THE PIKE. 1 



HE Pike, of which we have only one 

 recognized species in this country and 

 on the Continent, is common to most 

 of the rivers and lakes of Europe and 

 North America, and the Mascalonge (Esox estor] 

 and the Northern Pickerel (Esox lucioides] both 

 inhabitants of the great lakes ; the common Pickerel 

 (Esox reticulatus) indigenous to all the ponds 

 and streams of the Northern and Midland States ; 

 the Pickerel of Long- Island (Esox fasciatus] 

 probably confined to that locality ; the White 

 Pickerel (Esox vittatus), the Black Pickerel (Esox 

 niger), and Esox phaleratus all inhabitants of the 

 Pennsylvanian and Western waters, have been 

 generally recognized as distinct species. Of these 

 the first two are the types, the others following, 

 more or less closely, the same formation as to 

 comparative length of snout, formation of the 

 lower jaw, dental system, gill covers, &c. 



As regards the European Pike, it seems pro- 

 bable that there may be varieties yet to be dis- 



1 Esoxrlutius Esox, a Pike; Indus, the Pike, Latin names. 



