GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 261 



THE MALASHEGANAY. 



Corvina Richardsoni — Cuvier. 



This, like the species last named, is an inhabitant of the 

 upper lakes, though it is not found below Lake Erie. In Lake 

 Huron it is known as the Sheep's-head, and in the vicinity of 

 Buffalo as the Black Sheep's-head. 



It affords very good sport to the angler, and, unlike its con- 

 gener last described, is highly prized as one of the most delicious 

 of the lake fishes. 



Its colour is greenish grey, banded with dusky or blackish 

 bars over the back, its sides are silvery, its belly yellowish. In 

 form it closely resembles the Corvina Oscula, but its forehead 

 descends in a more vertical angle to the mouth. The under jaw 

 is somewhat the longer. The mouth is cleft back as far as to 

 the middle of the eye, Avhich is large and round. The teeth are 

 very numerous and very small. The operculum has tAvo lobes 

 behind. 



The first dorsal fin has nine spinous rays; the second, one 

 spine and eighteen soft rays ; the pectorals have fifteen soft rays ; 

 the ventrals, one spine and seven soft rays ; the anal, one spine 

 and seven soft rays ; the caudal, seventeen soft branched rays. 



There is yet another species of this family, the Corvina Grisea, 

 known familiarly as the White Perch of the Ohio, which is found 

 in the waters of that noble river, but it is of little importance 

 either to the angler or the epicure, and merits not a more 

 particular description. 



