THE FOOD AND GAME FISHES OF NEW YORK. 393 



Tlie collectors of the U. S. Fish Commission obtained it in almost all the waters 

 visited by them (21 localities) in the Lake Ontario region. Dr. Evermann has 

 recorded it from Chautauqua Lake. It occurs in Lake Champlain and in the 

 basin of the St. Lawrence. Eugene Smith reports it from most of the moraine 

 ponds of Long Lsland and Staten Island, and in quarry ponds of the Palisades, 

 wherein it is frequently placed by boys. Ponds and lakes in the parks of New York 

 City are well stocked with this species. Mearns reported it as abundant in the 

 Hudson and in all the ponds and slow streams of the Hudson Highlands. Mather 

 recorded it as a common fish in most of the Adirondack waters, the exceptions 

 being Piseco Lake, G Lake, Coald Lake, Seats' Lake. T Lake, Willis Pond, Murphy, 

 Warner and Bug Lakes. 



In spirits the color is pale brownish, the opercular flap black with a narrow 

 whitish margin behind and beneath, and the dorsal fin with faint dusky blotches. 

 In life this is one of the most brilliant of Sunfishes, the upper parts being greenish 

 olive with a bluish tinge, the sides profusely spotted with orange, the belly and 

 lower fins orange and the dorsal and caudal fins bluish with orange spots. The 

 cheeks are orange with undulating blue stripes ; the opercular flap is black emargi- 

 nated behind and underneath with bright scarlet. 



The Common Sunfish grows to a length of 8 inches and a weight of about ^ 

 pound. Its food is similar to that of the Long-eared Sunfish ; and it is one of the 

 readiest biters known to the angler. The habits of this fish have been described by 

 Dr. Theodore Gill and W. P. Seal. The latter states that the male in the breeding 

 season is readily identified by his brighter coloration, conspicuous ear flaps and a 

 luminous border around the fins while in the water. The nest is a depression in the 

 mud, sand or gravel, hollowed out by means of the fins. In the Potomac he found 

 a number of nests which were located from a few inches to several feet apart. The 

 male watches the nest and drives away all intruders. The eggs are only about '/^^ of 

 an inch in diameter and not very numerous. They are attached to stones and 

 aquatic plants. Mr. Seal has reason to believe that the male alone is concerned in 

 building the nest and in the care of the eggs and young. 



The species is usually hardy in captivity, but is subject to fungus attacks which 

 yield readily to treatment with brackish water. In the aquarium, according to 

 Eugene Smith, the Common Sunfish by incessant attacks often kills associates of 

 many kinds. It is a very gamy fish, common everywhere and is usually found in 

 the company of Shiners, Minnows and Killies. In quarry ponds, of the Palisades, 

 says the same author, the fish will tlirive and multiply as freely as the Goldfish, 

 provided there is water enough throughout the year. 



