356 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



3. Whenever practicable a reference is given to a pul)lislied record 

 of the use of the name for the species and region cited. In the case 

 of many names this record was the first known, but for otlier names, 

 whose earliest application has not been determined, it has been con- 

 sidered sufficient to refer to a standard work. The works are men- 

 tioned bj^ numbers, whicli ^rrespond to a full citation of titles and 

 authors at the end of the paper. 



In the case of names Avhich have not before appeared in ichthyo- 

 logical literature or other writings, so far as known, the authority 

 has been indicated by Roman numerals corresponding with those pre- 

 fixed to the names of the following persons, all connected witli the 

 U. S. Fish Commission, who have furnished information: (/) Charles 

 G. Atkins, (//) William Barnum, {Hi) S. P. Bartlett, (/r) John N. Col)b, 

 (v) T. M. Cogswell, {vi) R. E. Coker, {vii) S. W. Downing, {viii) B. W. 

 Evermann, [ix) Waldo F. Hubbard, [x) Alexander Jones, {xi) W. C. 

 Kendall, {xii) E. F. Locke, {xiii) W. F. Roberts, {xiv) Hugh M. Smith, 

 (xv) J. J. Stranahan, {xvi) John W. Titcomb, {xvii) S. G. Worth, 



The second list comprises the scientific and approved vernacular 

 names of the CentrarchidcE, and under each species all the common 

 names that have been applied to it. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS ON THE COMMON NAMES. 



The fertile imagination of Rafinesque induced him to coin many 

 names for the members of this famil}^ and he is responsible for a large 

 proportion of the book names mentioned in the list. More recent 

 writers have, however, contributed a number of such names, as will 

 appear from the list. In some cases, where common names are given 

 without comment in local lists of fishes and in general works, it has 

 not been possible to determine whether they were in actual use or 

 simijly supplied by the writers. This compilation is therefore proba- 

 bly subject to correction in a number of such names which could not 

 be corroborated from other sources. 



The names "sun-fish," "bream," and "perch" are applied with lit- 

 tle discrimination to all the smaller species, more especially those of 

 the genera Lepomis and Eupomotis in the Southern States. ' ' Bream " 

 is often corrupted to "brim" and "perch" to "peerch" or "pearch." 

 The same names are also given to Pomoxis, Ambloplites, Chcenobryttus, 

 and Centrarchus, with or without qualifying words. . 



The name tobacco-box, which is applied to Eupomotis gibbosus in 

 Maryland and Virginia, doubtless was based on a real or supposed 

 resemblance in size, form, or color to the old-fashioned pocket recep- 

 tacles for smoking and chewing tobacco. In regard to another fanci- 

 ful name of this fish, "Frank Forrester" remarked that "tlie numer- 

 ous spots on its body have procured for it the absurd name of 

 pumpkin-seed in many States." 



The two members of the genus Pomoxis are verj^ similar in appear- 

 ance and habits, and exist together in many waters. It is, therefore, 



