MITCH ILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 439 



ESOX. PIKE. 



Generic character* 



Head somewhat flattened above. Mouth, in most species, wide, 

 Teeth, generally, sharp in the jaws, palate, and tongue. Body length- 

 ened. Dorsal and anal fin, usually, placed near the tail, and opposite to 

 each other. 



1. New-York Gudgeon. (Esox Jlavulus.) With stripes lengthwise 

 on the body, and transverse ones on the tail. 



A pretty little fish, of five or six inches long, and an inch and a 

 quarter deep. 



Head and neck somewhat flat. Back broad. Figure chubby. 

 Mouth small and scarcely toothed. Lower jaw longer and broader 

 than the upper. Tongue distinct. Gill-covers large, and openings 

 ample. 



Colour of the back a yellowish brown ; sides pale yellow ; belly 

 yellowish white. Two or more black stripes on the sides longitu- 

 dinally, occasionally bent, broken, inclined, or interrupted. Near the 

 tail two or more lines at right angles with the former, and sometimes 

 crossing their extremities. 



Dorsal and anal fins far back, and opposite. The thick round body 

 firmly covered Avith adhering scales. Lateral line obscure. 



Rays, Br. 5. P. 18. V. 5. D. 15. C. 25. A. 1 1. 



(a) Var. There is a variety of this species, in which the longitu- 

 dinal black stripes are wholly wanting ; and where the transverse or 

 perpendicular lines, sometimes to the number of twenty, mark the sides 

 of the fish from head to tail ; giving him an appearance which has been 

 mistaken for that of the yellow-bellied killifish, to be soon described, 



(b) Var. With continued lines alternated with dotted lines. 



