942 FISHES—CENTRARCHIDZ. 
is deservedly valued as food. It is a free biter, but anglers consider it 
destitute of game. It is recommended for propagation in ponds. 
GENUS 67. MICROPTERUS. Lacepede. 
Micropierus, LACEPEDE, Hist. Nat. des Poiss., iv, 1802, 325. 
Calliurus, RAFINESQUE, Journ. de Physique, 1819, 420. 
Lepomis, RAFINESQUE, Ich. Oh., 1820, 30. (Not of Raf., 1819.) 
Aplites, RAFINESQUE, Ich. Oh., 1820, 30. 
Nemocampsis, RAFINESQUE, Ich. Oh., 1820, 31. 
Dioplites, RAFINESQUE, Ich. Oh., 1820, 32. 
Aplesion, RAFINESQUE, Ich. Oh., 1820, 36. 
Huro, Cuv. and VAL, Hist. Nat. des Poiss., ii, 1828, 124. 
Grystes, CUV. and VAL., Hist. Nat. des Poiss., iii, 1829, 54. 
Type, Micropterus dolomieu, Lacepede. 
Etymology, mikros, small; pteron, fin. The dorsal fin in the typical specimen having 
been injured, its posterior rays detached ani bitten off short, were taken by Lacepede 
for a separate fin. ; 
Body elongate, ovate. compressed, the back not much elevated ; head oblong, conic; 
mouth very large, oblique, the broad maxillary reaching nearly to or beyond the pos- 
terior margin of the eye, the supplemental bone well developed ; lower jaw prominent ; 
teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines, usually none on the tongue; preopercle entire ; 
operculum ending in two flat points, without cartilaginous flap; branchiostegals 
normally 6; scales rather small, weakly ctenoid; lateral line continuous; dorsal fin 
divided by a deep notch, the spines low and rather feeble, 10 in number; anal spines 3, 
the anal fin much smaller than the dorsal, caudal fin emarginate; size large. 
The two species of this genus are among the most characteristic game 
fishes of America. The synonymy of the genus and of both species has 
been very much confused; but, in our opinion, the nomenclature now 
adopted, after numerous changes, must hereafter be accepted. 
The following article, contributed by the present writer to Forest and 
Stream (Nov. 28, 1878) gives a resume of the matter of the nomenclature 
as generally understood, before the more critical examination of the sub- 
ject, made by Dr. Henshall in his “ Book of the Black Bass.” 
Since the publication of the name Micropterus pallidus (Raf.), Gill and Jordan, as a 
substitute for Micropterus nigricans for the scientific name of the Large-mouthed Black. 
Bass, I have received numerous congratulations, verbal and written, from brother fish- 
ermen on the appropriateness of the name selected, and I presume that my colleague in 
this matter, Professor Gill, has had a similar experience. Lately a correspondent of 
Forest and Stream, Mr. A. F. Clapp, suggests that the name Micropterus salmoides be like- 
wise ‘‘stamped out” to make room for some more appropriate appellation.. It seems 
timely, therefore, that we should ‘rise and explain.” 
The name Micropterus pallidus is not a name of our own selection, but a name which, 
