaleless. 



In connection with the same subject, Mr. Charles Girard made 

 the following remarks : 



After an examination of the pikes from different parts of the 

 country. Prof. Agassiz and myself had found the Maskallonge 

 differing widely from Esox esfor Les. and that fish was provi- 

 sionally described under the name of E. lucioides, when Rev. Z. 

 Thompson brought us a specimen of his E. nohilior^ which, 

 after a careful comparison was shown to be identical with E, 

 lucioides. This name of E. lucioides has been published in 

 Mr. Herbert's Frank Foresters Fish and Fishing of the United 

 States, &c. The drawings were made from the specimens of 

 Prof. Agassiz's Cabinet. But in both plates of E. estor and E. 

 lucioides, the names are misapplied ; E. estor of that book is E. 

 lucioides, and vice versa E. lucioides is E. estor. 



Now the name of nohilior having the priority, must be 

 retained for the Maskallonge, and E. lucioides will be its 

 synonyme. 



Mr. Girard further stated that the fish described, page 164, 



