PISCES. 221 



placed these fish amongst the Cuttoids. The genus Lahrax is allied to Perco, 

 but has scales on the two-spined operculum, and teeth, or prickles, on the 

 tongue. The most conspicuous species is the Lahrax Uneatus, the rock- 

 lish, or striped-bass, of the United States, a fish of great excellence in the 

 opinion of many persons, especially when taken in autumn. It is caught 

 in the winter and spring along with the shad, and like it is an anadromous 

 fish, running up from the salt-waters into the fresh streams for the purpose 

 of spawning. It attains a size of 60 to 70lbs., although more usually 

 weighing from 4 to 20lbs. Its European analogue is the Lahrax lupus, or 

 bass, shown in pi. 82, jig. 10, and highly esteemed as an article of food. 

 Other species occur in the U^nited States, as L. mucronatus, or the white 

 perch of the eastern waters, L. multilinealus, and others. The genus 

 Lucinperca combines the general characters of perca with teeth like those 

 of the pike. Its most striking resemblance is, however, to the salmon, for 

 which reason it generally bears this name in the rivers of the interior of 

 America. * Lucinperca americana is the most abundant species, and, as 

 already mentioned, is usually called salmon, sometimes pike, as in Lake 

 Champlain. It is a bold, voracious fish, of great strength, and afiords 

 excellent sport to the angler. An allied species is found in the rivers of 

 central Europe. Centropristis has a single dorsal, and an oblique tail ; 

 preoperculum dentated, and operculum spinous ; teeth small and crowded, 

 no canines. A common American species, C. nigricans, known as sea- 

 bass, or black perch, is much esteemed as an article of food. Grystes also 

 has a single dorsal, and a considerable resemblance to Centropristis ; 

 having, however, the preoperculum entire, and the tail truncate. It occurs 

 in various rivers of North America, and is represented by several species 

 in the waters of the Mississippi and of the great lakes, as also in the 

 w^aters of several streams having their outlets on the southern Atlantic 

 coast. None have been found in the Potomac or Susquehanna ; and those 

 met with in the Hudson River have been introduced from Lake Champlain, 

 through the Hudson and Champlain canal. They are generallv known as 

 black bass in the North ; another species of a different color in the South, 

 being improperly called trout and white salmon. They afford excellent sport 

 to fishermen, ranking in point of "game" qualities above most other fresh- 

 water species, after the Salmonidse. Their flesh also is excellent eating. 

 CentrarcJms has an oval, compressed body, with two flattened spines to the 

 operculum, six or more spines to the anal fin ; a single dorsal ; and velvet- 

 like teeth in both jaws, on the vomer, palatines, and the base of the 

 tongue. Several species inhabit the waters of the United States ; one of 

 these, Centrarclnis ceneus, rock-bass, or black sunfish, beincj found in the 

 waters of the Mississippi, and in the great lakes. This species is also 

 highly prized for the sport it alTords in fishing. The genus Pomotis is 

 distinguished from the preceding, mainly by the presence of an opercular, 

 membranous flap, posterior to the flattened spines. The palatines and 

 tongue are without teeth. Species of this genus are numerous, and 

 generally distributed, in North America. They are known as sun-fish, 

 pumpkin-seed, sun- perch, and bream. 



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