THE PERCH FAMILY 



115 



SUNFISH. 



Pomotis vulgaris : Cuvier. 



There are several species of Pomotis, and even fish of 

 other genera known as " Sunfishy A diminutive species 

 of the genus Centrachus is constantly called bj that name. 

 I have taken a synopsis of a description of the true Sunfish 

 [Pomotis vulgaris), from Holbrook, one of the most exact 

 ichthyologists of our day. 



Body ovoidal in form, convex above and below, but straight 

 on the belly; color of body brown, with a greenish tint 

 above, with pale blue, waving, horizontal lines on the preo- 

 percle and opercle. Opercular appendix dark, with a bright 

 red blotch on its posterior margin. The dorsal fin has ten spines 

 and eleven rays; pectorals, thirteen rays; ventrals, one spine, 

 and five rays ; anal, three spines and ten rays ; caudal, seven- 

 teen rays. Mouth small, rather protractile, and armed with 

 small thickly-set teeth. Extreme length eight inches. 



This beautiful little fish, associated in the minds of all 

 anglers with the first rudiments of a piscatorial education, is 

 known in the Middle and Southern States as the Sunfish or 



