COR VINA OCELLATA. 151 



of the caudal; the tube in its scale bifurcates in front, and radiates behind. 

 The scales are very large, and are ciliated behind, and arranged in oblique 

 rows. 



Colour. The Bass is of a beautiful silvery colour and iridescent when first 

 taken from the water, but soon becomes rather clouded along the back ; there 

 is a sub-round dark spot, margined with white or orange, at the superior part 

 of the base of the caudal fin ; sometimes there are several of these spots, as 

 many as four or five, disposed in a horizontal row, but the spot at the root of 

 the caudal is always present ; the dorsal in its anterior half is semi-transparent, 

 and made dusky by numerous minute dark points ; its posterior half is still darker ; 

 the superior half of the pectoral is white, the inferior is tinted with yellow or 

 orange ; the ventral is white below, with its second or third anterior rays pale orange 

 above ; the anal spine is white, and the four or five rays next it are yellowish. 



Dimensions. There are three heads and a quarter from the opercle to the tip 

 of the tail ; its greatest elevation is equal to one head ; the Bass is sometimes 

 taken four feet in length. 



Splanchnology, The liver is large, especially the transverse portion ; both lobes are of nearly the 

 same size in front, and full in the hypochondriac regions ; but the right extends twice as far back, 

 or about one half the abdomen. The gall-bladder is cylindrical, with very thin walls, and very long, 

 as it extends far behind the right lobe, even nearly to the vent. The stomach is long and large, sub- 

 oval when distended, with thin walls, and without folds in its mucous membrane; the pyloric portion 

 is exceedingly short ; it begins near the diaphragm, and has walls thicker than the stomach, and 

 arches forward to terminate in the duodenum ; there are eight ccecal appendages around the duo- 

 denum, all nearly of the same size at their roots, though they vary in length. The small intestine 

 is large, and has very thin walls ; it runs at first towards the diaphragm, then turns backwards for 

 about three fourths of the abdominal cavity, whence it returns to the root of the pylorus, to be again 

 reflected and terminate in the rectum. The spleen is large, sub-triquetrous, thickest in the middle, 

 and is placed between the stomach and the first portion of the small intestine as it runs backwards. 

 The air-bladder is long, large, full, rounded in front, pointed behind, and ends near the anal spine, 

 and has a small slender horn on each side, that begins near its anterior extremity, and extends be- 

 yond it, to be reflected on itself for a short distance. Behind this horn is a large lateral sac, placed 



