1818.] THE GENUS ESOX. 415 



in the months of March and October, vary a little from 

 individuals which 1 observed in the Connecticut river, 

 by having the reticulated spaces smaller, more oblique, 

 iiregular in many specimens, and the fins are generally 

 more reddish than green, which is probably owing to the 

 influx of blood into their vessels after death, a circum- 

 stance common to many kinds of fish. 



An individual seventeen inches long, had a Rock fish 

 (Perca Saxatilis) in his stomach eight inches long. 



Dr. Mitchill has noticed a species of Esox (Trans. 

 Philos. of Newyork) which he believes to be the same 

 as he E. lucius of Lin.; but as I have not seen any 

 which could be referred to that species, 1 must consider 

 this which I have described as a new one. 



3. E. niger. Body each side golden yellow, with nu- 

 merous black bands interrupted into about three parts, 

 more distinct towards the head and more confused be- 

 hind; belly whitv, immaculate ; back and head deep black, 

 immaculate; pectoral and anal fins orange-yellow; dorsal 

 and caudal fins blueish, the latter slightly en:arginate, 

 lobes acute; dorsal and anal fins opposite, subequal, 

 rounded. 



My collection. 



Form of the body as in the preceding species; the 

 bands are confluent on the back and divided into about 

 three oblique segments each side, more distinct and acute 

 »ear the abdomen; mouth large, inferior jaw rectilinear, 

 slightly longer than the superior one, teefh as in the pre- 

 ceding species; scales profoundly emargmate, somewhat 

 bilobated; head, inferior jaw and snout without scales; 



