288 GUINIAD. PIKE. 



largest mentioned has never exceeded half a pound. It 

 is of a very beautiful form and colour : the head is trans- 

 parent ; and the skin is so thin, that, with a good micro- 

 scope, the circulation of the blood may be perceived. 

 The colour of the back is whitish, with a cast of green : 

 below which it is varied with blue ; and then succeeds a 

 beautiful silvery gloss. The flesh has a peculiar scent, 

 but, in general, is agreeable to the palate. 



THE GUINIAD. 



This fish is an inhabitant of several lakes in the Alpine 

 parts of Europe. It is likewise found in Bala lake in Wales, 

 but must be fished with nets. In Scotland there is a tra- 

 dition that it was first introduced into that country by the 

 unfortunate queen Mary Stuart. It is a gregarious fish ; 

 and approaches the shores in vast shoals both in spring 

 and summer, which proves in many places of great relief 

 to the poor of the vicinity. Its flesh, however, is rather 

 insipid ; and it must be eaten soon after it is caught, or 

 preserved in salt. In weight it sometimes reaches three 

 or four pounds. The head is small, smooth, and of a 

 dusky hue : the back is a little arched, and glossed with 

 deep blue and purple; but towards the lateral lines assumes 

 a silvery cast, tinged with gold. The tail is much forked, 

 and the scales are large and closely adherent. 



THE PIKE. 



Tli is is a well-known fish, and in some places is called 

 the jack. The head is very flat, the upper jaw is broad 

 and shorter than the lower, and the teeth are sharp. It has 

 been sometimes caught of the weight of thirty pounds: 

 but this is rare, its general size being only about four or 

 five pounds ; and the flesh of such as are of the latter de- 

 scription is most esteemed. 



Pikes spawn in March or April, according to the mild- 

 ness of the season. When in perfection, their colours are 

 very fine ; being green spotted with a bright yellow, and the 

 gills of a vivid full red. When out of season, the green 



