470 



VERTEBKATA. 



THE OWrXIAD. 



(ifftus COKE* JON US: Com/onu*, includes the Gwvniad, C. /era, h lake fish of Northern 



Europe, ten to twelve inches long; it is 

 gregarious, and approaches the shores 

 in vast shoals in spring and suniinor, 

 a Inindrcd being often taken at a draft. 

 Tlicv are called Fresh-Water Hcrr'nif/^ 

 ami being cheap, are eaten by the 

 poorer classcfi, though they are insijnd. 

 Many arc preserved by saltincj. 



The Attihawmeo or White Fish. 

 C. albus, resembles the Gwyniad and 

 Vendace of Europe, but greatly sur- 

 passes them, being probably the most delicious of all known purely fresh-water fishes. Richard- 

 son «iys one may live upon it for years without tiring. Its average weight is three or four 

 pounds, but it sometimes reaches twenty poumU. It is found in Chatauque Lake in Western Now 

 Y.irk. in Eric, and Huron, the finest in the latter. Here, indeed, it is chiefly taken, though it 

 exists in the waters i>f the Xorthwestern British territories. It ascends the rivers connected with 

 the lakes to spawn, in October. It feeds on shell-fish, small fishes, and insects, and is occasion- 

 ally taken with the hook. It comes both iresh and salted to the New York market. 



The Otsego Bass, C. Otsego, is one to two feet long, and is exceedingly beautiful, and of ex- 

 quisite flavor; it is only found in Otsego 

 Lake, and appears to be daily diminishing. 

 The Yendace, C. Willughbii, is a 

 small fish, of delicate flavor, seven inches 

 long, taken with nets in some of the Scot- 

 tish lakes. In flavor it resembles the 

 smelt. It spawns in November, Avhen it 

 congregates in vast shoals, making a noise 

 like that of the herrings as they rise and 

 fiiU to and from the surface. It is be- 

 lieved in Scotland that this fish was introduced there from the Continent, by Queen Mary. 



THE GALIXIID^. 



This family, established by Miiller, contains the single genus Gahaxias, placed by Cuvier with 



the Esocidce: they agree with the salmons in their general structure; the opening of the mouth 



is small, with middle-sized teeth in both jaws ; there are also a few stray crooked teeth on the 



tongue. The position of the dorsal and anal fins, and also the digestive organs, are like those 



of the pikes. 



THE ESOCID^. 



In this family, which comprises the Pikes, the biting edge of the upper jaw is formed as in 

 the Sahnonidce, by both the maxillary and intermaxillary bones; the mouth is furnished with a 

 most formidable apparatus of teeth, almost all the bones which assist in the formation of that 

 cavity being thus armed. All the known fishes of this family inhabit fresh water, and only occur 

 in temperate climates. They are of an elongated form, clothed with cycloid scales, and furnished 

 with powerful fins, their whole conformation being eminently adapted for that rapid motion 

 through their native element, without which their voracious propensities would stand but a poor 

 chance of gratification. The only fish now placed in this family are the true Pikes, and a few 

 small fishes forming the genus Umbra, of which one species is found in the rivers of Austria. 



Genus ESOX : £!sox, includes the Common Pike or Pickerel of Europe, £J. lucius ; it is 

 strong, fierce, and active, swims rapidly, and occasionally darts along with the swiftness of an 

 arrow. The spawn is deposited among weeds in March, or early in April, and at this season 

 the spawning fish will be found in warm creeks or ditches connected with the larger waters 

 which they generally inhabit. It is common in the principal lakes and rivers of Europe, and is 



THB VENDACE. 



