MORE ABOUT THE CHAETODON 



Mr. Walter Lee Rosenberger, 



Dear Sir: — Your letter of February 19, in 

 regard to the Five Banded Sunfish, has been 

 referred to me for reply. This Sunfish is 

 recorded only from New Jersey and Maryland 

 in sluggish streams. 



I have found it very abundant near Somers 

 Point, New Jersey. Descriptions of the Five 

 Banded Sunfish are also to be found in Bulletin 

 U. S. National Museum. 



/ have never been able to observe the habits 

 of this little fish even in captivity. The Five 

 Banded Sunfish does not exceed four inches 

 in length when adult. I have no doubt that it 

 is a nest builder, and spawns in the Spring 

 like other Sunfishes. 



Very truly yours, 

 TARLETON H. BEAN, Fish Culturist, 

 Conservative Commission, State of New York. 



Mr. Walter Lee Rosenberger, 



Dear Sir: — In reply to your letter of Feb- 

 ruary 19, you are advised that the recorded 

 geographical distribution of the Banded Sun- 

 fish (Mesogonistius chaetodon) is New Jersey 

 to Southern North Carolina, where it is usually 

 abundant in suitable ponds and streams. It 

 is not restricted to the cedar swamps, but is 

 particularly abundant in the streams from 

 such places, always amongst water plants, but 

 in circumscribed areas. No definite informa- 

 tion can be furnished you regarding the 

 spaivning habits of this fish, excepting that 

 in North Carolina it spawns in March. 

 Doubtless its breeding habits are similar to 

 those of other Sunfishes which, in the Spring 

 or early Summer, hollow out nests in the sand 

 or fine gravel, where the eggs are deposited 

 and guarded by the parent fish until hatched. 

 Probably from observation and comparison of 

 examples of both sexes, you can learn to dis- 

 tinguish them at sight. In the breeding sea- 

 son, the male is usually more brilliantly 

 colored than the female, and there may be 

 some noticeable difference of form. 



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