FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. 119 


lina as chub and in Florida and west to Texas as trout. The aver- 
age weight of the large-mouthed bass in southern waters is less than 
five pounds, and still less in northern waters. In Florida it attains a 
large size,as much as three feet in length and a weight of twenty-five 
pounds. Its growth and size depend upon the waters where found, the 
natural food supply of small fish, crawfish, frogs, ete. 
The large-mouthed bass has a wide distribution, being indigenous to 
the eastern United States, from Manitoba to Florida and Texas, except 
New England and the Middle Atlantic states east of the Alleghenies, 
where it has been extensively introduced. It inhabits the fresh water 
ponds, lakes and sluggish streams. Itisfound also at the mouths of rivers 
emptying into the Gulf of Mexico, where the water is brackish. It is 
a very active fish ; its movements are affected by seasonal changes, search 
for food and places of spawning. In polluted streams the bass are often 
compelled by the impurities to seek new haunts in pure water. 
The young bass feed upon animal food at an early age. The large- 
mouthed bass is said to be more cannibalistic than the small-mouthed. 
Small fishes (minnows) of all kinds, crawfish, frogs, insects and their 
larvee, and aquatic animals of all kinds, suitable in size, make up the 
diet of this fish. It feeds both at the surface and on the bottom, pur- 
suing its prey with great activity. When surrounded by seines or 
caught on hooks this species will often leap five or six feet out of the 
water, and its habit of jumping over the cork lines of seines-has given 
it the name of “ jumper.” 
In cold weather the bass seeks deep places, often hibernating under 
rocks, sunken logs and in the mud. Favorite localities are under over- 
hanging and brush-covered banks, in the summer, and among aquatic 
plants where the fish lies in wait for its prey. The spawning season of 
the large-mouthed bass is about the same as that of the small-mouthed 
species, beginning in April and lasting until July. Its eggs are adhe- 
sive, sticking to stones during the incubation period, which lasts from 
one to two weeks according to the temperature of the water. The 
young bass remain in the nest a week or ten days, and at the age of two 
weeks will measure about three-fourths of an inch in length. In suita- 
ble waters it is estimated that the large-mouthed bass will weigh at the 
age of three years from two pounds to four pounds. 
Famity PERCIDAS (Tue Percuss). 
Genus ETHEOSTOMA 1 Rarryesave. 
131. Etheostoma pellucida Barrp. 
The Sand Darter. 
The body is slender, cylindrical and translucent. Its depth about one-seventh of 
the total length without caudal. The length of head two-ninths of the total. The 
maxilla reaches about to the eye, which is large and placed high. Interorbital space 
