Centrarchidae or sunfish family. The name 

 Chaetodon popularly given to its properly be- 

 longs to it as its specific name, being so-called 

 because of its general outward resemblance to 

 the family Chaetodontidae; these, however, 

 being tropical sea fishes. It deserves the dis- 

 tinction because of its beauty and gentle char- 

 acter. The name black-banded sunfish is long 

 and commonplace. The objection that the 

 name Chaetodon is borne by a family of sea 

 fishes has as little force as would an objection 

 to the name sunfish, because there are sun- 

 fish in the sea. 



While the species has been known at least 

 sixty years, until recently verv little had been 

 learned regarding its habits. Its known range, 

 which was for many years limited to the state 

 of New Jersey, was later extended to Mary- 

 land, and still later to North Carolina. It 

 is rarely found outside of red or black water 

 — what is known as cedar swamp or cypress 

 .swamp water — though these conditions are, no 

 doubt, merely an accident and not a necessity 

 of its existence. 



There is hardly room for doubt that they 

 can be found in waters of this character at 

 least as far south a^ Florida, and probably 

 also in the bayc as oithe Gulf Coast. I have 

 only found it in one place in Pennsylvania, and 

 that a tributary of the Delaware River, where, 

 at one time, it was abundant. 



Its habits of life are such that even where 

 it is very abundant it might not be found at 

 all by one not properlv provided with the 

 means of taking it and knowing where to 

 look for it. Though the various species of the 

 family in general are noted for their pug- 

 nacious dispositions, the Chaetodon is so mild 

 .mannered as to appear timid by contrast — 

 not at all like a carnivorous species. The 

 contrast in this resnei^t to the two somewhat 

 smaller species of Enueacanthus. obesus and 

 gloriosns, with one or both of which it is al- 

 ways found associated, is very great. In the 

 Aquarium, therefore, the Chaetodon is quite 

 harmless to goldfish or other soft-rayed fishes, 

 except to some extent when under the influ- 



57 



