CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 723 



imperfect ; vent moves forward towards opercular region with age ; 

 ventrals thoracic ; anal small ; air-bladder adherent to walls of abdo- 

 men. 



APHRBDODBBUS. Le S. 



(Soolopsis, Gilliams.) 



A. sayanus (gibhoms, ooohianus, mesotrema, isolepis, &c.) Pirate Perch. 

 Mud Perch. 



Dark olive, much speckled with dark points ; two blackish 

 bars at base of caudal, between which is a light bar. Dorsal 

 rays. Ill, 11; anal rays, II, 6; lateral-line scales, 47 to 58; 

 length, 5 inches. 



"Met with in Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Atlantic 

 counties. No species is perhaps less known, of all our fresh- 

 water fishes, than the above. Being strictly ndcturnal in its 

 habits, will account in a measure for this, but its numbers are 

 great in those streams where it is found at all, and only its 

 peculiar habit of lying semi-dormant during the day, will account 

 for the fact of its being a ' vara pisoes ' to the community gen- 

 erally. Small streams with dense vegetation upon the bottom, 

 and with overhanging banks, are its favorite, if not exclusive 

 haunts. Among the roots of some neighboring tree, whose 

 tangled rootlets extend out into the stream, the ' pirate ' is sure 

 to be found in streams containing them, but it requires skill and 

 patience to secure them, when thus protected. No species in the 

 State's fauna is perhaps as voracious as this under consideration. 

 Even its own young are not exempt from attack, and indeed they 

 seem to be somewhat of a favorite article of food. So greedy 

 are they at times, that not unfrequently the tail of the captured 

 fish may be seen protruding from the mouth of its captor, who 

 seeks his favorite haunt after seizing his prey, and there, lazily 

 flapping his pectoral fins to and fro to give his body a gently 

 swaying motion, devours the swallowed victim at his leisure. 



" The ' pirate ' makes a nest after the manner of the sunfish, 

 and with the female, guards it and afterward the young, till they 

 reach a size of one-third of an inch, when they are left by their 

 parents, and become exposed to the attacks of the larger carnivor- 

 ous fish, including their own species. 



" The largest specimens met with have measured about five 

 inches in length. De Kay's figure is a correct representation." 



