Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 403 



in any other nest, and it was thought that they were empty or 

 deserted. A closer investigation revealed a sort of granular bot- 

 tom, consisting of the eggs covered over by some silt raised by 

 the current caused by the parent's fanning. On account of their 

 being covered with silt the eggs were very inconspicuous. There 

 was a constant restless watchfulness on the part of the parent fish. 

 The bluegills did not look much worn by the labor of nest building, 

 though some of the caudal fins were frayed. Eupomotus gibbosus 

 nested with the bluegills, and elsewhere by itself nearer shore. 



On June 15, several bluegills about 10 inches in length greatly 

 distended with roe, washed up dead in front of the Fish Commis- 

 sion cottage. The eggs had a higher specific gravity than water, 

 were very numerous, clear in color, and 21 to the inch. 



The Bluegill apparently bites while guarding the eggs and 

 young, and can be caught off" the nest. This matter however re- 

 quires further investigation. 



Head about 3^, without flap ; depth 2 to 2] ; eye 4 in head with- 

 out flap; snout 4; maxillary 3i ; D. X, 11 or 12; A. Ill, 10 to 12; 

 scales 7-46-14, about 44 pores, 5 rows on cheek. 



Body short, deep and compressed, the young slender, the adult 

 more nearly orbicular; caudal peduncle rather slender, its least 

 depth 2 in head; head not large, the projecting snout usually form- 

 ing an angle above the eye; mouth quite small, oblique, the jaws 

 about equal, maxillary not reaching eye ; gillrakers moderately long, 

 nearly round, bent slightly downward ; dorsal spines strong and 

 high, the longest about half head, usually longer than snout and 

 eye; ventral fins reaching origin of anal; pectorals pointed, longer 

 than head, reaching origin of anal ; opercular flaps very short in 

 the young, rather long and broad in the adult. 



Color, rich greenish-olive on back, becoming paler on sides ; 

 belly sometimes coppery or brassy ; top of head dark greenish ; 

 opercle and cheek bluish ; opercular flap rich velvety black, without 

 pale border, a small whitish spot near its base above; side some- 

 times with 3 or 4 more or less distinct broad darker greenish 

 crossbars ; fins all greenish, the pectoral palest, reddish at base ; 

 a large dark blotch near base of last rays of dorsal, and usually 

 a similar blotch on anal ; anal membranes darkish, a slight rosy 

 wash along base of fin. 



