462 COLLEGE ZOOLOGY 



Family ESOCID.E. The Pikes. There is one genus with 

 seven species of pikes; all of them occur in North America. The 



FIG. 392. The pike, Esox lucius. (From Jordan and Evermann.) 



common pike or pickerel, Esox lucius (Fig. 392), inhabits " all 

 suitable fresh waters of northern North America, Europe, and 

 Asia." It is extremely voracious, feeding on other fishes, frogs, 

 aquatic birds, and many other aquatic animals. The pike is an 

 excellent game-fish, but its flesh is not very good. The muskal- 

 lunge, Esox masquinongy, resembles the pike in form and habits. 

 It is found in the Great Lakes region and is a king among fresh- 

 water game-fishes, reaching a length of over seven feet and a 

 weight of almost a hundred pounds. 



Family AMBLYOPSID.E. The Cave-fishes. There are six 

 species of cave-fishes known from the subterranean streams of the 



FIG. 393. A cave-fish, Amblyopsis spdceus. (From Lankester's Treatise, 

 after Jordan and Evermann.) 



cave region of Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. They are 

 small fish, but are of special interest because the eyes of some of 



