BLACK BASS. 217 
CHAPTEK XXII. 
BLACK BASS. 
Gristes Nigricans (Agassiz) — Centrarchus Fasciatus 
(De Kay). 
This fish has innumerable scientific names, while it can 
scarcely be said to have any distinctive popular one. 
Bass, either alone or with some additional appellation, is 
applied by common usage to almost the entire perch fam- 
ily, one of the largest among the American fishes, while 
scientific men are at as great a loss for appropriate nomen- 
clature or accurate distinctions. There are probably 
several species classed under the same name as this fish, 
and itself difi'ers greatly in color and appearance, accord- 
ing to its food, water or locality. There is no doubt that 
all fish, and more especially trout, change their hues 
according to the color of the water they inhabit, or even 
to the light or shade of their favorite haunts. It is sup- 
posed that they assimilate to the bottom wdiere they are 
found, a provision of nature to protect them from their 
enemies of the air. Unquestionably the same species 
present a very diff'erent appearance in clear, limj)id 
streams, and in muddy, sluggish brooks. Black Bass are 
said to possess of themselves the power to change their 
color at will, and have been known to do so repeatedly 
when confined in a vessel of water. They are found to 
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