CENTRARCHIDA. 85 
Genus: MICROPTERUS. 
Key to Species. 
A. Eleven rows of scales above lateral line, about 17 rows on cheek.— dolomteu. 
AA, Seven rows of scales above lateral line, about 1o rows on cheek.— salmoides. 
Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede. SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK Bass. 
Head 2% to 3%; depth 23/ to3%; eye 5 to6%. D.X, 13 to15; A. III, 
Io to 12; scales 11-72 to 85-25 (Ohio specimens average about 75 in lateral 
line). Body rather elongate in young, becoming deeper with age. Mouth 
large,~but smaller than in JZ. salmoides, the maxillary usually not extending 
back of posterior edge of orbit. This species can always be distinguished at 
once from JV/, salmoides by the smaller scales, there being 11 rows of scales 
above the lateral line, while in salmoides there are but 7 rows. The color is 
exceedingly variable, giving rise to a number of local names among sports- 
men. The usual color is a dark green, with bronze or golden reflections, 
sometimes almost black on the back; belly lighter. A lateral band never 
present. Said to reach a length of 2 feet. 
Widely distributed over the state and common everywhere in 
suitable localities. Dr. Jordan aptly says in regard to its habits, 
““as compared with JZ. salmozdes it is a fish of the running waters, 
having little liking for warm and grassy ponds, bayous or lakes.’’ 
It is found in nearly all streams, sometimes even ascending small, 
spring-fed brooks. Recorded by all students of Ohio fishes from 
Rafinesque and Le Sueur on down, and under a great variety of 
names. I give the locality records of later investigators. Ham- 
ilton County, ‘‘ common in Little Miami river,’’ Henshall, 1888 ; 
Lorain County, ‘‘common in the larger streams, not so often 
seen in the lake as the next species,’’ McCormick, 1892 ; Maumee 
river system, ‘‘ common in all the streams, none from the lakes,” 
Kirsch, 1893; Franklin County, generally abundant, William- 
son and Osburn, 1897 ; Big Jelloway creek system, Knox County, 
nearly all streams, abundant in some places, Parker, Williamson 
and Osburn, 1898; John’s creek at Waterloo, Ice creek at Iron- 
.ton, Huron river at Milan, Sandusky Bay, Ashtabula creek, 
Wabash river at Celina, Stillwater and Wolf creeks near Dayton, 
North Fork of Licking river at Newark, R. C. Osburn, 1899 ; 
Mahoning river, E. B. Williamson, 1900; Cuyahoga river at 
Hawkins, Grand river at Painesville, Chagrin river at Wil- 
loughby, Wheeling creek at Bridgeport, Ohio river and McMahon 
creek at Bellaire, Licking reservoir, R. C. Osburn, 1900. 
