FAMILY UF Till-: KSoClD.F.. 217 



ESOCIDJv 



Tiii^ family, the Esocid.k, of which the tiiK' l*ike {blsoj; 

 Lucius) of Europe is the ty[)e, is hir^ely represented in the 

 waters of the United States and thi' I'lovinees ; six or seven 

 distinct species having been discovered, exclusive of the formid- 

 able Garpike [Esox Osseus), of the south-western w aters, which, 

 instead of scales, is cased in a complete armour of rhond)oidal 

 plates; and which is held, by Mr. Agassiz and other distin- 

 guished naturalists, to be a connecting link between the animals 

 of the present period, and those contemporaneous with the 

 Saiiridii.s-y and other extinct races. 



The lish of this family are distinguished, generally, by the 

 want of the second dorsal or adipose tin, by the situation of the 

 dorsal very far backward and opposite to the anal tin, and b\ 

 having the border (jf their upper jaw either formed solely by 

 the intcrniaxillaries, or by having the labials destitute of teeth, 

 if they enter at all into its eompositiun. The mouth is alwa\s 

 large, and the teeth sharp and powerful, but the shape and pro- 

 portional length of the jaws vary greatly in the various species, 

 i\a do the situation ami number of the teeth, and the formation 

 of the gill-co\ers ; and by these particulars arc the Hpocies 

 distinguished. 



