24 THE PIKE 



and narrow, without the graceful curvature that 

 characterises the Salmonidae ; the setting back of 

 the dorsal fin to near the tail, in correspondence 

 exactly with the anal fin, which is abnormally large, 

 is a further point of disfavour. The following 

 technical description I quote by permission of the 

 publisher (Horace Cox, Bream's Buildings) from 

 Day's ' British Fishes/ volume 2, page 140 : 



Length of head 3^ to 4, of caudal fin 6, height of 

 body 6J to 7 in the total length. Eyes situated in 

 about the middle of the length of the head, the 

 diameter of each 7 to 12 times the length of the head, 

 4 to 6 diameters from the end of the snout, and ij to 

 2 apart. The dorsal and abdominal profiles nearly 

 horizontal and parallel, causing the body to be of an 

 almost equal height from the head, to the commence- 

 ment of the dorsal and anal fins, its head flattened 

 above, while its length is equal to nearly twice that of the 

 height of the body. Cleft of mouth very deep, equalling 

 about half the length of the head ; lower jaw a little 

 the longer. The middle of the upper jaw is slightly 

 emarginate, and receives the head of the vomer ; on 

 either side are the short premaxillaries, which are not 

 nearly so long as the maxilla, which is composed of two 

 pieces, is capable of a considerable amount of motion, 

 and reaches posteriorly to beneath the front edge of the 

 eye. Nostrils large, and nearer the orbit than the end 

 of the snout. Numerous glandular orifices on the head. 

 7>^//z none on the maxillary : large ones and of unequal 

 sizes on the mandibles ; present on the vomer and pala- 



