THF BASS. 171 



with adherent scales. Lateral Ime taking the curve of the back to 

 the commencement of the last dorsal fin, from thence straight to the 

 tail ; ejcs moderate, placed half way between the point of the snout 

 and the posterior margin of the preoperculum : under jaw longest 

 when the mouth is opened half an inch. Teeth small and fine in 

 both jaws, as well as on the vomer, palatines, and tongue ; branchio- 

 stegous rays seven. The young fish, as stated by most authors, is 

 marked above the lateral line with dark spots. Number of fin rays — 

 1st D. 9 ; 2d D. 14 ; A. 14 ; C. 17 ; P. 17 ; V. 6 ; Vertebrse 26. 



This fish differs from the Serranus and the Rnffe^ in hav- 

 ing two dorsal fins ; and from the Perch by the tongue be- 

 ing furnished with teeth. 



The Bass sometimes attains the weight of fifteen, and, 

 according to Duhamel, even of thirty pounds. It was 

 known to the ancients, who, on account of its strength, 

 activity, and voraciousness, gave it the appropriate name of 

 Lupus. In the Mediterranean it is of common occurrence, 

 where it is said to increase to a much larger size than on 

 our coasts. It does not appear to exist in so great abun- 

 dance on the coasts of Scotland as on those of England : 

 now and then it makes its appearance in the Firth of Forth, 

 more particularly in the months of July and August, when 

 it is taken with lines on rocky parts, and occasionally in the 

 salmon nets near Queensferry, The Bass, in general, ap- 

 pears to feed on small crustaceous animals. In the stomach 

 of a specimen which I examined were found several speci- 

 mens of Astacus linearis^ and two of the Cancer longicor- 

 nis, together with part of a Blennius gmnnellus. Mr Yar- 

 rell states, on the authority of Mr Couch, that it is parti- 

 cularly fond of the Onisci which are washed from the rocks 

 in stormy weather, when these fish are seen in pursuit of 

 them. Dr Neill took from the stomach of one, the fry of 

 the sand-launce, and two young specimens of the father- 

 lasher.* The flesh of this fish is firm and well-flavoured, 



* Werncrian Memoirs^ vol. i. 



