CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 727 



"Ichthelis rubicauda. River Sunfish. 



" This beautiful fish is distinguishable by its ruddy tail and 

 lower fins. It attains a greater size than the others, and is met 

 with most usually in the rivers. In the Delaware they are 

 abundant, and reach a length of several inches very frequently. 



"Pomotis appendix. Black-eared Sunfish. 



" This species is larger bodied and much less brilliantly col- 

 ored, but in its habits is in all respects similar to the next. It is 

 less abundant than the next, and like it, prefers quiet ponds and 

 slowly-moving streams to the river or tide water. The black 

 appendix easily distinguishes it from the following. As articles 

 of food the two species are of very little value." 



L. gibbosus, L. (Perca, Sparus> Pomotis, vulgaris.) Common Sunfish. 

 Pumpkin Seed. Bream. 



Body short and deep ; profile steep ; head and mouth small ; 

 dorsal spines high, soft rays higher ; scales large, four rows on 

 cheek ; greenish olive ; sides spotted with orange ; belly yellow- 

 ish ; blue, wavy streaks on cheeks ; lower part of opercular flap 

 bright scarlet in adult. Dorsal rays, X, 11 ; anal rays, III, 

 10 ; lateral-line scales, 47 ; length, 8 inches. 



" This is probably the best-known species of all our inland 

 fishes. It appears to be uniformly abundant in every section of 

 the State. Its colors are brightest in the spring, when they may 

 be seen in shallow water, making nests and guarding them from 

 every intruder." 



MICROPTBRUS, Lac. 



(Huro. Grystes. Lepomis, &c.) 



M. salmoides, Lac. (Labrus, pallida, Cichla floridana, nigr leans, &c.) 

 Large-mouthed Black Bass. Oswego Bass. Green Bass. 

 Bayou Bass [erroneously Trout (South).] 



Body oblong, compressed ; head long ; mouth large and 

 oblique ; supplementary bone well developed ; lower, jaw promi- 

 nent ; opercle with two flat points ; scales weakly ctenoid ; dorsal 

 divided by deep notch ; spines low, not strong, same number as 

 in sunfish ; ten rows of scales on cheek ; young dark green 

 above, silvery below ; a dark stripe on side and three on cheek ; 

 caudal blackish in middle; lateral stripe indistinct and general 

 tone darker in adult. Dorsal rays, 13 ; anal rays, 11 (soft); 

 scales, 68 X 16 ; length, 1 to 2 feet. Fresh water. Introduced 



