88 TELEOSTEI : HAPLOMI. — XIV. 



very evident ; lower jaw black. Head ;J| ; depth ."JJ. B.C. 1). 11. 

 A. i). Scales 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.) 



Family XXXIX. ESOCID^. (Thk Pikks.) 



Body elonj^ate. somewhat comprcs.sed, with rather .small, cycloid 

 scales ; lateral line present, more or le.ss imperfect ; head lon^, the 

 snout much prolonged and depressed ; mouth very lar<ije, the lower 

 jaw lon;;est; up|»er jaw not protractile, most of its edge formed by 

 the ma.xillaries; prema.xillaries, vomer, and palatines with bands of 

 more or less movable cardiform teeth ; lower jaw with strong, un- 

 ecpial teeth ; tongue with small teeth ; head naked above, scaly on 

 sides; gill rakers tubercular; B. Tito 20; 1). opposite A. as in 

 other Ilaphmi : C. emarginate ; 1'. small; intestinal canal simple, 

 with ca^ca; air-bladder present. One genus, with 5 species, one 

 in the fresh wafers of both continents, the rest all American. All 

 are noted for their voracity, " mere machines for the assimilation 

 of other organisms." The Hesh is white, flaky, and e.vcellent. 

 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 recejitacle." 

 (^T/ioreuu.) 



94. ESOX (.\rtedi) Linnanis. (An old name of the Pike). 



a. ('I)»'t-ks mid opercles enfiri-ly scaly. 



b. Branchiostopals 12 (11 to M): scales 105 to 108: I). 11 or 1-2; A. 11 or 

 12; snout short, the middle of eye nearer tip of lower jaw tliau edge of 

 operde; species of small size. 



213. E. americanus (Imelin. Head short, 34; snout 2^ in 

 head; eve 2^ in snout. Dark gret-n, sides with about 2<» <listinct 

 curved <lusky bars; fins plain. Uej)th 5J. L. 12. Mass. to l-"la., in 

 coa.'twiso streams. 



214. E. vermiculatua Lc Sueur. Little Pickerkl. Head 

 longer, 3^ ; snout 2j in head ; eye 2^ in snout. Olive green ; sides 

 with many darker curved streaks, usually distinct and more or less 

 reticulate; fins mostly plain; depth .'^i^. L. 12. Miss. Valley, etc., 

 very abundant in small streams and bayous. (Lat , having marks 

 like wr)rm-tra<'ks.) 



bb, IlranrliioMtr^jals 14 to Ifi ; I). 14 (drvelopod my«) ; A. M : scalcJ) 

 aliout 125; snout lung, the middle of eye midway between ehiu and 

 edge of upercle. 



