BULLETIN OF THE 



Amblodon lineatus Aoassiz, Am.Journ. Sci. Arts, (2 c ) XVII. p. 307. 1854. 

 Perca flavescens Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. (4° cd.) II. p. 33. 1828. 



Merone americana Gill, Proc. Philad. Acad. Nat. Sci. XI. p. 115. i860. 

 Svx. Pirca americana Gmklix, 1788; Merone rufa Mitch ill, 1814; 

 Bodianui ru/us Mitcuill, ISM ; Labrax mucronatus Cuv. & Val. 1828; 

 Labrax ruf us DkKay, 1812; Labrax americanus IIolbkook, 1855. 



Grystes nobilis Agassiz, Am. Journ. Sci. Arts, (2 8 ) XVII. p. 298. 1854. 

 Pomoxis hcxacantllUS Agassiz, Am. Journ. Sci. Arts, (2 C ) XVII. p. 209. 1854. 

 Centrarchus irideus Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. III. (4° cd.) p. 66. 1829. 

 CalliurUS gulcsus Agassiz, Am. Journ. Sci. Arts, (2 e ) XVII. p. 300. 1854. 

 Ichthelis incisor Holbrook, Ichth. S. Car. I. p. 12. i860. 

 Ichthelis rubricauda Holbrook, Ichth. S. Car. I. p. 15. 1860. 

 Bryttus Obesus GlRARD, Froc. Philad. Acad. Nat. Sci. XL p. 04. 1859. 



Pomotis auritus Rafixesque, Ichth. Oliicn. p. 29. 1820. 



Svx. Perca JluviatiUs gibbosa Catksby, II. PL 8, f. 3, 1742; Labrits 

 auritus Lixv.v.rs, 1 7GG ; ? Merone macuiata Mitcuill, 1814; Ichtlielis 

 (Pomotis) aurita Rafinksquk, 1820; Pomotis Catesbei Cuv. & Val. 1831 ; 

 Pomotis vulgaris of all authors except Cuv. & Val. 



There seems to have been such a general misunderstanding in regard to 

 this, our most common species of the genus, that a few words of expla- 

 nation are necessary to show the reason for restoring the specific name of 

 auritus to the species in question. 



In the tenth edition of the " Systema Naturae," Linnaeus mentions a fish 

 from Philadelphia under the name of Labrus auritus. This fish is undoubt- 

 edly a Pomotis; but from the short description given it would be impossible 

 to refer the species with precision to any of the many that inhabit our fresh 

 waters, were it not for the reference in the twelfth edition of the " Systema 

 Naturae" to the figme of Cateshy, which unquestionably represents our 

 common "Bream," or " Pond-fish," — thus settling the species which Lin- 

 naeus had in mind, though we think lie confounded villi it some other 

 species sent him by Dr. Garden from South Carolina, probably the Ich- 

 thelis rubricauda of Holbrook. 



In 1820, Rafinesque described the species in question under the specific 

 name given by Linnaeus, referring it to bis sub-genus Pomotis. 



In the third volume of the "Ilistoire Naturelle des Poissons," the authors, 

 overlooking the description by Rafinesque, describe and figure a species of 

 the genus under the name of Pomotis vulgaris, referring the Labrus auritus 

 of Linnaeus to it. This species is very different from the one figured by 

 Catesby, and is probably identical with the Labrus appendix of Mitchill 

 (Pomotis appendix Pi Kay), though in the second edition of the '• Regno 



