474 XEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



arch, the longest one third as long as the eye; four rows of 

 scales on the cheeks. The spinous dorsal begins over the fourth 

 scale of the lateral line; its base is two thirds as long as the 

 head; the first spine is nearly one half as long as the eye; the 

 sjjines gradually increase in length to the fourth, w-hich is equal 

 to those that follow it and to the length of the postorbital part 

 of the head; the fifth, and longest, soft ray is as long as the 

 head without the snout; the last soft ray is as long as the 

 postorbital part of the head. The anal origin is under the 

 14th scale of the lateral line; the base of the anal fin is as 

 long as the head without the snout; the first spine is one 

 fourth as long as the head; the third and longest spine equals 

 the postorbital part of the head in length; the third and fourth 

 soft rays are longest, as long as the head without the snout. 

 The ventral reaches to the second anal ra^-, its spine as long 

 as the postorbital part of the head. The pectoral is placed 

 below the median Jine of the body; it reaches to below the 

 14th scale of the lateral line. The caudal is rounded; its middle 

 rays are three fourths as long as the head. The lateral line is 

 usually complete, sometimes imperfect on one side. D. IX, 11; 

 A. Ill, 10; V. I, 5; P. 11. Scales 4-31-10. 



In spirits the color is brownish; about seven or eight rows of 

 scales below the lateral line with pearly blotches forming inter- 

 rupted stripes; a dark band under the eye; the dorsal, anal, and 

 caudal profusely spotted with roundish, pearly spots. Young 

 individuals are obscurely banded. In life the spots of the male 

 are blue, and the fins are higher than in the female; the opercle 

 bears a pearly blue spot. The specimens described, no. 20356, 

 U. S. National Museum, are from Trenton N. J. The largest is 

 3 inches long. 



The blue-spotted sunfish is found from New York to South 

 Carolina. According to Cope, it is very common in southeastern 

 Pennsylvania. Mearns obtained it only in Long pond, a sheet 

 of deep water almost a mile in length, 4 mriles w^est of Highland 

 Falls N. Y. He discovered the species there more than 23 years 

 ago, and reports it still common. 



