198 AUSONIUS—SALMO—FIRST MENTION OF PIKE 
Attempts have been made to explain the absence of this 
fish previous to Ausonius by identifying Esox luctus with 
(A) the Oxyrhynchus, and (B) the Lupus. These seem to me 
unsuccessful.! 
Petrus Bellonius among the early writers upholds the first 
identification. In his Observations de Plusteurs Singularitéz, 
Book II. ch. 32 (published 1553), ‘Le fleuve du Nil nourrit 
plusieurs autres poissons, lesquelz toutes fois ie ne veul specifier 
en ce lieu, sinon entat que le Brochet y est frequent, et que 
nous avons difficulté de luy trouver une appellation antique, ie 
veul méstrer qu’il fut anciefiement appellé Oxyrynchus.”’ 
His effort breaks down for three reasons. First, A‘lian says 
that the Oxyrhynchus,—a fish supposed to have sprung from 
the blood of the dead Osiris, or to be the :mpiscation (if the 
word may be coined) of Osiris—although caught in the Nile 
(X. 46, 1, 12.), dwells mainly, or according to Plutarch, de 
Iside et Osiride, 7, altogether in the sea, whereas our Esox can- 
not endure sea-water. Second, the sharp pointed form of beak 
(whence the name) cannot possibly represent the broad goose- 
like mouthpiece of our Pike. Third, the size of the Oxyrhynchus, 
often 8 cubits or 12 feet in length,? proscribes the Pike. 
Against the identification suggested by Franciscus Phila- 
delphus of Esox lucius with Lupus two reasons lean heavily : 
(A) the etymological impossibility of AdKoc (because of the 
wolflike nature of the Pike 3) changing into Lucius, and (B) the 
Lupus is always in Greek called X4Bpaé, never Auxoc.4 
1 For the attempt to identify the Esox with the Huso made by a French 
writer, apud Vincentium, XVII. 53, and with the Salmon by other writers, see 
J. G. Schneider, op. cit., pp. 24 and 126. 
2 lian, N. H., XVII, 32. 
3 The epigram on Pope Lucius III. (1181 to 1185 a.p.), who was banished 
from Rome for his tyranny and exactions, is, both as a comparison and a con- 
trast, apt. 
‘Lucius est piscis rex atque tyrannus aquarum : 
A quo discordat Lucius iste parum. 
Devorat ille homines, his piscibus insidiatur : 
Esurit hic semper, ille aliquando satur. 
Amborum vitam si laus equata notaret, 
Plus rationis habet qui ratione caret.”’ 
4 Athen., VII. 86; ‘‘ The Adfpot has his name from his voracity, Aafpdérns”” 
(cf. Opp., II. 130). It is said also in shrewdness he is superior to other fish, 
being very ingenious in devising means to save himself, wherefore Aristophanes 
the comedian writes : 
“ Labrax, the wisest of all fish that be.” 
