Cheiv. SAC) KO 295 
the edges of the jaws are ferrated ; and that between 
the anal fin and the tail it has feveral fpurious fins 
like the mackrel. We do not venture to make a 
diftinct article of this fifh, becaufe Mr. Fago has not 
pointed out the fpecific difference; but we thought 
it neceflary to give this brief defcription of it from 
Rondeletins, to fupply that defeét in cafe ue Saurus 
fhould prove a Britifo fifh. 
The common fea pike, or fea needle, fometimes 
grows to the length of three feet, or more. 
The jaws are very long, flender, and fharp pointed; 
the under extends much farther than the upper, and 
the edges of both are armed with numbers of fhort 
flender teeth: the infide of the mouth is purple: the 
tongue {mall: the eyes large: the irides filvery: the 
noftrils wide and round. 
The body is flender : the belly quite flat, bounded 
on both fides by a rough line. 
The pectoral fins confift of twelve rays; the ven- 
tral fins fmall, and placed very remote from the head, 
eonfifts of fix rays, the firft fpiny. 
The dorfal fin lies on the very lower part of the 
back, confifts of eighteen rays; the firft are high, 
the others lower as they approach the tail; the anal 
fin is of the fame form, and placed oppofite the other: 
the tail is forked. 
The colors are extremely beautiful when the fifh 
is in the water: the back of a fine green, beneath 
that appears a rich changeable blue and purple: the 
fides and belly are of a fine filvery hue. 
Genus 
Defets 
