196 AMERICAN FISHES. 



reflections, the under parts Lluish white, the cheeks and gill-covers 

 nacrous of a bluish color. 



The body is compressed. Back arched and gibbous. Profile de- 

 scending obliquely to the rostrum, which is moderately prolonged. 

 Scales large, truncated. Scales on the operculum large ; a single 

 series on the suboperculum, much smaller on the preoperculum, ascend- 

 ing high up on the membrane of the soft dorsal and caudal fins. Eyes 

 large ; nostrils double. Operculum pointed, with a loose membrane. 

 The lower jaw is somewhat longest. The jaws are smooth and scale- 

 less. Both jaws are armed with a broad patch of minute conic acute 

 reserved teeth. An oblong patch of rasp-like teeth on the vomer, 

 and a band of the same kind on the palatines. Branchial arches 

 minutely toothed. Pharyngeal teeth in rounded patches. 



The dorsal fin is composed of nine stout spines; the second dorsal 

 of one spine and fourteen soft rays. The pectorals have eighteen soft 

 rays, the ventrals one spine and five soft rays, the anals three 

 spines, and twelve soft rays, and the caudal sixteen soft rays. 



It is somewhat doubtful to me whether the fish known in the waters 

 of Lake Erie and those generally above the Falls, as the Oswego Bass, 

 is not distinct from this fish, though it is also occasionally called Black 

 Bass. There is very evidently some confusion about the matter, as I 

 am well assured that another fish of the same family, the Corvina Os- 

 cula., is at times confounded with it, and called by the same name, 

 though in truth it but slightly resembles it. Another fish of the same 

 family is the Growler. 



