160 PIKE. 



been present at the taking of an example which weighed thirty- 

 two pounds. In contrast with this, however, in Ireland a fish 

 of from twenty to forty pounds is not uncommon in the market ; 

 and I have been informed on good authority that at Castle 

 Coole lake in that country a Pike was obtained which was 

 not less than sixty pounds; and from the nobleman who 

 communicated this fact I further learn than an example had 

 been seen which was of the weight of seventy pounds. A note 

 is given in the "Magazine of Natural History," of a Pike taken 

 in Loch Lomond in Scotland, that weighed seventy-nine pounds; 

 and to go still higher, in the supplement to Daniels' "Rural 

 Sports," there is an account of the capture in the river Shannon 

 of one that weighed ninety-two pounds. It was observed to 

 have chased several Perch, which to save themselves from so 

 formidable a devourer, had thrown themselves on the shore; 

 but in its eagerness it had itself rushed into such shallow water 

 as did not allow of its retreat. 



Dr. Crull, already quoted, mentions an example which 

 measured five feet in length; but although we have been 

 favoured with specimens of almost a yard in length by the 

 kindness of the Earl of Enniskillen, our description is taken 

 from one that measured only sixteen inches. The general shape 

 lengthened, moderately compressed, round over the back, more 

 slender and compressed behind the dorsal and anal fins, which 

 fins are far behind and opposite each other; the beginning of 

 the dorsal a little in advance. Snout protruded before the 

 eyes, depressed, becoming thinner towards the mouth; a large 

 and strong mystache, which extends opposite the eye. Head 

 flat and wide; under jaw longest, gape wide; teeth slight on 

 the curve in front of the upper jaw with a vacancy at the 

 symphysis; but a very formidable arrangement within a long, 

 sharp, thickly-set bed round the palate, separated from those 

 in front of the upper jaw by a fleshy curtain. Teeth on the 

 middle of the palate (vomer;) tongue rough; under jaw with 

 less prominent teeth in front, but large, long, firm, and sharp, 

 a little incurved at the sides; a formidable arrangement, from 

 which no living thing that enters can hope to escape. Eyes 

 prominent, with a row of obvious pores behind it; pores also 

 round the under jaw; nostrils wide. The body covered with 

 scales; some also on the cheeks behind the eyes, which also 



