484 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



one fourth the diameter of the eye. The spinous dorsal begins , 

 over the third scale of the lateral line; its J>ase is as long as 

 the head without the opercular flap; the first spine is two thirds 

 as long as the eye; the spines increase in size, the fourth, fifth 

 and sixth being nearly equal in length and about as long as 

 the eye and snout combined; the sixth and longest soft ray is 

 as long as the postorbital part of the head, while the last ray 

 is less than one third as long as the head. The base of the soft 

 dorsal is as long as that of the spinous dorsal. The anal origin 

 is under the 23d scale of the lateral line. The anal base is two 

 thirds as long as the head; the first spine is about one half as 

 long as the third (longest), which is two fifths as long as the 

 head. The first and second rays are the longest, nearly as long 

 as the base of the fin. The last ray is two thirds as long as the 

 first. The ventral reaches beyond the vent; its spine is one half 

 as long as the head without the snout. The pectoral reaches 

 to above the anal origin. The caudal is emarginate, its middle 

 rays four fifths as long as the outer. The lateral line follows 

 the curve of the back. D. X, 12; A. Ill, 10; V. I, 5; P. 13. 

 Scales 6-42-13. 



In spirits the color is pale brownish, the opercular flap black 

 with a narrow whitish margin behind and beneath, and the 

 dorsal fin with faint dusky blotches. In life this is one of the 

 most brilliant of sunfishes, the upper parts being greenish olive 

 with a bluish tinge, the sides profusely spotted with orange, 

 the belly and lower fins orange and the dorsal and caudal fins 

 bluish with orange spots. The cheeks are orange with undulat- 

 ing blue stripes; the opercular flap is black, emarginated behind 

 and underneath with bright scarlet. 



The specimen described, no. 20304, U. S. National Museum, 

 from the Susquehanna at Havre de Grace, is nearly 6 inches 

 Jong. 



The common sunfish, or sunny, pumpkin seed, bream, tobacco 

 box, and pondfish is one of the best known fishes of the United 

 States. 



It is found from Maine westward through the Great lakes 

 region to Minnesota and in the eastern states south to South 



