4l6 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



ency. I have caught them, averaging a half pound in 

 weight, by the dozen, with black and brown hackles, and 

 when they reach that size they are so sprightly in their play, 

 when hooked on Trout tackle, that we cannot deny them a 

 niche in the gallery of game fishes." 



the long-eared sun-pish Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque). 



Description. Body deep and rather short, the profile high 

 and strongly curved; dorsal outline convex; depth more than 

 half the length; head with flap a little less; dorsal spines 

 low, lower than in most of the other species, in adults shorter 

 than from snout to middle of eye; pectorals not reaching 

 vent; gill-rakers very short and soft; opercular flap very 

 long in adult, always with broad pale edge which is 

 pinkish behind and bluish in front; in young specimens the 

 flap exhibits every stage of development, no two individuals 

 being alike in this respect. Colors very brilliant, more so 

 than in any other of our Sun-fishes, but fading rapidly after 

 death. The general color oi an adult specimen is brilliant 

 blue and orange, the black chiefly blue, the belly entirely 

 orange, the orange forming irregular longitudinal rows of 

 spots, the blue in wavy vertical lines along the series of 

 scales; vertical fins with the soft rays blue and the membranes 

 orange, sometimes fiery red; ventral and anal, dusky blue; 

 lips blue; cheeks with blue and orange stripes; top of head 

 and neck black; iris bright red; fins unspotted; young speci- 

 mens with the ear-flap small, and the coloration variously 

 dull; D. X, 10; A. Ill, 10; lat. I. 40. 



Throughout the Mississippi valley, and on south-westward 

 to the Rio Grande, this gorgeous little fish is abundant. It 

 is also occasionally taken in the streams of the North-west, 

 it may be found on every urchin's string in Indiana and Illi- 

 nois. It is smaller than the common Sun-fish, and less 

 active, although in coloration it is one of the gayest fishes 

 that swim. 



THE YELLOW-BELLY OK " BREAM." LepOHlis UUritUS 



(Linnaeus). 



Description. Body elongate, not much elevated. Snout mod- 

 erately prominent. Mouth rather large oblique, the maxillary 

 reaching past front of eye. Cheeks with rather small scales, 



