NATURAL HISTORY. 335 



" The goodly -well grown trout I with my angle strike, 

 And -with my bearded wire I take the rav'nous pike." DRAYTON. 



1072. Wliy does the piJce undergo this state of torpidity ? 



It is remarkable that this peculiarity in the animal economy of 

 the pike differs materially from the habits of other fishes, which, 

 after the emaciation from the effects of spawning, require an 

 increase of food to repair the exhaustion. But with the pike, the 

 return of appetite appears to be suspended : a wise provision ; 

 for, were this fish as voracious as usual, few of the small fry 

 which are then abundant would escape, and the stock of fish 

 would be materially reduced. 



1073. Why are "pike" called also "jack"? 



These are verbal distinctions referring to the size and age of 

 the same fish. When the fish does not exceed four or five 

 pound weight, it is called in England "a jack" ; and when above 

 that weight it is a "pike" 



1074. Why is the pike exceedingly voracious at certain 

 seasons ? 



Because it is a fish of rapid growth, nnd consequently vigorous 

 digestion. The young fry grow rapidly, attaining two pounds 

 weight in the first year ; and they gain from two to three pounds 

 weight every subsequent year. 



Besides, the enormous amount of exercise which the pike takes 

 produces a great expenditure, and creates a corresponding demand 

 for food. There is no more active fish: it sometimes darts 

 through the water with the speed of an arrow. 



1075. It has been offered in illustration of the great digestive powers of the pike, 

 that after in part swallowing a fish little smaller than itself, those parts that have 

 entered into the stomach are dissolved with amazing rapidity, while those in the 

 mouth and throat which are yet entire make a constant progress downwards as the 

 process of digestion makes way for them. 



The pike has always been remarkable for extraordinary voracity. Eight pike, of 

 xoout h've pounds weight each, consumed nearly eight hundred gudgeons in thrn 

 weeks; "and the appetite of one of these pikes," says Mr. Jesse, "was almost 

 One morning I threw to him, one after another, five roaches, eadi 



