114 



VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES 



i8. Huro Cuvier. Similar to Micropterus, but with the pyloric 

 caeca mostly branched; mouth very large; maxillary extending beyond 

 the eye; soft portion of the dorsal and anal fins scaleless: i species. 



H. salmoides (Lac.)- Large -mouthed black bass. Length 750 mm.; 

 extreme weight 20 lbs.; head 3 to 3.5; depth 3 to 3.25; color dark green, 

 silvery below; adult plain, young with a broad blackish lateral band; 

 3 longitudinal bands on the head back of the eye; rays of dorsal fin X, 

 12 to 13; anal III, 10 or 11; scales 8-68-16: Great Lakes region to 

 Dakota; southward to Florida and Mexico; common, especially in 

 lakes and sluggish waters. 



Fig. 54. — Black bass heads: a, head of Micropterus dolomieu; b, head of Huro salmoides 



(from Jordan c^ Evermann) . 



4. Family Percidae. — The perch. Body elongate or elliptical; 

 scales ctenoid and small; lateral line complete; mouth terminal or 

 inferior; opercle ending in a flat spine; branchiostegals 7; 2 dorsal fins, 

 anterior with about 13 spines; anal fin with 2 spines; ventral fins 

 thoracic, with rays I, 5; air bladder small; pyloric caeca few: over 100 

 species, inhabiting the fresh waters of the northern hemisphere ; 3 United 

 States genera. 



I. Perca L. Body elliptical, compressed; cheek scaly; opercle 

 mostly naked and armed with a single spine ; preopercle serrated ; mouth 

 terminal; branchiostegals 7; pseudobranchiae small, but well developed; 

 pyloric caeca 3 ; caudal margin concave : 3 species, P. fluviatiUs occurring 

 in Europe, and P. schrenki in Asia. 



P. flavescens (Mitchill). Yellow perch; common perch. Length 

 300 mm.; head 3.25; depth 3.25; back elevated; color dark olive green 

 above; sides yellow with 6 to 8 broad dark transverse bars; belly bright 

 yellow; lower fins orange; rays of dorsal fins XIII-I, 14; anal II, 7 or 

 8; scales 5-55-17: Nova Scotia to South CaroHna, in coastwise streams; 

 throughout the Great Lakes region and west ware to Iowa and Dakota; 

 not found from central Ohio southwestward ; very common; introduced 



