SCIENTIFIC HISTORY OF THE BLACK BASS. 43 



the same name is fully adopted for the large-mouthed Black Bass. 

 Let us inquire into the history of the use of the name salmoides. 



In 1800, the name Labrus salmoides was given by Lacepede to a 

 fish inhabiting the waters of Carolina, and known to Americans as 

 " Trout." This fish was known to Lacepede only through a drawing 

 and manuscript description by Bosc. Both species of Black Bass 

 occur in Carolina, the large-mouth most abundantly. Neither draw- 

 ing nor description is exact enough to enable us to tell with certainty, 

 or even with reasonable probability, which species was meant by 

 Bosc and Lacepede. It is unlikely that Bosc discriminated between 

 them at all, both being alike "Trout" to the Carolina fishermen. 

 In the figure the mouth is drawn large, and if we must choose, the 

 large-mouth is best represented. 



The specific name salmoides next appears in the great work of 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes (III, p. 54) as Grystes salmoides. The descrip- 

 tion here given is for the most part applicable to both species; the 

 small size of the scales ("il y en a quatre-vingt-dix sur une ligne 

 longitudinale et trente-six ou quarante sur une verticale." *) and the 

 naked preoperculum render it evident that at least that part of the 

 description was taken from a small-mouth, while the accompanying 

 figure more resembles the large-mouth. 



We are, however, not here left in doubt. The original material 

 of the French naturalists is still preserved in the museum. It con- 

 sists of the following specimens as described by Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes: 



1. " Nous avons re^u, par M. Milbsrt, un individu de huit a neuf 

 pouces et un de six & sept. C'est ce dernier qui a six rayons la 

 membrane des ouies et quatorze rayons mouse a la dorsale." 



From one of these specimens the figure in the Histoire Naturelle 

 des Poissons (pi. 46) was taken. \ This specimen is unquestionably 

 a large-mouthed Black Bass. 



2. " Plus tard, M. Lesueur nous en a envoye de la riviere Wabash 

 un individu long de seize pouces, et trois autres qui n'en ont guere 

 que cinq. Les jeunes sont d'un vert plus pale, et ont sur chaque 

 flanc vingt-cinq a trente lignes longitudinales et paralleles brunes, 

 qui paraissent s'effacer avec 1'age." 



-The very small precaudal scales are doubtless here included. 

 Vaillaut. 



