FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



ORDER I. 



ACANTHOPTERYGIL 



Family I. 

 PERCOIDES. 



Perca. Cuv. 



Generic characters. Tioo 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 bo7iy, ending in a flattened 

 point directed backwards : branchiostegous rays 7 : scales 

 rough, hard, and not easily detached. 



P. flavescens. Mitchell. The Commoii Perch. 



Trans, of the Literary and Philosophical Society of N. Y. i. 421. 

 Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. ii. p. 46. 

 Richardson's Fauna Boreali Americana, pt. 3d, p. 1, et fig. 



In the ponds of many portions of the State, this is quite a 

 common species, and in the spring and autumn is not unfre- 

 quently met with in the markets. Specimens are seldom 

 taken more than 12 or 15 inches in length. 



This beautiful fish is of a greenish yellow above — with 

 golden yellow sides crossed by seven transverse dark bands, 

 those upon middle of body broadest : beneath, white. The 

 length of the head compared to the length of the body, is as 



