The Scyphophori, Haplomi, and Xenomi — 409 
as a distinct order, although no character of high importance 
separates it from either. Hay unites the Haplomi with the 
Synentognatht to form the order of Mesichthyes, or transitional 
fishes, but the affinities of either with other groups are quite 
as well marked as their relation to each other. Boulenger unites 
the Inzomi with the Haplomz, an arrangement which apparently 
has merit, for the most primitive and non-degenerate [niomz, as 
Aulopus and Synodus, lack both mesocoracoid and orbitosphe- 
noid. These bones are characteristic of the Isospondyli, but are 
wanting in Haplomt. 
There is no adipose dorsal in the typical Haplomz, the dorsal 
is inserted far back, and the head is generally scaly. Most but 
not all of the species are of small size, living in fresh or brackish 
water, and they are found in almost all warm regions, though 
scantily represented in California, Japan, and Polynesia. The 
four families of typical Haplomi differ considerably from one 
another and are easily distinguished, although obviously re- 
lated. Several other families are provisionally added to this 
group on account of agreement in technical characters, but 
their actual relationships are uncertain. 
The Pikes—The Esocide have the body long and slender 
and the mouth large, its bones armed with very strong, sharp 
teeth of different sizes, some of them being movable. The 
upper jaw is not projectile, and its margin, as in the Salmonide, 
is formed by the maxillary. The scales are small, and the 
dorsal fin far back and opposite the anal, and the stomach 
is without pyloric ceca. There is but a single genus, Esox 
(Lucius of Rafinesque), with about five or six living species. 
Four of these are North American, the other one being found 
in Europe, Asia, and North America. 
All the pikes are greedy and voracious fishes, very destruc- 
tive to other species which may happen to be their neighbors; 
“mere machines for the assimilation of other organisms.” 
Thoreau describes the pike as ‘‘the swiftest, wariest, and most 
ravenous of fishes, which Josselyn calls the river-wolf. It is 
a solemn, stately, ruminant fish, lurking under the shadow of 
a lily-pad at noon, with still, circumspect, voracious eye; motion- 
less as a jewel set in water, or moving slowly along to take up 
its position; darting from time to time at such unlucky fish 
