176 Storefs Descriptions of^ and Observations on, 



foundation of this Society, I had zealously pursued — and 

 upon which, I had the honor of lecturing to the Society two 

 succeeding seasons — 1831-32. Nobly has another executed 

 that commission ; and I would congratulate my friend upon 

 the credit his labors have conferred upon himself, upon our 

 Society and New England. My task was undertaken, and 

 the result has been presented to you. Although my duties as 

 a Zoological Commissioner may have terminated with the 

 publication of my report, as your Ichthyological Curator, I 

 would now present such additional facts respecting our Fishes, 

 as I have since been able to collect, trusting that they may 

 facilitate the researches of the future Ichthyologists of Mass- 

 achusetts. 



When my Report was published, I knew but one species of 

 Perca in our waters, and I felt quite confident that this was 

 the JiavescenSy Mitchill. Several months afterwards, Mr. C. 

 Harding, of this city, attracted by the unusual number of 

 transverse bands upon a specimen taken by him in Concord 

 river, kindly sent it to me for examination. I at once saw 

 that this must be the flavescens, as acknowledged by Cuvier, 

 and subsequently described and figured by Richardson, in the 

 '' Fauna Boreali Americana." In this specimen, ten bands 

 were perfectly distinct ; and the species was readily made out. 

 Soon after, I received several specimens of this species, from 

 Mr. Edward S. Hoar, of Concord, which were also taken in 

 Concord river. The species noticed in my Report, and our 

 most common species, is the granulata, Cuv., called at 

 Holmes' Hole, the Roach. The coloring of this latter species 

 differs exceedingly in different latitudes. A specimen taken at 

 Fresh Pond, Cambridge, was nearly of a grass-green through- 

 out its entire surface, excepting the fins. 



I remarked in my Report, that besides the Pomotis vulgaris, 

 I was inclined to believe, from the information I had collect- 

 ed, that another species of Pomotis inhabited our waters. 

 Mr. E. S. Hoar, of Concord, has sent me three specimens of 

 a second species. It may be what Dr. Mitchill called Labrus 

 appendix, in his " Supplement to the Fishes of New York," 

 although he makes no mention of the color of the fins, which 



