LABRACID^.— XOI. 231 



usually thickly scaled; colors rather paler and more 

 translucent than in /S. vitreum, the shades less blended; 

 olive gray, sides pale orange with much black mottling, 

 the black gathered into several definite dark areas; spin- 

 ous dorsal with two or three rows of round black spots; 

 a large black blotch at base of pectorals; dorsal XII — 1, 

 17; A. II, 12; lat. 1. 95; size not large; length 12 to 15 

 inches. Ohio River and Great Lake region to Upper 

 Missouri; a strongly marked species. (X. gnsea^ DeK., 

 X. borea, Grd.) 



FAMILY XCL— LABRACID^.. 



(TJie Bass.) 

 Percoid fishes with the general characters of the pre- 

 ceding family, but having three anal spines, the verte- 

 bra3 and the spines of the dorsal reduced in number, 

 generally nine or ten of the latter; teeth on the tongue 

 in our species. Genera fifteen; species thirty-five. Mostly 

 of northern regions, the majority of them marine, often 

 entering: rivers. 



* Base of tongue with a patch of teetli; scales on head cycloid; 



dorsal fins not connected. .... Roccus. 1. 



** Base of tongue toothless ; scales on head ctenoid ; dorsal fins 

 united at base ; second anal spine enlarged. . Morone, 3. 



/. ROCCUS, Mitchill. Striped Bass. 

 < Lahrax^ Cuvier. 



* Body little compressed; depth less than i of length; teetli on 



tongue in more than one patch ; chiefly marine. {Roccus.) 



1. R. /meatus, (Bl. & Schn.) Gill. Striped Bass. 

 Rock Fish. Silvery or yellowish, with seven or eight 

 longitudinal bands; D. IX— 1, 12; A. Ill, 11; lat. 1. 62. 

 xVtlantic Coast, entering rivers. 



** Body much compressed ; depth more than i of length ; teeth 

 on tongue in a single patch ; fresh waters. {Lepibema, Raf ) 



