68 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



water. It is a fish of the Atlantic slope, with a 

 range extending from Maine to Florida, and is 

 also found in Louisiana. It is very abundant in 

 the South Atlantic states. 



Its form is similar to the long-eared sunfish, 

 but with a more prominent snout and a depres- 

 sion in front of the eye. Its ear-flap is as long 

 but not so broad; its color olive or bluish above ; 

 sides bluish with reddish spots ; breast and belly 

 orange or red; blue stripes on the front of the 

 head. The southern form has a dusky blotch on 

 the last rays of the dorsal fin, which is lacking in 

 those of northern waters. 



Its habits are similar to those of the other sun- 

 fishes proper, as to food, spawning, etc. It grows 

 to a length of from eight to ten inches. It is a 

 favorite food- and game-fish in the South, where 

 it is known as red-breast bream and red-bellied 

 perch. The same remarks as to angling men- 

 tioned under the head of warmouth perch will 

 apply to this fish as well. 



My angling career really began with the cap- 

 ture of " silversides " with a paste of bread crumbs, 

 but was inaugurated with taking this "sunny" 

 and the " punkin-seed " on the artificial fly. An 

 old English gamekeeper, in the employ of our 



