154 ANECDOTES OF FISHES 



markings, Mr. Bennet named the julis argus, or 

 peacock fish, the sides and fins being studded 

 with beautiful ocelli similar to the peacock's tail. 



Mirror, vol. xxv. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK. 



A monstrous river fish of prey. In the ac- 

 count of the expedition for exploring the country 

 between the rivers of St. Lawrence and Saguenay, 

 published in the Appendix to the Journals of 

 the House of Assembly, 1831, the following 

 passage appears : " We embarked at the point of 

 the Baie des Roches, north shore of the St. Law- 

 rence, and we had not proceeded far when we 

 were pursued by a monstrous fish of prey ; in 

 consequence of which we put to shore again. 

 This animal was four hours about us, as if watch- 

 ing us ; it came sometimes within twenty feet of 

 the rock on which we were, it was at least from 

 twenty to five and twenty feet long, and shaped 

 exactly like a pike; its jaws were from five to 

 six feet long, with a row of large teeth on each 

 side, of a yellowish colour, it kept itself some- 

 times for near a minute on the surface of the 

 water. I am not aware that any fish of the 

 above description has been seen in the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, or in the Lakes of Canada. Also, 

 after mentioning as inhabitants of these lakes, 

 the fish common to their country, they add the 

 tyrant of these lakes, with a bill of about a foot 



