200 AMERICAN FISHES. 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. PEECID^. 



THE COMMON POND FISH. 



FRESH WATER SUN FISH 

 Pomotis Vulgaris. Cuvier. 



THIS beautiful little fish has gained its provincia. name from the 

 extreme brilliancy of its colors when disporting itself in the sunshine 

 The numerous spots on its body have procured for it the absurd name 

 Df Pumpkin-seed in many States, and in Massachusetts it is known as 

 Bream. It is valueless as an article of food, and equally so as a bait 

 fish, its acute spines deterring any fish from seizinjr it. It is, however, 

 a const-ant object of pursuit to boy and lady angleis. 



It has very many varieties, and a wide geographical range, being 

 found from Lake Huron, through all the Eastern States, and along the 

 Atlantic coast so far south as Carolina. 



Its color is greenish olive above, with irregular points of red and 

 broader yellow or reddish brown spots disposed in very irregular lines 

 Ranges of brighter spots on the bluish opercuiam, and on the hinder 

 prolongation of the oporculum a black spot with a bright scarlet margin. 



Its body is much compressed, very broad, oval. Scales large and 

 pven. Forehead sloping +o the snout. Lateral line concurrent with 



