MALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALES. 211 



ANABLEPS, Blumenbach. 



The fishes of this genus, for a long time, and very improperly, united with 

 the Cobites, possess very peculiar characters : the cornea and iris of their very 

 prominent eyes, which are placed under a roof formed on each side by the 

 frontal, are divided into two portions by transverse bands, so that the organ of 

 sight has two pupils, and appears to be double, although it has but one crystal- 

 line and one vitreous humour, and but one retina, a peculiarity of which there 

 is no other example among vertebrated animals. 



But a single species is known ; the Anableps tetrophtalmus, Bl. ; it inhabits 

 the rivers of Guiana. 



FAMILY II. 

 ESOCES. 



WE find no adipose fin in this family. The edge of the upper jaw is 

 formed by the intermaxillary, or when it is not com- 

 pletely so formed, the maxillary is edentated and con- 

 cealed in the thickness of the lips. The fishes which 

 compose it are extremely voracious. With the exception 

 of the Microstomse, all those that are known have the 

 dorsal opposite to the anal. Linnaeus united them in the genus 



Esox, Linnceus. 



The Pikes, properly so called, have small intermaxillaries furnished with 

 little pointed teeth in the middle of the upper jaw, of which they form the 

 two-tliirds, those on the sides of the jaw being edentated. The vomer, 

 palatines, tongue, pharyngeals and rays of the branchiae, bristled with teeth 

 resembling those of a carp ; a series of long pointed teeth on the sides of the 

 lower jaw. 



E. lucius, Lin. (The Common Pike). Well known as one of the most 

 voracious and destructive of fresh water fishes, but whose flesh is highly 

 esteemed. This species, which inhabits Europe, is also found in the fresh waters 

 of North America, where two other species are also to be met with; the 

 flanks of the one, Esox reticularis, Lesueur, are marked with brownish lines, 

 sometimes resembling net- work ; the other, Esox estor, is sprinkled with round 

 blackish spots. 



This genus is also subdivided into several subgenera. The most remark- 

 able is the 



BELONB, Cuvier. 



The whole edge of the upper jaw, which as well as the lower one is 

 extended into a long snout, formed by the intermaxillaries, both furnished 

 with small teeth, no others in the mouth, and those of the pharynx en pave. 

 The body is elongated and covered with scales, which are not very apparent, 



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