THE PERCH FAMILY. 



Ill 



CRAPPIE, SAC-A-LAI, OE CHINKAPIN PERCH. 



Pomoxis hexacanihus : Cuvier. 



Form — body oval, mucli compressed ; breadth compared 

 ■with length as 3 to 7. Lateral line concurrent with the back. 

 Head small, facial line much depressed ; small scales on 

 preopercle, but larger on the opercle, which is without a 

 spine ; nostrils small and double ; a few denticulations at the 

 lower posterior angle of opercle ; branchial rays seven ; dorsal 

 iin seven spines and sixteen soft rays ; pectorals twelve ; 

 ventrals one spine and five rays ; anal large, with six spines 

 and eighteen rays ; caudal eighteen rays. 



There are five indistinct dark lines above the lateral line 

 in the fish of Louisiana, but wanting in those of Illinois ; I 

 have found dark transverse markings on the latter. The back 

 is yellowish blue ; sides silvery ; belly white, tinged with 

 yellow. The pectorals camate nearest the humeral bone, with 

 a light shade of orange at the tips ; ventrals pink, tipped with 



