AMERICAN BLACK BASS. 157 



have noticed them in a fresh state, are of much 

 greater brilliancy, the one being of a ri'.-h olive 

 green, and the lower parts tinted with pink, as 

 represented in the plate. These colours are only 

 temporary, and fade with death. The dorsal fin 

 is grayish, tinted with blue, and has three 

 whitish transverse bands marked on the mem- 

 branes between the rays. The other fins are also 

 grayish black, and the tail and anal fin are irre- 

 gularly spotted with a deeper tint of the same 

 colour. The tail is remarkable in its form, pro- 

 jecting in the middle, where in general is seen 

 the deepest part of the fork. The young are 

 marked with clouded transverse bands. 



This fish is abundant in the rivers of the 

 United States, and is one of those most esteemed 

 for the table. A few other species are natives cf 

 the American coasts ; one is found in the neigh* 

 bourhood of Brazil, and two species, which diflTer 

 somewhat in their characters, were discovered by 

 MM. Guoy and Gaymard, in the New Holland 

 Seas. These have for the present received the 

 title of C. scorpenoides and C. truttaceus. 



To the next form has been applied the name of 

 Growler, Grystes. That which will represent 

 it, is 



