198 



AMERICAN FISHES''. 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



PEECID.B. 



THE ROCK BASS. 



FRESH WATER BASS. 



Centrarchus Mneus ; Cuvier. 



This is another delicate and game fish, which, originally peculiar 

 to the basin of the St. Lawrence, has made its way through the canals 

 Into the upper waters of the Hudson and the anastomosing streams. 

 It is abundant in the great lakes, and Lake Champlain. 



It, like the Black Bass, is a bold biter, taking a small fish dead or 

 alive very freely, but preferring to all other baits the Cray-fish, Asta- 

 cus JBartoni. 



The general color of this fish is a dark coppery bronze above, with 

 green reflections, the head above dark green, gill-covers metallic green, 

 with a dark spot on the posterior margin of the operculum. The sides 

 golden copper, with several rows of oblong dark spots below the lateral 

 line. The fins bluish green. 



The body is compressed, short and broad. The dorsal outline gib- 

 bous ; the lateral line following the curve of the back. Head large, 



