LABKAX LUPUS. 29 



Labrax lupus (Cuviek).— The Bass. 



1 D. 8—9, 2 D. 1/12—13, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. 3/10—11, C. 17. 



The Bass is essentially a sea Perch, with seven branehiostegal rays and well- 

 develoi^ed pseudo-branehiBe. The body is elongated. The pre-operculum is ser- 

 rate, the operculum spinous, and the pre-orbital bone entire. The teeth are villi- 

 £orm, are found in both jaws, on the vomer, the palatine bones, and the tongue. 

 The scales are ctenoid, but with the denticulations rather less conspicuous than 

 in the Perch, and the scales are rather smaller. There are only nine spines 

 in the first dorsal fin, and usually three spines in the anal fin, so that the 

 essential difference between Labrax, the sea Perch, and Perca, the river Perch, 

 consists in the former having teeth on the tongue, fewer spines in the first 

 dorsal fin, and usually one spine more in the anal fin, though this character is 

 less constant. 



In North America several species of Labrax are found in the rivers and 

 along the eastern shores of the United States, but in Europe the Labrax is 

 more typically marine, though the type species, Labrax Inpus, is found often 

 enough in European fresh waters to justify a notice of it among fresh-water 

 fishes. 



The Lahrax lupus was known to the Greeks under its generic name, but 

 the Rev. Dr. Badham remarks that it is uncertain whether the name refers to 

 the fish's sin of gluttony or of violence, though the Latin name of lupus, now 

 become specific, was always recognised as an appropriate designation. 



It was esteemed far more by ancient epicures than by those of modern 

 times. Aristophanes terms this the wisest of fishes, on account of its clever- 

 ness in escaping from dangers ; but, says Dr. Badham, every one has a 

 weak point to lead him astray, and the Bass's foible is inordinate greediness. 

 He enjoys prawns exceedingly, and on meeting a shoal, opens his mouth, and 

 fills it at a gulp with hundreds of these nimble and prickly crustaceans. The 

 prawns no sooner find themselves on the wrong side of the barrier, and going 

 down quick into the pit of their enemy^s stomach, than they hold on hard, and 

 run the sharp serrated rostrum of their heads into his palate and throat, and 

 so stick the greedy fish, who, unable to cough them up or otherwise detach 

 them, dies either of spasmodic croup or of an ulcerated sore throat. Helio- 

 gabalus, it is said, would only eat the brains and milt of the Labrax ; Ronde- 

 letius pronoimces its liver finer than that of goose or turkey ; and the dried roe 



