FISHES OP MINNESOTA ' 61 



Common in the state. Numerous specimens have been taken 

 in the lakes and streams of the Upper Mississippi (Nat. Hist. Surv., 

 1893). 



Genus MICROPTERUS Lacgp^de. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MICROPTERUS. 



A. Maxillary bone ia the adult not extending beyond the posterior 

 margin of the eye; mouth of medium size; scalesabout 11-74-17, 



17 rows on the cheek. . - dolomieil. 



AA. Maxillary bone in the adult extending beyond the posterior mar- 

 gin of the eye; mouth large; scales about 7-68-16, 10 rows on 

 the cheek salmoides. 



Mlcropterus dolomien Lac^pfede. Small-mouthed Black Bass. Eivfer Bass. 



Color dark green with golden reflections; sides spotted with 

 dark colors in the young, these spots forming vertical bars in some 

 cases, no dark lateral bands; cheek and opercle with 3 bronze 

 bands; lower parts light; caudal fin tipped with a light colored 

 band, a dark band across the middle of this fln, light colored at the 

 base; dorsal fln not edged with a pale band. Body considerably 

 elongate, moderately compressed; mouth rather large, but not as 

 large as the next, maxillary bone generally reaching the middle of 

 the eye, but rarely extending beyond its posterior edge. Grill 

 rakers X+6 or 7. Head contained 2J to 3^ times in the length. 

 Depth 3^. Eye IJ to 2 in the snout, 5 to 6^ in the head. Dorsal 

 fln X, 13 to- 15, deeply notched. Length 1 to 2 feet. A very valu- 

 able fish. 



Common in the state, especially in the streams. Numerous 

 specimens have been taken from the Minnesota and Blue Earth 

 rivers at Mankato (Cox, 1891-4); Little Minnesota River at Brown's 

 Valley; Big Stone Lake at Ortonville and Chippewa River at Mon- 

 tevideo (Woolman, 1892, Report U. S. Pish Comm., 1893, pp. 352 

 and 358). 



Mlcropterus salmoides (Lac^p^de). Large-mouthed Black Bass. . Oswego 

 Bass. Green Bass. Bayou Bass. 



Dark greenish above, lower parts and sides somewhat silvery; 

 young with a dark lateral band; checks and opercles with three 

 dark stripes; caudal fln wth a pale edge; colors becoming darker 

 with age. Body somewhat elongate, compressed, the adults deeper 

 in proportion than the young. Head large; mouth very large, the - 

 maxillary extending beyond the eye in adults, not so long in the 



