FISHES OF MINNESOTA 61 



Common in the state. Numerous specimens have been taken 

 in the lakes and streams of the Upper Mississippi (Nat Hist. Surv., 

 1893). 



Genus MICROPTERUS Lacepede. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MICROPTERUS. 



A. Maxillary bone in the adult not extending beyond the posterior 

 margin of the eye; monlhof medium size; scalesal)out 11-74-17, 



17 rows on the cheek. doloniieil. 



AA. Maxillary bone in the adult extending beyond the posterior mar- 

 gin of the eye; mouth large; scales about 7-68-16, 10 rows on 

 the cheek salinoides. 



Micropterns clolomieu Lacepede. Small mouthed Black Bass. River Bass. 



Color dark green with golden reflections; sides spotted with 

 dark colors in the young, these spots forming vertical bars in some 

 cases, no dark lateral bands; cheek and opercle with 3 bronze 

 bands; lower parts light; caudal fin tipped with a light colored 

 band, a dark band across the middle of this fin, light colored at the 

 base; dorsal fin not edged with a pale band. Body considerably 

 elongate, moderately compressed; mouth rather large, but not as 

 large as the next, maxillary bone generally reaching the middle of 

 the eye, but rarely extending beyond its posterior edge. Gill 

 rakers X-j-G or 7. Head contained 2^ to 3^ times in the length. 

 Depth 3^. Eye 1| to 2 in the snout, 5 to 6i in the head. Dorsal 

 fin X, 13 to 15, deeply notched. Length 1 to 2 feet. A very valu- 

 able fish. 



Common in the state, especially in the streams. Numerous 

 specimens have been taken from the Minnesota and Blue Earth 

 rivers at Mankato (Cox, 1891-4) ; Little Minnesota River at Brown's 

 Valley; Big Stone Lake at Ortonville and Chippewa River at Mon- 

 tevideo (Woolman, 1892, Report U. S. Fish Comm., 1893, pp. 352 

 and 358). 



Micropterns salmoides (Lacepede). Large-mouthed Black Bass. Oswego 

 Bass. Green Bass. Bayou Bass. 



Dark greenish above, lower parts and sides somewhat silvery; 

 young with a dark lateral band; checks and opercles with three 

 dark stripes; caudal fin wth a pale edge; colors becoming darker 

 with age. Body somewhat elongate, compressed, the adults deeper 

 in proportion than the young. Head large; mouth very large, the* 

 maxillary extending beyond the eye in adults, not so long in the 



