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having a black spot on the margin of the opercule, 

 two diagonal brown stripes on each side of the head 

 below the eyes, and all the fins yellow, except the 

 tail which is black at the end, with a narrow white 

 tip. It is also smaller, from 3 to 8 inches long. It 

 bears the same vulgar names and is found along with 

 it, of which some fishermen deem that it is the 

 young. But I have seen so many false assertions of 

 the kind elsewhere, that I am inclined to doubt this 

 fact, as it would be very strange that the gradual 

 changes should be so great. Yet this ought to be 

 enquired into, since many vulgar opinions are often 

 found to be correct. 



17th Species. Sunfish River-bass. Lepomis 

 ictheloides. Lepome ictheloide. 



[II. 53] \33\ Silvery, olivaceous above, some faint 

 blackish spots on the sides : lower jaw hardly longer, 

 head with sutures, two flat, broad and obtuse spines 

 above the opercule, decurrent with the sutures. 

 Vent medial. Tail lunulate. Diameter one fourth 

 of the length. 



A very distinct species from the two foregoing. 

 It might almost form a peculiar subgenus, by the 

 medial vent, and obtuse spines situated above the 

 lateral line and opercule. It might be called Ainblo- 

 plites or obtuse weapons. It is found in the Ken- 

 tucky and tributary streams. Vulgar names White 

 Bass, or Sunfish Bass. Length from 4 to 8 inches. 

 It is also a fish of prey and has many rows of sharp 

 teeth. Its flesh is like that of the Sunfishes. Lat- 

 eral line following the curve of the back. Iris sil- 

 very. Body with gilt shades; dorsal with 21 rays, 

 II spiny, no depression. Anal 15, whereof 5 are 

 spiny and gradually shorter. Thoracics i and 5. 



