•312 ZOOLOGY 



The darters are spiny-rayed fishes of small size, from four 

 to seventeen centimetres long, brightly colored, and with well- 

 developed pectoral fins. They live in clear streams, half 

 concealed under stones, and are most abundant in the Missis- 

 sippi drainage basin. 



Fiu. 290. — Eupnmnt-is gihhosns, the common simfish. Two-thirds nat. 

 size. Photo, of living animal by Dr. R. "W. Shufeldt, "Bull. U. .'^. Fish 

 Com.," LS99. 



The perches are a widespread family, represented in this 

 country chiefly by the common yellow perch of the East, the 

 " wall-eyed pike " of the Great Lake region, and the white 

 perch of the Atlantic coa.st (Fig. 289). These fish have an 

 oblong, compres.sed body covered with small scales ; they are 

 highly rapacious, and are believed to be destructive to the 

 young of other species of fish. They are esteemed as food, 

 although not to the extent of annihilation. 



