Storer's Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. 35 



half the height of the others. The first row of teeth in the lower jaw is similar to that 

 of the upper, except that it has no canines. The dried fish is red above, silvery or golden 

 upon its sides, without bands. 



D. 11-15. P. 1G. V. 1-5. A. 3-7. C. 17. Length, 21 inches. 



Caribbean Sea, Cuv. 



Le Mesoprion A dents egale.s, Mesoprion isodon, Cuv. et Val., ix. p, 143. 



GENUS X. CENTROPRISTIS, Cuv. 



A single dorsal fin ; branchiostegous rays, seven ; all the teeth small and 

 crowded ; no canines. Their preoperculum is dentated and the operculum 



spinous. 



1. Centropristis nigricans, Cuv. 



This species is of a dark brown, almost black, color, lighter beneath ; the head is of a sea 

 or bronze green. The young of this species present clouded transverse bands. The while 

 connecting membrane of the dorsal and anal tins is barred with black. The central rays of 

 the caudal fin, which are usually forked, are elongated somewhat in young specimens: 

 thus this fin is trilobed ; this elongation is less perceptible in old specimens. 



D. 10-11. P. 18. V. 1-5. A. 3-7. C. 17. Length, 12 to 14 inches. 



Massachusetts, Storer. New York, Mitchill. 



c al^ct'ii-LS -hy-i'.ith A-- L'a* \c*t.£(x 

 Perca varia. Mitchill. Trans. Lit. et Phil. Soc. New York, i. p. 415, pi. 3, fig. 6. ^ . ,^ ,^, b /lr 



Centropristis nigricans, Griffith's Ct'v., x. p. 11". ' ^ 



l.e Centropriste noir, Centropristis nigricans, Cuv. el Val., mi. pp. 37, 44. Lutjanus minims, Lacbp ■ 



" i: Black Perch, Black Bass, Storer's Report, p. 9. 



" " Black Sea Bass, Dekay's Report, p. 24, pi. II, fig. 5. 



„ a 



2. Centropristis trifurca, L. 



It is spotted, and ornamented with seven blue bands. The opercula are finely denticu- 

 lated. The tail is three-pointed, like the nigricans. The third and fourth dorsal spines 

 are furnished with tentaculae as long as the spines themselves. 



D. 11-12. P. 16. V. 1-5. A. 3-8. C. 20. Length, (?). 



South Carolina, Cuv. 



Le Centropriste trident, Perca trifurca, L., Cuv. et Val., mi. p. 43. Lutjanus iridens, Lacep. ? 

 11 " Dekay's Report, p. 23. 



3. Centropristis tabacarius, Cuv. 

 Of a reddish brown, deeper above, lighter beneath; with an oblong, dull whitish spot 

 upon each side, at the upper edge of the lateral line, opposite the first seven dorsal spines; 

 a second small spot at the first ray of the dorsal fin ; and a third at the base of the last few 

 soft rays of the dorsal. Dorsal fin with clouded brown spots. Three spines upon the oper- 

 culum. 



