PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 497 



terminal, slightly oblique, and rather small. The maxillary reaches 

 back to a vertical from the anterior of the orbit. The eye is small, 4 

 in head, and greater than the snout. Cheeks and opercles covered with 

 large scales. Opercular spine well developed. 



The scales of the body are large, there being only 36 vertical and 11 

 horizontal rows, the latter counted between the dorsal and anterior of 

 anal. The lateral line is found on but two scales anteriorly. Fin-rays, 

 D. VIII, 11; A. I, 6. Anal II, G, in a specimen of the same species 

 from Alabama in the IT. S. Kat. Mus. {fide Jordan). The two dorsals 

 are well separated. Spinous dorsal two-thirds the length of the head, 

 its height a little more than one-half the head. Soft dorsal with about 

 the same dimensions. Anal spine slender and of moderate length. 

 Length of anal 3 times in the head; its height twice its length. Pec 

 torals and ventrals reaching nearly to the vent. 



Color greenish olive, with many specks of brown. These brown 

 specks somewhat in rows above the place for the lateral line. About 

 ten oblong spots of brown along the sides, most distinct above the anal 

 fin. Below, white. The usual black streaks below and in front of the 

 eye. Dorsal fins somewhat barred. 



The general appearance of this little fish is that of a Boleichthps, but 

 the very short lateral line, large scales, equal jaws, «S:c., seem to ally it 

 most closely to Mlcroperca. From the latter it diii'ers in having but a 

 single anal spine and the beginnings of a lateral line. Since, however, 

 this "lateral line" is found on the opercle of ill. punctuhita, it would 

 not be surprising if it should be sometimes, even in that species, found 

 on one or two of the anterior scales. 



Family CENTRARCHID^. 



Genus MICROPTERUS, Lacepede. 



H. Micropterus pallidus (Raf.) Gill & Jor. (No. 27,450.) 



JItn-o nigriiians, DeKay, Fauna N. Y. Fishes^ 1842, 15. 

 Micropterus nigricans, Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1855, 83. 

 Dioplitcs nuecensis, Giuaud, U. S. Pao. R. R. Surv. vol. x, 4. 

 Micropterus i)allidas, Jordan, Aunals N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist. 1877, 314. 



This species is abundant everywhere, and is esteemed as one of the best 

 fond-fishes. It is called "Trout", instead of "Bass", as at the North. 



The young are conspicuously marked by a dark, sometimes inter- 

 rupted, lateral band. This is sometimes found also in the adults. 

 There is often a small patch of feeble teeth on the tongue of both this 

 species and M. salmoidcs. 



Specimens were obtained in the Catawba at Artesia, and in the 

 Chickasawha at Enterprise. 



Proc. Nat. Mus. 80 32 Feb. 16, 1881. 



