110 



The '• American Yellow Percli'" or Common Percli"' is soli- 

 tary in its habits^ and even when very abundant is never seen 

 in shoals. During the cold weather it is an inhabitant of 

 the deep water, but in the summer it swims slowly 

 against the current; it often stops very suddenly for a ghort 

 time, in an almost perpendicular position, searching for food, 

 and as suddenly darts forwards rapidly for a short distance, to 

 repeat the same manoeuvre. Notwithstanding its teeth are 

 small, it is very voracious, and during July and August 

 swims near the surface to catch insects. In November 

 it is taken with rod and line south of the city of Baltimore. 

 Having a whiie, firm and delicate flesh, it is brought in 

 vast numbers to the city in spring and autumn, and com- 

 mands a ready sale. 



In the Chester, Patapsco and other rivers not remote from 

 Baltimore^ specimens of unusual size have occasionally been 

 taken, weighing more than four pounds. 



Acad. Coll. 



8TIZOSTEDIUM. 



S. americana. 



Yellow Pike-Perch, or Jack. 



Body elongated, cylindrical, tapering; profile of head in a 

 gently sloping straight line to the end of the snout. Mouth 

 wide, extensive; the lower jaw received into tlie upper. Yel- 

 lowish-olive above the lateral line; lighter on the sides; silvery 

 beneath. Head and gill-covers mottled with green, brownish 

 and white. Length, 12 to 18 inches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 13. 1. 21; P. 15; V. 1. 5; A. 1. 14; C. 17. 



Lucioperca americana, Valenciennes, I. p. 122, pi. IG; 

 Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 19, and Bost. Journ., IV. p. 237, pi. 

 9, fig. 2; Rich. Faun. Bor. Amer., Fishes, pp. 10 and 14: 

 DeKay, New York Fauna, Fish., p. 17, pi. 50, fig. 163: Agas. 

 Lake Super., p. 294. 



Stizostedium americumcm, Cope. Atlas of Md. 



Scarcely if at all brought to the Baltimore markets, al- 

 though it attains to a large size, and is highly prized for food 

 in tlie mountainous regions, where it occurs. It is said to 

 prefer the clear, cool, rapid waters of the higher levels. 



