GAR PIKE. 113 



length is from two to three feet -, sometimes more : 

 the jaws are very long, slender, and sharp-pointed ; 

 the lower extending much farther than the upper, 

 and the edges of both armed with numerous, short, 

 slender teeth : the inside of the mouth is purple : 

 the tongue small : the eyes large, with silvery 

 irides : the body is slender, and the belly flat, 

 bounded on both sides by a rough line : the colours 

 of the living fish are extremely beautiful ; the back 

 being of a very fine green, beneath which is a rich 

 changeable blue and purple cast, while the sides 

 and belly are of a bright silver-colour : the pectoral 

 fins consist of fourteen rays, the ventral, which is 

 small, and very remote from the head, of seven, the 

 first of which is spiny : the dorsal and anal fins are 

 situated near the tail, and grow gradually shallower 

 as they approach that part, which is pretty deeply 

 forked. This fish is in considerable esteem as a 

 food, but is rarely admitted to superior tables, on 

 account of a prejudice entertained against the ap- 

 pearance of the spine, and bones, which acquire a 

 green colour by boiling. 



v. v. P. i. 



