258 NATURAL HISTORY. 



outlines are nearly equally convex. The head is nearly a third of 

 the total length of the body, and there is a considerable depression 

 immediately over the eyes, which causes the snout to appear turned 

 up. The mouth is large, and the maxillary bones reach a point ver- 

 tical to the posterior borders of the eyes. The eyes are a third nearer 

 the snout than the opercular spine, and are large, their diameter 

 being to the length of the head as two to nine. The lateral line runs 

 nearly parallel with the dorsal outline. The dorsal fin commences 

 nearer the snout, and is supported anteriorly by seven spinous rays. 

 The first spine is very low, and, in a specimen seven inches long, was 

 little more than one-sixth of an inch in length, and about half the 

 length of the second ; from the latter they rapidly but regularly in- 

 crease in size to the seventh, which is about an inch long. The anal 

 fin commences under the fourth spinous ray of the dorsal, and seven 

 of its soft rays extend beyond the posterior part of that fin. The 

 spines are in nearly the same proportion to each other as those of the 

 dorsal fin. The suines of both fins are all curved slightly backwards. 



D. VII, 16. a'. VI, 16. P. 13. V. 15. C. 17f ? 



The general color of the body is a dark bronze yellow, shaded with 

 green and with golden reflection above, and many of the scales are darker 

 on the margins. The dorsal and anal fins are colored with six or 

 seven rows of round, yellowish spots, most of which cover the rays as 

 well as the connecting membrane. There are fewer of these spots on 

 the spinous parts of both fins. The pupils are of an intense dark 

 blue, and the irides a dark straw yellow. 



This description was drawn from a specimen about seven inches in 

 length, and is, perhaps, in some respects defective, as I was called off 

 before I was able to finish my notes, and have not been able to pro- 

 cure another since. The color is drawn entirely from memory, but 

 is, I think, correct. 



This percoid is not often brought to market, but when exposed for 

 sale it is mingled with the two following species : 



10. PoMOTis APPENDIX, {31it.) DeKay. 



DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 32. 



This species is brought to market in considerable numbers in winter 

 and spring from Cayuga Lake, &c.. It is a matter of surprise that 

 Dr. DeKay never saw this species, as I have been toid that it is very 

 common in all the lakes of central iSIew York. It reaches a much 

 larger size than the common Muifish, 



11. PoMOTis VULGARIS, Citv. and Vol. 



DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 31, fig. 166. 



This handsome sunfish is sent to market from the same places as 

 the preceeding, according to the fishermen, although it is very com- 

 mon in almost all of the neighboring streams. This and the two 

 former species are sold at from eight to ten cents per pound. Some 

 of the fishermen are under a singular error in regard to Pomoxis auJ 

 Pomotis. They believe them to constitute a single species, of which 

 Pomoxis is the male, and Pomotis vulgaris and Pomotis appendix 



