THE PIKE, 
1G0 
All writers Agree in afcribing uncommon voraci- 
ty to thefe animals, and mention fa£ls in fupport of 
it fo extraordinary, as would feem incredible, were 
they not in a great meafure confirmed by daily obr 
fervation. The peculiar ftructure of the jaws, which 
are loofely connected together, and have on each fide 
an additional bone, like thofe of the viper, while it 
favours their voracious inftindts, proves often their ruin, 
by prompting them to fwallow morfels too large, even 
for that uncommon diftenfion of which they are ca- 
pable. 
The digetlive powers of the pike are as remarkable 
as its voracity : After fwallowing a fxfii of a fize but lit- 
tle inferior to its own, thofe parts that have entered into 
the ftomach are difl'olved with amazing rapidity ; while 
thofe in the mouth and throat, which are yet entire, 
make a conftant progrefs downwards, as the procefs of 
digeftion makes way for them. Hence a fi(h, which is 
too large to be fwallowed entire, appears for a while with 
its tail hanging from the mouth of the pike ; but foon 
after totally difappears, and is difl’olved by the fiomach 
almoft as quickly as it enters there *. 
From this extraordinary voracity of the pike, aided 
by fuch uncommon powers of digeftion, he is by far the 
greateft tyrant cf the frefli water. He is fa id to contend 
with the otter for his prey, and fometimes to force it 
from his mouth. The angler, in drawing a trout, has 
been known at once to lofe his line and his prize, by the 
■unexpedted attack of one of thefe plunderers. When we 
confider the numbers and voracity of thefe animals, it 
may appear ftfange that any of the inhabitants of the 
frefli 
* WilJough. p. 237. 
