Chap. 4- Of the PIKE. 157 



fore mentioned, fpeaks of a Pike taken in 

 Sweden in the Year 1449, ^^^^ ^ Ringa- 

 bout his Neck, declaring that he was put into 

 that Pond by Frederick the Second, more than 

 two hundred Years before he was laft taken ; 

 unlefs the Infcription in that Ring, being 

 Greeks was mif interpreted by then Biihop of 

 Worms^ a Thing not in the Jeafl unlikely. 

 It is obferved, that the ^very old and great 

 Tikes have in them more of Grandeur than 

 'Goodnefs-, the fmaller,and efpeciallythe middle- 

 fized, being by the choiceft Palates taken for 

 the befl Meat •, whereas on the contrary, the 

 Eel is obferved to be the better for Age and 

 Bignefs, 



The Figure of the Tike's Body is very long ; 

 his Back broad, and almofb fquare, altogether 

 equal to the loweft Fins. His Head is lean 

 and very bony ♦, his Snout long like the Beak 

 of a Duck, and his lower Jaw far longer than 

 his upper, having many Teeth, not orderly 

 difpofed, but in large Ranks. His Eyes are 

 of a Golden Colour, and very quick-fighted. 

 His Belly is always white •, but his Back and 

 Sides are of a black fpeckled with yellow, if he 

 be fat -, tho' the Sides are white and pale in a 

 thin lean Fiili. His Ventricle is large and ca- 

 pacious, and his Throat fhort. Some grow 

 fafter, fome flower, according to the Diver- 

 fity of their Water and Food. River FifH 

 grow much fafter than Pond Filli, unlefs the 

 Pond be very large, and have a good Stream 

 running through it. One fpawned in a clear 



fpring- 



