THE PIKE FAMILY. 



237 



Principal characteristics of the common Pihe. — Body elongated, nearly 

 uniform in deptli from head to commencement of tack-fin, then be- 

 coming narrower; body covered with small scales; lateral line indis- 

 tinct. Length of head compared to total length of head, body, and 

 tail as 1 to 4. Back- and anal fins placed very far back, nearly oppo- 

 site each other. From point of nose to origin of pectoral fin, thence to 

 origin of ventral fin, and thence to commencement of anal fin are 

 three nearly equal distances. Pectoral and ventral fins small ; rays of 

 anal fin elongated. Tail somewhat forked. Shape of head long, flat- 

 tened, and wide; gape extensive. Lower jaw longest, with numerous 

 small teeth roimd the front. The sides with 5 or 6 very large and 

 sharp teeth on each side (see engraving at p. 206). Upper jaw some- 

 what duck-billed. Teeth on vomer small ; on the palatine bones larger 

 and longer, particularly on the inner edges : none on superior maxil- 

 lary bones. Head covered with mucous orifices placed in pairs. 

 Cheeks and upper parts of gill-covers covered with scales. Colour of 

 head and upper part of back dusky olive-brown, growing lighter and 

 mottled with green and yellow on sides, passing into silvery white on 

 belly ; pectoral and ventral fins pale brown ; back-, anal, and tail-fins 

 darker brown, mottled with white, yellow, and dark green. 



Fin-rays : D. 19 : P. 14 : V. 10 : A. 17 : C. 19. 



OMKIA VINCIT AMOB. 



