Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 709 



longer, wide-set, sharp, conical, unequal teeth; no teeth on vomer or 

 palatines. Scales small, thin .; lateral line running along the side of 

 the belly, becoming median on the tail. No finlets. Dorsal fin more or 

 less elevated anteriorly ; caudal fin short, unequally lunated or forked; 

 pectorals moderate; ventrals small, the latter inserted behind the middle 

 of the body. Gill rakers obsolete. Bones usually more or less green. 

 Size comparatively large. Species numerous. Voracious fishes, chiefly 

 American ; one species crossing to Europe; some of them entering rivers. 

 This genus differs from the Old World genus Esox,* (Linnaeus) Rafinesque, 

 (= Bel one, Cuvier), in the absence of gill rakers and of vomerine teeth. 

 (rt'Aof, callus; ovpd, tail; in allusion to the caudal keel, on which the 

 genus was originally based, a character of little importance.) 



a. Mouth capable of being nearly or quite closed, the upper jaw not conspicuously arched at 



base. 



l>. Caudal peduncle compressed, deeper than broad, without trace of keel along the lateral 

 line; dorsal anil anal fins short, each of 13 to 16 rays, the posterior rays not elevated; 

 anal longer than dorsal and inserted farther forward; jaws slender, about twice as 

 long as rest of head; no fold of skin across preopercle; caudal subtruncatc, the 

 lower lobe somewhat produced; sides with a bluish-silvery band; species of small 

 size, with the scales and bones not green. 



o. Scales comparatively large, about 85 before the dorsal fin, and about 7 or 8 rows on 

 the cheeks; body robust, the depth about 5 in head; coloration pale, tho dorsal 

 and caudal brick red in life; lateral stripe narrow for its entire length; no scap- 

 ular blotch. NOTATUS, 1049. 

 co. Scales small, 140 to 150 before dorsal fin, about 12 rows on the cheeks; body slen- 

 der; ventrals inserted at a point nearer cheeks than base of caudal; fins with- 

 out red; lateral stripe broadened below the dorsal fin. 

 il. Region above base of pectorals with a conspicuous round blackish blotch. 



SCAPULARIS, 1050. 



dil. Region above base of pectorals without black spot. 



e. Body very slender, the depth 7 in head, which is 2| in body; eye moderate, 

 2% to 2% in poslorbital part of head; no distinct notch in the temporal 

 ridge; maxillary not entirely concealed by preorbital. I). 1, 15; A. 1, 17; 

 scales in lateral line 225. TIMUCU, 1051. 



ee. Body less slender, the depth 6 in head, which is 2 T 9 in body; eye large, 2J 

 iu postorbital part of head; a distinct notch on temporal ridge close 

 behind eye; maxillary almost entirely concealed by the preorbital. 

 D. 1, 15; A. 1, 17; scales in lateral line 200. EURYOPS, 1052. 



bb. Caudal peduncle very much depressed, wider than deep, but without trace of keel. 

 Head 2% in length; eye 2^ in postorbital part of head; maxillary nearly con- 

 cealed by preorbital; body subterete; snout very nearly twice length of rest of 

 head; brownish above, silvery below, a bluish lateral stripe edged below with 

 black and yellowish; scales not very small. D. 1C; A. 17. BIPLOT/ENTA, 1053. 



bbl>. Caudal peduncle more or less depressed, or, at least, with a more or less developed 



dermal keel along the lateral line; scales and bones more or less green. 

 /. Dorsal and anal fins short, each of 14 to 19 rays, the anal larger than the dorsal 

 and beginning farther forward; last rays of dorsal and anal low; jaws slender, 

 about twice as long as rest of head; no fold of skin across preopercle. 

 g. Eye very small, 4 to 5 in postorbital part of head; caudal keel sharp, color 



black; body and tail much depressed; teeth very small. 

 li. Eye 5 in postorbital part of head; dorsal rays 14; A. 15. MICROPS, 1054- 



* From th" original genus Esox of Linnrcus, the groups called Sphyrxna, Sr/noffris, and Lep'isosteus 

 were detached by Laci-pi-de as distinct genera in 1803. In 1810 the remaining species were 

 divided by Rafinesque into two genera, Lucius, Rafinesque, typified by Esox Indus, Linnaeus, and 

 Esox, of which Esox belone was taken as the type. This restriction of the generic name Esox t 

 being the earliest, must stand, and the name Esox must supersede Bilone. 



