MALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALES. 221 



Esox, Lin. 



The Pikes, properly so called, have small intermaxillaries furnished with little 

 pointed teeth in the middle of the upper jaw, of which they form the two- 

 thirds, those on the sides of the jaw being edentated. The vomer, pala- 

 tines, tongue, pharyngeals and rays of the branchiae, bristled with teeth 

 resembling those of a card; a series of long pointed teeth on the sides of the 

 lower jaw. 



E. luciuSfL. (The Common Pike.) Well known as one of the most 

 voracious and destructive of all fishes, but whose flesh is highly esteemed. 

 This species, which inhabits Europe, is found in the fresh waters of North 

 America, where two other species are also to be met with; the flanks of the 

 one, Esox reticularis, Lesueur, are marked with brownish lines, sometimes 

 resembling net-work; the other, Esox estor, is sprinkled with round black- 

 ish spots. 



This genus is also subdivided into several subgenera. The most remar- 

 kable is the 



BELONE, Cuv. 



The whole edge of the upper jaw, which as well as the lower one is ex- 

 tended into a long snout, formed by the intermaxillaries, both furnished 

 with small teeth, no others in the mouth, and those of the pharynx en pave. 

 The body is elongated and covered with scales, which are not very appa- 

 rent, one longitudinal carinated range near the lower edge excepted. The 

 bones are very remarkable for their colour, which is a beautiful green. 



B. vulgaris. (The Gar-Fish.) Two feet long; green above, white be- 

 neath; found on the coast of France, where its flesh is much esteemed, not- 

 withstanding the colour of the bones. Neighbouring species inhabit all 

 seas. The bite of one of them, which is said to attain a length of eight feet, 

 is considered dangerous. 



EXOCETUS, Lin. 



These well known, or Flying-Jishes, as they are called, are instantly distin- 

 guished among the Abdominales by the excessive size of their pectorals, 

 which are sufficiently large to support them in the air for n few moments. 

 Their head and body are scaly, and a longitudinal range of carinated scales 

 forms a salient line on the lower part of each flank, as in the Hemiramphi, 

 &c. The head is flattened above and on the sides; the dorsal placed above 

 the anal; the eyes large, the intermaxillaries without pedicles and constitu- 

 ting the whole edge of the upper jaw; their two jaws are furnished with 

 small pointed teeth, and their pharyngeals with teeth like a pavement 



They do not fly far: rising in the air to avoid their voracious enemies, they 

 soon fall into the sea, their wings merely acting as parachutes. Birds pur- 

 sue them through the air and Fishes through the water. They are found hi 

 all the seas of hot and temperate climates. 



E. exilens, Bl. Common in the Mediterranean, and easily recognized by 



