70 THE SPORTING FISH 



covered, as Dr. Genzik, the well-known naturalist 

 of Lintz, informed me that he had found some 

 specimens which had teeth like the fangs of a 

 viper capable of being erected or depressed at 

 pleasure, a circumstance the more remarkable as 

 the jaws also of the Pike are furnished with extra 

 bones to increase the size of its gape, very similar 

 to the corresponding bones in the Viper-con- 

 formation. 



Indigenous in all climates which are not tropical, 

 a chilly or even frigid latitude is apparently essen- 

 tial to the well-being of the Pike. Thus in Nor- 

 way and Sweden, Siberia, and the lakes of Canada 

 and Lapland it reaches its full development, breed- 

 ing in vast numbers, and commonly attaining the 

 length of 4 or 5 feet, whilst it rapidly degenerates 

 on approaching warmer latitudes diminishing in 

 geographical distribution with the spruce fir, and 

 ceasing entirely in the neighbourhood of the 

 Equator. 



Of the numerous names by which the Pike is 

 known the common term " Pike," or " Pickerel," 

 is probably the only one derived from our own 

 language ; and this would appear to have origi- 

 nated in the Saxon word.^>zV/, signifying "sharp- 

 pointed," in reference doubtless to the peculiar 

 form of the Pike's head or possibly teeth ? 



In Sweden the fish is named Gadda, and in 

 Denmark (amongst other variations) Gedde, appa- 

 rently identical with the Lowland Scotch, Gedd, 



