116 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



tance in front of tlie second ; tlie anal fin is again considerably 

 larger in proportion and has three spiny, with eleven soft rays ; 

 tlie others are very similar to those of the perch. Cuvier's spec- 

 imen was 16 in. in length, and altliongh the flesh is esteemed, 

 and seems abundant in its native country, little is yet known 

 regarding it." — (Jakdine, Nat. Lib. I, Perches, 108, 1835.) 



HuRO NIGRICANS Richardson, 1836. — "Profile elliptical, the 

 ellipsis commencing acutely in the somewhat pointed chin and 

 conical head, but passing gradually into the thickish tail; the 

 depth of the body is greatest under the first dorsal and appears to 

 be about equal to the length of the head, or one-third of the 

 total length, excluding the caudal ; head flat above, covered with 

 scales as far as the posterior margin of the orbit ; the forehead 

 shows a slight median ridge with a more prominent lateral one, 

 and there are many fine streaks on the upper margin of the 

 orbit; the anterior suborbital bone is marked by some short di- 

 verging ridges, and the under and posterior margin of the orbit 

 is more distinctly roughened by many small irregular promi- 

 nences ; the orbit is circular, situated close to the forehead, and 

 two of its own diameters and one-half above the articulation of 

 the lower jaw ; it is also a diameter and one-half behind the ex- 

 tremity of the upper jaw, and four diameters from the point of 

 the suboperculum or most posterior part of the gill cover ; the 

 mouth acquires a somewhat vertical aspect from the chin or tip 

 of the lower jaw, projecting about a quarter of an inch beyond 

 it, and from its opening descending from the plane of the fore- 

 head, at a considerable angle as it runs backwards ; the articula- 

 tion of the lower jaw is opposite the posterior margin of the 

 orbit; the lal)ials have a lengthened triangular form, the narrow 

 apex only passing under the edge of the suborbital bone ; the 

 ])Osterior dilated and truncated extremity projects considerably 

 beyond the tip of the intermaxillary and extends farther back 

 than the orbit; it is further widened by the addiiion of a superior 

 piece, or apoi)lysis whose corner is rounded ; there are no pores 



