142 
THE PERCH. 
stance, in a deep large pond, shaded by a thrifty growth of 
brushwood on the margin, the yellow perch attains to a large 
size, and becomes elegant in its proportions.” 
It is the opinion of a late writer on Natural History, that 
this fish, and that called the silver perch, is one and the same 
thing. He says : “ In our humble view, the yellow fins of 
the silver perch, entitle it to the name and rank of the one 
before us, (the yellow perch,) and further we believe, they 
are one and the same thing — the trifling difference in color 
depending on circumstances. The love and ambition of sub- 
division — the longing to be the creator of new genera and new 
species — lias introduced more confusion into works of natural 
history, than can be expurgated in fifty years of common 
sense to come.” 
White Perch — (Bodianus Pallidus — Mitchill.) “ With 
soft and connected dorsal fins, pale back, and white sides. 
Length eight inches, depth two and a half. Color whitish, 
with a dark hue, according to the angle of reflected light. 
Back, pale; tail even; lateral line extending through it. 
Small teeth in the lips. Patches of them in the throat. Eyes 
large and pale. Nostrils double.” 
Smith gives a similar description, and also has the follow- 
ing: “ Pond Perch is another common name for the same 
fish : we cannot discover any kind of difference whatevor.” 
Black or Red Perch — (Bodianus Rufus — Smith.) “ This 
is a little lurger than the silver perch, and though denominated 
red, is really nearly black, after it has done spawning. Oper- 
culum serrated, the tail slightly forked, and the jaws and swal- 
low set with fine sharp teeth. Usually the three first rays in 
the anal are stiff. Very common wherever the others are found.” 
Flint also mentions a species of this perch peculiar to 
western waters, and a fine table fish, which he calls Brown 
Bass. It is called Brown Bass (Lcpomis Fluxuolaris) or 
Black Perch, and grows from one to two feet in length. 
