PIKE. 389 



to four : the dorsal fin, placed very far back, commences in a 

 vertical line over the vent ; the first ray short ; the second 

 and third increasing in length, but shorter than the fourth ; 

 the length of the base of the fin about equal to the length of 

 the longest of its rays : the dorsal and anal fins terminate on 

 the same plane. From the point of the nose to the origin of 

 the pectoral fin, from thence to the origin of the ventral fin, 

 thence to the commencement of the anal fin, and from the 

 vent to the end of the fleshy portion of the tail, are four 

 nearly equal distances : the pectoral and ventral fins small ; 

 the rays of the anal fin elongated, exceeding the length of 

 the base of the fin ; the first three rays shorter than the 

 fourth : caudal rays long and forked. The fin-rays in num- 

 ber are 



D. 19 : P. 14 : V. 10 : A. 17 : C. 19. 



The head is elongated, depressed, wide ; gape extensive : 

 the teeth on the vomer small ; those on the palatine bones 

 larger and longer, particularly those on the line of the inner 

 edges ; none on the superior maxillary bones : the lower jaw 

 the longest, with numerous small teeth round the front, the 

 sides with five or six, at a distance from each other, very long 

 and sharp ; the nostrils in a groove at three-fourths of the 

 distance between the point of the nose and the eyes ; the 

 upper surface of the head exhibits various mucous orifices, 

 placed in pairs ; the eyes near the frontal line, and half- 

 way between the point of the nose and the end of the gill- 

 cover ; cheeks and upper part of the operculum cover- 

 ed with scales ; preoperculum and operculum smooth and 

 silvery, closing upon a corresponding smooth, circular, silvery 

 disk. The colour of the head and upper part of the back 

 dusky olive brown, becoming lighter and mottled with green 

 and yellow on the sides, passing into silvery white on the 



