Jordan and Ererniann. Fishes of North America. 025 



toothed; branchiostegals 12 to 20. Scales small; lateral line weak, obso- 

 lete in young specimens, developed in the adult. Dorsal posterior, oppo- 

 site and similar to anal; caudal fin emarginate; pectoral fins small, 

 inserted low ; ventrals rather posterior ; vent normal ; no adipose fin ; no 

 barbels ; stomach not ccecal, without pyloric appendages ; pseudobrauchise 

 glandular, hidden; air bladder simple. Basis cranii double (Cope.) 

 Fishes of moderate or large size, inhabiting the fresh waters of the north- 

 ern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. A single genus with 

 6 species, one of them cosmopolitan, the rest all confined to America. 

 The species are all noted for their greediness and voracity ; " mere 

 machines for the assimilation of other organisms." The flesh is excellent, 

 being white and flaky and of delicate flavor. The larger species are much 

 valued as food. (Esocidce, Giinther, Cat., vi, 226-230, 1866.) 



299. LUCIUS,* Rafinesque. 



(PIKES.) 



Esox, ARTEDI, Genera Piscium, 14, 1738, (in part, three species: The Pike, Garfish, and Gar Pike; 

 no type indicated, but the Pike was to ARTEDI the best-known species). 



Esox, LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat., Ed. x, 1758, 314, (in part, Indus, belons, osseus); (restricted by RAFIN- 

 ESQUE, 1810, to Esox belone). 



LHI-IHX, RAFINESQUE, Caratteri di Alcuni Nuovi Generi, 59, 1810, (lucius). 



I'U-ori'llns, f RAFINESQUE, Ich. Oh., 70, 1820, (vittatus, a mythical species). 



Ufascnlimgits, JORDAN, Klippart's Report, Ohio Fish Coinm., 92, 1878, (nobilior). 



Kenoza, JORDAN & EVERMANN, new subgenus, (americanus). 



Characters of the genus included above. (Lucius, the Latin name of 

 the Pike.) 



a. Cheeks entirely scaly; branchiostegals 11 to 16. 



KENOZA (an Indian name of the Pike, variously spelled by authors): 



b. Opercles entirely scaly; dorsal rays 11 to 14; color greenish, barred or reticulated with 



darker. 



c. Branchiostegals normally 12, (11 to 13); scales in lateral line 105 to 108; dorsal rays 11 

 or 12; anal rays 11 or 12; snout short, the middle of eye nearer tip of lower jaw 

 than posterior margin of opercle. Species of small size, the fins unspotted. 



* In retaining the generic name Lucius for the Pike, in preference to Esox, we have followed 

 the strict law of priority. The genus Esox of Linnams, composed primarily of E. lucius and 

 E. belone, with a few associated species, wns first subdivided by Rafinesque in 1810, the second 

 species, Belone, being chosen as the type. Later, in Cuvier's arrangement, Ivcms was left as the 

 type of Esox and a new name, Belone, given to Esox belone. This later arrangement has received 

 the sanction of general usage. It has the further justification, that the name Esox itself was 

 adopted by Artedi and Linnams, from Pliny, who applied it to the Pike, its application to the 

 Garfish also having been taken by Linmrus from Artedi. It is true that Linnaeus would have 

 regarded the Pike as his type of Esox. It is, however, also true that Rafinesque had the right 

 to select either species as the type in dividing the genus, and in his arrangement, the Garfish 

 remains Esox, and a new name, Lucius, is given to the Pike. 



Rafinesque says : "II genere UsoxdiLinneo estatodivisodaLacepede in quattro generi, Etox, 

 Sphyrxna, Synodus e Lepisostev*, id propongo di dividere uuovamente in due il suo genere Esox. 

 Lasciero questo nombrealle specie marine die hanno il corpo tetragono con due linee lateral! da 

 ogni lato comonel genere Exocoetus, le mascelle lunghe e strette, le ale dorsali lunghe, giungendo 

 dalP ano fino alia coda e falciformi, etc. Mentre formero un nuovo genere col uome di Lucius 

 delle specie fluviatili che hanno ilcorpo cilindrico, una sola linealaterale, le rnascelle larghe e le 

 ale dorsali ed anali corte e rotondate." 



f The name Picorellus, Rafinesque, can not properly be retained for any section of this genua, 

 as Esox vittaius, Rafinesque, on which it is based, is a mythical species described by Rafinesque 

 from a rude drawing, perhaps based on hearsay, and certainly not representing any known 

 species. 



F. N. A. 41 



