THE S E A-B ASS 



large and placed high, its diameter about one fifth 

 the length of the head. Canine teeth are present, 

 but scarcely noticeable. The teeth are all fixed, in 

 broad bands. Spines of the first back-fin strong, 

 the middle ones longest, but less than half as long 

 as the head. 



The spines, except the first, frequently with a 

 filament at the tip. The breast-fin is very long, 

 reaching to the vent. The belly-fins also reach 

 as far back as the vent. The tail-fin is double 

 concave, and the upper lobe is sometimes produced 

 into a short filament. There are ten spines and 

 eleven rays in the two back-fins; three spines and 

 seven rays in the fin behind the vent. The lateral 

 line pierces from fifty to fifty-five scales. 



Color, dusky brown or black, adults often blu- 

 ish, especially in the breeding-season; sides more 

 or less mottled, with traces of pale longitudinal 

 streaks along the rows of scales. The back-fins 

 have several series of elongate, whitish spots form- 

 ing interrupted lines ; the other fins are dusky, and 

 all except the breast-fins are much mottled with 

 pale or bluish spots. The young are greenish or 

 brownish, with a dark lateral stripe which is some- 

 times broken up, forming cross-bars. The sea- 

 bass from deep water in spring is a . brilliantly 

 colored fish and cannot fail to excite admiration. 

 The male is especially gorgeous. 



233 



