4 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
rays. Ventrals slightly behind the pectorals. Anal beneath the second dorsal, of two spinous 
and eight articulated rays ; the first spinous ray shorter than the second. Caudal forked, or 
rather notched, with the tips somewhat rounded. Mouth moderate ; jaws even. Preopercle 
strongly toothed. The opercle serrated beneath, and with a spine on its posterior angle. 
Humeral bones grooved. 
Color. Above greenish and gold, with dark olive green. Vertical bands across the back, 
usually longest about the middle of the body, and gradually smaller towards the tail. Chin 
flesh-colored. Sides and abdomen golden yellow. Ventrals and anals bright orange. Pec- 
torals yellowish orange. Dorsals and caudal dusky brown ; the anterior dorsal tinged with 
light yellow, and with dark brown dashes along its length above the base of the fin. Pupils 
black ; irides golden. 
Length, 6°0 - 12°0. 
Fin rays, D.13.2.15; V.1.5; A.2.8; C.17 4. 
The common Yellow Perch is one of the best known and widely distributed of all our 
fluviatile fishes. It may be considered as a northern fish, extending to the fiftieth parallel. 
Its geographical distribution has been much extended within a few years, by the artificial 
water channels created by the enterprise of several of our sister republics. Thus, in the 
State of Ohio, it was common in the small lakes in the northern parts of the State only, and 
in Lake Erie. Since the construction of the Ohio canal, we learn from Kirtland that it has 
found its way into the Ohio river, and may soon be observed in the Mississippi. It is com- 
mon in almost every pond and stream throughout the northern and middle States, and in all 
the great lakes. It is very closely allied to the P. fluviatilis of Europe; and like that fish, 
is much esteemed by those who can not obtain salt-water species. It has occasionally been 
transported from one pond to another, with complete success. In 1790, Dr. Mitchill trans- 
ferred some of them from Ronkonkama to Success pond, a distance of forty miles, where 
they soon multiplied. In 1825, a similar experiment was made by transporting perch from 
Skaneateles to Otisco lake and Onondaga lake. In this latter case, the perch increased 
remarkably ; while pickerel, which were introduced at the same time, did not appear to 
thrive as well. The common dace and eel pout have also been transferred with complete 
success. They vary considerably in size in different localities. I have caught them in 
Otsego lake, weighing nearly three pounds, and have heard of them exceeding this weight. 
Cuvier has described two or three other species, which seem scarcely distinguishable from 
the perch just described. 
