MALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALES. 207 



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

 completely so formed, the maxillary is edentated and conceal- 

 ed in the thickness of the lips. The fishes which compose it 

 are extremely voracious ; their intestine is short and without 

 C8Bca ; they all have a natatory bladder, and many of them 

 ascend rivers. With the exception of the Microstomsa, all 

 those that are known have the dorsal opposite to the anal. 

 Linnaeus united them in the genus 



Esox, Lin. 



Which we divide as follows: 



Esox, Cuv. 



The Pikes, properly so called, have small intermaxillaries furnished 

 Avith 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 eden- 

 tated. The vomer, palatines, tongue, pharyngeals and rays of the 

 branchiae, bristled with teeth resembling those of a cardj a series of 

 long pointed teeth on the sides of the lower jaw. The snout is ob- 

 long, obtuse, broad, and depressed ^ but one dorsal opposite the anal; 

 the large and plaited stomach continuous, with an intestine without 

 caeca, which is twice flexed; a 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 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, JSsox reti- 

 cularis, Lesueur, Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad., are marked Avith brown- 

 ish lines, sometimes resembling net-work; the othtv, Esox Estory 

 Id., lb., I, 413, is sprinkled with round blackish spots. 



Galaxias, Cuv. 



No apparent scales on the body; the mouth slightly cleft; mode- 

 rate and pointed teeth in the palatines and two jaws; nearly the 

 whole edge of the upper one being formed by the intermaxillary; a 

 few strong, hooked teeth on the tongue. The sides of the head pre- 

 sent some pores, and the dorsal is opposite to the anal as in a true 

 Esox; the intestines also resemble those of the latter. (l) 



Mitch, pi. iv, 8, or the Cobiiis rnuialls, Schn.; — C. ovinus, or Esox ovimis, Mitch., 

 lb.; — C. variegaius, I.ac^p., V, xv, 1. 

 (1) Esox truttaceus, Ciiv. ; — Esox alcpidolus, Forst. 



