FAMILY PERCID^. 15 



GENUS HURO. Cuvier. 



With most of the characters of the Genus Perca, but ivantitig denticulations on the hones 

 of the head, and more especially/ on the preopercle . Opercle with two small fiat points. 



THE BLACK HURON. 



HURO NIGRICANS. 



PLATE LXIX. FIG. 224. 



Huro nigricans. Cov. & Val. Hist, des Poissons, Vol. 2, p. 124, pi. 17. 

 Perm (Huro) nigricans. Richardson, Faun. Boreal. Am. Vol. 3, p. 4. 



Characteristics. Back and sides dark, with a faint greyish longitudinal streak through each 

 row of scales. Length sixteen inches. 



Description. General form that of the Perch. Greatest depth of the body under the first 

 dorsal, and equal to one-third of the length of the body. Scales large, smooth, covering the 

 head as far as the orbit, and extending also on the opercles. Lateral line tubular, concurrent 

 with the dorsal outline. Head flattened above, with strias diverging to the orbits. Lower 

 jaw directed obliquely upwards, and projecting • 25 beyond the upper. Velvet-like teeth on 



the jaws, vomer and palatines. Tongue . The bony opercle has an acute oblique notch 



on its posterior margin, producing two thin points. The branchial membrane, according to 

 Cuvier, with seven rays. Richardson enumerates but six. The fii'st dorsal small ; its third 

 ray longest, the fourth and fifth nearly as long. The second dorsal an inch behind the first, 

 and one-third higher; the two first rays spinous, short; the first ray articulated, simple; the 

 remainder branched. In the only specimen hitherto examined, the rays of this fin were in- 

 jured, but Cuvier supposes that there must have been twelve or thirteen : only eight were 

 visible. Pectorals with the first ray very short. Ventrals immediately beneath them. Anal, 

 with its branched rays, equal in height to those of the second dorsal. Caudal slightly emar- 

 ginate, with its tips rounded. 



Color, taken from a dried specimen. Back and sides dark, with a faint longitudinal streak 

 through the centre of each row of scales. Belly yellowish white. 



Length, 17 • 5. 



Fins, D. 6.2.8 or 12; P. 15; V. 1.5; A. 3.11 ; C. 17 f 



This is a remarkably firm and well-flavored fish, taken readily with the hook during tlie 

 summer months in Lake Huron, where it is called Black Bass. It will probably be found in 

 Lake Erie, and of course within the limits of the State. As I have not seen it, I have availed 

 myself of the description and figure given by Cuvier and Valenciennes. Its history is yet 

 imperfect ; nor, with our present knowledge, can we assign it positively its proper place in 

 the family. 



