THE PIKE.' 



|HE Pike, of which we have only one 



^^ recognized species in this country and 

 ^^ ^y on the Continent, is common to most 

 """^ of the rivers and lakes of Europe and 

 North America, and the INIascalonge {Esox estor) 

 and the Northern Pickerel {Esox lucioidcs) — both 

 inhabitants of the great lakes; the common Pickerel 

 {Esox reticulatus) — indigenous to all the ponds 

 and streams of the Northern and Midland States ; 

 the Pickerel of Long- Island {Esox fasciatits) — 

 probably confined to that locality ; the White 

 Pickerel {Esox vittatus), the Black Pickerel {Esox 

 niger), and Esox phaleratus — all inhabitants of the 

 Pennsylvanian and Western waters, have been 

 generally recognized as distinct species. Of these 

 the first two are the types, the others following, 

 more or less closely, the same formation as to 

 comparative length of snout, formation of the 

 lower jaw, dental system, gill covers, &c. 



As regards the European Pike, it seems pro- 

 bable that there may be varieties yet to be dis- 



' Esox Indus — Esox, a Pike ; luciiis, the Pike, Latin names. 



