6 
U S. P R R. EXP AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOG Y —GENERAL REPORT. 
1. POMOXIS SPAROIDES, Grd. 
Syn. — Labrus sparoules, Lacep. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. Ill, 1819, pp. 432 & 479. 
Centrarchus sparoides, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. VII, 1831, 459 .—Storer, Synops. 1846, 38. 
Centrarchus hex acanthus, Holbr. Ichth. of So. Car.; plate vi, fig. 1. 
The second species of this genus was first observed in the river Wabash by Lesueur, and by 
him sent to Paris, under the name of Cantharus nigromaculatus . Therefore: 
2. POMOXIS NIGROMACULATUS, Grd. 
Syn. — Cantharus nigromaculatus, Lesueur fide Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 1829, 88. 
Centrarchus sparoides, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. Ill, 1829, 88.; pi. xlviii. 
Centrarchus hexacanthus, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. VII, 1831, 459.— Kirtl. Journ. Bost. Nat. Hist. Ill, 1840, 
480.; pi. xxix, fig. 2.— De-Kay, Fauna of New Y. IV, 1842, 31.— Agass. Amer. Jour, of 
Sc. XVII, 1854, 299. 
Ciclila storeria, Kirtl. Rep. Zool. Ohio, 191. 
A third species is described, or rather recorded, by Rafinesque, under the name of 
3. POMOXIS ANNULARIS, Rafin. 
Syn. — Pcmoxis annularis, Rafin. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. I, 1818, 417 ; pi. xvii, fig. 1 ; & Ichth. Ohiens. 1820,33. 
Agass. Amer. Jour. Sc. XVI, 1854, 298. 
We propose now to describe a fourth species, under the name of 
4. POMOXIS NITIDUS, Grd. 
Plate II, Figs. 5—8. 
Spec. Char. —Posterior extremity of maxillary corresponding to a line intersecting the pupil. Insertion of ventrals situated 
opposite the inferior edge of the base of the pectorals. Anterior spiny ray of anal fin under the fourth dorsal one. Posterior 
margin of caudal fin sub-concave. Upper regions reddish, spotted and fasciated with brown ; inferior regions silver and golden. 
Syn. — Pomoxis nitidus, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. Nov. 1857. 
The largest specimens of this species which we have examined and caused to he figured 
measure nearly six inches and a half. The body is very much compressed, arched above and 
below, sub-elliptical in a profile view. Its gi'eatest depth, which corresponds to the origin of 
the dorsal fin, is about the third of the entire length, since it enters three times in the latter 
from the tip of the snout to the emargination of the caudal fin. The greatest thickness is rather 
less than the third of the depth just alluded to. 
The head is contained three times and a half in the total length of the fish. The mouth is deeply 
cleft, obliquely directed upwards, the lower jaw being the longest, and the posterior extremity 
of the maxillary reaches a vertical line drawn through the middle of the eye. The teeth are 
velvet-like, the maxillary ones being scarcely more conspicuous than those on the vomer, pala¬ 
tines, and tongue. The eyes are quite large and sub-circular, their horizontal diameter entering 
a little more than four times in the length of the side of the head. The margin of the opercular 
hones are neither spiny nor crenated. The cheeks and opercle are scaly, the scales on the 
cheeks being smaller than on the opercle. Thirteen branchiostegals (seven on the right side 
and six on the left), may be observed within the branchial membrane. The branchial apertures 
themselves are continuous under the throat. 
The origin of the dorsal fin is nearly equidistant between the extremity of the snout and the 
base of the caudal fin. There are six spiny rays, increasing in height from the first to the last, 
