TION. 



Class IV. BLACK PERCH. 351 



It is of a much more slender form than the Descrip- 

 perch, and seldom exceeds six inches in length ; 

 the teeth are very small, and disposed in rows. 

 It has only one dorsal fin extending along the 

 greatest part of the back ; the first rays, like 

 those of the common perch, are strong, sharp, 

 and spiny ; the others soft ; the pectoral fins 

 consist of fifteen rays ; the ventral of six ; the 

 anal of eight ; the two first strong and spiny ; 

 the tail a little bifurcated. The body is cover- 

 ed with rough compact scales ; the back and 

 sides are of a dirty green, the last inclining to 

 yellow, but both spotted with black ; the dorsal 

 fin is spotted with black ; the tail marked with 

 transverse bars. 



Perca nigra. Gm. Lin. 1321. Holocentrus niger. Shaw Gen. 5. Blacks 



The Black Fish. Mr. Jago. Zool. iv. part ii. 558. 



Borlase Cornwall, 271. tub. De la Cepede Hist, des Pois- 



xxv. Jig. 8. sons. iv. 366. 



J\j_R. Jago has left so brief a description of 

 this fish, that we find difficulty in giving it a 

 proper class : it agrees with the Ruffe in the 

 form of the body, and the smallness of the teeth, 

 in having a single extensive fin on the back, a 

 forked tail, and being of that section of bony 

 fish, termed Thoracic: these appear by the 



