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Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/233

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PIKES.
219

and minute; the eyes very large and prominent. By means of the enormous development of the pectorals, these fishes are enabled to project themselves from the water, and to perform a lengthened flight through the air. They are very common

FLYING-FISH.

in the tropical seas; vast shoals springing into the air almost constantly in fine weather. A straggler now and then wanders to our own shores. About forty species are enumerated.


Genus Esox. (Linn.)

The freshwater Pikes have a moderately lengthened body with a large, oblong, rounded, flattened