236 ESOCID^. 



than in this Pickerel ; nothing was left unchanged except those 

 specific characters on which alone permanent distinctions can 

 be founded; and without a knowledge of which the quickest 

 observation is useless, so far as assigning their places to any of 

 the animal kingdom. 



In addition to the four species above described, there are laid 

 down in the books three others, besides the hideous Garpike, 

 or Alligator Gar (Esox Osseus), of the West. 



These are the Esox Niger, Esox Phaleratus, and Esox 

 Vittatus, of the western waters, all which are so closely allied, 

 and so closely similar in habit, that there is no object in 

 occupying space in their description, the rather as they are 

 well known, and not liable to be mistaken for others of the 

 same family. 



