122 FISH GALLERY. 



post-temporal bone is forked. The dorsal and anal fins are set far 

 back • the pectoral fins are set low down the sides of the body ; the 

 pelvic fins have 6-11 rays. The body is clothed with cycloid scales. 

 Pike. The Pike, Esooc lucius, 407, so well known to sportsmen of the 



rod, hardly requires description. It is limited to fresh water and 

 ranges through Europe, Asia and America. The Pike is an 

 extremely voracious fish, and so great is the havoc wrought by it 

 among more valuable fish, such as the Trout, that in certain 

 districts special measures have to be taken to keep down their 

 numbers. The head is long, broad and flattened, the body is 

 long and somewhat laterally compressed, and the sides themselves 

 are much flattened. The dentition is powerful, and the teeth being 

 sharp, closely set, and with the points directed back towards the 

 throat, there is little chance for the prey to escape when once in 

 contact with the teeth. How efficacious is the dentition is known 

 to all fishermen who in attempting to remove the hook from a 

 large dead fish have had the uncomfortable experience of getting 

 part or the whole of the hand within the mouth. Every move- 

 ment of the hand causes it to get carried farther and farther into 

 the throat. 



The colour of the Pike varies considerably with the seasons. 

 The back is always dark olive, the sides are grey and green with a 

 slight silvery lustre, except at the breeding season, when the colours 

 of both sexes become darker and more vivid. The Pike is a solitary 

 fish, except during the pairing season, and punishes the intrusion 

 of smaller individuals of its own species within its haunts by 

 devouring them. Its food consists of all kinds of fish, frogs, 

 ducklings, the young of water- fowl, &c. The Pike is a strategist 

 in pursuing its prey. It remains perfectly still and rigid, or 

 advances quietly and stealthily, and then by a powerful movement 

 darts forward, and the fish or bird that it was stalking is within 

 its jaws. 



The Pike is not commonly eaten, although by some the flesh is 

 considered as not unpleasant. A definite standard of size for a 

 full-grown Pike can hardly be assigned, since the fish continues to 

 enlarge so long as it can get food and avoid its enemies ; neither 

 is it known with certainty to what age Pike will live. The 

 specimen exhibited (407) would rank as a good large fish ; when 



