THE PERCH FAMILY. 91 



species. Holbrook, quoting Gmelin, calls it Ldbrax Ameri- 

 canus, and falls into the same error as Cuvier and Storer, 

 making no specific difference between the two. 



Labrax rafus is a northern fish, seldom if ever found south 

 of New York. Its habits differ from those of Pallidus, being 

 found mostly on flat clayey and muddy bottoms, and in shal- 

 lows, and in some of the fresh- water ponds of the New Eng- 

 land states and New York. It has not the game qualities 

 of Pallidus. 



The White Perch is a congener of the magnificent Rockfish, 

 and is frequently found feeding in the same place and in his 

 company. Its average length is eight or nine inches ; it is 

 not often more than twelve, though in rare instances it is 

 found fourteen inches long. 



This beautiful, free-biting little fish, which affords so 

 much sport, and, which is found in all the fresh and brackish 

 tide-waters, from Cape Hatteras to Sandy Hook, does not 

 receive that favorable notice from writers on ichthyology 

 and angling which it merits. De Kay, in speaking of it, after 

 describing the Ruddy Bass, says: "Like the preceding species, 

 it inhabits salt and brackish waters ; but as far as my observa- 

 tions have extended, it is invariably a small fish, and rarely 

 brought to market for food. The Little White Bass, or 

 White Perch, may be readily distinguished from the other, 

 by its light color, small size, and very compressed body." 



I am disposed to object to its being called a salt-water fish. 

 Its most natural habitat is fresh tidal-rivers. It is frequently 

 found far above the terminus of the tide, and they are even 

 more abundant in fresh than in brackish waters, at the season 

 of the year when they are sought for by anglers. This fish 

 when found in salt-water creeks, is darker in color, but there 

 is no specific difference. 



The remark above quoted, that it is "rarely brought to 



