922 FISHES—CENTRARCHID. 
in number; ventral fins thoracic, each with one spine and five soft rays; caudal fin 
either slightly forked or lunate, or else rounded; mouth terminal, usually more or less 
oblique; the protractile premaxillaries forming the lateral margins of the upper jaw; 
villiform teeth on jaws and vomer, and usually on palatines also; teeth sometimes 
- present on tongue and pterygoid bones; pharyngeal bones provided with teeth which 
are conical and acute in most cases, but sometimes more or less rounded or truncate ; 
gill-rakers of anterior branchial arch, exhibiting various degrees of development, long, 
setiform and numerous in Pomoxys and Centrarchus, shorter and less numerous in the 
others ; maxillary bone in most cases broad and flat, with a small, supplemental bone 
lying parallel with it, on its posterior margin. In a few species cf Lepomis this bone is 
minute or obsolete, and the maxillary is reduced in siza; body covered with scales, 
which are rarely strongly ctenoid, ard are sometimes cycloid; cheeks and opercles scaly ; 
opercular bones usually nearly or quite entire; the preopercle commonly slightly den- 
tate at its angle; operculum (Lepomis, Chenobryttus) provided sometimes at its upper pos- 
terior angle with a more or less prolonged flap, which is al ways black, usually with pale 
edging; in other cases the operculum ends behind in two flat points, with a membra- 
nous border. In all cases a more or less distinct, dusky spot is present at that point. 
Coloration usually brilliant; ground color olive-green, varied in some cases with yel- 
low, orange, or blue. The species of Lepomis are in particular very brightly colored, and 
many of the others are among the most ornate of our fresh water fishes. 
All the Centrarchide are North American, and with oue exception ( 4rchoplites interrup- 
tus, of the Sacramento River), all the species are confined to the Eastern and Southern 
United States and neighboring parts of Canaia and Mexico. About twenty-five species 
probably exist, although more than a hundred have been described. All of them which 
reach a sufficient size are valued as food fishes. All of them in habits are carnivorous, 
voracious, and ‘‘gamey.” Most of them construct rnde nests in the spawniig season, 
which they defend with much spirit. 
Many of the species have a wide range, and are subjact to considerable variations 
from the diffsrences of food, water, and other causes. This is especially true in regard 
to the species of Micropterus and Lepomis. The latter genus is one of the most difficult 
among our fishes, in which to distinguish species. 
The family Centrarchide was first distinguished by Dr Gunther in 1859, as tribe 
Grystina, and more fully defined in 1860 by Dr. Holbrook, under tho name Ichthelide. 
In 1864 Dr. Gill first circumscribed it under the name Centrarchide, the names Ichthelide 
and Grystide being considered untenable, as the genera called Grystes and Ichthelis had 
both received prior names Micropterus and Lepomis. Its relations are very close to the 
Serranide and other Percoid groups, from which it can scarcely be distinguished as a 
true family. © 
ANALYSIS OF GENERA OF CENTRARCHIDA. 
* Body more or less short and deep, compressed ; dorsal fin not deeply notched. 
a. Dorsal and anal fins about equal, the soft portion of the latter longest and most 
posterior; opercle emarginate ; gill-rakers setiform, very long, finely dentate, 
in large number; caudal fin emarginate. 
b. Spinous dorsal shorter than soft part, the spines 5 to 8 in number, rapidly grad- 
uated; anal spines normally 6; body compressed and elongate ; mouth large. 
| Pomoxys. 61. 
