464 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



cold, rapid streams and thrives even in small brooks. The 

 species is suitable also for jiond life and may be kei)t in small 

 areas of water provided they have snfficient depth. It does not 

 prey on other fishes, and its nnmerons stiif spines protect it from 

 larger predaceons species. It swims in large schools and is 

 often found in comparatively shoal water. The nest-bnilding 

 habits have been described by Duclos from observations made 

 at Versailles, France. This writer nnfortunatelv had undi-r 

 observation both the calico bass and the common sunfish, and 

 his statements need comfirmation. The game qualities of this 

 bass are noteworthy. It is a free, vigorous biter, its endurance 

 is rather remarkable considering its size; as a food fish Hie 

 species is highly prized, and its increase in eastern rivers is 

 greatly to be desired. 



Genus acantharchus Gill 

 Body oblong, robust, not much compressed or elevated; 

 mouth not very large, the broad maxillary with a well developed 

 supplemental bone; lower jaw projecting; teeth on vomer, pala- 

 tines, pterygoids and tongue, lingual teeth in a single patch, 

 pharyngeal teeth sharp; gill rakers few, rather long and strong; 

 opercle emarginate; preopercle entire; scales cycloid, large; 

 lateral line complete; dorsal spines usually 11; anal spines five; 

 caudal fin rounded behind. Close to A m b 1 o p 1 i t e s , differ- 

 ing chiefly in the rounded caudal. One species known. 



232 Acantharchus pomotis (Baird) 



Mtid Sunfish 



Centrarclms tionilt is Bai^b, Ninth Sinithson. Rep't, 325, 1855, New Jersey, 

 New York; Gunthek, Cat. Fish. Brit. Miis. I, 256. 1859. 



Acaiitliarchus pomotis Joi{ija?\" & Gilbekt. Bull. 10, V. S. Nat. Mus. 409, 

 1883; Beax, Bull. U. S. F. C VII, 143, 1888; Fishes Teima. 107, 1893; 

 Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47. U. S. Nat. Mus. 989, 1896, pi. CLV, 

 lisi-. 418, lOtX); Eugene SMrxn. Proc. T.inu. Soc. N. Y. for 1897, 34. 1898. 



The mud sunfish has an oblong and moderately elongate body, 

 its greatest depth, near the vent, two fifths of the total length 

 without the caudal. The greatest thickness is a little less than 

 one half the depth. The caudal peduncle is short and deep, its 

 least depth two fifths of greatest depth of body. The head 



