34 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Common Pikes (cxos lucius), plate 21, fig. 7, 

 have an oblong, broad, depressed muzzle ; strong teeth, 

 and measures several feet in length ; are blackish above, 

 gray on the sides, with yellow dots ; the young are green, 

 and therefore termed grass pike. The pike is found in 

 all the rivers and lakes of Europe and North America, 

 and, being most voracious and destructive, is the king and 

 tyrant of all the fresh waters. Bold as greedy, it devours 

 with avidity frogs, birds, water rats, snakes, and all fishes 

 that come in its way. Fishes with sharply rayed dorsal 

 fins, which they can not readily swallow living, are held 

 between its strong teeth until they are dead. The 

 stickling is the only one of the finny tribes which is 

 spared by the pike, and this not always, for it is some- 

 times seized upon by an inexperienced young one, and 

 mostly killed. The growth of these fishes is very rapid, 

 in their third year measuring two feet, in their sixth 

 three, and in their twelfth four. In spawning time, 

 which is in April, it is said they become partially blind ; 

 they can then be taken very easily by the hand ; the 

 places mostly chosen as safe spots for the eggs, are shal- 

 lows overgrown with reeds. The manner of fishing for 

 pike is either by the hook or by spearing them ; the first 

 is baited either with a small live fish, or an artificial 

 one, ma.de of brass, with red eyes ; this, glittering in the 

 moonshine, is very attractive, and they take it readily. - 



The Romans held the flesh of the pike rather in con- 

 tempt ; at the present day, however, it is much esteemed, 

 and in Europe they are frequently kept in ponds and fed 

 on white fish and carrion. The bones of the skull are 

 most ingeniously arranged, and many of the superstitious 

 pretend to discover in them the form of the instruments 

 used in the crucifixion. 



