242. FISHES. 



pale margin entirely surrounding the black; cheeks with 

 wide blue bands; lower jaw, etc., dull leaden blue; belly 

 and lower fins chiefly orange. Illinois River. 



8. L. obscurus, (Agassiz) Jor. Blue-Mouthed Sun 

 Fish. A heavily-built, dark-colored species, chiefly blue 

 and coppery red in life; no blue stripes on cheek; lower 

 jaw dark leaden blue; opercular spot large, without dis- 

 tinct pale margin. Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. 



7. XE/VOT/S, Jordsin. Long -eared Sun Fishes. 



1. /. megalotis, (Raf.) Jor. Blue and Orange Sun 

 Fish. Sun Perch. J^rilliant blue and orange^ back 

 chiefly blue, belly entirely orange, the orange forming 

 irregular, longitudinal rows of spots, the blue in wavy 

 vertical lines along the edges of the scales; fins with the 

 rays blue and the membranes orange; ventral and anal 

 shaded with dusky blue, appearing blackish when folded; 



flap very large^ with a broad pale edge which is pink 

 behind, and bluish in front; lips blue; cheeks with bright 

 blue and orange stripes; top of head and neck blackish; 

 eyes bright red; spines very lou^^ lomer than in any other 

 species of this genus; the longest dorsal spine shorter than 

 from snout to middle of eye; occiput depressed; profile 

 high and strongly curved; depth more than half length; 

 head with flap, a little less; eye 1^ in flap; pectorals not 

 reaching vent; lat. 1. 40. Great Lakes and Upper Mis- 

 sissippi River. A brilliantly colored species. {P. nitidus^ 

 Kirt.) 



2. X. sanguinolentus, (Ag.) Jor. Bloody Sun Fish. 

 Similar, but rather more elongate; the spines notably 

 hischer and the blue cross-bars much more distinct. Ten- 

 nessee and South, perhaps a variety. 



