2i 



PIKE. 



Lucius ESOX; of the genus of abdo'--* 

 muialcs : the diftinguiiliing chura&er is 

 tlu ventral fins being placed behind the 

 pectoral. A very fierce and ravenous 

 fifh, whofb body is rather long, tru* 

 head broad and flat, terminating in the 

 form of a duck's beak, the mouth re- 

 markably wide, the upper and lo wet- 

 jaws armed with a tripple row of flrong. 

 an 1 fliarp teeth, nor does the tongue, 

 which is large and flat, appear lefs ter- 

 rible, it being covered with ftrong re- 

 taining teeth quite to the orifice of t!ic 

 ftomach, the back appears of a green iftt 

 Cdfb irregularly iluided with y 

 ftrioes, which have, when they are ftrfl: 

 taken, a beautiful appearance, the {hades 

 continue down the ful:s, but are lefs- 

 diftinft, and the dorfal fm is placed lo\v 

 on the back. 



The pike fpawn in March, at which 

 feafon they retire to weeds, ditches, 

 or any other quiet place, where if not 

 difturbed they will continue a week 



