ELASSOMID.E. XCLT. 247 



15. POMOXYS, Rafinesque. GRASS BASS. 

 * Dorsal spines normally 7; body muck elevated; depth half 

 length. (Hyperistius, Gill.) 



1. P. nigromaculatus, (LeS.) Grd. GRASS BASS. CALICO 

 BASS. Depth 2 in length; head nearly 3; snout pro- 

 jecting, forming an angle with the descending profile; 

 mouth large, very oblique, but smaller than in the next; 

 fins very large; anal larger than dorsal; bright olive 

 green and silvery; sides and fins much mottled; the 

 anal fin nearly as much variegated as the dorsal; D. VII, 

 15; A. VI, 18; lat. 1. 41 ; L. 8. Great Lakes to Delaware 

 R. (Abbott] and S. W.; a handsome fish. [P. hexacanthus, 

 (C. & V.) Ag.] 



** Dorsal spines normally 6; body less elevated; depth about 

 one-third length. (Pomoxys.) 



2. P. annularis, Raf. BACHELOR (Ohio R.) NEW 

 LIGHT (Ky.) CRAPPIE (St. Louis). Depth two -fifths to 

 one-third length, scarcely greater than length of head; 

 olivaceous, silvery below; sides with irregular clusters of 

 dark spots; the lower part of the sides, and the anal fin 

 usually plain; D. VII, (V to VII) 15; A. VI, 17; lat. 1. 

 43 (39 to 48), L. 10. Mississippi Valley, a food fish of 

 some value; abundant and exceedingly variable. (P. 

 storerius^nitidus, intermedius, protacanthus and brevi- 

 cauda of authors.) 



FAMILY XCII. (&.)-ELASSOMID^E. 



(The Elassomes.) 



A provisional group framed for the reception of a 

 single species whose affinities are at present uncertain. 

 It includes small fishes similar in appearance to Centrar- 

 chidce, but without lateral line, and the fins little devel- 

 oped; the scales cycloid, the upper jaw extremely 

 protractile and both jaws armed with strong teeth; no 



