2 6z THE flKE* 



dlffeminated *. When the female pike Is about to fpawii^ 

 flie is faid to withdraw as much as poffiblefrom the com- 

 mon haunts of thefe fiflies, that fhe may conceal her brood 

 from the depredations of the reft, it being a well known 

 fa6l, that the male of many fpecies purfues the female 

 when about to depofit her ova, and on the firft oppor- 

 tunity devours them. 



V/hen the pike is in feafon, its colours are a very bril- 

 liant mixture of green, with bright yellow fpots ; the 

 gills are then of a vivid and full red ; when out of feafoh, 

 all thefe colours decay; the green becomes gray, and the 

 yellow fpots grow pale. It is only when in feafon that 

 their fieili is eatable : it is then white, firm and palatable 

 food. Gefner relates a mofl extraordinary method of ex- 

 poiing them to fale in England^ which feems as little en- 

 titled to credit as his account of their longevity. He 

 heard, he alleges, from an eye witnefs, that the animal's 

 lireaft was cut up about two inches, to fhew its degree of 

 fatnefs, and if no purchafer offered, the wound was in- 

 llantly lowed up, and the llfh again committed to the pond, 

 where, by being rubbed with the glutinous matter on the 

 body of the tench, it was fcon cured f. In fome parts 

 of England the pike was formerly fed in fniall perforated 

 boxes of wood, fixed by chains to the banks of the river. 

 Such floating chefts Willoughhy declares he has frequent- 

 ly feen in a river near Canterbury. 



The feafon of generation among the pikeS is in March 

 or April, according to the heat of the weather: their 

 fertility is extraordinary j an hundred and forty-eight 



thoufand 



* Willoiigh. ut)i fupra. f Vide Gefner apud Will. p. ajS. 



