CHAPTER II. 



REPORT UPOiN THE FISHES EXCLUSIVE OF THE SALMONIDAE. 



AMBLOPLITES iENEUS. Agass. 



Black Bass, &c> 



Plate I. 



Sp. Ch. — Posterior extremity of maxillary exteiiciiriLC to a vertical line intersecting the pupil. Insertion of ventrals 

 opposite the base of the pectorals. Anterior spiny ray of anal fin under the ninth dorsal one. Posterior margin of caudal 

 fin slightly cmarginatcd. Upper regions of head and Ijody of a coppery brown ; inferior regions, yellowish brown. 

 iiYH.—Cichla. asnea, Lesu. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. II, 1822, 214, fig.— Kirtl. Eep. Zool. Ohio, 18, 168, 191. 



Centrarchut aenem, Ccv. & Val. Hist. Nat Poiss. Ill, 1829, 84.— Rich. Faun. Bor. Amcr. Ill, 1836, 18. PI. Ixxv.— 

 DeKat, New Y. Fauna, 1842, 27, PI. ii, fig.4.— KiKXL.Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV. 1842, 229. PI. xi, fig. 1.— 

 Stoher, Synops. 184G, 37. 

 " Ambloplilea aeneus, Agass." Girard, Gen. Kcp. Fishes, P. E. R. Reports, X, 1858, 8. 

 Black Bass; Black Sunfish, &c. Vernacdlar. 



The black bass is quite abundant in the lakes of western Minnesota. I have obtained them 

 from the small lakes near Fort Snelling and also from Lightning lake, where they are very 

 common, and attain a comparatively large size; the adults averaging more than a foot in 

 length. 



They take bait greedily, and I have caught many with the " revolving spoon." The flesh 

 of the fish is excellent when cooked, comparing favorably with that of the pickerel or the pike- 

 perch, in whose company it is often found. The best period in the day to fish for the species 

 are, as with many others, the hours of early morning, or a brief period before sunset. Our 

 command found the addition of such fine fish to their fiire very acceptable, especially as the 

 region where they were found in greatest abundance was almost entirely destitute of game, 

 the buffalo region had not yet been reached, and confinement to bacon and flour had already 

 become a hardship. 



POMOTIS LUNA, Grd. 



Northern Suiiiislk, or Moon Suuiisli. 



Sr. Cn. — Body sub-orbicular in profile. Head moderate; snout sub-conical. Mouth small; posterior extremity of 

 maxillary extending to .a vertical line drawn in advance of the anterior rim of the orbit. Eye moderate. Sub-orbital and 

 supra-scapular bones not crenated. Edge of preopercle very slightly crenated. Opercular flap small. Spinous portion of 

 dorsal fin of moderate height, and lower than the soft; its origin beiug situated opposite the base of the pectorals, and con- 

 sequently in sulvance of the origin of the ventr.ils. Caudal fin posteriorly emarginato. Tips of ventrals overlapping the 

 vent but do not reach the anterior mai'gin of the anal. Extremities of pectorals nearly even with the tips of ventrals. 

 Greenish brotvn above, yellowish beneath; sides of head with blue and yellow lines. Fins unicolor, either yellowish or 

 greenish olive. (Colors described from alcoholic specimens.) 



Syn. — Psntatis vulgaris, Richards., Faun. Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836, 24; pi. Ixxvi. — Aqass. Lake Super, 1850, 293. 

 Pamotis hma, Gln>. ia Proc. AcJid. Nat. Sc. Philad. November, 1857. — Ibid. Gen. Rep. Fishes, 22. 

 Northern Sunfish. Vebnaculab. 



