THE SMELT AND ITS ALLIES 



235 



The perches are a widespread family, represented in this 

 country chiefly by the common yellow perch of the East, 

 the " wall-eyed pike " of the Great Lake region, and the 

 white perch of the Atlantic coast (Fig. 214). These fish 

 have an oblong, compressed body covered with small 

 scales ; they are highly rapacious, and are believed to be 



FIG. 215. Eupomatis f/ibboftus, the common sunfish. Two-thirds nat. size. 

 Photo, of living animal by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, " Bull. U. S. Fish Com.," 

 1899. 



destructive to the young of other species of fish. They 

 are esteemed as food, although fortunately not to the 

 extent of annihilation. 



The sunfishes 1 have a percoid form, but have only one 

 dorsal fin instead of two. They live in fresh water, have 



1 Fig. 215. 



