IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 53 



Aiiibloplites rupostrls Rafinesque.— Raccoon river at Adel, Des Moines and 

 PeiT}'; Des Moines river, at Des Moines, Ft. Dodge and Estherville. 



Tliis abundant fish is to be found wherever there is a clear rocky bottom afford- 

 ing means of concealment. In clear streams with bottoms thus characterized, and 

 affording abundant weeds, grass or river-moss it is always to be found loitering in 

 the shadow of the rocks alike alert for food or enemies. It does not take the hook 

 readily and is very suspicious of danger when one is temptingly dangled in its very 

 face. The numerous black blotches on the side, extending from the dorsum to 

 nearly the base of the anal and pectoral fins sufficiently well indicate the color 

 markings by which it may be distinguished from related forms. 



Loponiis hiiniilis Girard. — Beaver creek; Walnut creek; Middle river; North 

 river; Raccoon river at Des Moines, Adel and Perry; Des Moines river at Des 

 Moines and Ft. Dodge; Squaw creek. 



Always abundant this species is nevertheless to be found in excessive numbers 

 in nearly all streams in which it occurs in the State of Iowa. There is a well 

 marked difference between the females anl the males in respect to color markings. 

 The females have little of the deep yellow or red color on the belly while they have 

 a number of the coppery colored markings on the sides scattered without order or 

 apparent arrangement. The males are characterized by the presence of a great 

 many orange colored spots, also without definite order, on the sides, while the 

 lower 6ns are deep red or bright yellow. The more somber hues assumed by the 

 females render it sometimes a matter of question as to specific identity. The 

 organs of reproduction are then the last resort. The species is very abundant 

 throughout the entire northwestern portion of the State occurring in every stream; 

 in some of the smaller muddy creeks which empty into the Missouri it is almost 

 the only fish we found. This and the next form are the most common ones of the 

 genus in our area. 



Lepomis cyauellus Rafinesque. — North river; Walnut creek; Beaver creek; 

 Raccoon river, at Adel, Des Moines and Perry; Squaw creek; Des Moines river, at 

 Des Moines, Ft. Dodge and Estherville. 



The " green sun-fish " is nearly or quite as common as the preceding form. Its 

 deeper coloration, inclining more to blue than to green enables ready separation. 

 Then, too, it is a deeper and thicker fish, attains a greater size, and the sexes are 

 not so easily discerned. Indeed, so far as our observations have extended the sexes 

 cannot be readily separated. The habitat is the same as that of Lepomis humUls 

 and where one is found the other usually comes to light also. 



Lepomis pallidiis Mitchell.— Raccoon river, Adel and Des Moines. 



This form is rare in our area, but three specimens having been discovered. 



Lepomis megalotis Rafinesque. — Beaver creek. 



A single specimen of this species has thus far alone rewarded our search. In 

 common with all the members of the genus little is known of its breeding habits 

 though all have a similar habitat. All are used more or less for food but their 

 small size renders them of little value for that purpose. They are tenacious of life 

 and make acceptable aquaria stock. As justly remarked by Doctor Jordan the 

 genus is among the most dirficult of our fish fauna. 



Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede.— Raccoon river, at Adel and Des Moines; 

 Middle river; Beaver creek; Des Moines river at Des Moines and Ft. Dodge. 



The small mouthed black bass is very common in the larger streams in our limit. 

 In the deeper portions of the clear rivers it best thrives though it is not uncommon 

 in the muddy streams like the Raccoon. It is a darker fish than its congener and 

 far more abundant but less commonly taken by the hook. It is the stream bass 



