238 FISHES. 



variable; dorsal spines moderate, the longest longer than 

 from snout to middle of eye; body deep, profile very 

 steep; head, with flap, nearly half length, depth about the 

 same; lat. 1. 35 to 40. Ohio Valley, S. and W., abundant; 

 a beautiful species. (P. nitidus, Kirt.) 



7. /. fallax, (B. & G.) Jordan. SOUTHERN LONG- 

 EARED SUN FISH. Very similar, but with a distinct 

 black spot on last rays of dorsal at base. Lower Miss. 

 and S. W. 



8. /. sangu/no/entus, (Ag.) Bliss. BLUE AND ORANGE 

 SUN FISH. SUN PERCH. .Brilliant blue and orange, 

 back chiefly blue, belly entirely orange, the orange 

 forming irregular, longitudinal rows of spots, the blue 

 in wavy vertical lines along the edges of the scales; 

 fins with the rays blue and the membranes orange; ven 

 tral and anal shaded with dusky blue, appearing blackish 

 when folded; flap very large, with a broad pale edge 

 which is pink behind, and bluish in front; lips blue; 

 cheeks with bright blue and orange stripes; top of head 

 and neck blackish; eyes bright red; spines very low, 

 lower than in any other species of this genus the longest 

 dorsal spine shorter than from snout to middle of eye : 

 occiput depressed; profile high and strongly curved-, 

 depth more than half length; head with flap, a little 

 less; eye 1-J- in flap; pectorals not reaching vent; lat. 1. 

 40. Ohio Valley to Alabama. \L. auritus, (Raf.) Cope.] 

 Our most brilliantly colored Sun Fish. This and the 

 two preceding run very closely together and perhaps 

 form one polymorphous species. If so, the name I. 

 auritus, Raf., apparently intended for the present 

 species, has priority and should be adopted unless Labrus 

 auritus of Linnaeus proves to have been intended for 

 I. rubricauda. 



