356 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



3. Whenever j)racticable a, reference is given to a published record 

 of the use of the name for the species and region cited. In the case 

 of many names this record Avas the first known, but for other names, 

 ■\vlioso earliest application has not been determined, it has been con- 

 sidered sufficient to refer to a standard work. The works are men- 

 tioned by numbers, which correspond to a full citation of titles and 

 authors at the end of the paper. 



In the case of names which have not before ai)peared in ichthyo- 

 logical literature or other writings, so far as known, the authority 

 has been indicated by Roman numei-als corresi)Oiiding with those pi-e- 

 fixed to the names of the following persons, all connected witli the 

 U. S. Fish Commission, who have furnished information: (/) Charles 

 G. Atkins, (//) William Barnum, (///) S. P. Bartlett, (ir) John N. Cobb, 

 (r) T. M. Cogswell, (r/) U. E. Coker, {vii) S. W. Downing, (riil) B. W. 

 Evermann, {ix) Waldo F. Hubbard, (x) Alexander Jones, {xi) W. C. 

 Kendall, (xii) K. F. Locke, {xiii) W. F. Roberts, {xiv) Hugh M. Smith, 

 (u;r) J. J. Stranahan, {xvl) John W. Tit.comb, [xvii) 8. G. Wortli. 



The second list comprises the scientific and approved vernacular 

 names of the Ceiitr'archida', and under each species all the common 

 names that have been applied to it. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS ON THE COMMON NAMES. 



The fertile imagination of Rafinesque induced him to coin many 

 names for the memberi^^ of this family, and he is responsible for a large 

 proportion of the boo v names mentioned in the list. More recent 

 writers have, however, contributed a number of such names, as will 

 apijear from the list. In some cases, where common names are given 

 without comment in local lists of fishes and in general works, it has 

 not been jiossible to determine whether they were in actual use or 

 simply supjilied l)y the writers. This compilation is therefoi-e pi'oba- 

 bly subject to correction in a number of such names which could not 

 be corroborated from other sources. 



The names "sun-fish," "bream,"' and "perch" are applied with lit- 

 tle discrimination to all the smaller species, more especiallj' those of 

 the genera Lepomis and Eupomotis in the Southern States. ' ' Bream " 

 is often corrupted to "brim" and "perch" to "peerch" or "pearch." 

 The same names are also given to Pomoxis, Amhloplitss, Chcejwbryttus, 

 and Cenfrarchus, with or without qualifying words. 



The name tobacco-box, which is applied to Eupomotis gibhosiis in 

 Maryland and A'irginia, doubtless was based on a real or supposed 

 resemblance in size, form, or color to the old-fashioned pocket recep- 

 tacles for smoking and chewing tobacco. In regard to another fanci- 

 ful name of this fisli, " Frank Forrester" remarked that "the numer- 

 ous spots on its body have procured for it the absurd name of 

 pumpkin-seed in many States." 



The two members of the genus Pomoxis are very similar in appear- 

 ance and habits, and exist together in many waters. It is, therefore, 



