68 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Sub-class Teueostei. Percoid^. 



back of the insertion of the pectorals ; has strong spinous rays, 

 the fourth of which is longest. The second dorsal is connected 

 with the first by a low membrane ; it is quadrangular in shape. 



The pectorals rise just below and on a line with the spine of the 

 operculum ; are broad, the upper ray longest, and the edges round- 

 ing downwards. They are brown at the base, but yellowish above ; 

 ventrals rise a little back of tfie pectorals, and are reddish at the 

 base. 



Anal rises on a line with the middle of the second dorsal ; sec- 

 ond spine very strong. Caudal forked or " deeply emarginate." 



Kay formula — 



D. 9, 1, 12 ; P. 15 ; V. 1, 5 ; A. 3, 9 ; C. It. 



Length six to ten inches. 



Synonymes. — Perca americana, Grd., Block., Lacepede. 

 Pcrca mucronata, Raf., Sw. 

 Morone rnfa and Morone pallida, Mitch. 

 Bodianus rufus, Mitch ; Ccntroponnts albus, Raf. 

 Labrax mucronatus, Cuv. and Val., Stoi'er, Ayi*es, Linsley, Baird, 



Hill. 

 Labrax rufus, DeKay, Gill. 

 Labrax pallidns, Mitch., Storer, Perley. 

 Labrax nigricans, DeKay, Storer. 



Genus Roccus, {3fitch.,) Gill. 



Gen. Ciiak. Body slender oblong-ovate. Back anteriorly curved or gibbous, 

 Maxillary teeth and those of the vomer and palatines villiform. Lingual teeth villi- 

 form, deposited in two lateral bands, and separated at their base in two longitudi- 

 nal series, either separated or coalessing. Scales from the nape to the nostrils and 

 for the most part cycloidal. Preoperculura at the lower posterior part serrated. 

 Operculum two spiued. Dorsal fins not joined at the base by a raised membrane. 

 Anal has three spines, inci'easing in size. Lateral line rectilinear. — Gill. 



This genus has been separated recently by Prof. Gill from the 

 genus Labrax, from which it differs chiefly in the character of the 

 armature of the preoperculum, and by the absence of teeth at the 

 anterior extremity of the tongue ; the whole margin of the tongue 

 in the latter genus {Labrax) being provided with a band of villi- 

 form teeth, and the spur-formed teeth of the lower margin of the 

 preoperculum, 



Roccus lineatus, Gill. 

 Striped bass. Rock fish. 

 This fish seems to posses rather a migratory character. Late in 



