624 



FISHES. 



This family includes one genus only, Esox, the " Pikes," in- 

 habitants of the fresh waters of the temperate parts of Europe, 

 Asia, anil America. The European species, E. lucius, inhabits 



I^A^r^Z-^V' 



Fig. 282.— The Pike. (Esox lucius.) 



all three continents, but the North American waters harbour 

 five, or perhaps more, other species, of which the " Muskel- 

 lunge," or " Maskinonge" {E. f.stor) of the Great Lakes attains 

 to the same large size as the common Pil^e. The other species 

 are generally called " Pickerell " in the United States. 



Eossil Pike, lielonging to tlie existing genus, have been 

 found in the freshwater-chalk of Oeningen, and in tlic diluvial 

 marl of Silesia. Eemains of the comiiion Pike occui' in 

 abundance in cpiaternary dcpc)sits. 



Eleventh Faihily — Galaxiid.e. 



Body naked, hnrlicls none. Merrejin of tit c U2?iKr jear ehief)/ 

 formed Inj the infermeij-ilhrrie.% irliich aiv s]iort, and eontinued 

 hj a tldeli Up, hehinel 'irhi.eh arc the nia.rillai'ies. Bclhj 

 rounded; adipose fin none; dorxal ojposife to anal. Pi/Ioric 

 eipp)e)ideujes in small number. Air-bladder lar;/c, siiiij^lr ; pscudo- 

 hranchim none. The ovet. fall into fJic eai:iiy of tlie alidomcn 

 iefrjre exclusion. 



Smh,ll freshwater fishes of the southern hemisphere, be- 

 longing to two genera, Gcda.rias and Ncochanna. Of the 



