VIPER-MOUTHED PIKE. 121 



under that of Esox, is a native of the Mediterranean 

 sea, and seems to have been first described by 

 Catesby from a specimen presented to Sir Hans 

 Sloane. The specimen above-mentioned is preserv- 

 ed in the British Museum, but does not exhibit on 

 its surface any of that reticulated or hexagonally 

 marked appearance expressed in the figure of 

 Catesby : this perhaps may have been obliterated 

 by length of time. The representation here given 

 is considerably smaller than the natural size ; the 

 fish being eighteen inches in length : its colour, 

 when living, is said to be an obscure greenish 

 brown, A specimen occurs also in the Leverian 

 Museum. 



