236 FISHES. 



jj. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft part, the spines 5 to 8 in 

 number, rapidly graduated ; anal spines normally 6 ; body 

 compressed and rather elongate ; mouth large. 



POMOXYS, 15. 



/. MICROPTERUS, Lacepecle. Black Bass. 



> HuTo and Grystes^ C. & V. 



= Caliiurus^ Raf. (not of Agassiz.) 



1. M. paf/ic/us, (Raf.) Gill & Jor. Large-Mouthed 

 Black Bass. Osavego Bass. Dull olive green, more 

 or less spotted when young but not barred; usually with 

 an irregular dark lateral band, and three oblique stripes 

 on opercles; ends of caudal fin blackish, these markings 

 growing obscure with age; 3d dorsal spine twice as high 

 as first; notch between spines and soft-rays deep; eight 

 rows of scales between lateral line and dorsal; anal fin 

 somewhat scaly; mouth very wide; D. X, 12; A. TIT, 10; 

 hit. 1. 05 to 70. Great Lakes and rivers of the West and 

 South, abundant in most regions, and, like the next, 

 highly valued as a food fish. [Huro nigricans^ C. & V. 

 G. nohilior and nigricans^ Agass., M.floridanus (LeS.)] 



2. M. salmoides, (Lac.) Gill. Small-Mouthed Black 

 Bass. Moss Bass. Dark green; young brighter and 

 more or less barred and spotted, but without lateral 

 ])and; tail yellow at base, then black, and edged with 

 white; opercle with oblique olivaceous streaks; third 

 dorsal spine half larger than first; dorsal notch rather 

 shallow; scales smaller than in the preceding — eleven 

 rows between lateral line and dorsal; mouth smaller; 

 anal nearly scaleless; D. X. 13; A. Ill, 11; lat. 1. 70 to 

 SO. Great Lakes and streams from L. Champlain S. and 

 W.; common in N. Y. and in most regions west of the 

 Alleganies; introduced eastward. \G. fasciatus^ {Lq^,) 



