382 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



depends for defense upon the sharp spines of its dorsal 

 fins, and it seems to know that when these are erected it 

 is quite free from molestation. Especially angry does it 

 become when a great lubberly catfish chances to wander 

 near by and pokes his slimy nose into its haunts. At 

 once the plucky sunfish is up in arms, and darts at the 

 intruder with great violence. It is a veritable case of the 

 king-bird and crow over again, only beneath the water, 

 instead of in the air. 



I am still in the dark about the breeding-habits of 

 this fish. At times I have thought that it scooped out a 

 nest in the sand, as the common " sunny " does ; but I am 

 not so sure about it. During the spring of 1881 I found 

 females of this species heavy with immature ova, and I 

 am now of the opinion that, if any nest is made, it is in 

 the mud, among the lily-stems, or at the base of some 

 projecting root. Certainly, if anywhere in open water, 

 I should have found them before this. 



A puzzling fact, that haunted me whenever I went 

 fishing, until very recently (September, 1883), was that I 

 never found any very young " bandies," as I usually call 

 them. I had often scooped up scores of the mud-loving 

 Enneacanthi, found in the same quarters, but with never 

 a " bandy " among them. Hoping ever for better things, 

 I continued to search for them, and at last success crowned 

 my efforts. Early in September last I found scores of 

 little ones, some not more than half an inch in length. 

 It is safe to say, therefore, that the ova are deposited in 

 May or June. Just where, remains to be determined. 



Years ago I stated in the " Naturalist " that the banded 

 sunfish scooped out little basins in the sand, and therein 

 deposited their ova ; but do they ? Upon the authority 

 of what I stated in 1870, it has been repeatedly assert- 

 ed that the banded sunfish is a nest-builder ; but I am 



