152 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



rates fins from trunk and another also marks lateral line. Fins 

 transparent grayish or brownish. Iris slaty. Length 2 inches. 

 Several small examples in the Pensauken Creek, near Pensauken, 

 April 28th, 1907. 



Family ESOCID^. 



Esox americanus (Gmelin). 



Ditch Pike. 



A number were taken in Crosswicks Creek, near Trenton on 

 July 15th, 1906. The largest 10 inches long. 



Examples reported about a foot in length from the larger pond 

 at Dennisville, in Cape May county, on September i6th, 1906, 

 were probably this species. 



Color in life olivaceous above, with beautiful streaks of cop- 

 pery, brassy and golden in some lights. Entire upper side of 

 trunk and most of head posteriorly finely streaked, speckled or 

 spotted with deep dusky-black. These streaks on side of trunk 

 all have a tendency obliquely forward. A narrow black band 

 from end of snout to eye and continued behind it to opercle above. 

 Below, and from eye posteriorly, a black streak passing obliquely 

 back behind end of maxillary to lower side of head posteriorly. 

 Upper surface of head olive, speckled with dusky. Eye deep 

 brown over iris, with vertical dusky or blackish band continued 

 up through it. Lower surface of body milky-white, more or less 

 opaque. Dorsal dilute olivaceous, margin narrowly dusky, rays 

 darker and entire fin with a warm tint. Caudal similar and with 

 a slight dusky edge, also with more orange tint on lower lobe. 

 Lower margin of caudal somewhat milky-white or gray. Anal 

 warm orange-red, other fi.ns same, only ventral more vermilion. 

 Length 8^ inches. Pensauken Creek, near Pensauken, April 

 28th, 1907. Another example is darker on back and shows lines 

 on sides sloping obliquely forward more continuous, broader and 

 larger. Iris with a golden ring around pupil. In other respects 

 as usal. These fish vary considerably, and of the number secured 

 the first one noted presented a rather remarkable variation in 

 color, especially in having the bands broken up into small spots. 



