FAMILY PERCIDiE — LUCIOPERCA. , IV 



Length, 2-0 -4-0. Depth, 0-3 -0-5. 



Fin rays, D. 13.15; P. 15; V. 1.5; A. 12; C. 15 |. 



I obtained this beautiful little fish at Westport on Lake Champlain, where it appeared to 

 be very abundant. It is numerous also in many streams in that vicinity. It readily takes the 

 hook, and is extremely active and voracious. Its popular name in that district is the Little 

 Pickerel, or Pickering, which is also applied to many other species. 



GENUS LUCIOPERCA. Gesner, Cuvier. 



Ventrals beneath the pectorals, with Jive soft rays. Two dorsal fins. Canine or long teeth 

 mixed with smaller ones. 



This genus includes a few fresh-water fishes from the northeastern parts of Europe, from 

 Asia and North America. Its name indicates the united characters of a perch and pike. In 

 this State, we describe two species. 



THE YELLOW PIKE-PERCH. 



LUCIOFERCA AMERICANA. 



PLATE L. FIG. 163. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Perca vilrea. The GUut-tye. MiTCHILL, Suppl. Am. Month. Mag. Vol. 2, p. 247. 



Ludoperca amtricana, Le Sandre cCAmiruiue. CoT. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 2, p. 122. pi. 16. 



L. id.. The Amirican Sandre. RiCHARDsoN, F. B. A. Fishes, p. 10. 



The Okow or Horn-fish. Id. lb. p. 14. 



L. ludoperca, Salmon of the Ohio, Pike of the Lake. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 190. 



Characteristics. Greyish tinged with yellow. A black mark on the posterior part of the 

 spinous dorsal. Lower edge of the opercle smooth. Length, 12 to 18 

 inches. 



Description. Body elongated, cylindrical, tapering ; profile of the head in a gently sloping 

 straight line to the extremity of the snout. Scales moderate, subquadrate, ciliate on the 

 rounded free margin, -with six radiating plaits in front. Lateral line nearly straight from the 

 upper edge of the gill-cover to the tail, including in its course ninety-five scales. Orbits large, 

 oval, 0.7 in their antero-posterior diameters. Nostrils double; the anterior with a valvular 

 orifice. Preopercle serrated by a series of distant spines, directed upwards on the posterior 

 margin, and forward, beneath. Opercle with a slender flat terminal spine, beyond which is a 

 pointed membrane. Branchial rays seven. Mouth wide, extensible ; the lower jaw received 

 into the upper. A series of acute recurved teeth in both jaws, and on the vomer and palatines. 

 Two very long and conspicuous teeth, resembling canines, in front of each jaw ; those of the 

 lower received into cavities above. Teeth on the vomer minute ; the anterior on each pala- 

 tine very large and conspicuous. Tongue smooth, pointed, free. 



Fauna — Part 4. 3 



