CHAPTER II. 



REPORT UPON THE FISHES EXCLUSIVE OF THE SALMONIDAE. 



AMBLOPLITES ^NEUS, Agass. 



Black Bass, &c> 



Plate I. 



gp cjj Posterior extremity of maxillary extending to a vertical line intersecting the pupil. Insertion of ventrals 



opposite the base of the pectorals. Anterior spiny ray of anal fin under the ninth dorsal one. Posterior margin of caudal fin 

 elifihtly emarginated. Upper regions of head and body of a coppery brown; inferior regions, yellowish brown. 



gjp, Oicliki a-nea, Lusu. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. II, 182:2, 214, fig.— Kiktl. Rep. Zool. Ohio, 18, 168, 191. 



antranhus aeneus, Cnv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 1829, 84. — Rich. Faun. Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836, 18. PI. Ixxv.— 

 DeKiy, New Y. Fauna, 1842, 27, PI ii. fig. 4.— Kirtl. Bost. Jour. Nat Hist. IV. 1842, 229. PI. xi, fig. 1.— 

 Stoker, Synops. 1846, 37. 

 " AmUoplUes aeneus, Agass." Girard, Gen. Rep. Fishes, P. R. R. Reports, X, 1858, 8. 

 Black Doss; Black SunJUh, &c. Vernacular. 



The black bass is quite abundant in the lakes of western Minnesota. I have obtained them 

 from the small lakes near Fort Snelling and also from Lightning lake, where they are very- 

 common, and attain a comparatively large size; the adults averaging more than a foot in 



length. 



They take bait greedily, and I have caught many with the "revolving spoon." The flesh 

 of the fish is excellent when cooked, comparing favorably with that of the pickerel or the pike- 

 perch, in whose company it is often found. The best period in the day to fish for the species 

 are as with many others, the hours of early morning, or a brief period before sunset. Our 

 command found the addition of such fine fish to their fare very acceptable, especially as the 

 reo-ion where they were found in greatest abundance was almost entirely destitute of game, 

 the buffalo region had not yet been reached, and confinement to bacon and flour had already 

 become a hardship. 



POMOTIS LUNA, G r d . 



NoTtheru Sunfish, or Moon Sunfish. 



gp, Qh Body sub-orbicular in profile. Head moderate; snout sub-cooical. Mouth small; posterior extremity of 



maxillary extending to a vertical line drawn in advance of the anterior rim of the orbit. Eye moderate Sub-orbital and 

 supra-scapular bones not crenated. Edge of preopercle very slightly crenated. Opercular flap small. Spinous portion of dorsal 

 fin of moderate height, and lower than the soft; its origin being situated opposite the base of the pectorals, and consequently in 

 advance of the origin of the ventrals. Caudal fin posteriorly emarginate. Tips of ventrals overlapping the vent but do no' 

 reach the anterior margin of the anal Extremities of pectorals nearly even with the tips of ventrals Greenish brown above, 

 ellowish beneath; sidesof head with blue and yellow lines. Fins unicolor, either yellowish or greenish oli e. (Colors described 

 m alcoholic specimens ) 



\}i.—romolts vulgaris, Richards, Faun Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836, 24; pi. Ixxvi.— Agass Lake Super, 1850, 293. 

 romclis Ivna, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. November, 1857.— Ibiu. Gen. Rep. Fishes, 22. 

 . JVorthern Sunfinli. Vernacular. 



