GENERA AND SPECIES. 97 



ventrals. The dorsal rises behind the ventrals and in the middle of 

 the back, and the anal is halfway between the ventrals and the 

 caudal. There are from 48 to 50 scales in the lateral line. The 

 scales are large and deciduous. The mouth is very deep and 

 reaches beyond the eye. The body is slender, and thicker along the 

 back than below. The greenish blue of the back is marked oft 

 from the silvery lower parts by a steely stripe. The Anchovy is 

 from 5 to 8 inches long, and swims in shoals, which, coming up the 

 Channel at night, can be detected by their phosphorescence. 



Esox. Plate xxiv. ESOCID&. 



185. hicius, PIKE. Dorsal and anal fins opposite and near caudal 



body long ; head long ; mouth large. 



There are from 20 to 23 rays in the dorsal fin, of which the first 

 6 or 8 are stronger than the others. In the anal there are from 17 

 to 19 rays, of which the first 6 or 8 are also stronger than the rest ; 

 in the caudal there are 19 rays ; in the pectorals 13 or 14, and in the 

 ventrals 9 or 10. The pectorals, ventrals, anal, and caudal are 

 almost at equal distances from one another. The dorsal begins just 

 in front of the anal, and ends at exactly the same short distance 

 from the caudal, where the body suddenly narrows. In the lateral 

 line there are from 125 to 130 scales. The scales are small, bifid at 

 the base, and extend on to the head. The back is almost straight 

 from the eye to the dorsal ; the abdomen is very slightly curved ; 

 the head is long and flattened above ; the mouth reaches to the eye, 

 the lower jaw being the longer. There are no teeth on the max- 

 illary ; those on the mandible are large at the sides and smaller in 

 front ; there are small teeth on the vomer and tongue, and larger 

 ones on the palatines. In colour the Pike is greenish or greyish, 

 with yellowish marblings and other markings ; in size it exceeds 

 3 feet, and is said to have attained 7 feet in Kirkcudbrightshire. It 

 is generally found in slow-running weedy rivers and ponds, close to 

 the surface in warm weather, and swimming deeper at other times. 

 It is quick of sight and hearing, ferocious, audacious, and persistent, 

 and mostly carnivorous, but will eat anything, even model yachts. 



Exoccetus. Plate xi. SCOMBRESOCID&. 



89. volitans, GREATER FLYING-FISH. Anal with 9 rays. 



90. evolans, FLYING-FISH. Anal with from 13 to 15 rays. 



The Greater Flying-Fish has from n to 13 dorsal rays; in its anal 

 are 9 rays, in its caudal 19, in its pectorals 15 to 17, and in its ventrals 

 6. The pectorals are placed high up, not far from the gills, and 

 extend to the base of the tail ; the ventrals overlap the anal. The 

 lower jaw is the longer, the snout is pointed, and the head wide and 

 flat between the eyes. In the lateral line there are 63 scales. In 

 colour it is bluish on the back, silvery below; the pectoral fins are 

 grey, with whitish edges. It exceeds 20 inches in length. It swims 

 in shoals, but in British waters is only known as a straggler. When 

 in the water the pectorals are held close to the body, but when it 

 springs above the surface it extends them to increase the length of 

 its leap, but it never flaps them, so that it glides rather than flies. 



