202 AMERICAN FISHES. 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



THE LAKE SHEEP'S-HEAD. 



Corvina Oscula ; Cuvier. 



THIS is a very common fish in Lake Erie, and also below the Falls 

 of Niagara, where it is readily taken with the hook, though it is in 

 very small repute for its edible qualities, being commonly reported to 

 be dry, lean and tasteless. It is in fact very rarely eaten. 



Its color is bluish gray on the back, darker on the abdomen and the 

 snout. Abdomen and chin grayish white. 



In shape it considerably resembles the preceding genera, Gristes 

 and Centrarchus, having a gibbous dorsal outline, and arched profile, 

 the lateral line being also, as in these, concurrent with the curve of the 

 back. The eyes are large, round and prominent, situated close to the , 

 facial outline. The teeth in the jaws are small, conic, and sharp, but 

 the palate and pharyngeals are paved with large rounded solid teeth, 

 well adapted for crushing its hard and shelly prey, such as the fresh- 

 water clams and muscles, cyclas and paludina which constitute its 

 principal subsistence. 



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

 and twenty-eight soft rays, the pectorals nineteen soft rays, the 

 ventrals one spinous and five soft, the anal two spinous and eight 

 soft, the caudal, seventeen rays. Its air bladder is very large, and 

 simple. 



This fish, if I am not greatly in error, is very frequently confounded 

 on the lakes in the vicinity of Buffalo with the Gristes Nigrieant, 

 under the name of Oswego Bass,* and in fact, though of a different 

 family, Scienidce, does bear .something of general resemblance to that 

 species. It is also found in many of the small inland lakes throughout 

 the country. 



* It is more probable, however, that there is no true distinction between the 

 Blnok and Oswego Bass, save in the difference of condition 



