942 FISHES — CENTRARCHID^. 



is deservedly valued as food. It is a free biter, but anglers consider it- 

 destitute of game. It is recommended for propagation in ponds. 



Genus 67. MICEOPTERUS. Laoepede. 



Minropterua, Lacefbde, Hist. Nat. des Poiss., iy, 1802, 335. 



Calliurus, Rafinbsqub, Jonrn. de Physique, 1819, 420. 



LepomU, EArmtascjUE, Ich. Oh., 1820, 30. (Not of Raf., 1819.) 



Aplitea, Rafinbsque, loh. Oh., 1820, 30. 



NemocampHs, Rafinesqub, Ich. Oh., 1820, 31. 



Dioplites, Rafinesqub, Ich. Oh., 1820, 32. 



ApJeiwn, Rafinesque, Ich. Oh., 1820, 36. 



Euro, Cuv. and Val , Hist. Nat. des Poiss., ii, 1828, 124. 



Grystes, Cuv. and Val , Hist. Nat. des Poiss., iii, 1829, 54. 



Type, Micropterus dolomieu, Lacepede. 



Etymology, niikros, small; pteron, fin. The doisal fin in the typical specimen haying 

 been injured, its posterior rays detached ana bitten off short, wer« taken by Lacepede 

 for a separate fin. 



Body elongate, oyate. compressed, the back not much eleyated ; head oblong, conic ; 

 mouth yery large, oblique, the broad maxillary reaching nearly to or beyond the pos- 

 teiior margin of the eye, the supplemental bone well deyeloped ; lower jaw prominent ; 

 teeth on jaws, yomer, and palatines, usually none on the tongue f preopercle entire ; 

 operculum ending in two flat points, without cartilaginous flap ; branchiostegals 

 normally 6 ; scales rather small, weakly ctenoid ; lateral line oontinnous ; dorsal fin 

 divided by a deep notch, the spines low and rather feeble, 10 in number ; anal spines 3, 

 the anal fin much smaller than the dorsal, caudal fin emargluate ; size large. 



The two species of this genus are among the most characteristic game 

 fishes of America. The synonymy of the genus and of both species has 

 been very much confused; but, in our opinion, the nomenclature now 

 adopted, after numerous changes, must hereafter be accepted. 



The following article, contributed by the present writer to Forest avd 

 Stream (Nov. 28, 1878) gives a resume of the matter of the nomenclature 

 as generally understood, before the more critical examination of the sub- 

 ject, made by Dr. Henshall in his " Book of the Black Bass." 



Since the publication of the name Mioropterus pallidus (Raf.), Gill and Jordan, as a 

 substitute for Micropterus nigricans for the scientific name of the Large-mouthed Black 

 Bass, I have received numerous congratulations, verbal and written, from brother fish- 

 ermen on the appropriateness of the name selected, and I presume that my colleague in 

 this matter. Professor Gill, has had a similar experience. Lately a correspondent of 

 Forest and Stream, Mr. A. F. Clapp, suggests that the name Mioropterus salmoides be like- 

 wise "stamped out" to make room for some more appropriate appellation. It seems 

 timely, therefore, that we should " rise and explain." 



The name Mioropterus pallidus is not a name of our own selection, but a name which, 



