167 



POMOTIS. 



The next fish which occurs, we cannot determine 

 generically with satisfaction; it ranges among or 

 near to the Centrarchi of Valenciennes, and would 

 come close to Pomotis of that author, were it not 

 for the numerous spines on the anterior part of the 

 anal fin, which in that genus is rather artificially 

 restricted to three or four ; the teeth scarcely appear 

 to agree with either. Pomotis, in which we pro- 

 visionally place it, is found in the fresh waters of 

 North America, consisting there of a single species, 

 of which there is a good figure in the Northern 

 Zoology of Dr. Richardson ; a second species is in- 

 dicated by Valenciennes from Bucnos-Ayres. One 

 of the distinguishing marks is the ear-like flap 

 which extends along the posterior margins of the 

 opercula; and it is probable that from the little 

 development of this part and other modifications of 

 structure, that it may range more properly with 

 Centrarchiis. The present title, however, will call 

 attention to the presence of Pomotis in South Ame- 

 rica, and we add the characters. 



" Pomotis, Cuvkr. — Body broadly oval, compressed ; dorsal 

 fin slightly emarginate; the hinder part of the anal 



