48 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



and Viilenciennes by its use to supersede the name of Le Sueur 

 (p. 55), jind as a substitute for M. Doloniieu (vol. v, p. 5). 



"(4) The majority of the C. & V.'s six'ciniens behjiiged to the 

 small-mouthed Bass. 



" (5) The figure was based on a large-mouth simply through acci- 

 dence of size and condition, not selected on account of exhibition 

 of characters. In the same way, W3 might maintain that the type 

 of Pornotis vulgaris C. & V. (although the description plainly points 

 to Eupomofis aurem) was Lepomis pa/Udus [rather auritus^, for the 

 figure apparently represents such." 



3. MiCROPTERUS VARIABILIS Valllant & BocouH. 



CicJiln vnriabiHs Le Sueur, MSS. 



Microptcrus variabilis Vaillant & Bocourt, MSS., Mission Scientiflque au 

 Mexiqne. 



This is the ordinary Northern small-mouthed Black Bass, Micro- 

 pferus achigan, or var. achigan of authors, Micropterus salmoidcs aclngan 

 of the present writer. 



The conclusions of Professor Gill at the close of the 

 paper just quoted, are based, apparently, on his faith in 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes, superinduced, perhaps, by a 

 reluctance to re-open the question, and a desire to retain 

 our present nomenclature of the Black Bass si)ccies, 

 for the sake of peace and harmony. If Dr. Gill's 

 conclusions could be sustained, and our nomenclature of 

 the species become universally adoi)ted, no one Avould be 

 more gratified than the writer ; but we can not exj)(>ct 

 peace or security until the matter is definitely, positively, 

 and indisputably settled, or, at least, so far as this can be 

 done, consistenth/, Avith the facts. 



After a careful reading of the foregoing review, it would 

 seem that the estimate of the Black Bass species, as enter- 

 tained by Dr. Vaillant, should have great weight, and 

 meet with profound consideration; and it might be (pies- 



