107 



XXXI— SERRANIDffi. 



CENTROPRISTIS, Cuv. 



C. atrarius. 



Black Will, Black Fish, Black Perch, or Sea 



Bass. 



The lorm is somewhat oblong, but when its capacious 

 mouth and hir,!;o gill-openings are extended, it appears nearly 

 triangular. The ver}^ large head is more or less elevated, 

 but descends rapidly towards the tail. Scales large. Very va- 

 riable in color, but generally dusky-brown. Each scale has 

 a dusky margin with a transparent spot in the middle, that 

 allows the black skin to be seen under it. Length, 6 to 12 

 inches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 10. 11; P. 18; V. 1. 5; A. 3. 7; C. 17. 

 C. atrarius, Gruenther I, p. 86. 

 Perca aio-aria, L. Syst. Nat. I, p. 485. 

 Corijphoina nigresctns, Bl. Sclin., p. 297. 

 Perca varia, Mitchill Report, p. 10. 

 Lufjanus trilohus, Lacep, IV, p. 246. 



Centropristis nigricans, Cuv. & Val.,III, p. 37, pi. 44; De- 

 Kay, New York Fauna, Fish, p. 24, pi. 2, fig. 6. 



— rufus, Cuv. & Val., IV, p. 47. 



— atrarius, Holbr. Ichth. S. Car., p. 45, pi. 7, fig. 2. 

 This is a well known fish to the market people, and is 



sometimes brought in considerable numbers during the Spring 

 and Autumn. It never reaches a very large size, not ex- 

 ceeding 15 inches. It is very voracious, feeding alike on 

 dead or living animal substances, and is in consequence 

 easily taken witji the hook. 



It abounds on tiie coast i)f Worcester county, and in Sine- 

 puxent Bay. 



Acad. Coll S. I. 



XXXII— LABRACIDl!. 



EOCCUS, Gill. 



•^R. lineatus. 



' Striped Bass, or Rock-Fish. 



The body is cylindrical, tapering, and moderately com- 

 pressed. The head is large, long, thick, and very broad be- 



