28 



Dbrsal fin with 22 long rays, whereof 1 1 are spiny, a depres- 

 sion between the two sorts of rays. Anal fin broad and round- 

 ed. Tail 20 rays. Thoracic one and five. Pectoral 15. Di- 

 ameter of the body nearly one fourth of total length. 



7th Species. Blue Sunfish. Icthelis cyanella. Icthele bleu- 

 atre. 



Body elliptic, elongate, diameter one fifth, olivaceous gilt, 

 crowded with irregular blue dotts; brownish abo/e: head elon- 

 gate, lower jaw longei', cheeks with blue flexuose lines; spot ob- 

 long blackish, nearly marginal: tail rounded, notched: anal fin 

 very broad with 12 rays, whereof three are short spiny: pectoral 

 fins very short. 



A small species hardly thr^e inches, called Blue-fish or Sun- 

 fish. I found it on the Ohio at the falls. Appearing entirely 

 blue at a distance. Head brown above. Iris gilt. Opercule curv- 

 ed. Tail olive blue, with 24 rays. Dorsal fin brownish with 20 

 rays, whereof 10 are spiny, hardly any middle depression. Pec- 

 toral small trapezoidal, 12 rays. Thoracic one and five. 



8th Species. Blackeye Sunfish. Icthelis melar.Qfis Icth- 

 ele aeuil-noir. 



Body oblong, diameter one fourth, olivaceous covered with 

 blue dotts, neck hrown above, head large, mouth rather large, 

 upper jaw longer; opercule with blue curved and longitudinal 

 lines beneath: spot rounded black at its base: fins olivaceous, 

 tail bilobed: anal fin with three and nine rays: pectoral fins 

 lari^e oboval. 



Length from two to six inches: common in the tributary 

 streams of the Ohio, the Kentucky, Licking, Miami, 8cc. and 

 even in small creeks. Vulgar names, Blue-fish, Black-eyes, 

 Sun-fish, Blue-bass, Sec. It has black eyes like all the other 

 species; but the iris is black also, with a silvery hue or ring. 

 Dorsal fin with ten and ten rays, the spiny ones very short. Cau- 

 dal 20. Pectoral 16. Thoracic one and five, as usual; but the 

 spiny ray is very short, as are also those of the anal fin. 

 2d Subgenus. Pomotis. 



Opercule with a membranaceous appendage, often like an 

 auric ule and spotted. Meaning eared gills. 



