GENERAL DESCEIPTION. 247 



Pupil dark aud vitreous; irides mottled with blacky and 

 yellowish. Membrane of the spinous dorsal fin transparent, 

 with a few dark dashes ; the upper part of the membrane tipped 

 with black. Soft dorsal fin light yellowish, spotted with brown 

 in irregular longitudinal bars. Ventral fins transparent yel- 

 lowish; pectoral fins yellowish olive, with brownish bars. Anal 

 fin transparent yellowish, with a broad whitish margin ; caudal 

 fin with irregular dusky bars. 



" The body is elongated, cylindrical, and tapering. Scales of 

 moderate size ; lateral line straight from the upper edge of the 

 gill-covers to the tail. Pre-operculum serrated with a series of 

 distant spines. Opercle with one slender flat terrinal spine, 

 beyond which is a pointed membrane. Branchial rays, seven. 

 Mouth wide, extensible ; the lower jaws received into the upper. 

 A series of acute recurved teeth in both jaws, and on the vomer 

 and palatines. Two very long and conspicuous teeth, resem- 

 bling canines, in front of each jaw ; those of the lower received 

 into cavities above. Teeth on the vomer minute. Tongue 

 smooth, pointed, free. The first dorsal fin is composed of 

 thirteen or fourteen long slender spinous rays ; the second 

 dorsal has one short, simple, subspinous ray, and twenty-one 

 soft rays; the pectorals have fourteen soft rays; the ventrals 

 one stout spine and five branched rays ; the anal one spine aud 

 fourteen rays ; the caudal is deeply furcate, and has seventeen 

 distinct, beside many accessory, rays." 



This fish is a true Perch, though its form, elongated mouth, 

 and fiercely predatory habits suggest the idea of a Pike, whence 

 Dr. Dekay has given it the appellation of Pike-Perch, which is 

 a translation of its classical name, in preference to the name 



