Class IV. BLACK PERCH. 351 



It is of a much more slender form than the Descrip- 

 tion. 

 perch, and seldom exceeds six inches in length ; 



the teeth are very small, and disposed in rows. 

 It has only one dorsal fin extending along the 

 greatest part of the back ; the first rays, like 

 those of the common perch, are strong, sharp, 

 and spiny ; the others soft ; the pectoral fins 

 consist of fifteen rays ; the ventral of six ; the 

 anal of eight ; the two first strong and. spiny ; 

 the tail a little bifurcated. The body is cover- 

 ed with rough compact scales ; the back and 

 sides are of a dirty green, the last inclining to 

 yellow, but both spotted with black ; the dorsal 

 fin is spotted with black ; the tail marked with 

 transverse bars. 



Perca nigra. Gm. Lin. 1321. Holocentrus niger. Shaw Gen. 5. Black, 

 The Black Fish. Mr. Jago. Zool. iv. part ii. 558. 



Borlase Cornwall, 271- tab. De la Cepede Hist, des Pois- 



xxv. Jig. 8. sons. iv. 366. 



J\JlR. Jago has left so brief a description of 

 this fish, that we find difficulty in giving it a 

 proper class : it agrees with the Ruffe in the 

 form of the body, and the smallness of the teeth, 

 in having a single extensive fin on the back, a 

 forked tail, and being of that section of bony 

 fish, termed Thoracic: these appear by the 



