PISHES. 141 



make a sudden dasli at its prey, like the pike, but Inints it 

 down witli persistence, as a greyhound does a hare. 



Black Bass spawn about May and June, and prepare for 

 the reception of their ova a kind of nest, which they scoop 

 out in the gravel or mud at the bottom of the water in 

 which they live. The parent fish protect the eggs and fry, 

 and accompany their little ones for some time after they 

 are able to leave the nest. I see no reason why Black Bass 

 should not be induced to breed in a large aquarium; in fact, 

 they may have already done so. 



Like the carp and the tench, the Bass retires during 

 winter to the bottom of the pond, lake, or river in which 

 it lives. The Black Bass while in confinement should as 

 soon as possible be encouraged to eat pieces of raw meat. 

 One of these fish about 6in. long will devour several small 

 minnows a day. A specimen of mine has taken five within a 

 few hours. 



The length of the head of the Black Bass about equals 

 the depth of its body. It is not so "hog-backed" as the 

 English perch. The mouth is very large and cruel-looking, 

 and the under-jaw projects some distance beyond the upper. 

 The front dorsal fin has nine spines, the tallest of which 

 is in the middle, the others gradually decreasing in height 

 towards each end. The back dorsal fin, which is the taller 

 of the two, is joined to the front one in a way which is 

 somewhat similar to the junction of those of the ruffe 

 [Acerina cernua). The spines are very shai-p, and blackened 

 near their points. They are not so often earned erect as 

 are those of the common perch {Perca Jluviatilis). The 

 back dorsal fin is nearly always erect and vibrating. All 

 the fins are large in proportion to the size of the fish, and 

 are continually in motion, especially the pectoral fins. The 

 tail fin is large, powerful, slightly forked, and black along 

 its edges. All the fins are dusky at their bases, becoming 

 of a light greenish tinge towards their extremities. The 

 anal fin has a sharp spine. The general colour of the fish 

 is a dark olive-green. Sometimes the body is marked with 

 black spots or blotches. The sides of the head are a dusky 



