40 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



12. :\[icnoi>TEnu.s PALLIDUS {Brif.) Gill d' Jordan. 



Dr. Leon Vaillant ([Mission Scientifique au JMexique: ined.) 

 divides this sjiecies provisionally into two, adoi)ting the name " Mi- 

 croptenis salmoides " for the ordinary form, and that of Micropterus 

 nuecciiais (Baird & Girard) for the south-western form (Texas and 

 ^Mexico). According to him the two are externally identical, but 

 M. niiecensis is distinguished by the presence of a small patch of 

 teeth on the tongue, the tongue being entirely smooth in the ordi- 

 nary form. 



I have examined a number of specimens in regard to this point. 



I find lingual teeth in the following specimens: 



(1.) Two specimens, one large, one small, from the Falls of the 

 Ohio. 



(2.) One small specimen from a tributary of White Eiver at 

 Bloomington, Ind. 



(3.) One specimen (in the museum at Paris) from Texas. 



I find them absent in the following: 



(1.) Several specimens in Henshall's collection from Indian Eiver, 

 [Fla.]. 



(2.) Specimen from Neuse Eiver. 



(3.) Specimens from White River at Indianapolis. 



(4.) Specimens from Lake Erie. 



The presence of these teeth evidently does not depend on age, and 

 apparently not on sex. It may be a specific feature, but I am in- 

 clined, at present to think it only a feature of individual variation. 

 I have not seen such teeth in the snudl-mouthed Black Bass. 



In 1878, Professor Jorcliin, while in Eiiro])C, gave great 

 attention to the investigation of the Black Bass from the 

 Paris standpoint. He examined, with the greatest care, 

 Laeepede's original type sj)ecimen, and the speeimens of 

 Ciivier and Valenciennes, which are still preserved in the 

 Museum of Natural History at Paris. He was deter- 

 mined to get to the bottom of the matter, if ])ossible, and 

 to this end consulted freely, and com])ared notes, with the 



