442 MITCHILL ON THE PISHES Op NEW-YORK. 



ing the appearance of a piece or strip of a different kind, added to the 

 main body. 



Colour pale, generally, with white belly, and silvery gill-covers. A 

 few faint traces of lines lengthwise ; and brownish mottles or marks, not 

 quite amounting to bands or zones, distinguishing the sides perpendi- 

 cularly. 



Eyes moderate, lateral, and yellowish. Brows distinct and promi- 

 nent. Body coated, with firm and adherent scales. Ventral fins small, 

 and far back on the abdomen. 



A row of sharp little teeth in each jaw ; and the mouth, which is 

 ordinarily small and contracted? may be dilated to a gape of consider- 

 able width. 



Lateral line plain and straight. 



The dorsaland anal fins are not in such regular opposition as in the 

 other species ; the former being nearer the middle of the back, and the 

 latter immediately behind the vent. 



Rays, Br. 6. V. 7. P. 1 1. D. 11. A. 9. C. 17. 



6. Trout Pike. (Esox salmoneus.) With two dorsal fins, the hind- 

 most of which is rayless and adipose, eel-shaped body, forked tail, and 

 lower jaw shorter than the upper. 



Length eight or nine inches, and figured somewhat like the eel, taper- 

 ing away from the middle toward the head and tail. Caught in the bay 

 of New-York. 



Head flat. Snout pointed. Eyes lateral, large, rounded, and pale. 



Mouth wide, and furnished with small, distinct, and sharp teelh, 

 ftlong the margin of the jaws, and on the tongue and palate. The 

 lower jaw is shorter than the upper, and shuts within it in such a manner 

 that the superior teeth have a grinning appearance. Gill-covers very 

 large, and their openings ample. 



Body well coated with scales. Colour brown, with specks of dirty 



