4 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



rays. Ventrals slightly behind the pectorals. Anal beneath the second dorsal, of two spinous 

 and eight articulated rays ; the first spinous ray shorter than the second. Caudal forked, or 

 rather notched, with the tips somewhat rounded. Mouth moderate ; jaws even. Preopercle 

 strongly toothed. The opercle serrated beneath, and with a spine on its posterior angle. 

 Humeral bones grooved. 



Color. Above greenish and gold, with dark olive green. Vertical bands across the back, 

 usually longest about the middle of the body, and gradually smaller towards the tail. Chin 

 flesh-colored. Sides and abdomen golden yellow. Ventrals and anals bright orange. Pec- 

 torals yellowish orange. Dorsals and caudal dusky brown ; the anterior dorsal tinged with 

 light yellow, and with dark brown dashes along its length above the base of the fin. Pupils 

 black ; irides golden. 



Length, 6-0- 12-0. 



Fin rays, D. 13.2.15; V. 1.5; A. 2.8; C. 17 |. 



The common Yellow Perch is one of the best known and widely distributed of all our 

 fluviatile fishes. It may be considered as a northern fish, extending to the fiftieth parallel. 

 Its geographical distribution has been much extended within a few years, by the artificial 

 water channels created by the enterprise of several of our sister republics. Thus, in the 

 State of Ohio, it was common in the small lakes in the northern parts of the State only, and 

 in Lake Erie. Since the construction of the Ohio canal, we learn from Kirtland that it has 

 found its way into the Ohio river, and may soon be observed in the Mississippi. It is com- 

 mon in almost every pond and stream throughout the northern and middle States, and in all 

 the great lakes. It is very closely allied to the P. jluviatilis of Europe ; and like that fish, 

 is much esteemed by those who can not obtain salt-water species. It has occasionally been 

 transported from one pond to another, with complete success. In 1790, Dr. Mitchill trans- 

 ferred some of them from Ronkonkama to Success pond, a distance of forty miles, where 

 they soon multiplied. In 1825, a similar experiment was made by transporting perch from 

 Skaneateles to Otisco lake and Onondaga lake. In this latter case, the perch increased 

 remarkably ; while pickerel, which were introduced at the same time, did not appear to 

 thrive as well. The common dace and eel pout have also been transferred with complete 

 success. They vary considerably in size in different localities. I have caught them in 

 Otsego lake, weighing nearly three pounds, and have heard of them exceeding this weight. 

 Cuvier has describe.d two or three other species, wliich seem scarcely distinguishable from 

 the perch just described. 



