366 



GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



S07ii (Agassiz), is perhaps best known, a fish from eight to eleven 

 inches in length. Its body is compressed, oval and covered with 

 scales of medium size, which are peculiar in being cycloid. An- 

 other peculiar, and, indeed unique feature, is that at the base of 

 the long dorsal fin are two or three rows of scales separated from 

 those of the body by a rather broad and deep scaleless furrow. 

 The anterior part of this fin can be folded back and concealed. 

 The female genital apparatus in a state of pregnancy consists of a 

 large violet bag, so transparent that one can distinguish through 

 it the shape, color and formation of the small fish with which it is 

 filled. The fish when ready to escape are miniatures of their 

 mother in shape and color, and fitted to seek their own livelihood. 

 This genital sack seems to be nothing but the widened lower end 

 of the ovary, and the pouches mto which it is divided within are 

 merely a part of the ovary itself. In each of these pouches a young 

 one is wrapped up as in a sheet, and all are packed in tightly. It 

 is, therefore, a normal ovarian gestation. The external genital 

 opening is situated behind the anus. As many as nineteen young 

 have been found in one fish. The males are not quite as large as 

 the females, either in length or circumference. 



There is a great variety of these fishes, differing much in size 

 and color. The following are the species generally met with : 



E. -ivchbi. 

 E. lineata. 

 E. argyrosoma. 

 Phanerodon fiircatits. 

 Rhacochilus toxotes. 

 Holcojiotus 7'hodoterus. 

 Ennichthys megalops. 

 E. heermanni. 



Girard. 



Agassiz. 



Girard. 



E. cassidii. 

 E. ornata. 

 E. perspicabilis. 

 Damalichthys vacca. 

 Abeona ttowbridgii. 

 Hysterocarpus traskii. 

 A Diphisticits ar^cnteiis. 

 Amphisticus similis. 



Girard. 



Gibbons. 



Agassiz. 



Girard. 



The silvery perch {Damalicthys vacca), never takes bait. It is 

 of a greyish olive color ; scales have a silvery and golden reflect ; 

 fins unicolor. The male carries the sac on the anterior third of 

 the anal. 



The golden barred perch {Holconolus rhodoieriis), is the most 

 abundant species of the family. It has a small mouth, sub-conical 

 head, large eyes, and the colors vary from a bluish grey above to 

 a silvery white, with three tranverse bars of golden on the belly 



