PIKE. 161 



are prominent in lines high on the side, running to meet each 

 other along the middle of the back. The scales on the belly- 

 appear as if sunk in the skin, and separate from each other. 

 The gill-covers extend considerably backward. Lateral line 

 little perceptible at first, straight. Dorsal fin with eighteen 

 rays, of which the fourth is the longest; anal also with eighteen, 

 the first three or four very short; the colour of both yellowish, 

 with strongly marked black rays; pectoral fins low, under the 

 throat, round, yellow; ventrals abdominal, but much anterior 

 to the anal, yellow with a white border. Caudal fin broad, 

 forked, with eighteen rays, the main stem of each of which 

 gives off branches only on one side, which is that, above and 

 below, which is directed towards the middle of the fin. Colour 

 of the top of the head and back dark brownish green, yellowish 

 green on the- sides, with scattered yellow spots; white below; 

 a broad band from the front of each eye; and other bands 

 from below pass forward, converging to the sides of the snout. 

 A remarkable structure in the eye of this fish, discovered by 

 Mr. Drummond, (Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. ii,) 

 appears to shew a special power of regulating distances in sight, 

 and in no British fish are the three bones of the ear (Otoliths) 

 on each side so decidedly visible. 



YOU IV. 



