SCIENTIFIC HISTORY OF THE BLACK BASS. 23 



in fact, identical with the species described by Lacepede from the 

 notes and figures of Bosc as Labrus sabnoides. 



In 1817, C. S. Rafinesque * described a form of the same genus 

 under the name Bodianus achigan which evidently belonged to the 

 small-mouthed type : while most of the characters noted are common 

 to all the species (or erroneous), the number of rays (D. IX I, 14 f ; 

 A. Ill, 11 J) and the absence of scales on the preoperculum (gill 

 covers "all scaly except the second") indicate the pertinence of the 

 species to the group in question : the number of rays (15) attributed 

 to the pectoral does not confirm this identification, but the number 

 (admitting even the accuracy— very doubtful — in the case of the 

 very careless observer) is within the range of variation of the type. 

 The exact locality from Avhich Eafinesque derived his types was not 

 specified, but they were probably observed by him at Lake Cham- 

 plain, where he had shortly before collected (See Am. Month. Mag. 

 and Crit. Rev., ii. p. 202, Jan., 1818). 



In 1820, the same naturalist described, in his way, various speci- 

 mens which appear, almost without doubt, to be referrible to the 

 same type. These descriptions appeared originally in the "Western 

 Review and Miscellaneous Magazine," published at Lexington, Ken- 

 tucky, and were reprinted (from the same types) for the " Ichthyo- 

 logia Ohiensis." § No less than six generic and subgeneric names 

 appear to have been based primarily on a species of this type and as 

 many as seven nominal species, viz.: 



«Rafinesque-Schmaltz (Constantine Sfimuel). Museum of Natural 

 Science.s. By C. S. Raflnesque, Esq. First Decade of New North American 

 Fishes. < The American Monthly Magazine and Critical Review. Vol. li, 

 New York, . . . 1817 (pp. 120, 121). 



t " The dorsal depressed in the middle and with twenty-flve rays, whereof 

 ten are spinescent." It is assumed that the last or double branched ray is 

 counted as two. 



X " Anal fin with fifteen rays whereof three are spinescent and short." The 

 last ray was also in this case probably counted as two. 



g Ichthyologia Ohiensis, or Natural History of the Fishes inhabiting the 

 River Ohio and its tributary streams. . . . Lexington, Kentucky ; printed for 

 the author by W. G. Hunt. (Price one "dollar.) 1S20. (Pp. 26-36). Reprinted 

 (with separate pagination and adjustment for form) from the Western Re- 

 view and Miscellaneous Magazine, Lexington, Ky. Vols, i, ii and iii (Dec. 

 1819 to Nov., 1820). 



