History of the Black Bass. 13 



matter of some interest to obtain a correetj uniform, and 

 universal nomenclature of the species. Even as late as 

 1880 Dr. Giinther, the great English authority, in his 

 " Introduction to the Study of Fishes," nailed Grystes and 

 Euro to the mast-head as valid genera. 



It will be noticed that Dr. Vaillant adopted the north- 

 em and southern varieties of the small-mouth bass as 

 provisional species, and likewise separated the large-mouth 

 bass into two species, one being distinguished by teeth on 

 the tongue, the other by their absence. I have often noticed 

 this peculiarity of the presence or absence of lingual teeth 

 in the large-mouth species in fish from various waters, 

 and am not sure but I have observed it in the small- 

 motith species occasionally, but I have always considered 

 it as developed, possibly, by the character of the food in 

 certain localities, or merely a phase of individual variation. 



In 1878, Dr. Jordan, while in Europe, gave great at- 

 tention to the investigation of the black bass from the Paris 

 standpoint. He examined, with the greatest care, Lace- 

 pede's original type specimen, and the specimens of Cuvier 

 and Valenciennes. He was determined to get to the bottom 

 of the matter, if possible, and to this end consulted freely, 

 and compared notes, with the French ichthyologists, who 

 aided him in every possible way. He afterward published 

 the result of his researches, which forms one of the most 

 interesting papers pertaining to the literature of the black 

 bass.* 



Dr. Jordan submitted the evidence resulting from his 

 investigation to Dr. Gill, who, owing to his faith in Cuvier, 



* Notes on Certain Typical Specimens of American Fishes in the 

 British Museum and in the Museum D'Histoire Naturelle at Paris. 

 By David S. Jordan, M.D. < Proceedings of United States 

 National Museum, li, 1879, pp. 218-226. 



