ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGIANS. 177 



beneath the origin of the dorsal, which is very large. The teeth are simi- 

 lar to those of a Fondule, and there are only four or five rays in the 

 branchiae*. 



Cyprinodons, Lacep., 



Have slender, small, and crowded teeth; six rays in the branchiae; other- 

 wise similar to the three preceding genera. 



There are some in the lakes of Austria, particularly in subterra- 

 neous streams, Cypr. umbra, Cuv. ; Umbra, Cramer; it is of a red- 

 dish brown, with some brown spots +. 



The second family of the Abdominal Malacopterygians is that of 



FAMILY II. 



ESOCES, 



Or the Pikes, which are also destitute of the adipose fin. The edge of 

 the upper jaw is formed by the intermaxillary, or at least, when it is not 

 quite so formed, the maxillary is destitute of teeth, and concealed in the 

 thickness of the lips. They are voracious; many of them ascend rivers, 

 and their intestine is short and without caeca; they all have a natatory 

 bladder. With the exception of the Microstomas, all those that are 

 known have the dorsal opposite to the anal. Linnaeus united them in the 

 genus 



Esox, Lin., 

 Pikes, which we divide as follows : 



Esox, Cuv. 



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, but the jaws which occupy their sides have no teeth. 

 The vomer, palatines, tongue, pharyngeals, and rays of the branchiae, 

 are bristled with teeth like a card; a series of long pointed teeth on 

 the sides of the lower jaw. The snout is oblong, obtuse, broad, and de- 

 pressed; but one dorsal opposite the anal; the large and plaited stomach 

 is continuous, with an intestine very thin, without caeca, and twice flexed; 

 a very large natatory bladder. 



E. lucius, L., Bl. 32. (The Common Pike). Well known as 

 one of the most voracious and destructive of all fishes, but whose 

 flesh is pleasant and of easy digestion. This species, which inha- 

 bits Europe, is found also in the fresh waters of North America, 



* Molinesia latipinna, Lesueur, Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1821, III, 1. 



t Add, Cyprinodon flavulus, Val. ]oc. cit. LI II, 3, which is the Esox flavulus, 

 Mitch, pi. iv, 8, or the Cobitis maialis, Schn. ; — C. ovinus, or Esoxovinus, Mitch., lb.; 

 — C. variegalus, Lacep. V, xv, 1. 



VOL. II. N 



