S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



List of specimens. 



POMOTIS, Rafin. 



GEN. CHAR. Body either sub-circular or sub-elliptical ; very much compressed. Head small or moderate. Mouth pro 

 portionate to the size of the head ; jaws generally equal, lower one sometimes longest. Velvet or card-like teeth upon the 

 jaws and front of the vomer only. Tongue smooth. Cheeks and opercular apparatus scaly. Edge of preopercle generally 

 denticulated or finely serrated. An opercular flap more or less developed, and spotted. Branchial apertures continuous 

 under the throat. Spinous portion of dorsal fin longer, and less elevated than the soft portion. Three anal spines. 

 Insertion of ventrals situated posteriorly to the base of the pectorals. Posterior margin of caudal fin. emarginated or sub- 

 crescentic. Scales well developed and pectinated. 



SYN. Pomotis, RAFIN. Ichth. Ohiens. 1820, 28. Cuv. & VAL. Hist. nat. Poiss. Ill, 1829, 90 ; &, VII, 1831, 

 454. STOKER, Synops. 1846,40. 



The above diagnosis we have drawn up for mere temporary purposes, to enable our readers to 

 understand more fully the species which we enumerate under this heading. As it is, it embraces 

 all the species of the genus Icthelis, which, if not subdivided, will have to supersede the appel 

 lation of Pomotis. The species referred by Kafinesque to his sub-genus Telipomis must 

 previously be investigated before any further alteration can be safely made in the generical 

 nomenclature of these fishes. 



The sunfishes, as they are generally called, are peculiar to North America, and quite 

 numerous in all the rivers flowing towards the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, occurring 

 likewise in the ponds and lakes of the same geographic range. On the other hand, they are 

 entirely wanting in the western waters of our continent. 



1. POMOTIS LUNA, Grd. 



Northern Suiilish, or Moon siiuli&amp;gt;l&amp;gt;. 



PLATE VIII, FIGS. 14. 



SPEC. CHAR. Body suborbicular in profile. Head moderate ; snout subconical. Mouth small; posterior extremity of maxillary 

 extending to a vertical line drawn in advance of the anterior rim of the orbit. Eye moderate. Suborbital and supra- 

 scapular bones not crenated. Edge of preopercle very slightly crenated. Opercular flap small. Spinous portion of dorsal 

 fin of moderate height, and lower than the soft ; its origin being situated opposite the base of the pectorals, and conse 

 quently iu advance of the origin of the ventrals. Cauda! till posteriorly emarginated. Tips of ventrals ovcrlapiug the vent 



