CHAPTER XV 
BONT PIKE, BOIV-FIN, STURGEON, REED-FISH, AND BICHIR 
BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. 
T he present chapter deals with the remaining forms belonging to that great assemblage 
of fishes known as the Bony-mouthed group, which includes all the members of the 
class save the Lung-fishes on the one hand and the Shark Tribe on the other. 
This great assemblage, as we have already remarked, is divided into two sections — the 
Fan- and Fringe-finned Fishes. The fishes presently to be described belong partly to the one 
and partly to the other of these divisions, and were at one time, together with the Lung-fishes, 
regarded as nearly allied, and as forming but a single group, which, on account of the structure 
of the scales, was known as the Enamel-scaled group. 
The Bony Pike, the Bow-fin, and the Sturgeon are the last of the Fan-finned Fishes. 
The Bony Pike, or Gar-pike, is an inhabitant of the fresh-waters of North America, and 
has the most completely ossified skeleton and the most perfectly jointed backbone of all the 
fishes, whilst externally it is covered with a complete armour of thick, quadrangular scales 
coated with enamel. Three distinct species of this family are known, all of which are of 
large size, attaining a length of 6 feet. They are carnivorous in their habits, lying in wait 
among the reeds, and rushing out to seize their prey as soon as within range. In the 
Mississippi, great lakes, and rivers of South Carolina bony pike are especially abundant, 
occurring at times in such numbers as to fill the shad-nets and render the fishery for many 
days Impossible. The larger members are said to be as aggressive as sharks, and remarkably 
tenacious of life. 
The geographical distribution of the Bow-fin closely corresponds with that of the bony pike. 
It is an extremely common fish, and, though worthless for food purposes, has yet been deemed 
worthy of a number of different names, such as Grindle, Dog-FISH, Sawyer, Mud-FISH, and 
Lawyer-fish. At one time it was regarded as a near ally of the Herring Tribe, but modern 
research has shown this view to be erroneous. The bow-fin attains a length of about 2 feet, 
and is very voracious, preying both upon other fishes and aquatic insects and shrimps. It has 
a habit of coming frequently to the surface to breathe, especially when the water is foul, 
taking in large mouthfuls of air. When near the surface, it is said to utter a bell-like note, 
Photo bj A. S, Rudland fisf Sons 
BONY 
Photo by Scholastic Photo Co.] 
PIKE 
IPa 
Group 
One of the -very few sur-vi-vors of the ancient group of Enamel-scaled Fishes 
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