168 ESOCES. 



ponds, destroying all other fishes, frogs, &c. — but 

 under circumstances of hunger, swallow each oth- 

 er. Pennant mentions an instance of one that was 

 actually choked to death, in trying to swallow one 

 of its own species. 



This is an unnatural trait of character, it being 

 an exceedingly rare occurrence that any family of 

 animals feed upon its kindred. Male crocodiles 

 destroy the young ones when they are first hatch- 

 ed, and so do sharks and swine, but such an 

 act seems to depend upon constitutional cir- 

 cumstances which we are unable to explain. 

 Even water rats, are driven away from the pike 

 waters. 



According to Block, it increases more rapidly 

 than any other fish with which we are acquaint- 

 ed. In the first year, it grows, in Europe, from 

 eight to ten inches ; in the second, from twelve 

 to fourteen ; and the third year, to eighteen or 

 twenty. 



It is inferred that they are very aged, when 

 they arrive at the amazing length of six feet, a 

 circumstance by no means uncommon, in the 

 northern lakes, in England, Germany and Po- 

 land. 



Rzaczynshi mentions a pike that was ninety 

 years of age ; and Gesner relates, that one was 

 taken near Hailbrun, in Suabia, in 1479, with a 



