PEKCID^. 191 



Dp. DeKay also enumerates another fish of this genus, as the small 

 Black Bass, Lahrax Nigricans, which he describes as being found in 

 various ponds of Queens and Suffolk Counties, Long Island, rarely 

 attaining to two pounds in weight, being esteemed very good eating, 

 and rising freely to the fly. 



I have never myself seen this fish, but have great doubts whether it 

 is more than a casual variety of the Black Bass of the St. Lawrence, 

 the Centrarchus Fasciatus of DeKay, the Huro Nigricans of Cuvier 

 and Richardson, and more properly the Gristes Nigricans of Agassiz ; 

 for, although this is improperly distinguished into two fishes by Dr. 

 DeKay, it is in fact but one. I have never heard, it is. true, of the 

 existence of the St. Lawrence Bass in the waters of the State of New 

 York south of Champlain, prior to the opening of the canals, but 

 there is no doubt that, like the Pearch, it might easily be transported 

 from one to another locality by artificial means. 



There is yet another variety, the White Lake Bass, Labrax Alhidus, 

 which is taken readily with the hook in Lake Erie, and known at 

 Buffalo, where it is much esteemed as an article of food, as the White 

 Bass. 



None of these are, however, sufficiently important to merit more 

 particular notice. 



