HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 6 



Richardson. Eeport on North American Zoology. London. 1837. 

 Schomburghk. History of Barbados. London. 1848. 

 Zoology of Beechey's Voyage to the Pacific. 4to. London. 1839. 

 Magasin de Zoologie, par Guerin de Meneville. 8vo. Paris. 

 Agassiz. Lake Superior. 8vo. Boston. 1850. 



Slorer, H. R. Observations on the Fishes of Nova Scotia and Labrador, in Boston Journal of Natural 

 History, Vol. VI. 1850. 



Perley. Catalogue of the Fishes of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Frederickton. 1837. 



CLASS I. OSSEOUS FISHES. 



Skeleton bony, the osseous matter being deposited in fibres. Sutures of the cranium 

 distinct, with maxillary or intermaxillary bones, always one, and generally both, present. 

 Gill-membrane with rays. 



ORDER I. ACANTHOPTERYGII. SPINE-RAYED. 



They are known by the spines which represent the first rays of the dorsal fin, or 

 which alone sustain the anterior fin of the back, when they have two. Sometimes, 

 instead of an anterior dorsal fin, they have nothing but a few free spines. Their anal 

 fin has also some spines instead of the first rays, and there is, in general, one to each 

 ventral. 



FAMILY I. PERCIDvE. 



Comprehends fishes with an elongated body, covered with hard or rough scales, in 

 which the operculum or preoperculum, and frequently both, have indented or spinous 

 edges, and in which the jaws, the front of the vomer, and almost always the palatines, 

 are furnished with teeth. 



GENUS I. PERCA, Cuv. 



Two dorsal fins distinct, separated ; the rays of the first spinous, those of the second 

 flexible ; tongue smooth ; teeth in both jaws, in front of the vomer, and on the palatine 

 bones ; preoperculum notched below, serrated on the posterior edge ; operculum bony, 

 ending in a flattened point directed backwards. Branchiostegous rays. Scales rough- 

 ened, and not easily detached. 



