J3ASS AND SEA-PERCHES. 



339 



States and Canada. Fossil' species occur in the middle Eocene of Italy. Generally 

 not exceeding a foot or 18 inches in length, the common species may grow to 

 3 feet; but its flesh is then much less delicate than that of ordinary specimens. 

 Bass frequent the coast in shoals, spawning in summer generally near the mouths 

 of rivers, up which they not unfrequently ascend for considerable distances. 



COMMON BASS, SEA-PERCH, AND STONE-BASS (\ liat. size). 



Sea Perch * n ^ e otner g enera f the subfamily the dorsal fin is undivided, 



although it may be deeply notched ; the number of its spines being 

 generally nine or eleven, although there may be either eight, ten, or twelve. 

 Under the common title of sea-perches may be included the members of several 

 allied genera, such as Centropristes and Anthias, although the name is often 

 restricted to those of the typical genus Serranus, one of which (S. scriba) is 

 represented in the middle figure of the above illustration. In the sea-perches the 

 body is oblong or qom pressed, and, covered with inall ctenoid or cycloid scales ; 

 there are large tusks among the villiform teeth of the jaws; and teeth are also 



