THE MINOR BASSES (BLACK-BASS 

 FAMILY) 



Points of Difference between Bass and Sunfish 



THERE are four additional sunfishes that 

 come under the general and common 

 name of bass, — the rock-bass, the war- 

 mouth bass, the crappie, and the straw- 

 berry-bass; yet there are only three fresh- water 

 fishes (one of which is popularly known as white 

 perch) that are classed by the scientists as true 

 basses {Serranidce), which classification brings 

 them closely in anatomical similarity with the Cen- 

 trarcTiidce, the sunfishes. If you should chance to 

 catch one of these classed fishes and feel uncertain 

 as to its being a sunfish or a true bass, by simply 

 putting your finger in its mouth and feeling its 

 teeth your doubts wiU vanish. If it is a true bass 

 its teeth will be pointed or conical ; if a sunfish they 

 will be slender and crowded into soft velvety bands. 

 In addition, the lateral lines of the first-named 

 fishes do not extend to the taU-fin, that of the 

 others touch it. 



67 



