236 FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



than eye; mouth oblique, comparatively small, the maxillary extending as far back as center 

 of pupil; gill-rakers on lower arm of first arch 10 to 12, those on short arm 3 or 4, usually rudi- 

 mentary; scales in lateral series about 32, in transverse series 14 or 15; scales on cheek in 4 

 rows; dorsal rays ix,10 or ix,ll, the longest spine .5 length of head, the longest soft ray .66 

 length of head; anal fin large, the rays in, 10, the third spine about .5 length of head, the sofi 

 part of fin larger than soft dorsal; caudal fin rounded; pectorals rather long, .75 length of 

 head, reaching beyond anal spines; ventrals extending to second anal ray. Color: body olive 

 green, with 5 to 8 dark transverse bars; body, cheeks, and fins with small purple or golden 

 spots; opercular flap with a velvety black spot edged with purple; a black bar beneath eye. 

 {obesus, fat.) 



This diminutive sun-fish, which occurs along the coast from Massachusetts 

 to Florida in sluggish waters, has been reported in North Carolina only from 

 Neuse and Roanoke rivers, and is much rarer than the next species. It lives 

 among weeds in quiet water. Its maximum length is 3.75 inches, but it rarely 

 exceeds 3 inches. 



204. ENNE ACANTHUS GLORIOSUS (Holbrook). 

 "Speckled Perch"; Little Sun-fish; Blue-spotted Sun-fish. 



Brt/ttus gloriosus Holbrook, Journal Academy Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1855, 51; Cooper River, S. C. 

 Enneacanthus pinniger Jordan, Bulletin x, U. S. National Museum, 27, 1877; Neuse River at Ivinston. 

 Enneacanthus aimulans, Smith, 1893a, 196; Edenton Bay. 

 Enneacanthus gloriosus,JoTda,n, 1889b, 126, 130; Tar and Little rivers. Smith, 1901,134: Lake Mattamuskeet. 



Evermann & Cox, 1896, 305; Neuse Basin near Raleigh. Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 993, pi clviii, fig. 



422 



Diagnosis. — Form very similar to that of obesus, but its depth equal to or less than .5 

 total length; head .37 length; eye a little less than .33 length of head; snout short, .66 diameter 

 of eye; maxillary extending to anterior margin of pupil; gill-rakers on lower arm of first arch- 

 10 or 11, on upper arm 3 (of which only 1 is developed); scales in lateral series 30 to 32, in trans- 

 verse series 12 to 14; dorsal rays ix,10 to x,ll, the longest spine equal to postorbital part of 

 head, the longest soft rays equal to head minus snout; anal rays iii,9 to vi,10, the first spine less 

 than eye, the third spine equal to postorbital region of head, the longest soft rays about equal to 

 those of dorsal; caudal fin romided, the longest rays .66 length of head; pectorals extending 

 to above base of second or third anal soft ray, about .75 length of head; ventrals about .66 

 length of head. Color: males, dark olive green, with numerous small round blue spots on body, 

 head, and fins, the spots having a tendency to form irregular cross stripes; opercular spot 

 pearly blue, with a blue margin; a black bar below eye; females duller, the spots large and less 

 distinct; young with narrow dark crossbars, more or less indistinct, (gloriosus, glorious.) 



This handsome little sun-fish, whose maximum length is only 3 inches, 

 ranges from New York to South Carolina, in clear coastal streams, and is common 

 in North Carolina. The types of Jordan's nominal species, Enneacanthus pinniger, 

 came from Neuse River at Kinston. Other North Carolina localities where the 

 species has been collected are Little River at Goldsboro, Neuse River near Raleigh, 

 Tar River at Rocky Mount, Edenton Bay, Lake Ellis, and Lake Mattamuskeet. 

 The fish is too small to have any economic value, but is most desirable and 

 attractive for the aquarium. 



Genus MESOGONISXroS GiU. Banded Sun-fishes. 



Form short and compressed; mouth small, the maxillary not reaching as 

 far as anterior margin of eye, the supplemental bone very small; small teeth on 



