88 TELEOSTEI: HAPLOMI. — XIV. 
very evident; lower jaw black. Head 32; depth 33. B.6. D.14. 
A. 9. Seales 35-15. -L. 4. N.C. to Conn. and Ontario, W. to 
Ind. and Minn., in cool weedy streams and swamps. (Lat., of the 
mud.) 
Famity XXXIX. ESOCIDA. (THE PIKEs.) 
Body elongate, somewhat compressed, with rather small, eycloid 
scales ; lateral line present, more or less imperfect ; head long, the 
snout much prolonged and depressed ; mouth very large, the lower 
jaw longest; upper jaw not protractile, most of its edge formed by 
the maxillaries; premaxillaries, vomer, and palatines with bands of 
more or less movable cardiform teeth ; lewer jaw with strong, un- 
equal teeth ; tongue with small teeth; head naked above, scaly on 
sides; gill rakers tubercular; B. 12 to 20; D. opposite A. as in 
other Haplomi; C. emarginate; P. small; intestinal canal simple, 
with ceca; air-bladder present. One genus, with 5 species, one 
in the fresh waters of both continents, the rest all American. All 
are noted for their voracity, “ mere machines for the assimilation 
of other organisms.” The flesh is white, flaky, and excellent. 
The Pike is ‘‘a solemn stately ruminant fish, lurking under the 
shadow of a lily-pad at noon, with still, circumspect, voracious eye, 
motionless as a jewel set in water, or moving slowly along to take 
up its position ; darting from time to time at such unlucky fish or 
frog or insect as comes within its range, and swallowing it at a gulp. 
Sometimes a striped snake, bound for greener meadows across the 
stream, ends its undulatory progress in the same receptacle.” 
( Thoreau.) 
94. ESOX (Artedi) Linneus. (An old name of the Pike). 
a. Cheeks and opercles entirely scaly. 
6. Branchiostegals 12 (11 to 13); scales 105 to 108; D. 11 or 12; A. ll or 
12; snout short, the middle of eye nearer tip of lower jaw than edge of 
opercle; species of small size. 
213. E. americanus Gmelin. Head short, 34; snout 23 in 
head; eye 22 in snout. Dark green, sides with about 20 distinct 
curved dusky bars; fins plain. Depth 5}. L.12. Mass. to Fla,, in 
coastwise streams. 
214. E. vermiculatus Le Sueur. LittLte Pickerret. Head 
longer, 34; snout 24 in head; eye 24 in snout. Olive green; sides 
with many darker curved streaks, usually distinct and more or less 
reticulate; fins mostly plain; depth 53. L.12. Miss. Valley, etc., 
very abundant in small streams and bayous. (Lat., having marks 
like worm-tracks. ) 
66. Branchiostegals 14 to 16; D. 14 (developed rays); A. 13; scales 
about 125; snout long, the middle of eye midway between chin and 
edge of opercle. 
