120 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



tributaries of Lake Erie, and in the lake itself, in June and July, 

 depending on the temperature of the water. The eggs hatch in a 

 week or two, depending also on the temperature of the water. The 

 parent fish carefully guards the nest, keeping away all trespassers, 

 and continues to protect the young after they are hatched until 

 they are able to take care of themselves. The food of the black 

 bass consists principally of crawfish, varied with insects and min- 

 nows. 



The calico-bass, or straw-bass (Pomoxis sparoides), and the crop- 

 pie, or new-light (Pomoxis annularis), and the rock-bass, or red-eye 

 (Ambloplites rupestris), are all well known and much esteemed. 

 They grow to a pound or two in weight, and are excellent pan-fish. 

 The calico-bass is common in Ross Lake, coming from Lake Erie 

 by way of the Miami Canal, and is also abundant in all of the canal 

 reservoirs of the State. The croppie, or new-light, I found com- 

 mon in the Ohio and its tributaries above New Richmond. 



There is a current story that the croppie first appeared in the 

 streams of Kentucky simultaneously with the advent of the disci- 

 ples of Rev. Alexander Campbell, hence one of its vernacular names 

 of " New-light," a name bestowed on this religious sect in common 

 with " Campbellite," by which latter name the croppie is also 

 sometimes known ; but while this may be true of the streams of 

 Central Kentucky, this fish was described by Rafinesque from the 

 Falls of the Ohio in 1819. 



The late Dr. Kirtland had a very high opinion of the calico-bass, 

 or "grass-bass," as lie called it. He says: "From a long and 

 intimate acquaintance with its merits, I hesitate not to pronounce 

 it the fish for the million. * * * As a pan-fish for the table it 

 is surpassed by few other fresh water species." And the good 

 Doctor was right. If the same care, enterprise and enthusiasm 

 had been devoted to its introduction into the ponds of our State, as 

 in the case of the worthless German carp, the farmers and people 

 at large would have a fish fully worthy of their zeal, for both the 

 calico-bass and the new-light are pond fishes par excellence. 



The smaller sunfishes or " sunnies " (Zepomis) are also good pan- 

 fish, and furnish fine amusement and recreation for youthful 

 anglers. 



Family PERCIDyE. The Perches. 



The yellow perch, or as it is sometimes called, ringed-perch 

 (jPerca flavescens), is abundant in Lake Erie and its tributaries, and 



