120 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



the head as far as the orbit, and extending also on the opercles ; 

 lateral line tubular, concurrent with the dorsal outline; head 

 flattened above with striaB diverging to the orbits. Lower jaw 

 directed obliquely upwards and projecting 0.25 beyond the upper; 



velvet-like teeth on the jaws, vomer, and palatines ; tongue ; 



the bony opercle has an acute, oblique notch on its posterior 

 margin, producing two thin points ; the branchial membrane, ac- 

 cording to Cuvier, with 7 rays. Richardson enumerates but 6. 

 The first dorsal small ; its third ray longest, the fourth and fifth 

 nearly as long; the second dorsal an inch behind the first and 

 one-third higher; the two first rays spinous, short; the first ray 

 articulated, simple, the remainder branched. In the only spec- 

 imen hitherto examined the rays of this fin were injured, but 

 Cuvier supposes there must have been 12 or 13, only 8 

 were visible; pectorals with the first ray very short; ventrals 

 immediately beneath them ; anal, with its branched rays, equal 

 in height to those of second dorsal ; caudal slightly emarginate, 

 with its tips rounded. Color, taken from a dried specimen, back 

 and sides dark, with a faint longitudinal streak through the 

 center of each row of scales; belly yellowish white. Length 17.5; 

 Fins, D. 6-2, 8, or 12; P. 15; V. 1, 5 ; A. 3, 11 ; C. 17f 



"This is a remarkably firm and well flavored fish, taken 

 readily with the hook during the summer months in Lake 

 Huron, where it is called Black Bass. It will probably be found 

 in Lake Erie, and of course within the limits of the State. As 

 I have not seen it, I have availed myself of the descriptions and 

 figure given by Cuvier and Valenciennes. Its history is yet 

 imperfect, nor with our present knowledge can we assign it pos- 

 itively its proper place in the family." (DEKAY, Fishes N. Y. 

 15, 1842.) 



HURO NIGRICANS Storer, 1846. "Above of an olive brown, 

 changing into yellowish white on the belly and along the central 

 ridge of each scale is a line of the same color with the upper 

 parts, giving it a striped appearance on the sides; the first 



