102 ROACH. SUCKER. PIKE. 



14. The Roaches, Leuciscus, form several species, all of 

 which are small. The Common Roach, Leuciscus vulyaris, 

 acquires seven or eight inches in length, and is remarkable for 

 its brilliant scales, which are easily detached ; they are silvery on 

 the sides, and under parts of the body. The nacreous substance 

 which gives them this metallic appearance, is employed in the 

 arts for the manufacture of false pearls. 



15. The Suckers, or Loaches, Cobitis, have^ mouth unpro- 

 vided with teeth ; but it is surrounded by lips fitted for sucking. 

 Their head is small ; the body is elongated, covered with small 

 scales, and enveloped in a mucosity or slime ; their ventral fins are 

 very far back, and over them is found a single small dorsal fin. 



16. The FAMILY OF ESOCES, which comprises the Pikes and 

 analogous fishes, has no adipose fin ; it is distinguished from the 

 preceding by the conformation of the mouth, and the existence 

 of teeth. 



17. The PIKES, JEsoz, are recognised by their oblong, obtuse, 

 broad, depressed muzzle ; they have but one dorsal fin which is 

 placed opposite to the anal, (Fig. 51.) and nearly the whole 

 entrance of the mouth, as well as the jaws, are full of teeth. 



The Common Pike, Esox 

 lucius, is found in the 

 fresh waters of Europe and 

 North America. It is less 

 common in the south than 

 P1KE> in the north, and is every 



where sought for its flesh, which is savoury, and of easy digestion. 

 It is the most voracious and most destructive of all the fresh 

 water fishes ; it devours with avidity, frogs, young ducks, and 

 all the fishes that come in its way. It often seizes animals larger 

 than itself, and its presence in a pond is sometimes enough to 

 depopulate it in a short time. Pikes four or five feet long, are 

 not rare in the great lakes of northern Europe, and one of still 

 larger size has been seen. In 1497, a Pike was caught at 

 Kaiserlautern, near Manheim, which was nearly nineteen feet in 

 length, weighing three hundred and fifty pounds. This gianf 

 was as remarkable for its great age, as for its size : for then 

 was found upon it a gilt copper ring bearing this inscription . 

 " I am the first fish that was thrown into this pond, by the hands 

 of Frederick II. October 5, 1230;" it was consequently, at least 



1 4. What are Roaches ? For what purpose are their scales used ? 



15. What are the characters of Loaches? 



16. What fishes compose the family of Esoces? 



17. How are the Pikes chaiacterised ? What are the habits of the com- 

 mon Pike ? 



