150 AMERICAN FISHES 



lowing the formation of the head, which is remarked in one or other 

 of these, as regards the comparative length of the snout, the formation 

 of the lower jaw, the dental system, and the gill-covers. So marked 

 is this difference, that in addition to the wood-cuts of the entire fishes, 

 I have thought it well to give large representations of the heads of 

 these two noble fish ; and by examining these with a little care, and 

 comparing them with the heads of any of the smaller varieties, it will 

 be easy to distinguish to which type any one of them belong. 



Thus, any person will at once perceive that the Common Pickerel, 

 in the comparative length of the jaws, and the beak-like form and 

 scanty dentition of the lower mandible, follows the type of the Masca- 

 longe ; while the Long Island species resembles, in the short obtuse 

 snout, and extension of the teeth to the tip of the lower jaw, the North- 

 ern Pickerel. 



The same thing will be found to be the case with all the other sub- 

 species, although the differences between them are so trifling, and so 

 purely technical, while their general resemblance is so great, and their 

 habits so entirely similar, rendering it impossible to mistake them for 

 fish of any other family, that 1 have deemed it superfluous to multiply 

 examples, or to give specific descriptions of more than the first four 

 species ; contenting myself with enumerating the others, and indica- 

 ting the localities in which they are to be found, which will be alto- 

 gether sufficient, in order to prevent confusion. 



Note to Rf.vised Edition. — Another species of tiiis voracious fish, Esox Pkale- 

 ratus, is laid down in some books, but it does not seem that any of the tiiree, Niger, 

 Vittatus, or P/ialeratus, are very clearly made out as permanent and distinct vji- 

 rieties. Their habits, haunts, and manner of feeding are all nearly identical ; and 

 until a more complete search of the western and southern waters has been made, it 

 is useless to attempt going into niinutioe of this kind. It is a singular fact, as staled 

 by Richardson, that uo Pike or Pickerel has ever been taken in waters west of the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



