HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



311 



Length, one to four inches. 



Memarlcs, This pretty species^ called by Mitchill the " New York Gudgeon/' and 

 known by our fishermen as the '• Basse-fry,'' from the resemblance of the markings of 

 the female to those of the " Striped Basse," and called by boys the " Yellow-tail," 

 is common in brackish waters in the Ticinity of Boston. The two sexes were formerly 

 considered distinct species. 



Massachusetts, Stoker. Connecticut, xIyres. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



FAMILY XIV. ESOCID.E. 



Body elongated. One dorsaL generally opposite to the anal: Edge of the upper 



jaw either formed solely by the intermaxillaries, or, if the labials enter at all into its 

 composition, they are destitute of teeth. Intestinal canal short, without cceca. Bran- 

 chial rays vary from three to eighteen. Mouth large, and without sharp teeth. 



GEOTJS I. ESOX, Cut. 



Head depressed, large, oblong, blunt ; intermaxillaries small, with small, pointed 

 teeth at the middle of the upper jaw, of which they form two bands. The maxillaries 

 forming the sides have no teeth. The vomer, palatines, tongue, phar)iigeals, and 

 branchial arches bristled with card-like teeth. Sides of the lower jaw with a row of 



long, pointed teeth. 



Esox RETicuLATUs, LesueuT. 



The Pickerel 



(Jl Li ATE Jv J!v.X V . Jj 1(3". x.) 



Esox hems, Pickerel, MiTcn., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of H. Y.j i. p. 440. 

 Lsox reticulatiiSj Eesiteur, Journ. AcacL Nat. Sciences, i. p. 414. 



" " Common Pkherel, Stoeer, Ecportj p. 97. 



" '' PlJce, KiBTLAKB, Report, p. 194, 



" " Common Plcheiel^ Bekay, Eeport, p. 223, pi. 34, fig, 107. 



Esoc fascialus, Ymled Picletel, Bekay, Eeport, p. 224, pi. 34, fig. 110. 

 Esoc reticulatus, Piclerel, THO'MP'SOy's History of Vermont, p. 138 



" ' Atkes, Bost. Jonrn. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 269. 



'' " Piclerelf Pilce, Kiktland, Bosfc. Joum. Nat Histj, it. p. 233, pi. 10, %. 2. 



Esov tredecemUneatus, Federation Pike^ Mitch., Mirror, 1825, p. 361, 

 Esox tredecem radlatus, Federation Pihe^ Dekat, Report, p. 225. 

 Esox retimhtus, Pickerel, Stoeee, Mem. Araer. Acad., New Series, ii. p. 437. 



" '' ** ** Synopsis, p. 185. 



Le Brocket rCtlcide (Esox reticulatus^ Lestteub), CtiV. et Vai., xviii. p. 327. 



Color, The color of this species varies consideraUy in different localities. Most 

 commonly, however, the body is green above ; the sides are of a beautiful golden- 



