98 PISCES. 



Perca, Cuv. 



The true Perches have the preoperculum dentated; the bony oper- 

 culum terminated by two or three sharp points and a smooth tongue. 

 Sometimes the sub-orbital and the humeral are slightly dentated. 



P. Jluvialis, L.j Bl. 52. (The Common Perch.) Greenish; 

 broad, vertical, blackish bands; ventral fins, and the anal red; 

 one of the most beautiful and best of the European fresh water 

 fishes. It inhabits pure and running streams; its eggs are 

 united by a viscid matter into long strings, which form a kind 

 of net-work. 



North America produces several neighbouring species.(l) 



LabraX; Cuv. 



Distinguished from the Perches by scaly opercula terminating in 

 two spines, and by a rough tongue. 



L. lupus, Cuv. Perca labrax, L. ; Sc. diacantha, Bl. 302; Bars 

 Commim; Spigola of the Italians; Cuv. and Val. II, xi. A 

 large fish found on the coast of Europe; it is highly flavoured, 

 and of a silvery hue. It is particularly common in the Medi- 

 terranean, and is the Lupus of the Romans and the Labrax of the 

 Greeks. The young ones are usually spotted .with brown. 



The United States produce a large and beautiful species, 

 Labr. lineatus, Cuv. Scicna Imeata, Bl. 304; Perca saxatilis, Bl. 

 Schn. pi. 20, with longitudinal blackish stripes.(2) 



We might also separate from Labrax a species of the United 

 States whose scales extend to the maxillary bone, Labrax mu- 

 cronatus, Cuv. and Val. II, xii. The 



Lates, Cuv. 



Hardly differs from the Perch except in having deep notches and 



words of our author bid defiance to all English synonymes. By this term he 

 means to convey the idea of numerous small teeth placed so close together as to 

 resemble the pile on velvet. Am. Ed. 



(1) Perc. Jlavescens, Cuv. and Val., II, p. 46; — P . serrato-granulata, lb. 47;—- 

 P. granulata, lb. 48, and pi. ix; — P. acuta, lb. 49, and pi. x; — P. gracilis, lb. 50. 



Add, P. Plumieri, or Sciaena Plumieri, Bl. 306, or Centropome Plumier and 

 Cheilodipt&e chrysoptere, Lacep. Ill, xxxiii; — P. ciliata, Kuhl; — P. marginata, 

 Cuv. and Val. 53. 



(2) It is also the Perca Mitchilli, New York Trans, v. I, 413. [The Common 

 Rockfish of our market. Am. Ed. ] 



Add Perca elongata, Geoff., Eg., pi. xix, 1 ; — Labr. waigtensis. Less, and Garn., 

 Cuv. and Val., II, 33;--Labr. japonicus, Cuv. II, 85. 



