PLATE CIX. 
Pike. Will. Icth. p. 236. 
Raij pise. p. 112. 
Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 270. n. 1 t 
The Pike inhabits lakes and other still waters In Europe and the 
northern parts of Asia. It is a strong, fierce, and active fish, swims 
with great rapidity, grows fast, and preys on reptiles, water rats, the 
young of aquatic birds, and various other animals. The Pike com- 
mits vast depredations in fish-ponds, being extremely voracious, and 
devouring all kinds of fishes, its own species not excepted. The 
greatest enemies of the Pike are the Perch and the Stickleback, both 
pf which are armed with formidable spines, well calculated for 
defence, and sufficiently powerful to intimidate the Pike. 
The precise period of its introduction into Britain is not ascer- 
tained ; it must have been naturalized here before the middle of the 
fifteenth century, as Pikes were served up in plenty at the celebrated 
feast given by George Nevil, Archbishop of York, in the year 1466. 
According to a popular but, evidently erroneous opinion, the Pike 
was not brought into England till the reign of Henry the Eighth. 
Some parts of the south of Europe are still destitute of this fish, for, 
if we may rely on the assurance of Amatus, it is neither to be found 
at present in Spain nor Portugal. 
This fish attains to a large size in a shorter time in proportion than 
most others. In the course of the first year it grows to the length 
of eight or ten inches, the second to twelve or fourteen, the third to 
eighteen or twenty. Willoughby speaks of one weighing thirty-two 
pounds : the largest Mr. Pennant heard of in England weighed thirty- 
