240 



FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



In the streams of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from Maine to Louisiana, 

 this well known sun-fish abounds. Both typical auritus and the southern 

 variety, soliSj are represented in North Carolina, the latter distinguished by 

 having larger scales on cheeks and breast, and a dusky blotch on the posterior 

 part of dorsal fin. Cope (1870), under the name Lepomis rubricauda, records 

 the species as very common in the basins of the Catawba, Yadkin, and Neuse. 

 More recent collectors have reported it as common in the same waters and in 

 addition in Tar and Cape Fear rivers and Albemarle Sound. The National 

 Museum contains specimens from the lower Neuse at Kinston, collected by 

 J. W. Milner; and at New Bern, collected by Marshall McDonald. 



'■^*«^p*e 



Fig. 105. LoNa-EARED Sun-fish; Red-belly; Robin. Lepomis auritus. 



The species bears numerous names in North Carolina; some of them are 

 peculiar to it, while others are sometimes applied to related species. The most 

 generally used names are given above, but various other combinations of " robin ", 

 "perch", "bream", "red-belly", "leather-ear", etc., are heard. On Albem.arle 

 and Currituck sounds and their tributaries the names most often used are 

 "leather-ear", "red-belly", "yellow-belly", and "robin". 



The long-eared sun-fish rarely exceeds 8 inches in length. It is often caught 

 by anglers using angleworms, grubs, and grasshoppers as bait; and is sometimes 

 taken in the nets of the commercial fishermen and sent to market. 



207. LEPOMIS MEGALOTIS (Rafinesque). 

 Large-eared Sun-fish. 



Ichthelia megalotis Rafinesque, Ichthyologia Ohiensis, 29, 1820; Ohio River. 



Lepomis megalotis. Cope, 18706, 452; upper waters of French Broad. Evermann & Cox, 1896, 305; Neuse 

 River near Raleigh. Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 1002, pi. cl.x, fig. 426. 



Diagnosis. — Body rather short and compressed, back arched, profile becoming steeper 

 over eye, depth .4 to .6 total length; head .33 length; eye .25 length of head, a little less than 



