ICHTHELID^E. XCII. 235 



2. C. gulosus, (C. & V.) Jordan. WIDE -MOUTHED 

 SUN FISH. Olive and yellow, sides with vertical bars; 

 no dorsal spot ; form broad ovate; eye 4 in head. 

 Southern States. An imperfectly described species, 

 unknown to me. 



3. C. nephelus, (Cope) Jordan. CHAIN- SIDED SUN 

 FISH. Bright steel blue, with many bronze orange spots, 

 which cover nearly the whole surface, so arranged that 

 the ground color forms a series of 'vertical chain-like 

 bars, very conspicuous in life; vertical fins mottled with 

 bronze, and usually more or less edged with pale orange; 

 no black dorsal spot^ no distinct blue cheek stripes, but 

 sides of head shaded with purplish; body rather elon- 

 gate ; head somewhat acute ; opercular spot small ; depth 

 2^ in length; head nearly 3; lat. 1. 42; L. 3 to 4.. Ohio 

 Valley. A small species and one of the handsomest; 

 extremely hardy in aquaria, and perhaps the most vora- 

 cious of the Sun Fishes. (This may prove to belong 

 to the next genus.) 



* //. ICHTHELIS, Rafinesque. SUN FISHES. 

 = Lepomis, Cope, and in part of Raf. (1818, not 1820). 

 > Bryttus, C. & V. (species with palatine teeth). 

 < Pomotis, Cuvier, (species without palatine teeth). 

 1. /. incisor, (C. & V.) Holbr. BLUE SUN FISH. COP- 

 PEE- NOSED BKEAM. Olive-green, adults dark, young 



* The species of this genus are very closely related; the general structure 

 (dentition, scales, fin-rays, etc.) is essentially the same in all. while those char- 

 acters which usually afford specific distinctions are in the highest degree vari- 

 able. The form of body, size and form of opercular flap, coloration, etc., vary 

 very much with age, and even of specimens of the same age it is almost impos- 

 sible to find two which are alike in these respects. The following descriptions 

 are chiefly drawn up from Ohio River specimens, and they will be found to be 

 descriptions of individuals rather than of species, and more or less deviation 

 from them must be expected. It is hoped, however, that by their aid the 

 student will generally be enabled to identify adult specimens. The study of 

 Sun Fishes under two inches long, is. in the present state of our knowledge, 

 extremely diflicult and unsatisfactory. 



