946 : FISHES—CENTRARCHIDA. 
of time was the Labrus salmoides of Lacepede. As shown by Dr. Hen- 
shall, there is no doubt that this notice referred to the large mouthed 
species, which being also a Micropterus, must be called Micropterus 
salmoides. — 
A full discussion of these questions may be found in the “ Book of the 
Black Bass,” by Dr. J. A. Henshall, published as these sheets are pass- 
ing through the press, to which admirable memoir the reader is referred.* 
The confusion existing in regard to the proper vernacular name of the 
two species of Black Bass is portrayed in the following article, from the 
pen of Dr. Henshall: 
The genus Micropterus, Black Bass, includes but two species: Micropterus salmoides 
(Lac.) Gill, the small-mouthed Bass, and Micropterus pallidus (Raf.) Gill and Jordan, the 
large-mouthed Black Bass, or, as it is sometimes called, the Oswego Bass. Possibly, no 
genus of fishes has been the occasion of so much confasion, scientifically and popularly, 
as the Black Bass. This is owing, no doubt, to its extensive habitat and wide-spread 
distribution; the original habitat of both species being the great basin of the St. Law- 
rence, the whole Mississippi Valley, or almost the entire range of country lying between 
the Alleghany and the Rocky Mountains, and the South Atlantic States from Virginia 
to Florida. It would naturally be expected, in view of this extraordinary and expansive 
habitat, to find differences of conformation, color, and habits; indeed, it is surprising 
that the variations are not more marked, and the number of species consequently 
greater when one considers the great natural differences and conditions of the numerous 
waters and varieties of climate to which this genus is native. We find, however, that 
the most striking difference is in color, which will run from almost black through all 
the shades of slate, green, clive, and yellow to almost white, and, indeed, these varia- 
tions in color can be found in almost any one State, and toa great extent in any one 
stream or lake, at different sexzsons of the year. Slight dissimilarities of contour and 
some diversity of habits also exist. But all of these differences obtain, not only with 
_ regard to Black Bass, but to most other genera of fresh water fishes, and depend on 
well known naturalcauses. I lived for ten years in Wisconsin, where there were twenty 
lakes abounding in Black Bass within a radius of eight miles of my residence, and from 
close and constant observation of the characteristics of the Black Bass in them, I could 
almost invariably tell upon being shown a string of bass in what particular lake they 
had been caught. . 
Without going into a specific and detailed analysis of the two species of Black Bass, 
it will be sufficient to say, that, as a general rule, the small-mouthed Bass is more 
trimly built and of a darker or more sombre hue than the other variety, where they both 
inhabit the same water; the large-mouthed Bass being ra‘her a coarse looking fish, with 
a much larger mouth, larger scales, thicker through the shoulders, wiih more depth of 
body, more pendulous belly, and growing to a larger size, with the color more inclined 
* Book | of the | Black Bass, | comprising its complete, | scientific, and life history, | 
together with a practical treatise on | angling and fly fishing, | and a full description 
of | tools, tackle, and implements | by | James A. Henshall, M.D.| ‘I am, sir, a 
brother of the angler.”—IZAAK WALTON | Fully illustrated | Cincinnati | Robert Clarke & 
Co. | 1681. 
