BONY-SCALED PIKE. 



115 



forms us that in the month of November 1768, 

 great numbers of this species were thrown by a 

 storm on the shores of Leith near Edinburgh. In 

 an elegant drawing of this fish, communicated by 

 the Rev^. Mr. Rackett, F.L.S. I observe that the 

 skin appears reticulated by fine lines, decussating 

 each other at equal distances ; and that the tail is 

 obliquely streaked by several transverse dusky lines. 



In a specimen figured in the work of Cepede the 

 jaws are represented curving upwards, contrary to 

 what has hitherto been observed ; the specimen 

 figured in the work of Mr. Pennant, as well as that 

 in Rondeletius, and the last mentioned drawing by 

 Mr. Rackett having the jaws strait. 



BONY-SCALED PIKE. 



Esox Osseus. E. virescens, abdomine subroseo; squamis quadratis 



osseisy rostro prcelongo. 

 Greenish Pike^ with slightly rose-coloured abdomen, square 



bony scales, and very long snout. 

 Esox osseus. E. maxilla superiore longiore, squamis osseis. 



Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 51 6'. 

 ^sox radiis primis serratis. Block, t. 39O. 



This is a fish of very considerable size, and of a 

 highly remarkable appearance, being covered every 

 where, except on the head and gill-covers, with 

 very large, square, bony or very strong scales dis- 

 posed in oblique rows along the sides : each indi- 

 vidual scale is itself marked into four triangular 

 spaces : the head is large, without scales, and 

 slightly marked into subhexagonal divisions j the 



