20 Guide to the British Fresh- Water Fishes 



a weiglit ut -1 lbs. The example exhil)iteLl, taken from the Severn 

 at Worcester, was presented by C. H. Cook, Esq. 



Killarney Shad, Alosa finta killarnensis. — This interesting 

 l)ut little-known form is a permanent resident in the Lakes of 

 Killarney. It ditiers from the migratory Twaite Shad in the 

 deeper body and the more numerous gill-rakers ; the latter 

 number 30 to 33 on the lower part of the anterior branchial 

 arch. The largest specimen as yet recorded is only 8 inches long. 



ESOCIDAE. 



This family differs from the Salmonidae and Clupeidae in tiie 

 postei'ior position of the dorsal fin, which is above the anal ; there 

 is no adipose fin. It includes the single genus Esox, with six 

 species in Europe, Northern Asia and North America. 



35. Pike, Esox liicins. — This fish is so well known as to need 

 no description ; but it may be noted that the strong erect fixed 

 teeth of the lower jaw are adapted for holding its prey, and that 

 the bands of slender depressible teeth on the tongue and on the 

 roof of the mouth help its passage inwards. The Pike is found 

 all over Europe, except Spain and Portugal ; it ranges through 

 Kussian Turkestan, Siberia and Mongolia, and in North America 

 from Alaska to the Great Lakes ; in the British Isles it is 

 generally distributed, but becomes local in Northern Scotland. A 

 weight of 40 lbs. is rarely exceeded in this country, but there 

 seems little reason to doubt that a Pike of 52 lbs. was taken 

 when Whittlesea Mere was drained in 1851, or that a still larger 

 one was taken about 1775 in Loch Ken. The Pike is sohtary, 

 and feeds on other fishes ; in the winter they pair, and in the 

 early spring they make their way into ditches, backwaters, etc., 

 and spawn among the weeds. The specimen exhibited, from 

 Lough Arrow, was presented by Messrs. Williams and Son in 

 1907. It measures 46 inches in length, and probably weighed 

 about 35 lbs. Another fine Irish Pike, 30 lbs. in weight, from 

 Lough Conn, is shown in the Pish Gallery (Case 10, No. 407). 



ANGUILLIDAE. 



The Eels are recognized by the long, subcylindrical body, the 

 terminal mouth, with bands of pointed teeth, the small gill- 

 openings, the absence of pelvic fins, and the long dorsal and anal 

 fins extending to the end of the tail. The family Anguillidae in- 

 cludes the genus AngniUa, with several Tndo-Pacific species and 



