THE PERCH. 303 



ventrals and two to the anal. The Gristes one to the 

 ventrals and three to the anal. The Centrarchi one to 

 the Ventrals and six to the anal. 



And in like manner, by the number of spines support- 

 ing the first dorsal, we are enabled to pronounce on the 

 truth or untruthful ness of the many subdivisions of the 

 perch family, as predicated by the fishermen of various 

 regions, and insisted on by credulous naturalists, such as 

 Dr. Smith, of Massachusetts, whose book is rendered 

 absolutely valueless by the readiness which he displays 

 in adopting every local legend concerning new varieties, 

 and classifying new species ; until, if we believe him at 

 all, we must believe that every several stream imd pool 

 from Maine to Minnesota has its own distinct variety of 

 perch ; nor of perch "only, but of trout, and, more or less, 

 of every finny tenant of the waters. 



The truth appears to have been at length firmly es- 

 tablished, and to be this that there is but one clearly 

 defined and distinct- perch, perca fiavescens, the yellow 

 perch, found in the United States that the perca flu- 

 viatilis, common river perch of Europe, does not exist 

 at all in American waters, though it is so closely con- 

 nected with our fish that a casual observer would pro- 

 nounce them identical that the supposed subgenera of 

 perca granulata, or rough-headed perch, perca argentea, 

 silver perch, perca acuta, or sharp-nosed perch, and perca 

 graciliS) said to be peculiar to the small lakes of Ska- 

 neateles, in the interior of New York, are not sufficient- 



