SCIENTIFIC HISTOEY OF THE BLACK BASS. 49 



tioned whether 3Iicroptcrns dolomieu for the small-mouthed 

 Bass, and 3Iicropteras salmoidcs for the large-mouthed Bass, 

 are not more in accordance with the evidence set forth in 

 Professor Jordan's clear and exhaustive paper, than our 

 own view of the matter, based, as the latter is, upon the 

 conflicting testimony of Cuvier and Valenciennes, who 

 embraced every thing known of the Black Bass, in their 

 day, in their Grystes sabnoides, except Huro nigricans ; and 

 had it not been for the gap in its dorsal fin, the inference 

 is, they would have included that also. I do not make 

 this statement unguardedly, or disrespectfully; for while 1 

 venerate the name of Cuvier, I am convinced that he failed 

 to discriminate between the two species of Black Bass.* 



T incline to the belief that Professor Jordan, with his 

 usual acumen, is disposed to take some such view as this, 

 for he says : — 



" As shown below, there is little doubt that the specific 

 name dolomieu, is the first ever distinctly applied to our 

 small-mouthed Black Bass, as the name Micropterus is its 

 earliest generic appellation. Unless we adopt the earlier 

 salmoidcs, its name should, therefore, be Micropierus 

 dolomieu.'^ 



But why adopt salmoidcs for the small-mouthed Black 

 Bass at all? It is only synonymous with dolomieu on the 

 authority of Cuvier and Valenciennes. Does not the 



■•■ "We are again obliged to advert to the p.artial and often the super- 

 ficial examination with which nearly allied species have too often been 

 regarded by the authors of the Hist. Nat. des Poissons; an imperfection 

 which we can only account for by nearly all their descriptions having 

 been made from preserved specimens; and by supposing that these 

 eminent writers, not unfrequently, have been absolutely overwhelmed 

 with their materials." — Swainson, Nat. Hist, and Class, of Fishes, II, 407, 



1839. 



5 



