86 THE FISHES OF OHIO. 



Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede). Large-mouthed Black Bass; 

 Oswego Bass ; Green Bass ; Bayou Bass. 



Head 3 to 3)4; depth 3 to 3X ; eye 5 to 6. D. X, 12 or 13; A. Ill, 10 or 

 11; scales 7-65 to 70-18. Body much as in M. dolomieu, ovate-fusiform. 

 Mouth very large, maxillary (except in very young) reaching past eye. 

 Always distinguishable from M. dolomieu by the larger scales, 7 rows above 

 lateral line. Color variable, usually dark green above, becoming greenish 

 silvery on sides and belly. Young always with a distinct, black lateral band, 

 which becomes fainter with age and disappears entirely at about the fourth 

 year. Length 1% to 2% feet. 



This species is found in lakes, bayous and in channels of 

 larger streams. It is a fish of the quiet water. Widely distrib- 

 uted. Like the preceding species it has been the subject of much 

 synonymy. Rafinesque records it under the name Lepomis 

 pallida, for the Ohio, Miami and Hocking rivers. Hamilton 

 County, " common in Ross lake," Henshall, 1888 ; Lorain 

 County, ' ' more common in the lake than in the streams," McCor- 

 mick, 1892 ; Maumee river system, common in all the lakes, also 

 common in the Maumee river and most of its larger tributaries, 

 but none in Auglaize river or its tributaries, Kirsch, 1893 ; Frank- 

 lin County, Scioto river, Big Walnut creek, Big Darby creek, not 

 common, Williamson and Oburn, 1897 ; Ohio river and Ice creek 

 at Ironton, John's creek at Waterloo, Huron river at Milan, 

 Sandusky Bay, Wabash river at Celina, R. C. Osburn, 1899 ; 

 Pippin lake, Chippewa lake, Summit lake, Grand river at Paines- 

 ville, Licking reservoir, R. C. Osburn, 1900. 



