FAMILY ESOCIDJE; PIKE, FLYING-FISH. 43 



and destructive of all the smaller fishes. Mr. Jesse mentions, 

 that eight Pike, of about 5 Ib's. weight each, consumed nearly 

 eight hundred Gudgeons in three weeks ; and that one of these 

 devoured five Roach, each about four inches in length, within a 

 quarter of an hour. The Pike not only makes havoc among 

 other fish, but will devour frogs, water-rats, field-mice, and the 

 smaller aquatic birds ; and instances are on record, in which 

 it has even attacked Man. It grows rapidly, and sometimes 

 attains the weight of more than 30 Ibs. It is a very long-lived 

 fish, having been known to attain the age of 90 years, 

 and having in one instance (there is reason to believe) lived to 

 the patriarchal age of 267 years, and attained the length of nine- 

 teen feet. The Gar-fish^ or Sea-Pike, has a much more elon- 

 gated mouth, which is not so well furnished with teeth. It is 

 quick and active in the water ; swimming with considerable 

 rapidity near the surface, and leaping and gambolling as if in the 

 exuberance of vivacity. This fish comes in shoals to the south- 

 ern coast of Britain, in the months of April and May ; and from 

 its appearing a short time before the Mackarel, it is termed by 

 the fishermen the Mackarel-guide. It is not in much esteem as 

 an article of food. To this group also belongs the Exocetus, 

 best known as the Fly ing -fish ; which is remarkable for the 

 enormous development of its pectoral fins, and for its power of 

 sustaining itself upon them out of water. It is necessary to 

 bear in mind that the term Flying-fish has been applied to this 

 genus, in common with the Flying Gurnard ( 555) ; and that, 

 although really so different, they have been continually con- 

 founded together in the accounts of voyagers. The term Flying- 

 fish ought to be restricted to the Exocetus ; which is the one 

 that best deserves it. Various species exist in different parts of 

 the seas of warm latitudes ; and our own coast has been occa- 

 sionally visited by them. As elsewhere stated (ANIM. PHYSIOL. 

 667), their flight through the air seems entirely to depend 

 upon the impulse they receive from the stroke of their fins upon 

 the water, at the moment of quitting it. They are to a certain 

 degree supported by their wing-like fins, while sailing through 

 the air ; but they do not seem able to raise or to propel them- 



