NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 117 



Labrax nigricans Storer, Synopsis of the Fishes of North America ; ib. in Me- 

 moirs of American Acad., vol. ii. p. 23. 1846. 



y- 



Morone pallida Mitchell, Report in part on the Fishes of New York, p. IS. 



Bodianus pallidas Mitchell, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of New York, vol. i. 

 p. 420. 



Bodianus pallidas Smith, Nat. Hist, of Fishes of Mass. p. 294. 



Labrax pallidus Dekay, Nat. Hist, of New York, Fishes, p. 11, pi. 1, fig. 2. 

 1842. 



Labrax pallidus Storer, Synopsis of the Fishes of North America, p. 22 ; ib. 

 in Memoirs of American Acad., vol. ii., p. 22. 



Labrax pallidus Perley, Report upon the Fishes of the Bay of Fundy, p. 121. 

 1851. 



Labrax pallidas Perley, Descriptive Catalogue (in part,) of Fishes of New 

 Brunswick and Nova Scotia, p 4 ; ib. in Reports on Sea and River Fisheries 

 of New Brunswick, p. 182. 1852. 



In the above synonymy, it will be observed that several species which have 

 been created as distinct, and so retained by succeeding naturalists, have been 

 merged into one. Although there can scarcely be a doubt of the identity of 

 these nominal species, the synonymy, at the same time, has been divided into 

 three portions, each applying to one of the nominal species as previously 

 accepted. 



The reference of all the variations of the Labrax americanus type to 

 one species has been only done after a careful study of Dekay's descriptions, 

 and after examination of numerous specimens of the genus. The descriptions 

 of Dekay certainly do not afford any means for distinguishing his species, in 

 the case of Labrax rufus and Labrax nigricans, except a very slight 

 difference in the shade of color. The description of the color of the latter 

 species is given by Dekay, as follows : 



" The general hue is deep brownish-black, more intense on the head ami 

 upper part of the body. In the older specimens, there is a strong brassy hue 

 throughout ; occasionally dark longitudinal parallel streaks on the upper part 

 of the body, pupils black, irides yellow, base of the fins light greenish- yellow, 

 edge of the membrane of the spinous dorsal, black ; upper portion of the 

 membrane of the posterior dorsal fin transparent, and separated from the 

 yellow portion at the base by a tolerably well defined dark band ; membrane 

 of the anal fin dark toward the tips of the rays. ' ' 



Let any naturalist take an ordinary specimen of the common white perch, 

 and decide whether the difference of color between that specimen and the 

 Labrax nigricans is sufficient to authorize a separation on that ground ; 

 in all other respects, the description of Dr. Dekay will exactly apply to his 

 Labrax rufus. 



The distribution of the darker shades of color on the body and fins, is the 

 same in both species ; the proportions are the same, and the difference in the 

 number of rays is not greater than is noticed in the same species. Is it not 

 probable that Dr. Dekay was induced to separate the Labrax nigricans 

 from his other species on account of a supposed difference of station ? The 

 Labrax rufus is described as being "obtained in brackish streams," while 

 the Labrax nigricans is said to be found in " deep fresh-water ponds in 

 Queen and Suffolk Counties." But the true Labrax rufus {Morone ameri- 

 cana) is found also in streams of fresh water, and in ponds that are now en- 

 tirely disconnected from the salt water, although not far from the sea. As 

 there is therefore no difference in the habitation of the supposed two species, 

 and as no specific distinctions appear to exist from the descriptions of Dr. 

 Dekay, no alternative is left but to consider them identical. 



Mr. William H. Herbert, a popular writer on our fi- lies, entertained <: great 

 doubts " whether the Labrax nigricans was more "than a casual variety of 

 I860.] 



